Believe or believe IN?

 I've been reading through the Gospel of John...slowly, carefully, trying hard to pay attention to small details. And today, I'm leaning into this...

In Chapter 11, we come across the somewhat familiar story of Jesus raising Lazarus. I'm sure we may have all heard the story before, maybe even learned of it when we were little, perhaps even pictured with flannelgraphs in Sunday school! It's really an amazing story, one of Jesus' most remarkable miracles. But my focus has been, for the last few days, on the sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary; these two women appear in the narrative before the miracle, but the exchanges they have with Jesus before His glory and power are displayed need careful attention. There's a reason why they are included in the narrative and why need to pay attention; what do we need to learn here about who God is, who I am, and how I'm to live in light of these truths. 

Let's pick up in verse 20, when Martha, "as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him...and said to Him,'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Through verse 28, and then in 39-40, conversation takes place. Martha hears the words Jesus says, but she doesn't seem to really listen; Jesus is telling her what He is going to do ("Your brother will rise again" v.23), and who He is ("I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" v. 25-26), but Martha seems stuck in her thinking; she knows the promises of God ("he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." v.24; "I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God." v.27) but I wonder if she really believes IN HIM! Look at verse 39: "Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha...said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.'" Was she really believing that He was able to do abundantly more that she could have ever imagined? Was she able to comprehend that this man WAS life and resurrection, God incarnate?

And what about Mary? Let's look at her reaction to the situation of Jesus' arrival in Bethany. In verse 32, we read, ""when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.'" I see something different here; she came humbly to Jesus, fell at His feet and, though she used the same words as Martha, they come with an attitude of worship. And Mary didn't say another word; it's almost as though she came to Jesus with her broken heart, and left it with Him. She came to Jesus and waited for Him; we don't know what she expected Him to do...she left that to Him. And it was her actions, her humility and her weeping that moved Him, "groaning in the spirit and (He) was troubled." (v. 33) I've often wrestled with what exactly caused Jesus to groan, feel troubled and weep as well; but I want instead to look at the difference in the way that Martha and Mary approach Jesus. 

Martha comes to Jesus hurting, brokenhearted, just like her sister Mary. But it appears that Mary approached Jesus with an attitude that Martha didn't. Perhaps Martha came to Jesus, expecting Him to respond in ways that she had put upon Him; it makes me harken back to Chapter 5, verses 39-40: Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."  I see Mary not just believing about Jesus, but believing in Jesus; there is a difference.  Mary was coming to Him, not just words about Him; there was something so real about the relationship Mary had with Jesus; she committed herself to Him, believed in Him, trusted Him to do what only her Lord Jesus could do.

And so, in reading this passage these last few days, I'm reminded that simply believing things about Jesus is not what He calls believers to do; He calls us to believe in Him, commit ourselves to Him, trust Him, and not put our own expectations of who we think He should be and do on Him. Let us come humbly to Him, worship Him and see the glory of God!

It's the little things

 This past January, I undertook a large task...one bigger than I had anticipated! I am taking a virtual walk from my home to Rio Rancho, New Mexico; a trek that, when completed, should cover nearly 1550 miles! There is a reason for this undertaking:  https://www.healinghearts.org/donations/walker998/
I'm only into my third month on this journey, and already I'm feeling the daily pressure; in order to complete the trip before December 31, I need to put in about 5 miles a day. And, truth to tell, sometimes it feels a little overwhelming!

Yesterday morning I headed out to start the first mile. I have a great area right around my house where I take laps every day. So, head down, I start, focused on the ground before me...and then the routine starts to sink in...15 laps, 100 minutes at a good clip...I can soldier through. But then, I hear the birds singing as I walk, and I sense the silence around me. It's a little thing, but I've become keenly aware of their varied melodies as I walk through the neighborhood. It's sweet and peaceful. 

And then, on this overcast day, I catch a glimpse of blue sky amid the gray; there's not a lot of blue, but enough that I can also see the sunshine pushing its way through the cover. It's a little thing, but the blue seems much more vibrant when painted against the steel grey clouds. There's hope for more sunshine up ahead! 

And then I come across the lovely pink hue of the tree across the street, the waving flag in the brisk spring air...these are just little things that bring fond memories and a bit of joy to what could be an otherwise mundane walk. 

And then, as I turn the corner, I smell the sweet pear blossoms! I close my eyes for a brief moment, take a deep breath, and savor the fragrance that speaks of new life and a new season...and I come closer to look at the delicate blooms, swaying gently, causing the sunshine to dance through the branches. It just a little thing, but I allow this moment to slow me down and remember the gift of another day, another walk, another step, another breath.

