Lord, how great is our dilemma!
In Thy Presence silence best becomes us, but love inflames our hearts and constrains us to speak.
Were we to hold our peace the stones would cry out; yet if we speak what shall we say?
Teach us to know that we cannot know, for the things of God knoweth no man,
but the Spirit of God.
Let faith support us where reason fails, and we shall think because we believe,
not in order that we may believe.
A.W. TOZER, The Knowledge of the Holy
The grass crunches under scorching heat in my front yard and I think about flying embers, ash laden sidewalks, billows of smoke hiding rooftops in Colorado. Families huddle close on borrowed couches while I spread out with a book barefoot.
As I pray for the displaced and heavy-laden I am reminded that we walk by faith, not understanding. That words fail to answer questions of why but we ask Him because we believe, not in order to believe. And faith bows at the altar of God incomprehensible.
Will you join me this weekend to pray for the victims of fire in Colorado? May the Spirit of truth supersede our need to understand.
Praying, yes. And treasuring your words, “. . . we ask Him because we believe, not in order to believe.”
The heat here lately reminds me to pray as well.
Me too, its been very hot. Thanks for the link up on Saturdays. I always look forward to it.
Yes, I have been in such ash-fallen wildfire places in CA growing up in areas hit by Santa Ana winds that wreak fire havoc each year…and I lift Colorado up with you!
My husband lived through a few of those fires while in LA for college. Thanks for joining to lift them up in prayer this weekend.
Wonderfully powerful thoughts. Praying with you.
Thanks Susan.
YES! It is one horrific situation. I have connections there that have contacted on FB and their church began having people on their property last week when this began sliding down their area. The church is doing all they can to help, spiritually and physically, those who are in that phase of suffering. Thank you for lifting this situation up before our eyes and for sharing so clearly and precisely of where your heart is.
Shelley–so well put. it is indeed a dilemma; so much destruction but God promises to bring beauty out of the ashes.
My journal teacher lives in CO near the fires. i have written to her and her staff, and we cry for mercy, Lord.
Yes, I am praying! Love this quote my A.W. Tozer!
I echo Sandy, “because we believe, not in order to believe.” Thank you for such a profound and hopeful post this morning.
Shelly, thanks for your prayers. On the one hand, it is has been so amazing to see people pulling together–so many extra cars in our neighborhood because people have taken in evacuated friends–and people are united and pulling together. But then, the sadness. The loss of two lives. The heart-ache not just for the folks who lost their homes, but those who didn’t but now sit in among ashes for neighbors. Tks for praying! I join you.
yes, Lord, extraordinary grace cover and clothe and protect and provide
for everyone in harm’s way in Colorado
and please make overwhelmingly beautiful beginnings
even before the embers cool.
i loved walking through the garden with you,
your photos nourishing me deep
with the rich vivid words you chose.
glad thanks,
Jennifer
Beautiful pictures and words, Shelly.
Love your photos .. awesome colours and contrasts 🙂
Yes, we will lift them up the altar in Faith….. because we believe. He knows, His promises are anchored upon the immovable, unshakable.