1 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us...God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work."

Sunday, November 14, 2010

AMOS - Shaken, But Not Stirred

“Will you pray for me?” my friend asked me the other day.

Fearing something terrible, I answered, “Of course I will, what’s wrong?

She went on to explain. There wasn’t any earth-shattering horror in her life. No deadly disease, no financial mishap, no terrible loss. There wasn’t any BIG thing in her life. It was just…well, her life.

She went on to explain how unsettled she was feeling, how unsteady and unsure. How previous goals seemed unclear, and earlier dreams felt unmet. How a straight and narrow path now felt crooked and directionless. How the clarity of purpose she had as a younger person, now felt blurry and indistinct. How she just didn’t know what she was feeling, what she was supposed to be doing, where she should be headed – how she felt unnerved, unsure, uncertain...

“Oh,” I said. “You mean you’re feeling life queasy.”

“What?” she replied. “Life queasy?”

“You know, that feeling you get on a boat out at sea. The pitching and rolling just has you off-kilter. A little uneasy and uncomfortable. You can’t quite get your bearings. Except you feel this way about your life. Life queasy.

She smiled. “Yeah, that’s exactly it.”

Do you ever feel this way?

Like a towel in a washing machine? All mixed up and disoriented?

It’s not a great feeling for anyone to feel, but especially for a Christian, I think. After all, we know the God of Wisdom and Purpose. We should have clear direction in our lives, we say to ourselves. We should have peace.

But we don’t – we feel distressed. We feel…shaken.

Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” comes from the book of Amos, a prophet who knew a thing or two about being shaken up!

Surely Amos was a faithful man, a person whose life was devoted to God. But he was a simple shepherd and fig grower. He wasn’t the son of a prophet – not the son of a priest.

However, God had a purpose for Amos – a purpose that probably made him feel life queasy.

God took Amos from his homeland in the southern kingdom of Judah, and sent him to denounce the social and religious corruption of the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos obeyed God.

And though his message brought pronouncements of God’s judgment on Israel, it also brought the promise of restoration. Today’s verses bring a word of tremendous reassurance:

“For I will give the command and will shake Israel along with the other nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost.” (Amos 9:9)

Though these words were directed toward the nation of Israel, I think we can apply them to our lives. Sometimes God needs to do some shaking up. Sometimes He needs to “unsettle” us.

But always remember – God wants to redeem, not punish. He wants to purify, not destroy.

He wants to make us holy.

So God will always care more about our character than our comfort.


What can we hold on to when we’re being shaken?

The promise: The faithful will not be forgotten. True believers will not be lost.


God shakes those He loves.



“You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.” (Psalm 66:10)

“I will bring [them] through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold.” (Zechariah 13:9)


“When in doubt, search God out!”

15 comments:

  1. So encouraging again, Sharon. Don't we all
    feel this way from time to time? Then He
    comes with His glorious truth and sets our
    feet on a straight path again and makes
    our way perfect.
    Hope your day is beautiful...
    Sweet blessings,
    Sandy

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  2. I am glad God loves me so much; I have to say some of the "shakens" I've gotten have been hard to go through, but they have moved me closer in a relationship with him so it is a good thing indeed! And you are right, he wants to purify and not destroy us, to make us more like Jesus every day....

    betty

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  3. Having grown up in California, when you say the word "shaken", I think of earthquakes.
    When the earthquake would come, I was told to go into the doorstop where there was a strong frame to hold on to...

    When GOD shakes up me/my life, it is a clear reminder to go under his protection and hold onto his WORD for safety, comfort and assurance.

    Still feels scary, but at some level there is security...been a lot of shaking goin' on over here, too!
    Love you, girlfriend....thank you for always pickin' the right verses!

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  4. This was excellent, Sharon! I love the phrase "Life Quesy", and I love that He wants to redeem, not punish! How great is our God!

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  5. Sharon, today's message at church came from Psalms 66:12 and it goes along so well with what you've stated here. God allows the shaken in our lives for PURPOSE and it's not an evil one. In the end we come out better.

