March 4
If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will fetch you. Deuteronomy 30:4
At some point or another, far-away places and distant lands intrigue most of us. We envision warm, sunny skies, palm trees perhaps, sandy beaches, peace and serenity; a place to “get away from it all!” Yet far-away, uttermost places are often not filled with bright, clear skies, they may be difficult places, right where we are! We may find ourselves in a place foreign to us; a scary, unknown territory; a place we may not want to be in, but for one reason or another we have been “outcast” to. Feelings of displacement and isolation are common in these outermost parts - these places of separation from all that is familiar to us.
Serious illness, with its ensuing alien treatment and suffering, may open up a place unknown and out of our control as our lives become dependent upon the hands of others. Major life changes thrust us into a place we never expected to be in; unfamiliar alterations to our everyday activities can create chaos and discord within. Grief often sparks feelings of fear, hopelessness and inadequacy as the spirit is being tumbled about on this difficult journey that we do not have the power to change. And then all the refugees throughout the world immediately come to mind; people who in their suffering and sorrow, have lost everything and travelled far to a foreign place in the quest for freedom – for life? In all situations, comfort is found in gathering together with people who care, people who can help, and people experiencing similar circumstances.
Scripture reassures us again that God knows where we are; no place and no one is far away from Him! He knows every part of the heavens and earth and has known each one of us since before we were born! We can trust in His Word that He will give us strength, courage and direction. He will fetch us out of the far-away place we are in, so we may find our way back to what is familiar to us - to what we know. And even if we forget Him in our duress, don't worry! He will never forget us!He will come and gather us up in His loving arms and bring us His comfort. No longer will we be apart in a distant place, but brought back to one of peace and serenity, light and joy. In the darkness of our exile, God will always find us, no matter how far away we feel.
Thank you, God for the many times you have gathered us up and brought us back to you. Jesus we trust in you! Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson
If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will fetch you. Deuteronomy 30:4
At some point or another, far-away places and distant lands intrigue most of us. We envision warm, sunny skies, palm trees perhaps, sandy beaches, peace and serenity; a place to “get away from it all!” Yet far-away, uttermost places are often not filled with bright, clear skies, they may be difficult places, right where we are! We may find ourselves in a place foreign to us; a scary, unknown territory; a place we may not want to be in, but for one reason or another we have been “outcast” to. Feelings of displacement and isolation are common in these outermost parts - these places of separation from all that is familiar to us.
Serious illness, with its ensuing alien treatment and suffering, may open up a place unknown and out of our control as our lives become dependent upon the hands of others. Major life changes thrust us into a place we never expected to be in; unfamiliar alterations to our everyday activities can create chaos and discord within. Grief often sparks feelings of fear, hopelessness and inadequacy as the spirit is being tumbled about on this difficult journey that we do not have the power to change. And then all the refugees throughout the world immediately come to mind; people who in their suffering and sorrow, have lost everything and travelled far to a foreign place in the quest for freedom – for life? In all situations, comfort is found in gathering together with people who care, people who can help, and people experiencing similar circumstances.
Scripture reassures us again that God knows where we are; no place and no one is far away from Him! He knows every part of the heavens and earth and has known each one of us since before we were born! We can trust in His Word that He will give us strength, courage and direction. He will fetch us out of the far-away place we are in, so we may find our way back to what is familiar to us - to what we know. And even if we forget Him in our duress, don't worry! He will never forget us!He will come and gather us up in His loving arms and bring us His comfort. No longer will we be apart in a distant place, but brought back to one of peace and serenity, light and joy. In the darkness of our exile, God will always find us, no matter how far away we feel.
Thank you, God for the many times you have gathered us up and brought us back to you. Jesus we trust in you! Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson