Ink Blot Covering Our Past

Card VIII

HAPPY LABOR DAY 2013                    Isaiah 43: 25

"I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and remembers your sins no more."

blots: to make obscure, hide; obliterate; hide completely; erase; cancel; expunge; eradicate
transgressions: breach of law; sin or crime; evil doing; misconduct; abomination; immorality; iniquity

The first image that popped into my head when I read this verse was the "ink blot" test. (This will make my bestie-Aneita- so proud.) So I did a little research on it. The ink blot test was created by H. Rorschach in 1921 for psychological testing to understand a person's past or present behavior. (It was initially used on schizophrenics but we won't focus on that...ha). It's purpose is to provide a picture of the psychology of the person taking the test. On the second viewing of the 10 ink blots, the viewer is to elaborate on what they saw the first time, therefore attempting to help the psychologist see the same. This offers insights into the motivations of the viewer's behavior.

Relevance, you ask? Well this is my interpretation of the blot covering my transgressions.

God throws some ink on all my sins, crimes, misconduct, basically all my screw-ups because He wants me to be closer to Him, to develop a stronger relationship with him. He does this for His sake. He WANTS us. How often do you feel unwanted in this world? We don't have to feel that way. God wants us and will do what is necessary to have us. Isn't that an inspiring realization?

OK, so he is definitely not throwing ink on us but what He does is completely hide, erase, cancel ALL our mistakes. We need to look at the blot that covers our past through God's eyes and view our lives from His perspective. What do you think He sees when He looks at the blot covering your past? I'm sure it is not the same thing you see. We must leave our mess behind the blot and step out from behind and attempt  to see what God sees~ that is the person He created us to be and not necessarily who we are currently.

Praise When There is No Other Way

From 8/27/13

 (I'm still looking at Is. 43: vs 20 & 21 a little closer)

The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. 

These verses make me think of a Wheel of Fortune puzzle and the category is 'before & after'. First they make references to how the animals honor God simply because he provides for them~or makes provisions~in places where provisions do not usually exists. Then the provisions made for the animals are also made for his chosen people that they might proclaim his praise. What is so difficult about that? After all He is doing the hard part, all we have to do is give a little thanks. Really?

How often do we stop to consider the provisions God has made for us when circumstances did not warrant provision? When the lights were not shut off, even when we didn't tithe; when our marriage is a thread away from unraveling, and God provided; when our children turn from how they were raised, to one day seeing them restored?

Can I be bold enough to remind God about His promises? to stand firm over sickness and declare "it's not good enough just to feel better from (whatever sickness I may find myself in); Your word says by your stripes I AM HEALED!" (Is. 53:5) It's not good enough just to stay married~ Your Words says I can have joy unspeakable and that you came to give me life more abundantly (1 Peter 1:8, Jn. 10:10). It's not good enough that my child is no longer (fill in the blank...on drugs, in jail, etc), Your word says, "train a child up and when he is old eh WILL NOT turn form it!" (Prov. 22:6).

Do we Proclaim first and then Praise God for those things that are not as if they were? (Romans 4:17)

In vs. 22-24, the children of Israel sin against God. He makes provisions and they do not even thank him. The just stress Him out more. We are the same way. Our children are the same to us. God tells them and us to Stop Worrying & Offending Him! In other words, "DON'T WORRY ME CHILD...I GOT THIS". (Or at least I imagine that is how God talks to me).

Praise God for the provisions he has already made, but more importantly for the ones you have yet to receive.