Psalm 66:16
Psalm 66: 16
“Come and hear, all you who fear God: let me tell you what he has done for me”
Something special happened a week ago in my Tsawwassen Retreat Office.
I had finished responding to a few emails, making some notes for an upcoming coaching call and was looking for some documents from a few years back. I tend to be a pack rat for keeping records and old files and as I filed through a drawer that had been untouched for years, I came across a Personal File which was given to me by our previous Accountant and friend, when he retired. I actually had never looked inside of this file.
The first correspondence was from myself, dated October 27, 1995, when I was the new President of Focus on the Family, thanking him for reaching out to me as he welcomed us to Vancouver to succeed Geoff Still, the previous President.
As I read note after note from a fairly thick file, a picture of God’s faithfulness, care, tangible intervention, provision was painted in living colour. In the midst of darkness, light was shining through which I was not able to see. Yet, light was there.
With emotion, I flipped pages representing 3 years of our lives; it seemed surreal as I read my letters and then saw notes, which had never been shared with me, for they were confidential at the time. Those years in the late 90’s, were very challenging for Denise and I as we transitioned to our move out West.
Next to this file, was a Memoire written by my Father, a few months after Mom had passed away. Dad was grieving and was reflecting on God’s goodness and in the midst of his pain, he had written, Psalm 66:16
“Come and hear, all you who fear God: let me tell you what he has done for me”
That retreat afternoon, the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice was clearly speaking, taking me back to reflect on “what He has done for me.” I summarized it in four reflections.
In the midst of darkness, there is always light, for God is that light. You probably cannot see it and that is where you need someone to help turn on the switch and be used by God. Seek that person out and ask them to help you see the Light, for it is there.
I was privileged to stumble across documentation from my past. Do some journaling and these questions could possibly help you.
Where in your past, did you experience a dark time and what did it look like?
Now looking back, how did God help you navigate through it and who did He use to help you?
How were you re directed and how has it impacted and shaped your life today?
3. Focus on Psalm 66:16 and write down what, where and when, God did for you. Thank Him for looking back, you can see His love and care for you, which will provide encouragement as you journey forward. He is always there.
4. Some one may have been used to be there for you. Send them an email or a card and thank them.
I did this for my Accountant friend for his support 25 years ago, and he was back to me within 30 minutes, with a huge thank you and what an encouragement it was for him
As I close this devotional, I am reminded of the poem, penned by a Jewish poet, Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai in 1050 AD. I visualize him standing on the shores of the Mediterranean, lost in the great love of his Jehovah; the measureless love of God, who is always looking out for us. When God preserves words for over 1000 years, we would do best to listen to them.
It was included as verse 3 of Frederick Lehman’s hymn, “The Love of God”, which he wrote in 1917.
As I have sung this hymn, when we reached verse 3, I have quietly been in awe of the picture of God’s vast, unmeasurable love for us.
Yes, let me tell you what He has done for me.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every mand a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole.
Though stretched from sky to sky.
May the tune and words of this hymn be on your mind this week and for the fall. They are on mine.
~Bruce
