for HIS sake

Psalm 106:45, "for their sake He remembered His covenant and out of His great love He relented."

Pride is a stinky thing.  It is something I continue to struggle with.  I think the good things I do have so much more to do with me and than something that comes from God.  I quickly forget all the yuck that came before that He has forgiven and think somehow I either "earned" His forgiveness or that I am worthy of it.

If you have read the Old Testament, those Israelites can make you so frustrated.  Like, how much more proof do you need?  In my own life, I have not seen a sea parted, water gush from a rock, manna drop from heaven (to name a few).  And they just keep on griping and complaining.  "We're hungry."  "Why did you bring us here?"  "I don't want to do that!"  And He just keeps on loving them and rescuing their behinds.  And I guarantee (said in a Louisiana accent) it had nothing to do with their merit.  It was His unrelenting faithfulness and love.

Did you see my pride right up there?! Ugh, it's stinky.  I do the same thing.  So, a few of my miracles look like a child that was born into this world that for all worldly reasons shouldn't have been and thrives and has the biggest heart toward people; a child that didn't die from alcohol poisoning from a young, stupid choice; a godly husband that loves me so much he stayed back in Dallas to take care of our dog so I could go on vacation (and is taking me back to my home next month).  And those are a MIGHTY small few of my list.  And yet I grumble and forget. 

God is always working.  I don't get to understand it.  HE IS GOD, I AM NOT.  He is unrelenting in His love for me, in His forgiveness and His pursuit of me.  

So I have to remind myself...hopefully this comes before the words out of my mouth or even the thoughts that I let carry.   And I hope in His promises.  In my trials I have found several truths that in my older years look like tattoos I have to visually remind myself when I need it that even in my pride He is working on me.  Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  George Morrison wrote, "The Lord took Israel out of Egypt in one night, but it took Him forty years to take Egypt out of Israel."  He worked on them.  He's working on me.  He's pursuing and working on you.   HE is faithful.