Monday Morning Cover to Cover

Somewhere on the Goat Farm, I lost my whole week of writing notes on our chronological readings. If I had done it on paper, I could say the goats ate it; however, I think Dell ate it all up. It has disappeared right off of my computer screen forever. No way I can duplicate it.

So, I'll share with you from my heart what lingers with me from last week's chronological readings. Daniel 9:20 I will long remember. "While I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and presenting my plea before His Holy Hill," the LORD said to me through Daniel 9:22 "Oh, I have now come out to give you INSIGHT and UNDERSTANDING. I was so moved by Daniel's decision to come before His Lord three times each day. Come to the window that faces Jerusalem. And Daniel found his God there.

I am profoundly marked by Daniel's story. Last week is now a blur but it was one of the hardest weeks for me, right up there with my "Top 10" hardest weeks ever. I went to Him, not to any man ... and God so showed up for me! Yes, He came to give insight and understanding and it was not in the ways I imagined. Silly me for scripting what I think should happen. Sovereign God working through His ways, not my ways.

When I read the next verse, Daniel 9:23, you could have heard me gasp on the Goat Farm as I sat watching the goats feast on their dinner. Every time I gasped or sobbed, they would stare. And Truth settled deep into my heart, Psalm 51:6. "At the beginning of your pleas for mercy, a word went out. And I have come to tell you for you are greatly loved." I have struggled my whole life with feelings of worthlessness. My beautiful God has so invaded my mess and I know that I know that I know that I am greatly loved. And once again, my beautiful LORD came to me in that moment with a word for I AM greatly Loved and so are you!

And there was one other verse that just jumped right off the pages. Psalm 126. Amazing to think something written so very long ago was written for me this very week of my life. God has brought me home and I am like a woman who dreams. I have a dream deep in my new heart. My mouth is filled with laughter I’ve cried many tears in the past 3 weeks, but those who sow in tears will reap in joy and my heart is so full of unexplainable joy. Only God could have shifted my sorrow-filled heart. So grateful to our good sovereign God for bringing us here! The LORD has done great things for us and we are filled with joy!!!!