loss

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 (8:19 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

There’s some trouble getting started here this morning. Fragments of a few dreams I had keep coming to the forefront of my mind. I remember waking up from the first one thinking, “Yes. That’s what it is, I need to speak with the Lord about ‘loss’.” Do I really Lord?

Yes, maybe so. Lord, I don’t usually put a lot of stock in dreams. I’m the first to admit that I don’t have what it takes to figure them out. Just following what seems to be Your lead, I am again reading parts of Job’s story. Once again You amaze me Lord!

Ever so faintly, in the far reaches of my mind ♫The Old Rugged Cross♫ is almost audible. As I search for the words, I come across the chorus: ♫So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown♫ This was my mom’s song Lord. How very appropriate that it would accompany the dream I had of all of her earthly possessions having been stolen.

Speak to me here Lord, in ways that go beyond what I would try to conjure into making sense.

I’m reading of Job’s dialogue with his friends. He continues to insist on his innocence while the others in his life continue to condemn, rebuke, challenge and even angrily attack him.

(10:12 a.m.)

While continuing to read excerpts of this profound book, Lord I so very humbly come to You with genuine thanksgiving for the mistakes I continue to make. Lord, You are so very good. So kind. So forgiving. Thank You Lord that a dream about loss would take me again into this book about even greater loss than I can imagine. Thank You that the theme throughout is faith and trust in You. NOT in our understanding of You!

Lord, I won’t pretend to truly grasp the meaning of all of this. It is much too deep. Far too profound. What I will do is ask that I would be able to stand, like Job, before others in the midst of every pain and loss declaring, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand upon this earth at last. And I know that after this body has decayed, this body shall see God!” (Job 19:25-26)

Thank You Lord that through this book we are taught that You are never put off by our fear, anger, doubt, complaints. Here we are reminded to ‘live by faith rather than our own strength’. Where our own reasoning may be faulty, Your sovereignty reigns supreme. Lord, thank You for teaching us marvelous lessons through great loss.

You are good. You are holy. You are the very reason that I am loved. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(488 words ~ 10 :36 a.m.)