I find that thankfulness and gratefulness are first and foremost to a life of peace, centered on the One who has given all TO me and FOR me. What sustains me and grounds me from year to year, day to day, step by step, isn't the big moments and the big changes that come and go in our lives, but it's thankfulness and dependence on Jesus who faithfully walks with me as I continue on. Out of the drab and routine, we can find great joy and matchless satisfaction in gratitude...for the little things! 

Look up!

 I find that when I'm out walking these days (which I've been doing quite a bit of lately!), I tend to look down. Now, for safety reasons, that may not be a bad idea...I need to be aware of any puddles and dips in the road, and make sure I don't twist my ankle on a branch or rock that made its way to my path. But, once I realize I've been doing this a while, I also notice my neck getting stiff. So, I look up...and oh, how much better it is to look up! When I'm looking down, I don't notice much besides how the rain left a water mark on the asphalt, or how some blossoms and seeds have already fallen to the ground from the fresh spring blooms.

But when I look up, I see so much beauty...the trees are red and green and white as spring breathes its life into all the trees and bushes in the neighborhood. I see how the birds flit from tree to housetop to tree...and I still cannot understand how they fly at all!! And when I look up at trees from beneath, everything has a new perspective.

And I think we tend, so easily, to set our focus downward or inward; when we set our gaze downward, we don't see the vastness of the life that is all around us. When we keep our focus inward, we can become consumed with our failure or shortcomings, or the pain and grief that we are facing; but when we do that, we won't see the beauty and the glory of the bigger picture around us. One of my favorite Scriptures comes to mind when I think through these things...”I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

I think I spend enough time bogged down with pressure and care, feeling the strain of keeping a downward gaze...doubt, discouragement tend to dwell there. But, oh, when I look up! My troubles, my burdens, my pain seem so much smaller in the light of who He is, and the grandeur of His kingdom!

"For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity,
whose name is Holy:

'I dwell in the high and holy place,
and with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, 

to revive the spirit of the humble, 

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.'"

Isaiah 57:15

Is justice ever served?

 I think we've all heard the saying “let the punishment fit the crime.” Humanity has always had a means of providing consequences for crimes committed...there has always been in place a system of justice. Or at least we've tried to. In some countries, hands are still cut off as punishment for theft; in others, 'an eye for an eye' is still used as literal retribution for crime; in still other places, stoning or beheading may be the sentence for adultery, rape, murder or drug trafficking. Even in our own country, we see a wide variety of consequences for a wide variety of criminal activity, from fines, community service, probation, prison time and sometimes even the death penalty, depending on the crime committed and the state or local jurisdiction, for offenses ranging from petty theft to first-degree murder.

PC: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/08/criminal-justice-system-failing-victims-majority-feel-unsafe-chief-victims-advisor/_jcr_content/par/video/image.dynimg.1280.q75.jpg/v1565120272734/GETTY-Justice-Generic-220218-1120.jpg

But I'm not writing here about the virtues or failures of any judicial system, either here in our country or abroad. I want to think for a moment about whether justice is really ever served. If someone breaks into your home, sifts through your personal belongings and treasures, and takes your possessions, will any penalty imposed on the criminal ever restore your sense of security? When your home is invaded, you are left feeling uncovered and violated; will the perpetrator's days in prison really make up for the hundreds of times you walk in the door of your house, wondering if it's happened again? When you have been slandered, will any financial compensation cause the words to be unsaid or remove all question in the mind of those who may have heard the lies that were told about you? Does someone else's death ever make full restitution for the senseless killing of a family member or friend? Does man's justice ever erase the crime that was inflicted on us or a loved one?

One day we will all stand before a Judge, to Whom we must give an account; there will be no attorney, working on our behalf, trying to find loopholes or leniency for the crimes we have committed. And make no mistake...we will be held accountable for every thoughtless (or thoughtful) act, every careless word and every intent of our hearts, before Him whose eyes see it all; nothing will be hidden, but all will be laid bare before Him. Hebrews 4:13 says, “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” And right there, before the judgment seat of God, justice will INDEED be served. All sin, all crime, all offenses are ultimately against a Holy God; all of us have fallen short of the glory of God, of His standard. (Romans 3:23) And, unless we have acknowledged our brokenness and sinfulness before God, and received new life in Jesus Christ, we remain condemned to death, no hope of heaven, no hope of eternal life in the presence of the One who created us. (John 3:17). Justice is served in the death of Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, who carried our sin and took our criminal sentence upon Himself; the penalty has been paid in full. In the death of this innocent One, justice has been served. And if your life is not hidden with Christ today, know for certain that, at the final trial, one way or another, God will act; each one of us will either be exonerated in Christ, or we will be found guilty. Justice will be served.

