Gifts and Disappointments - Ministry Exchange (MX)

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Beholding the works of the Lord:

Think back across the last year-BEHOLDING THE WORKS OF THE LORD.
Spend a few minutes quieting yourself, your mind, your heart, and your
imagination. Breath deep, close your eyes, give to the Lord the
preoccupations which are bouncing around in your brain.

Remain silent in His presence for as long as you would like. – – – – – When you feel ready to move, ask God to bring to your mind and heart the
works of grace He has done in your life over the last year. Move backwards
in time from where you are now. Stop, dwell and reconsider the work of
grace.

WORKS OF CONSOLATION:

Are there clear demonstrations of His presence? – When did you see a clear demonstration of His action in your life? – When did you have clear evidence (or a even hunch) of His person? (An action may have led you to recognize Him, but what is it about Him that you recognized, learned or even were confounded by?) – Ask the Lord to allow you to savor again, through the gift of memory, the offering of Himself in those time.
Are there places that you missed Him in the past which are now more
clear to you now? – Pray that God would open your eyes to ways in which you may have missed Him.
Rejoice in the consolations!

WORKS OF DESOLATION:

Are there places of desolation in your life that you can recall? – Are there question marks in time past around people, events, yourself, God? – How do those places of desolation look now? – Is there evidence of God’s grace? Or do they still feel, seem and appear desolate?
Are there desolations that you have missed or have ignored?

What do these desolations tell you about God, yourself, others, the
world?
Rejoice, only as much as you honestly can, in the desolations.

Let Psalm 46 guide your prayerful response.

Psalm 46
God’s Defense of His City and People

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

General Thanksgiving Pray Slowly & Meditatively Almighty God, Father of all mercies, I your unworthy servant give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to me and to all whom you have made. I bless you for my creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, I pray, give me such an awareness of your mercies, that with a truly thankful heart I may show forth your praise, not only with my lips, but in my life, by giving up myself to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all my days; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.