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April 28, 2009
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
I've Got Nothing!, by Tom Norvell
Lord, I've got nothing!
My mind is jumbled with thoughts that range from excitement, hope, and
anticipation, to confusion, discouragement, and frustration. I am
amazed at the way things have happened in the past, and I wonder what
sort of things will happen in the future. I dwell on the mistakes I
have made, and I marvel the mistakes You have helped me avoid.
Lord, I've got nothing!
I read Your word and I understand that You direct my path and that Your
Word lights the path that I walk. Yet, there are times when I am afraid
to take another step. I read of how You have delivered Your servants
from all types of disaster and calamity, and I realize that I have
often been a recipient of that deliverance. I read of how You hear me
when I have no words and answer me before I speak.
Lord, I've got nothing!
I look ahead of me to the tasks on my calendar for the week and wonder
how I will ever get it all done. I don't have the energy. I don't have
the desire. I don't have the motivation. Then, I look back and see all
the things that You enabled me to do last week when I had just as
little energy, desire and motivation.
Lord, I've got nothing!
People ask me questions for which I have no answers. People come to me
for advice as I go to others for advice. People look to me for wisdom
and knowledge as I come to you for wisdom and knowledge.
That's all I need.
Lord, I've got nothing!
I am tired. I am weak. I am worn. I am a struggler. I am a sinner. I am
a child. I am a human. I have questions. I have fears. I have
temptations. I have pride. I am self-conscious. I am selfish. At times
I am a mess.
I cry out to You, Lord, and I confess that I have nothing! As my cries
grow silent I hear You say:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven" (Matthew 5:3 NIV).
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those
God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of
his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And
those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also
justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who
can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him
up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give
us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has
chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ
Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the
right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is
written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are
considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am
convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans
8:28-39).
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9)
You remind of what Paul said so long ago to others like me:
I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians
4:13).
Lord, I have nothing! But, when I stop, listen, and hear Your voice I
realize I have You, and You know me, and You have me. That's all I
need.
---------
(c) 2009 Tom Norvell <tomnorvell@mac.com>. Used by permission. A
Norvell Note <http://www.anorvellnote.com> is a weekly email
message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!
RELATED LINKS:
* Unrecognized Workers
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200701/20070109_unrecognized.html
* A Part of His Story
http://www.heartlight.org/two_minute/2m_980909_museum.html
* The Strength of Weakness
http://www.heartlight.org/feature/feature_970723_weakness.html
* A Norvell Note
http://www.anorvellnote.com
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200904/20090428_nothing.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
PAGAN CHRISTIANITY! EXPOSING THE ROOTS OF OUR CHURCH PRACTICES, by Frank Viola, George Barna
Frank Viola and George Barna come to the startling conclusion that most
of what Christians do in church is rooted more in pagan culture than in
the New Testament.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?254
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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