PC: https://www.mygc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/YOUTH_JUSTICE.jpg

Who's Chief?

 Supreme: highest in rank or authority; highest in degree or quality; ultimate, final;

chief, commanding, first, foremost, head, high, lead, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, primary, prime, principal, supereminent, top

In light of these definitions and synonyms, what or who holds supreme place in your life? What leads and commands your heart?

These can be tough questions if we ask them honestly...and sometimes the answers are good things, admirable things. There have been seasons in my life when striving for the leading role, the highest grade, the best position were supreme...they were the things that my mind went to through most of my day. Other seasons found me putting my family as supreme (not a bad thing to have up there on the top of the list); and still other times, I just sort of floundered...and that probably meant that I was foremost in my mind.

But how about today? Right now, to what does your mind jump? Where is your heart leaning? As you look at your own life, what is first and foremost...what leads you?

Friends, life is short and we are not promised tomorrow; let's take stock today...right now. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of making things, jobs, positions the ultimate in my life; people disappoint me, fail me or leave me, so I can't trust making any relationship of supereminent importance.

So I turn to God, beyond the allure of this world, beyond the fragility of human weakness. If I make Christ supreme, the highest authority and presiding thought and devotion of my life, will I be disappointed? Will His quality or character ever change, like the blustery wind on a winter's day? Will I be left empty-handed on my final day?

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?”

Exodus 15:11

“For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?

Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?”
Psalm 89:6

“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
 and loses his own soul?

Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Mark 8:36-37 

 Disdain: the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect, usually out of pride or superiority.

I think that is the what has become the heart of cancel culture in our day...

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, cancel culture is a way of behaving in a society or group, especially on social media, in which it is common to completely reject and stop supporting someone because they have said or done something that offends you.

ttps://thecontextofthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cancel-culture-is-not-real-1024x710.jpg

I think it's easy for people to jump on the bandwagon, and 'cancel' others, finding encouragement and sympathy from those with whom you agree. And perhaps there are legitimate reasons for canceling someone...if there has been a grievous moral failure or criminal activity, if grave harm has occurred. But I think there are a few important things to think about as we see the rise of this disdain and banishment of others in our society.

First, 'cancel culture' is nothing new...it's just bigger and louder than we've seen before. There is evidence of this even as far back as the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. In Chapter 3, we see three young Jewish men, devoted to Yahweh, the God of Israel, who “have not paid due regard to you (King Nebuchadnezzar). They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” (verse 12) They were called out by some of the people in their culture for not bending or bowing to the demands for idolatry, and were thrown into a furace. These young men weren't worthy of consideration, of life itself, because they would not forsake their faith in order to give in to culture's demand.

Secondly, look around...how many perfect people do you know? I don't mean nice, friendly folks...gracious store clerks, kind neighbors, faithful co-workers...I mean perfect! The last time I checked, there isn't a single person living on the face of the earth who has not in some way failed morally...told a little lie, abused a spouse, cheated on their taxes, took someone's life. The fact is, those who are calling out to cancel someone else need to take a hard look in the mirror before they decide if they, in the secret recesses of their hearts, deserve to be canceled themselves.

Finally, do we ever consider the devastating effect canceling might have on the individual who is being canceled? This is a very real human being, with friends and family, lives, emotions...and most of the time, the 'canceled' never have the opportunity to defend themselves. Once words are spoken, they cannot be unspoken.

All this to say, if you have faced the pain of being canceled, known the heartbreak of damaged relationships within society, hold fast to some truth. In the story in Daniel, these three young men clung tightly to their faith, unbending to the pressure culture was putting on them, saying, “...our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (verses 17-18). They knew where to find refuge.

Don't be quick to cancel someone...examine your own heart, and see if you are worthy of being canceled for something you've done. Look at Jesus' words to the leaders who wanted to cancel a sinful woman...”He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7)

In the midst of pain and banishment, know to Whom you can run. The three Jewish men weren't alone, even in the furnace. When you are left alone, left behind, left outside...

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress;

 my God, in Him will I trust.”
Psalm 91:2 

https://cdn.suwalls.com/wallpapers/world/golubac-fortress-37746-2880x1800.jpg

Shards of glass

 There are times I look back over my life, and I stand amazed! I recall days when my heart was torn apart, broken beyond what I thought could ever be repaired, let alone be used. There were shards, like broken glass, that had fallen to the ground, and I expected that nothing could ever be done with them...different shapes and various sizes of fragments, and depending on the season of my life, they appeared in rainbows of colors.

