God has pointed out places where he doesn’t want me to be in between.
In a Bible study, many years ago, we were discussing Jonah and there was some debate about whether the story was real or allegorical.
My spiritual conversion to Christianity was new and I had just begun reading the Bible every day. I distinctly remember saying in the Bible study that I was going to believe that story was a real event. If I were to believe that the Lord
made the heavens and the earth,
that He created the kiwi,
made the mountains and
could forgive the incredible list of my transgressions,
I trusted His Word.
Every word.
If it wasn’t true, then how was I to believe all the other parts of the Bible? I had to either believe in all of it or none of it. No more picking and choosing the parts that were convenient for me. No more in between for me. It was liberating and peaceful.
Which led to me changing my opinion about abortion.
The Lord, my Heavenly Father, spoke to me as I read Psalm 139:12-14
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
and he pricked my heart.
I felt God reach into that pride-filled, haughty place previously off-limits and He said. “How can it be a baby when it’s in your tummy and a blob when it’s in someone else’s? Why were you so wounded by the off-handed comments made by that ultrasound technician when you were bleeding and thought you were no longer pregnant? If it’s just a bunch of tissue, why would you be so sad?” Ouch, Lord. Thank you.
Btw, that “blob” is now in Ranger School, my 23 year-old treasure and Soldier.
Tectonic shifts were taking place. I’ve never been the same. Goodbye in between.
I very much enjoy participating in this weekly writing assignment. You might like it too!
This is what comes to mind today thanks to Five Minute Friday…
My Awesome Olive Shoots 
Thank you for writing this…so thankful your “blob” was not a blob but a real person with a future and a plan ordained by God.
Sure do appreciate it, I know you totally understand!
Beautiful witness! It’s so beautiful the way God reaches down and touches our hearts when we open up just a little!
I had a teacher my freshman year of h.s. in a Christian school who explained that stories like Jonah and the prophet whose donkey talked to him were just made up to prove a point. I asked him that if God is so powerful, powerful enough to make the donkey talk and Jonah survive in the whale, why would He just have man make up a story to prove a point. My teacher stood there for 5 minutes with his fingers pinched on his nose until he conceded, “I can’t answer that.” I am all with you – it’s either all true – or it’s not. My God is a Big God who doesn’t have to make up stories to show how powerful he is.
Wow, you owned that, gf! Way to go! I love how you said that God doesn’t have to make up stories, He is! Thanks for stopping by! I am enjoying your posts a lot!
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.
Thank you Kate, so true!
Another beautiful testimony of God’s grace!! Thank you for sharing!
So kind and sweet! Oh yes, He is good! Bless you!