No Matter What it's Called, It's a New Chapter in The Greatest Pursuit

A new road. An open door. A window of opportunity.  No matter what it's called, it is a new chapter in The Greatest Pursuit.
Sometimes the Lord uses circumstances in our lives to point us in new directions and to new horizons.  And as difficult as it is not to "look back" (spiritually speaking), it is not prudent.

 Still, I find myself inquiring. Were we just "at ease in Zion"? Just marking time on the backside of the desert, or perhaps-just a square peg in a round whole?  Those questions, along with many others, fade to black now as we seek God's leading along the new pathway He has for the Cater family-one that calls for renewed commitment, purpose, and honest reappraisal of all things "spiritual".

 Right now, we are in the "malaise phase"-a dry spell where, not a whole lot is going on-or so we think.  We are even tempted to have thoughts that, perhaps God is THROUGH WITH US.  Not so.

It is during these seemingly silent times God is readying His children for future service.


This new chapter facing our family also brought to mind a song I used to sing back in my late teens or early twenties called  "Look For A Window" by Dallas Holm. Granted, this is not Dallas' greatest lyrical work for sure. But it spoke to my heart then, and it speaks to me still today. I leave you today with the lyrics to:

Look For A Window lyrics DALLAS HOLM:

"Hot on the trail of God's will

And getting warmer still

Got it together this time around

There's nothing to stop you now

Stopped by the slam of a door

God, what'd You do that for

Sometimes we just don't understand

How He wants to let us in


When God closes a door, look for a window
Oh look for a window
Don't stand at the door, there might be a window
Oh look for a window



Responsibilities change

And so do our pathways

One way God shows which way to go

Is to let the old road close



(repeat chorus)



There's no point in getting down on yourself

God is only going to point you somewhere else"

The Destitute Heart of Man and the Grace of God

..."I flirt with the world-it steals my love for You,

My fear grips my faith and I am left unmoved..."

"Did I hear that right?" I ask myself as traveled down the highway to another office. I hit the button to start the song over again and sure enough-my ears did not deceive me.

The most recent release of Matt Maher's "Alive Again" CD was an instant hit with my son Zach , who loves singing the title cut. But until Meranda and I had to switch vehicles, I hadn't listened to the CD completely. Track three is titled "Sing Over Your Children" and deals with the old "wayward skipper'" that seeks to shipwreck our voyage across the stormy seas of life. I am, of course talking about the sinful heart of man that lies within of all of us.

God caused the first line of that song to repeatedly resonate in my mind. "Lord, this is me? I flirt with the world ?", I prayerfully asked. I started "building my case"-or digging my grave-as it turned out to be-for my own self-righteousness.

When you feel as though you have to "pull out your resume' on the Lord, to justify your behavior, attitudes or your actions, you are neck-deep in "spiritual" quicksand! And as I searched the deep reaches of my heart- you can imagine; I didn't like the answer that was revealed.

Scripture says many things about the heart. Jeremiah sums up well what lies in the heart. In chapter 17, verses 9 and 10, Jeremiah says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds." (NASB)

The deceitfulness of my own heart had fooled me. Could your heart be fooling you too?? I continue with the song:

"..But your gaze stops my heart,

Your voice fills the dark,

Your Love is the spark that lights this life-and so we rise.

CHORUS

Out of the depths You cry, "come and be satisfied"

Father you sing, Father you sing over Your children.

Let us see through Your eyes, we are Your great delight,

Father You sing, Father you sing over Your children.

"You quiet the storm, inside my shipwrecked soul

Your Spirit will lead, It calls the wayward home.

At the sound of your name, our sin is washed away.

In Christ we're crucified, In You we die, In You we rise,

CHORUS

Out of the depths You cry, "come and be satisfied"

Father you sing, Father you sing over Your children.

Let us see through Your eyes, we are Your great delight,

Father You sing, Father you sing over Your children

BRIDGE

And we're singing along, Your daughters and sons,

We're singing Your song, We are your children."

What causes us to be deceived? Is it not a shallow, superficial sort of spirituality, the kind that is so typical of our busy, drive-thru lifestyles? A shallow and superficial Christian life is like a ship with a slow leak. Before you know you it, your sinking in a sea of sin!

Thanks be to God, for our "life-saver", Jesus Christ and for His mercy and grace!

"19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near..." (Hebrews 10:19-25 NASB)