I think most of us would conclude that chips and pieces should simply be swept away, gathered together and tossed aside. But sometimes those remnants can be picked up and shaped, cleaned and polished, and be used for another purpose...perhaps pieces can be put together by a master artist, who knows exactly how those pieces can fit together to create something beautiful, something breathtaking! Alone, those scraps seem useless, and may only serve as reminders of how the break came to be, how we were clumsy and let something valuable fall from our hands, or how someone else broke what was ours. But when those shattered pieces are carefully, skillfully brought together, we might find something really remarkable.

photo credit: http://www.slightlyastray.com/sainte-chapelle-cathedral/

And so it is in life...but when our brokenness is in the hands of the Master Artist, He can bring beauty out of our shattered past, and create a place where His glory can shine through. The focus isn't on the pieces of glass, but how they all come together like a tapestry to form a breathtaking vision, spilling color and warmth however the light shines through. There is such value in surrendering our shards of glass to the One who holds the master plan.

photo credit: https://www.art-days.com/nasir-al-mulk-mosque-iran/

Let go to hold on

I think that through our lives, we learn that sometimes we have to let things go...

Perhaps it's a pair of jeans that used to fit 15 years ago, and we hold on thinking, "Maybe THIS year they'll fit!" Or how about the empty box in the basement that we might just need to use to pack something, although it's been there for the last 3 1/2 years.

Sometimes we let things go, only to grab onto something different...

The job you'd hoped for didn't turn out to be all you'd dreamed, but you dare to dream again, leaving the old behind and forging ahead to grab new adventure. Young daughters might find they hold tight onto dad's hand, until the right man comes along and takes her hand as his own. And perhaps there have been times we find we've conquered one vice, only to take comfort in a new destruction.

There are times when the releasing is easy, and other times it takes the very prying of our fingers off the object of our attachment. Some challenges present healthy change, some bring brokenness.

There are moments that will force us to let go, when we aren't presented with an option, and we are only left with empty hands and crushed hearts...relationships fall apart, people move away, children grow and leave the nest, loved ones die. Then there are times when we hold on with a white-knuckled fierceness, which causes our hearts to grow cold and bruised. 

So, here's the question...

When you let go, what do you hold on to? Most of us tend to grasp at something when it seems there's nothing there to keep us standing, or when we feel we're about to lose our footing. And how practical are the choices we make? When we hurt, do we let go of the pain in exchange for the comfort of resentment? When we are left empty-handed, do we just...flounder? Do we reach out to hold on to anything at all?

And at the end of the day, at the end of our days, what will we just not let go of? What are we holding in our hands, in our hearts, that we don't even realize that our fingers have molded around that which we so tightly grip? 

When I was really young, when I held my parent's hand, I knew I could let go of worry and fear...I could trust that I was safe, that I wouldn't fall...I let go to hold on tight! 

"Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them." Jonah 2:8

"My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:8

Photo Credit: https://kpthrivingfamilies.org/pediatricsblog/parenting-resources-our-top-recommendations/

Mourning doves and trains

I've taken notice, the last few mornings...I hear the mourning doves on the roof of the neighbor's house. They may have been there all winter, but it seems that only now I'm turning a keen ear to hear them again. And now and then, I hear a train rolling by, two miles down the road from my house. And those two sounds, together, remind me of my childhood...hot summer days and snowy Thanksgivings in the sleepy town of Chapin, Illinois. The first time I remember hearing mourning doves was when I would first wake up in my grandpa's house...I couldn't have been more than six or eight years old. And the train would come through Chapin twice a day, if I remember correctly...once early morning and again around 10pm. If I think about it, I can still smell my grandpa's house, the warm feeling when I walked through the back door into the kitchen; I can see the old stove, the white enamel table that sat against the window, right next to the sink. When I close my eyes, I can still walk through the house...the leaded glass in the front door that, when the sunlight hit it just right, would throw colored light into the foyer. It was here, in Chapin, that I grew to love the simplicity that life could hold...time was just on hold when I came here. 

My sweet grandpa ran the only general store in this town of 300...a store that smelled of nutmeg and aged wood, and sold everything from union suits to nails to Borax. I acquired a taste for ice cold Frostie Root Beer and cinnamon candies, scalloped oysters (without the oysters), pumpkin pie and Norman Rockwell.

