Saturday, August 13, 2011

The New Normal

I'm still telling God how amazed I am that He does what He says He's going to do! I think He is kinda getting a chuckle over this, because of course God is going to do what He says He is going to do, after all, He is God. Why do I find this so amazing? When I tell my kids that I will do something, I do it, and it's not that amazing. It's just expected. And, actually, if they seem surprised it's a little offensive. Why would they be surprised that I would do what I told them I would do? Naturally, I'm going to keep my word to my own children. Even more so with God, right?  But, still here I am feeling this sense of amazement when I realize that He heard me, He actually followed through, He has kept His word to ME! My little life means something to Him.
This morning as I'm processing all of this God told me to read Acts 3. It's about Peter and John going to the Temple to pray. They see a man that is crippled and wants money. Peter tells him that he doesn't have any money but he does have something better and commands him in the name on Jesus to get up and walk! The man gets up and walks! Just like that! Of course all the people are totally amazed and this is what Peter says to them: "Oh Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus." He was saying to them "Guys, this is Jesus, this is what He does, He is power and He heals through the Father. This should not surprise any of you!"
So to me He is saying this too. "Bethany, I am with you everyday. We are intimately involved, tight. We talk all the time. I listen, you listen. I answer. This is the new normal. You do not need to be surprised that I do amazing things in your life and heart. The power of my spirit resides within you."
As I continued on in Acts 3, the last verse reads like, this "God, having raised up His Son, sent Him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways." I'm back to amazing! God loves each one of us so much that He patiently waits, one by one, for us turn from our evil ways, and then He blesses us. Those blessings are amazing, and yet to Him they are normal.
Say That Again, Jesus, continue to bring me into a new normal where your blessings, your love, your gifts, are what I know you will just give to me because you have said they are mine, and you are my beloved Father!

1 comment:

  1. Yes and Amen...may it be our norm...to enter into such fellowship that we aren't surprised, but that we stay grateful.

    Enjoy your norm and all He is doing in and through you

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