Habakkuk is one of those small, relatively obscure books in the Bible, but it’s got an amazing dialog. Here are two things God said that are just astounding.

Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
…
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

God knows when His vision for you will be carried out, *especially* if you don’t. It will be a work that you couldn’t believe, even if God told you what it was. Wait for it. It will come, and it will not be late. Selah.

-j

Never has a passage in the Scripture mirrored my thoughts as well as this one. Here is an excerpt from Psalm 13. The emphasis is mine.

How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

-j

When the Lord gives you an inspiration, run with it. Almost immediately after that, Satan tries to stop you.

My faith was very recently all but shattered. It took just about every ounce of spiritual strength I had to not blaspheme against God. Sure, I questioned His purpose, but I believe I can say I never wanted to “curse God and die”. I wasn’t sure how long this period of amazing doubt would last, but I didn’t want it to be long. I recruited a couple of my very close friends to fight with me in prayer, and in just a few days I can say the Lord is faithful.

This morning on my way to work I realized I’m on the brink of something incredible. I have no idea what that is, but I can sense an excitement building within my soul for what God will do with me. I can’t say I’m excited yet, but I can see it coming. I also realized that within five minutes, Satan was already fighting against this faith that is being restored. He told me that while I might feel like excitement is on the horizon, it will quickly fade and I will realize that I am still battered and bruised. I fought that with the statement that I’m still tender, to borrow from a Smalltown Poets song, “like skin is when it heals”.

I would like to call on all of you that read my blog that share a faith in the Risen Christ with me to pray me through this last stretch back to a renewed confidence in my relationship with God. Help me to be lifted over the edge to realize this excitement I believe is very close. I want to declare this to you now in faith, believing, so I can be accountable to it. If I don’t tell you what I believe God is doing, I may begin to doubt again. Now you share in this with me, and I’m so thankful for that. It’s a wonderful thing when God’s children come together to edify one, and I appreciate it more than you know. I tremble even as I save this post, but I will let you know when the battle has been won.

-j

The world is full of amazing artists. A few artists have even stood the test of time and are hailed as the masters. What all artists have in common is that their work, incredible as it is, is just a copy – their own interpretation – of what is real. Therefore, there is just one artist that stands out above the rest, as He is the one who all other artists copy.

I was browsing some photos in the internet and came across this stunning collection of photographs taken from the Hubble telescope. Many of them are probably digitally enhanced for clarity and color, but their brilliance still stands out. Take a moment to look at what our God has created for us to enjoy. Imagine if you could stand out in space and see them for yourselves. Click the picture below to open the slide show.