reminders from Romans 1

Peter and I have been doing some early morning chatting, praying, and studying together over the past few weeks.  LOVE it!
At first it started out with topics from the study I was doing.  
But that is over, so I asked Peter...
"What should we do next?"  He picked the Book of Romans...
nice...
nice light reading.
If you've never read it...it's awesome, but heavy...=)
LOVE IT!  But, it is one of those books where we could spend a week on a paragraph.
We already had some insights yesterday from Romans 1, but today he just tossed out 2 more things that I wanted to capture...


Romans 1 (Paul talking to the Romans)
13 ...that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.


Even Paul, who was obviously doing God's work and had devoted his life to that work, was prevented from coming to these people, the Romans "until now"...
in other words, even if we are following God and doing His work, we cannot miss the fact that His plans are still greater than anything we could conceptualize.  We may not understand why He has us where we are for this season or there are apparent delays.  Even if we are following His will, He may prevent us from moving forward to the next thing...until His timing is perfect.  Paul wanted to come to these people earlier, but was "prevented from doing so until now".  
As we wait on word from the interview over a week ago, we know God has plans we don't know or understand.  Whatever the case we wait.  And need to learn to be content.  We want to make sure we remain in His will as we wait, but we wait.  If Paul had to wait to do "his" work....geesh...how much more we may have to wait.


The other insight Peter shared and I just loved---related to the above but also unrelated...
The past few nights Peter has been turning on a show to watch in the evenings called "The Frozen Planet".  It is a nature show that talks about the frozen regions of the world including the animals and natural formations, etc.  I love that Peter watches this stuff because it actually brings up great conversation about God and His creation.  
This verse from Romans 1 was part of that conversation last night:


19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.


It speaks about the salvation of those who chose not to listen, but it also speaks to this topic as well, because God has really made so many things plain to us simply in His creation.  How can we excuse our lack of trust in the One who created it all?  Isaac, age 16, was asking Peter about these bizarre creatures like Narwhals (like a huge fish with a spikey nose like a unicorn) 
here is a short video of them....and as Nat Geo says "the tusk has no evolutionary purpose..." (that just makes me chuckle)

On the show they also saw Giant Seals with weird noses and tiny little creatures in the sea that make a rainbow of colors.  "Why"?  Why would God create all these creatures?  In the end the answer was "because He can".  In other words, God has revealed Himself in all creation.
  
vs. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.


There really is no excuse for not knowing or believing in God or about God especially as He reveals Himself.  Just simply look at His creation, if nothing else. Even if these creatures have features that have "no evolutionary purpose"... it's almost as if God just smiles and says..."I did that one just to mess with your simple minds.."


So, if He could do all of that, and intimately be involved in His creation--how much more so is He involved in our circumstances?  
He sent His own Son to die for our sake...
Seriously, how dare we doubt His timing, 
His intimate involvement in every detail, 
His love for Us!  


deep breath
ok then
Today,
I will rest in Him.
and 
Trust
and 
Worship Him 
Every detail is taken care of!
Thank You God!