Have You Lost Track of God?
Have you ever taken your eyes off a child for a moment, only for them to become lost? No matter how long the separation lasts, the horror of their disappearance time-stamps your brain with trauma.
Thirty years ago, my best friend Maggie Rowe, experienced this when her young son Jordan wandered away from his family during a visit to Plimoth Plantation near their Massachusetts home. Though he was found safely with a staff, Maggie still has nightmares about the incident.
Do you ever find yourself panicked these days, feeling as though something important (or someone important) has slipped out of your hands? We are living in an unprecedented time of great loss, and it’s no wonder some are silently wondering “Where are you, God, in all this?”
In her exquisitely beautiful new book, “This Life We Share,” author Maggie Rowe reminds her readers just how God accompanies us on this journey through life. Especially during those times when we feel we have lost track of Him. Here are some of her thoughts from the book:
“…My sympathies are fully with Mary, mother of Jesus, for her frantic response after becoming separated from her oldest child for a full three days. Jesus’ family had joined a caravan of other travelers returning to Nazareth after celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem.When Mary didn’t see her über responsible firstborn among their relatives and friends, she may have assumed he was assisting other families. But when he was nowhere to be found, Mary and Joseph hurried back to Jerusalem and searched for him everywhere, only to finally locate him in the inner courtyard of the Temple, listening and asking questions of the teachers.
We can relate to Mary’s stern questioning, born out of days of stomach-churning fear: “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” What strikes me about the account, though, is that the separation was not on Jesus’ part. Scripture tells us that while Jesus was still in Jerusalem, the group left for home, “thinking he was in their company.” Jesus’ human family left him behind, and they traveled on thinking they were mindful of him when they were not. Jesus did not leave them. They were the ones who left him.
How powerfully convicting that passage has become to me! I know Jesus, love him, and fully intend to stay close to him every day. But how often do I travel on my oblivious little way, thinking I’m being mindful of him, when I’m not?
Acknowledged or not, the God of our journey is present with us at all times, in all ways, in all circumstances. God makes a promise to his people: “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” Then he did just that, coming to Earth in the person of Jesus. As Apollo 15 astronaut Jim Irwin once said, “God walking on the Earth is more important than man walking on the moon.”
God is not simply an aspect of our lives but rather the one who is in and over all things. Our Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end of our journeys on this side of eternity. And he sent his only Son to take on our flesh and blood and move into the neighborhood. He came not only as Savior but as Friend. We are the cause of his journey from heaven to earth. We can walk the road of our lives with confidence because of the one who came to walk with us. Let’s find the God of our journey in every part of what we do.”
Taken from This Life we Share by Maggie Wallem Rowe. Copyright © 2020. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.
I was privileged to endorse “This Life We Share” and here is my high recommendation: “Imagine sitting in a rocking chair overlooking a stunning mountain range as a dear friend shares stories of God connections throughout her life’s journey. You hang on every word because she exquisitely weaves them together to convey hope, grace, and an uncanny understanding of the hard path you are trudging. The beauty of a book written by a wise, older woman is that there is something for everyone – a lifetime of varied adventures and challenges which affirm the goodness of God. Every page reminds me that a shared life with God and others is indeed a treasure. Please savor Maggie Rowe’s words slowly, that the rich truth might sink deeply into your soul, offering strength for your own journey.” - Lucinda Secrest McDowell, author “Soul Strong”
I’m giving away 2 COPIES of this beautiful hardcover book and will randomly draw names from the comments on the blog page on Mother’s Day May 10th. Please COMMENT to enter giveaway.
under the mercy, Lucinda
“Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity and Strength”
©2020 Lucinda Secrest McDowell
Soul Strong just released! Order “SOUL STRONG” Today …. More about Soul Strong HERE.
I love the premise of Maggie’s book and can’t wait to read it! Thanks for sharing it with us today!
Recently, in a moment or two or three of anxious thinking I ask the question, “where are you God?”
I feel like I have lost track of Him in dozens of micro moments and myriad ways.
The statement from above:
“We are the cause of his journey from heaven to earth.”, was one of a few statements that made me pause…just pause and consider…remembering He is present with me.
