Refreshed!
Elizabeth's personal reflections
on living and growing with Jesus

Current month's Refreshed!

May 2010

God's action on my behalf

I'm beginning to see how much the work of transformation is God's work. Maybe I'm a slow learner. Or maybe it's just that I've been trained well in a do-it-yourself world. I'm seeing more clearly now that there is little I need to do besides drawing near to my God. As I choose to come close and to stay close, giving attention to him, I become aware of how active God is on my behalf.

This is a truth which pops out at me when I read Psalm 18. Take a look at all that David proclaims about the Lord's action on his behalf:

He reached down from heaven and rescued me.
He delivered me from my enemies.
He rescued me because he delights in me.
He brought me out into a spacious place.
My God turns my darkness into light.
He arms me with strength; he makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle and gives me strength.
You give me victory; you sustain me; you make me great.

Being a woman rather than a male warrior, and living in the lowlands of Europe instead of in the wilderness of Judah, my list looks somewhat different, but the truth is the same: God works intentionally on my behalf. He is for me.

My victory over whatever happens to be working against me today is not dependent upon my action, upon whatever strength or willpower or skill I can muster, but upon God's action. If I will just draw near and fix my attention on him, his action and his resources come clearly into view.

There's a secret in this that I never want to lose sight of.

19/05/10

Family time

I've been away for a couple of weeks. It's been a precious time of hanging out as a couple and connecting with family and a few close friends. We gathered my 3 brothers and 7 nieces and nephews together, ages 17 to 24. This is a real formative time for each of them as they develop as young adults and dream toward their futures. Of course Aunt Beth (that's me) just loved the chance to cheer on the people they are becoming and to explore their dreams with them. The time together seemed too short but oh so sweet. I head home today refreshed and with a thankful heart.

You can expect a resurgence in my writing this week, for there's been quite a bit germinating within which hasn't been given the space to be expressed. More soon!

15/05/10