“To you alone, O Lord, to you alone, and not to us, must glory be given because of your constant love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1 Good News Translation)
Tuesday morning, after getting up and working, doing the Lord’s work, starting the day early, a little after 1:00 a.m., I laid back down around 3:45 a.m. I was having trouble going back to sleep so I decided to pray for awhile and try to see if the Lord would give me something to write about for the next publishing date. He always does, but He does not always come when you want Him to. Around 6:00 a.m., after watching TV, still in bed, still waiting to hear from heaven, I finally fell asleep. I got up around 9:30 a.m. Still, no answer of what to prepare as a draft meditation for Thursday. After taking my medicines, it was finally reaffirmed, yes, it is true, “Sometimes you just have to wait on the Lord.” And it was also reaffirmed, yes, it is also true that He will bless you in unexpected, and unanticipated ways.
This is what happened that led me to arrive at the aforementioned conclusions. Minutes after getting up, at about 9:45 a.m. I checked my emails and text messages. One of the messages, sent by the Director of Christian Education at our church, included a link to a song that I had spent a little time trying to have Alexa play the night before with no success. The link, appearing out of nowhere, but on time, included the song, “To God Be The Glory Medley.” It was sang by different artists than the one I was searching for, but that was alright. I quickly found the one I originally heard sang by Sandi Patti and Larnell Harris in the Spring of 1985 after listening to the one texted to me. I remember the song vividly. It has a special place in my memory, highlighting a life-changing event. I was staring out of a sunken living room in the house I had found to rent until my family could join me in a small, northwest Illinois town where I had to start a job before the end of the school year. I was all alone, at least it seemed that way. When I heard that song my eyes erupted with tears, and they flowed down my face like a continuous water fall. I was not alone, for it was at that time that the Lord called me into the ministry. It was spring time when things bloom and blossom. My growth was just beginning. After my calling, I eventually go to do some preaching; preached my first sermon on August 15, 1985, one moth to the day that one of my younger sons was born. I’m telling you I needed to hear that song Tuesday morning, and it gave me the fuel to keep running on, and to remember to be humble, and if I get any praise, send it Heaven’s way. So now, on that day, nearing the middle of the week, a time where believers often need to be revived, reminded, that God is not through with you yet, I was inspired. So there I was, encouraged and led to share my story with you. To God be the glory!
Hold on a minute! God was not done! After reminding me of my calling by the text message that I just described, the very next text message I scrolled down to was from a School Administrator, who sent me an inspirational picture with these words flowing into a vessel: “Have hope! Be strong! Laugh loud! Play hard! Live for the moment! Smile often! Dream Big! Remember that you are loved forever!” I believe that this was God telling me, “I’m not done with you yet! Stay balanced and press on! Do the work I called you to do!” To God be the glory!
I hope you see this as more than some type of profound journal entry or a personal reflection meant just for me. Surely God is speaking to you too about your calling and alerting you to continue doing what you do for Him as a child of the King, and to admonish you with these words, “I’m not done with YOU yet!” To God be the glory! Amen! So stop right now and give God the glory and give Him the praise! Have a great Thursday! Be blessed!
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King