Psalm 119:120
I shiver in awe before you;
your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday,
the gates of Heaven were opened wide for a friend and fellow church
member, Patrick Hunt Dudeck, whose two-year battle with kidney cancer
came to a close. He was only midway through his 45th year…the husband
to Kerri and father to Lauren, Seth and Rowe. Our pastor announced
Sunday during worship that Pat had gone on Hospice care the day before.
As
I sent messages of prayer and encouragement to Pat and Kerri and others
who loved them, I noted that the waiting was so very hard. We had
accepted that death was eminent…but the question of exactly when and how
left us anxious. I remember this from waiting with my mother only two
weeks ago – and sitting with other loved ones whose passing was close at
hand. And I remember the “shiver of awe” that washed over me when it
was finished.
I love how The Message translation describes
this “fear of the Lord.” Have you ever felt this “shiver” for
yourself? Maybe for you it wasn’t when a loved one passed. Perhaps it
was the release and relief when a miracle happened in your life…you
passed the test…got good news about a health scare…a baby was born…you
were reunited with a loved one who had been away for a long time…you got
the job – or the promotion…or the “storm” passed and left you
unscathed. Or maybe you felt this “shiver” and leaned on God when you
got bad news and didn’t fall apart…you did something you didn’t think
you would be able to manage…or life kicked you in the gut in some
manner.
In all of these circumstances and many more, God’s
decisions often leave us “speechless in reverence” – or they should.
Pat texted me on December 29th…”Got your note this morning…thank you! I
love the encouragement. From the beginning, I wanted this to glorify
God and be a part of His bigger plan. Thank you and Greg for your faith
and prayers. God bless!” THAT is reverence for God’s decisions. We
should all desire that everything about our lives would glorify God and
be part of His bigger plan.
On January 12, Pat posted a note on
Facebook he titled “Revelation.” It said…” I've learned that everyday
truly is a gift from the Lord above. I have always been told this, and
believed it. But to truly grasp the rock solid meaning of that statement
is a true gift in itself. My hope and prayer for anyone who hasn't, is
to find that truth, and enjoy it. May God bless you!” Today, this
quote, superimposed over a portrait of the Dudeck family, has become the
“profile picture” of countless people from our community. Just as
hundreds of people posted comments about my mother and echoed her
unending faith a few weeks ago, Pat’s words have become another “rally
cry” among many for the “shivering awe” and reverence for God’s plans
and promises.
In another of our last message exchanges, I told
Pat that I was not sure what God had up His sleeve with all of the
things happening to him and my mother, but I had a feeling it was
something BIG. I had no idea just how big it would be…or that they would
both be with Jesus so soon. I most certainly did not know that Greg’s
brother, Bruce, would precede them both. But I can tell you, they all
got the better end of this deal!
As you spend time with God
today, seek His decisions – all of them – with reverence and awe.
Humble yourself in His sight and truly feel His presence. Know that
every day…every circumstance…every experience is a gift from God. He
will walk through each one of them with you, no matter what is
included. If that doesn’t make you shiver with awe, you should probably
check your “relationship status.” Romans 8:28 reminds us…” And we know
that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and
are fitting into his plans.” We have recently celebrated the lives of
several servants who loved God and fit into His plans. Can the same be
said of you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment