Before I get any farther into my post today, let me say "Thank you" for reading! I am praying along with you all for the strength and health to get through these trying times. I would love to hear from you and pray for you. If you would like to leave a comment or prayer request you do not need to have a google account or a blog. You can choose the option to comment as "anonymous". Again, I would love to hear from you!
If you are like me, one thing you can never keep up with around the house; in your car; on your deck: in your shop, etc. is none other than, dust! As I was in prayer for the subject of today's post, the word "dust" came to my mind along with the Scripture verse: Psalm 103:14 "For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust." In other words, he understands that we are human.
We know from the beginning in the Book of Genesis that we were created from dust. Man was "formed" by God and "breathed" into by God's own breath. God wanted to make man, male and female, "into our own image" speaking of the Trinity in Genesis 1:26 & 27, and he did. Man was special over all the rest of creation because he originally was given dominion over what God created. Mankind was designed to have personal relationship with his Creator. Through that first breath, life was given! Wow! Think of it! In many instances of CPR, we are able to breathe life into another human being. The difference is that God said, "let us make man in OUR image" meaning Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So, I believe that original Breath of Life gave us so much more than physical oxygen to our lungs. It made us not only physical but spiritual beings as well.
God has been understanding our "humanness" from the beginning when he called Adam's name in the Garden after Adam had disobeyed him and hid from him. Simply said, Adam was told what to do and not to do and he chose to do the latter. He had a choice. At that time God immediately put his plan into action to restore the relationship. His plan of redemption kicked in.
We are made in His image. God CHOSE to create us. He CHOSE to save us. Jesus CHOSE to die on the Cross for our Salvation. Holy Spirit CHOSE to indwell us. We are free through what Jesus did to CHOOSE the life he has offered and all the amazing blessings and provision through His Word, the Bible! Adam hid from God because of sin and disobedience. We hide from God because of sin and disobedience. He calls our name like he did Adams. When we respond to that calling, he restores and heals. It is our choice.
Now back to Psalm 103 verses 10, 13 &14: "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities." "As a father shows compassion (or pity) to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him." "For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust." Our Father God, Creator LOVES us. His heart hurts when we hurt. His heart really hurts when we, his kids pull away from him in times of trouble. His heart hurts for those who have never come to him in the first place to accept the Salvation he provided through the death, burial and resurrection of his Beloved Son. He did it all for us. He is hurting right now over the suffering in the whole world. Sin, sickness and death came as a result of "choice". He cries out to us to respond to his call to return to him with our whole heart and allow him to exercise that compassion over us as we put our total and complete trust in him to bring us through these unprecedented times.
Let those of us who have become the Children of God through our Faith in Him (John 1:12) draw ever closer to him as we walk through this season. Let us draw closer to one another by using whatever resources are available while attempting to "obey the laws" that are an attempt at helping us. We can use social media. We can make phone calls. We can write letters; send cards. We can continue to smile and wave and be kind and friendly to those we encounter. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful", Hebrews 10:23.
The last time I looked, there was plenty of dust around. As descending from the original "dust" of creation let us keep in mind we are all in this together and need to pray and encourage one another and keep our eyes on the one who is always watching out for us with love and compassion and trust and pray His perfect will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Praying these words bring you encouragement and hope!
BarbaraJean
