OUR LIFE IN GOD'S MANUSCRIPT

This morning I was reading from a journal I kept during 2006 and came across a poem I had written regarding that morning’s devotions. I have been thinking a great deal lately about my life’s daily progress, in other words, my pilgrimage as it relates to tasks and daily needs that I need to address. Retirement has provided some measures of time that I’ve not experienced to quite this degree previously. I did have a period of eight months when I was between positions, but much of that time was exploring where next I would discover employment, so the freedom of my mind’s pursuits was not quite the same as the present.

I’ve been doing a good deal of writing, both my own autobiography, as well as, a historical novel based on my mother’s life. As I mused about the process of writing these narratives and the pursuits of the daily tasks of a bivocational pastor and teacher, I began to examine my own life’s “pages” as a Christian. My conclusion? That our Sovereign God is the true Author of the Storyline of man’s existence. As Creative Author, God wrote the beginning chapters, and continues to write the scenes of each day’s progress. Interestingly enough, He has already written the last chapter of the book, and as I have often commented, “I’ve read the last chapter, and we win!” But, the middle pages of the story are still in process. Oh, they’re in His mind but He’s daily writing the manuscript that includes our life’s pages.

The Author penned sweet rapture’s theme,
Then poured Himself into its scene.
He, reaching into His storyline,
Felt with His characters, those, too, His design.
Oh, what utter condescensions
That Author’s pen so purely mentions,
As framed we are in time and space,
And yet perceive His timeless face.
He smiles and we are warmed by such,
His holy hands, His passioned touch.
Then capstone of such holy pleasure,
He gives out another treasure.
We’re made to know our Story’s written,
And for us Author’s heart is smitten,
Thus He says that all we ask
He’ll give, so in Him we can bask,
And freely live out His Story’s task.
~jb, 1-27-2006

II Corinthians 3:2-3 “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

WHAT A PURE DELIGHT TO REALIZE WHEN I HAVE “WRITER’S BLOCK” AND KNOW NOT WHAT TO DO, HIS MIND CONTINUES TO GIVE ME NEW LIGHT TO “WRITE!”
BE ENCOURAGED, MY FRIENDS, IN WRITING YOUR LIFE STORY.