In the Hands of an Archer

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 
Psalm 32:8

Seems like this week the Lord is wanting me to know that He is watching over me.   The thoughts He gave me for Thursday's post really have helped me, and I hope they have helped you too---to know that He is watching over us...and not to say, "I see you.  I've got My eye on you" (as a threat of "You better behave!") BUT to let us know that He's watching us, even during the night, waiting for us to stir, and longing to have our eyes meet His first thing in the morning. 

The last part of Psalm 32:8, "I will guide thee with mine eye" actually means: "I will counsel you and watch over you."   Oh!  I sigh, because the Lord knows the inner thoughts and concerns of my heart today.  Needing to know the direction I should go....Needing a job, but have no idea which way to look. 

When I read in "My Utmost for His Highest" (Oswald Chambers) this morning, the Lord just began to tie things together for me.  Chambers says that "a saint's life in the hands of God is like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer....God is aiming at something that the saint cannot see. He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says---'I cannot stand any more!'  God does not heed, he goes on stretching til His purpose is IN SIGHT, then He lets FLY!"  

Sometimes the concerns for "tomorrow" (where to find a job, will we survive this economy, where to put our children in school)---can fog our concentration on our daily duties.  John Hamilton Thom says, "small cares daily frets our hearts, and cross the clearness of our faculties...leaving us no free soul able to give itself up, in power, and gladness, to the true work of life."  This is the "severest training and self denial."  OH!  How true this is!   Concerns and anxiety cloud my focus, yet He keeps on stretching, even when I cry, "OUCH!  Stop, please!"  No...He's got some "end in sight!"  He DOES have a purpose for my (and your) life.  (Jer. 29:11) 

He will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go.  For now, the instructions do not include, "This is where you need to find a job."   The instructions on "today's roster" include: "Do your daily duties, small and great....rest, rest rest in the fact that you are in My hands, child.  I am The Archer Who never misses My Mark!  I know where I want you to be...and when I see that purpose in sight, I will let you FLY!"    OH!  That makes me smile!   He will guide me, watch over me...and then, once I RELAX (by trusting Him) He will "LET ME FLY!"

Oh Dear Father!   You are watching me.  It's SOO reassuring to know You have got Your eye on me.   We tease our children sometimes when we remind them, "I've got my eye on you!"  But really, this should bring comfort to any insecure child's heart.   "You may wander off, you may think I don't care enough to watch you, BUT I have got my eye on you."  Thank You that Your eyes not only see me, but they're looking for that unique purpose in sight....You're looking to see when our hearts are in tune with Yours, and totally trusting You.  And when they are, it's as if the "TARGET IS IN SIGHT," and You'll let us fly.  BULLSEYE!  You never miss Your mark!  It's up to us to determine how quickly that "target gets in sight."   Help me relax today, while clearly focusing on my "tasks at hand."  Help me NOT worry or THINK about "tomorrow's changing tide."   Help me relax in the Hands of the Most Wonderful "Archer" to ever hold a bow and arrow.  Thank You for even picking me up in the first place, and finding a purpose in my life, through Your Son, Jesus!  I love You!  In Jesus' name I pray..amen.

Pressure Washin'

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26, 27

Ever had one of those days when you just wonder "what else in the world could go wrong?" Pressure here, pressure there, pressure everywhere... except where it needs to be---like a tire!?!? LOL Anyway, yes, we've all had those days when it just seems as if we can't take it any longer. Just when you feel the walls closing in, He's got His eyes on you..He knows how much pressure you can take.

Remember from an earlier post I had written about our dark times are always a time to listen ? ?   Sometimes, trials and tests will come --->from every direction<---  and it does seem like it's just too much. But remember, He's going to teach us a lesson in this storm if we'll only be quiet and listen patiently for His voice.

Well, this week has been "loads" of fun. . .and I do mean LOADS. . .of laundry! For some reason my washer is putting out so much water during its drain cycles that the old slow pipes just can't handle the outflow. So in order to get a load done, I have to stand there, and "patiently" watch and listen for the washer to drain. As it's draining, I can hear the water quickly rising in that pipe. When I DO finally see the water begin to peak I immediately push the "STOP" button. I have to press STOP on the washer--just to give the pipe time to drain . . then I pull "start" and let the tub drain, then stop. You get the picture. It takes a long time. And it's not really fun either. If I don't do this, the garage will be flooded!

So what is it that You are trying to teach me in THIS situation, Lord? Well..."ask and ye shall receive..." LOL He showed me something pretty neat:

From Darkness to Light

Last week our Pastor requested prayer for several members of our church family who are going through extremely difficult waters right now.  Some have lost all  hope, some have given up on God...and some are becoming bitter.   As I sat there, the Lord reminded me that I was "just there" last summer.  And yet, here I am, pulled out from that darkness and back into His light.   Did He want me to encourage these people to hang in there?   I'm willing to be a vessel in His hands, to do His will.  So, after church I asked Pastor if he felt that me writing a letter to share my experience and have him deliver it to the hurting ones would be a help?   Remembering what I went through, Pastor took me by the hand, and said, "Tammi, I think it would mean more to them if they heard it straight from you.  Would you pray about taking about ten minutes to share your experience within the next week or two?"   I told him I would.   That was last Sunday.  This past week has been spent in much thought, prayer and seeking the Lord's guidance.  What did He want me to say?   All I had to do was ask Him and seek Him.

Lord willing, I will be sharing the following notes with my church family tomorrow.  Please pray for the Lord to encourage the hearts of His children, and be lifted up.

From Darkness to Light:

Recently I found a prayer I had written last July. It ended with “Losing Hope Fast. HELP, Father. I’m sinking.”

Circumstances were overwhelming me.  From where I was “standing,” the surrounding conditions were distorting my perspective of life.  I had lost ALL HOPE and given up on God.  Looking back, I’m certain that I did NOTHING to bring myself out of that darkness!

But I wonder….why is it that God would allow some of us to be touched (or SLAM RUN OVER) by darkness of depression??  What purpose does this serve anyway!?   After all---God is light..and in Him is NO DARKNESS right??   I know I am His child and have Him within me..SO PLEASE TELL ME why does He sometimes pull the veil of darkness over me and remove the SENSE of His presence?

Last Sunday, I came home and asked the Lord to show me what He wanted me to say today. And He immediately answered prayer, when I opened a devotional called, “My Utmost for His Highest.”

Matthew 10:27 says, “Jesus says, ‘What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.’” Wow.   He pulled the veil of darkness over me to TELL ME something.    And that “something” is meant to be SHARED….when I’m in the light.  

He taught me a lesson for two different groups of Christians:
(1) Either you’re discouraged by the DARKNESS of your circumstances –OR—(2) You’re basking in the Son-shine of His presence.