Would love gleaning from this book.
Thanks for inviting us to read thhis blog Lucinda.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Stephanie. So glad we are not on this journey alone.
Stephanie Paul, , I’m delighted to say YOU WON a copy of “This Life We Share!”
Please email me your address and Tyndale will mail your copy. Enjoy and Thanks for reading my blog. You will love Maggie’s book.
LucindaSMcDowell@gmail.com
Thank you Lori! And thank you for sharing this excerpt, Cindy.
Hello Mrs. Lucinda,
I would love to have a copy of this book. I was captivated by the first sentence!!
“This Life we share”…would be good for my soul. Just to “be still” and soak in his words during these difficult days.
God blessings to you,
Belinda
All God’s best to you, Belinda. I am glad we can journey together!
I was reading Psalm 143 this morning, reminding myself of all He has done (verse 5) and praying verse 8: “ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.“ Thank you for sharing this powerful reminder.
Brenna Kate, what a beautiful name you have! Thank you for reminding us of Psalm 143. It exactly what we need to remember during this challenging season for all of us.
I love your books, Ms McDowell, so I respect your recommendation. This one sounds wonderful as well.
Cindy, I hope you are able to get a copy of the book. Glad all of us can journey together through this challenging, but beautiful, life we share.
Cindy MacDonald, I’m delighted to say YOU WON a copy of “This Life We Share!”
Please email me your address and Tyndale will mail your copy. Enjoy and Thanks for reading my blog. You will love Maggie’s book.
LucindaSMcDowell@gmail.com
I love it when God shows us new layers of a familiar Bible story. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading, Susan! I never miss a single post on Lucinda‘s blog. Her writing ienriches my soul.
The excerpt from Maggie’s book captures a wonderful insight that even I overlooked! I will be excited to delight in the other stories that are shared.
Thank you Sheree!
Hi Cindy, What a beautiful quote about God walking on Earth being more important than man walking on the moon. Such a good reminder that we are not alone during these very trying times. Thank you for sharing! I look forward to reading Maggie’s book and recommending it to friends!
Hi Meadow! So good to hear from you, friend. Much love to you and your family.
Thanks for this post! I look forward to reading this new book (and also your posts every week)!
Jennifer, I hope you are able to get a copy. So grateful for this challenging yet beautiful life we share on this side of eternity.
Thank you Cindy for continuing to “invest in my soul “ and helping to strengthen so many in their own journey!!! I am reading your book, “Soul Strong” and I sent one to my daughter Leah, living in California to read and share. It is an inspiring read especially for “ such a time as this”! I am excited now to read Maggies new book .. thanks for sharing your “dear old friend’s” 💕 good news as well!!!
Lisa, isn’t Soul Strong wonderful? I ordered five copies and I’m getting five more as gifts. We need Lucinda’s strengthening wisdom straight from scripture now more than ever.
Thanks Lucinda and Maggie. This year I celebrated 50 years a daughter of King Jesus. Now at the age of 78,
My days are full as He “walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.” We all cherish friends who join us on the journey.
That is lovely, Bonnie. Congratulations on reaching this milestone!
Thanking you and Maggie for sharing your deep love of Jesus with us!! I’m thankful for woman who are open to share their stories and pass on the lessons of love the Lord has revealed to them! God is good!
Tammy, so thankful that God never intended for us to travel this life’s pathway alone.
So much to meditate on. Thanks for sharing Maggie’s book excerpt. I might have to ask for that for Mother’s Day!
Karen, I hope that happens for you! My publisher asked me to write the book for women in every season of life, younger and older, married and single, working inside the home and without. Would love to travel through its pages with you.
Maggie’s book has already touched me in so many ways and I am only 1/2 way through…She writes in such a personal and inspiring way that you want to jump up and shout…GLORY TO GOD! I LOVE Maggie Rowe!
Love you too, Simone! We would never have found our first home without you and Norm. What an encouragement you were - and ARE - to us still!
Even if I’m too late to enter the drawing, that’s fine, but I wanted to comment that this book sounds very encouraging.