Twists and Turns

Life has so many twists and turns, leaving us breathless, restless, either because we don't like change or we wish things would change, and we could be taken out of the mess we think we're in. 

As I was preparing my late breakfast, I was thinking of many things. My brain tends to jump all over the place... 😃Suddenly that first phrase jumped into my head and I knew I had a blog post begging to be written. 

So, this morning I was thinking about the twists and turns of my life, and there have been many. What I'm learning is that God is in charge of them all, and nothing takes Him by surprise. And if we're willing, He uses those twists and turns for His glory and our good; using them to shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus, if we belong to Him. 

The main thing on my mind today, is how much I've been missing Phil the last few days. More so than usual. I was wondering why, aside from the obvious  reasons... well three years ago we went on a get away to the coast for a couple of nights to celebrate the end of his radiation treatments and a belated anniversary (it had been our 31st in June).  Pictures of that time came up in my Facebook memories this last week. Also this is the time of year, 21 years ago we were preparing for me to give him a kidney. September 16 was the day of that event, that changed our lives and gave us 19 more years together. 

While seeing those pictures made me sad, and miss him more, like my brother said, when I shared with him via messenger, it's so good to have those memories! The picture I'm sharing here is from that time. 

We had eaten at a restaurant, we wouldn't normally eat at, because we had a dinner voucher from the hotel we stayed at. It was a restaurant from which we could see the ocean as we sat outside on the patio. All of a sudden diners were talking about seeing dolphins along the shore. I'm pretty sure I saw them but I don't remember for sure, because I was focused on the sunset. Either way it's a memorable experience, and I can clearly remember my husband sitting across from me and seeing his dear face and sharing our love of many years. 

Transitioning now, to the Scripture I read yesterday and that is still permeating my heart today. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith --more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire-- may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 (Christian Standard Bible, emphasis mine)

Through the trials I have gone through, God is growing my faith... The Bible I read this out of is a CH Spurgeon study Bible, and has this note for verse 7: "'The proven character of your faith.' Let us not be mistaken: God never gave us faith to play with. Faith is a sword. But it was not made to exhibit upon a parade ground. It was meant to cut and wound and slay. Whoever has it may expect, between here and heaven, to learn what battle means. God has made nothing in vain; he especially makes nothing in the spiritual kingdom in vain. He made faith with the intent that it should be used to the utmost and exercised to the full. We must expect trial because trial is the element of faith. Faith without trial is like a diamond uncut, the brilliance of which has never been seen. A fish without water or a bird without air is faith without trial. We may surely expect that our faith will be tested."

I have suffered grief in various trials, my husband's passing being the biggest one to date, and I noticed that the Scirptuer above says, "if necessary, so that the proven character of my faith may result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." wow! It's hard to imagine that this was necessary, but really, knowing that God allowed it for His glory and my good, makes it something that I can rejoice in. Backwards thinking, right? Well, God's kingdom is unlike that of this world, so yeah, it does seem backwards, but oh does it bring joy to know God and to walk by faith.