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  6. Sandy - God does indeed straighten those paths, and strengthens our weak knees. He gives us wisdom and guidance. He lights the way with His truth. I agree - I find that VERY encouraging!!

    Betty - Oh yes, the "shakens" are rough going. I am getting better at trusting God's goodness in the middle of the storm, though. And in remembering that He wants to make me more like Him. You hit on the secret to peace in the middle of the shaking - the blessed assurance that He loves me!

    Janet - You KNOW how much I love word pictures! The earthquake was a wonderful example! And I just loved how you took the idea of standing in the door frame, and turned that into a great spiritual lesson. God's Word does bring safety, comfort, and assurance. Yeah, we've had our share of "shaking" lately, haven't we?! But we stand, SECURE, on the solid foundation of our Lord! Love you too!

    Anita - I'm glad you liked this. Yup, I thought "life queasy" summed it up pretty good. Of course, to take that "boat" image a little further - in the middle of the storm, we know what happens when the Master speaks!! INSTANT CALM!

    Wanda - That's a great verse! We are LED through the shaking into a place of abundance! That is a tremendous promise. The end result, if we trust God in the shaking, is a MUCH better place. Closer to God, and more useful for His purposes!

    Thanks for stopping by, friends.

    Hope you come back soon.

    GOD BLESS!

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  7. Amen Sharon, I can surely relate to those queasy feeling, they are never fun, but God's grace is always there. God is ever shaking everything that can be shaken in our life that the only thing that remains his strenght and strenght alone. Thanks for the reminder.

    Just also wanted to thank for your visit and gracious comment. Have a blessed week.

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  8. Toyin - His strength, and His strength alone! YES! If shaking leads me closer to Him, I think I can stand a little "queasy!"

    Have a great week...GOD BLESS!

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  9. Dear Sharon,
    Your words really ministered to my heart today as I read them.

    Life queasy...yes.

    Unsure...unsettled...unclear...yes.

    But how right you are - Amos 9:9 reassures me that when it seems like I'm losing my bearings, because something is happening that rocking and shaking my life... God is holding me close. The shaking is for a purpose. That I will learn to hold on to him, and be strengthened.

    Thank you for the beautiful prayers you prayed for my grandson.

    Love
    Lidj

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  10. this is so good and so what I needed to read. I've been feeling life queasy...wanting something but don't know what...purpose? thanks for this Sharon...you have an amazing way of putting things that hit home.

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  11. God seems to shake us when we need it and we're always the better for it.

    I’ve been following and enjoying your blog for a while now and would like to invite you to visit and perhaps follow me back. Sorry I took so long for the invitation.

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  12. Lidj - Sometimes I think God holds us ESPECIALLY close when we're being shaken. He knows we are weak - He gives His strength. He knows we are fearful - He gives His peace. As we hold tightly to Him, He proves Himself faithful - every time. I hope that Full of Hope is getting better every day. God bless you and your family.

    Sarah - Thank you so much. I really appreciate your very kind words. You have said exactly what I (and many of my friends) have been feeling lately - wanting something, a purpose, God's calling - but not sure what that looks like. But I do know that God KNOWS, and in His perfect timing, the way will be made clear. Maybe this is just our "shaking" time!

    Stan - He is the Master of the "Shake, Rattle, and Roll," isn't He?! But always for a good purpose - to make us more like Him. I'm so very pleased that you're along on this journey with me. Don't worry about the invitation - I appreciate it - and I am pleased to follow you, too!

    GOD BLESS!

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  13. Hi Dear, thx for these words!
    have a blessed weekend =D
    http://patinanni.blogspot.com/

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  14. Hi Sharon,

    Hope you are having a great day. I just want to thank you for visiting my blog and your gracious comment;to God be the glory. Have a blessed week!

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  15. Pati Nanni - WELCOME! Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm glad that you enjoyed these words - God gives me so much to say!

    Toyin - Thanks so much. I've spent the day writing future posts. So the Lord and I have had a fun day together! To God be ALL the glory!

    GOD BLESS!

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"So I have been greatly encouraged in the midst of my troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives me new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How I thank God for you!"
(1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!