“In the Night Season and All the Day Long” May 13, 2013

Several weeks ago, my Grandpa called me with the old hymn, God Leads His Dear Children Along.  God gave it to him for me, while he was praying for me one day. Friends, may I tell you just how timely this was for me? Can I tell you how much it reminded me that not only does my Grandpa love me, but God loves me and never turns a blind-eye to my situation–bad or good.

At this particular time in my life, I was feeling quite despondent. Things just seemed not to be working. Many tangible things were broken or about to give out, I was broke, I was not in a place of success in my career according to society’s rating by a long shot, most of my relationships appeared to be gasping for air,  and my college degree was still in the mailing envelope it came in over a year prior.  You know what consoled me? Jesus. Just as the song below says, “God leads His dear children along.”  God has never stopped leading me. He has allowed many undesirable things to happen and I have made many mistakes, but “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9).”  I can rest assured that my God will direct, and redirect my steps even when I swerve off the path or forget His promises and past provision and blessings.

Enjoy this Song by John A. Young, 1903:  God Leads His Dear Children Along

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,

God leads His dear children along;

Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,

God leads His dear children along.

Some through the waters, some through the flood,

Some through the fire, but all through the blood;

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song

In the night season and all the day long.

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,

God leads His dear children along;

Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,

God leads His dear children along.

Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,

God leads His dear children along;

Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,

God leads His dear children along.

Away from the mire, and away from the clay,

God leads His dear children along;

Away up in glory, eternity’s day,

God leads His dear children along.

Scripture Reference:  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. -John 10:3

I am delighted to say I have no doubt that this song is true.  I have experienced it fully and I know about the green pastures and I know about the night seasons.  I know about the mountain tops and I know about the mire. The Lord is faithful to “work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).”  Praise God I am called to His purpose and by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit I can love Him with my whole self!

You know, our individual sorrow is varying, but God knows what we can handle.  He also know where we need purifying. This process of sanctification is quite difficult, but  His love can be seen more and more in each passing trial.

Walking with Jane May 9, 2010

So you know that scene in Pride and Prejudice where Jane is traveling in the mud from her own home to Mr. Bingley’s?  The one were there is perfect asymmetrical balance, if there exists such a thing, between Jane and the lovely voluptuous tree settled on the left side of the screen.  Well, perhaps you only understand this reference if you are a hopeless romantic female like myself.  This picture is the epitome of confidence and peace for me.  There is something about the composition of the elements within this frame.  It could possibly be the beautiful arrangement of several of my favorite elements:  trees, rainy days, and freedom.  

Jane is a very passionate, confident, motivated person and this frame displays these qualities in a most eloquent way.  I want to be there.  Seeing this momentary scene play out makes me nostalgic about times when I have felt such peace and confidence, and then urges me to look ahead into what might provide such a time again.  Contentment mingled with purpose and dedication; serenity…how does one live and breathe and exist in such a state?   There is so much chaos and moments of terrible symmetrical balance and unexpected mud puddles that creep into my perfect scene.  If you continue to watch the movie, you see that Jane is also experiencing much turmoil and discontentedness at this time, but for five wonderful seconds there is raw and natural contentment.

Unfortunately, I cannot—no matter how badly I desire to—crawl into that perfect scene.  I cannot live in the perfect moment all of the time, or even the majority of the time.  I must live though. Not only just to live, but to live in the most effective and committed way I can…this is what I am destined to do.  To live effectively means to be me, Amanda Nicole Ratheal 100% of the time. No matter how silly or obvious you think the last statement is, it is true. Most, including myself, do not know what this truly means.  You see, just recently, I discovered that I can experience every single emotion known to man in the span of only an hour. Yes, an hour.  It is also possible to loose site of dreams and passions that you thought ran so deep that it would take the extreme act of draining the very blood from your body to loose.  I am sorrowful and bitter and selfish.  These things are apart of me as well as the happy bubbly spirit that I thought was the only thing that was supposed to exist within me.  To be me, you see, does not mean only living in the good times.  If this were true, for a portion of my life at least, I would not be living.  Bad things happen, we are sinful people and to deny that either of these things are true is to deny who God made you to be as well as His power to deliver you. We must push forward through the pits and rutts all the while acknowledging that we are broken and sinful people in need of the grace and mercy and help of a loving Heavenly Father.  This is what I mean by being me, 100% of the time. 

God is God in the good times and bad.  He is constant and unwavering. 

Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

 — John Piper (A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God)