And my grandpa was a treasure to me...the only grandparent I ever knew...and what a fascination he held for me! Somehow, those sights and smells and sounds seem to be right here, right in front of me now, and I can remember the peace and joy I found in the simple gentleness of those days in southern Illinois. 

Now, I sit before my computer, sometimes still fighting a losing battle with technology, video downloads and weak internet connections on my iphone. And off in the distance, I might hear the distant horn on the passing train or the sweet cooing of the doves next door, and I stop...and I'm thankful. I'm am thankful for the One who brought me into my family, into this time and this place, for such a time as this. All those days in Chapin, the days of my childhood, the mistakes and wrong turns of young adulthood, have all brought me to today...and I am who I am by His grace alone! I am thankful that the tapestry of my life included so much family, so many experiences, richness and brokenness. And so I've come to another day, shaped and fashioned for His use and His glory...and I'm thankful for it all. 

Gracious Father, would you remind me today, to embrace the simplicity of sitting quietly in Your presence, seeing the beauty of creation and hearing you speak gently through Your word. And help me to be thankful for every good gift that comes from Your generous hand.

His Moonrise Kingdom

 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee,

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

as Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided -

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

In the last year, I've become much more aware of the moon; and, more specifically, the moonrise.

Last year, John and I were sitting outside looking over the Atlantic around 10:30 at night...there was a slight wind blowing on what seemed to be a rather cloudless night. As I gazed out at the horizon (which is difficult to make out in the dark!), I saw an indistinct light appear in the distance. At first I thought maybe it was a distant ship...I'd never seen anything like it! And it was growing larger, shining brighter...and I realized it wasn't a ship, but the full moon rising, slowly ascending, until I could see the full globe, brightly reflecting the sun's light. The moon was big...I'd never before seen it like I did that night! And since that night, whenener we are returning to that spot, I will check the moonrise schedule to see if I might, once again, spot the beauty of a moonrise on a clear night.

But the moonrise that night has also awakened me to the daily life of the moon...and the fact that, as most days go by, I pay little attention to when the moonrise occurs. The moon rises every day at differing times and in various phases; sometimes the full moon will rise in the middle of the day, and we don't notice and, perhaps, couldn't even see it if it's cloudy or the sky is a very clear, pale blue. If the new moon rises at 10pm on a clear night, we won't see it all. Yet, the moon faithfully rises and sets, whether we're looking for it or not!

And all this 'discovery' of the moon has caused me to reflect on the faithfulness of God. I am keenly aware of His faithfulness when I wake in the morning and find that soon the sun rises, whether the sky is overcast or crystal clear. The rising of the sun is evident every single day...a testimony to His great faithfulness! But still, the moonrise occurs, too. Today, at 11:14 am, the nearly half moon will rise in partly cloudy skies, and I probably won't be looking for it. But it will happen, nonetheless. God is His goodness and faithfulness, is ever present, ever working to accomplish His good purpose and display His great glory whether we're looking or not...and He doesn't forget to have the moon rise!

Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion;

shout aloud, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O Daughter of Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away your punishment;

He has turned back your enemy.

Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you;

no longer will you fear any harm.

On that day they will say to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands fall limp.

The LORD your God is among you;

He is mighty to save.

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you with His love;

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:14-17

I don't know about you, but I've always had a hard time getting my head around the truth packed into this Scripture, but what a treasure it holds!

I grew up in a great family...I was the spoiled baby (I freely admit it, and I think my siblings would agree ;)...but I'm doing much better these days!), I had great siblings, wonderful family vacations, and parents I loved! My dad was part of the “Greatest Generation”...he worked hard at a job he loved, in order to provide well for us all. The only thing I wished I'd had was a closeness with him, an emotional connection. But he was such a good man! I wanted so much to please him and be confident of his love for me, and that moment came in my late 30s, when he told me he loved me and was proud of me. I broke, I wept...I realized that my father really saw me, really cared about me and really loved me. Of course, this was true all along, but I never understood it like I did at that moment.

I realize that not everyone had the same experience with their families as I did, not everyone had loving brothers and sisters, or even a home with both parents present. But even with the blessings that surrounded me growing up, I still spent years walking in the counsel of my own heart...I made so many mistakes, so many foolish decisions, and found myself in so many desolate places; I made ruin of some places in my life. But God really saw me, really cared about me and really loved me...He opened my eyes to see the way He provided for me, paying the penalty for my offense against Him through those dark and desolate days, and clothing me with His righteousness, giving me new life through His Son, Jesus Christ, and making something beautiful out of the life I was living. Such amazing love is beyond my comprehension...He has redeemed the bankrupt days, healed the broken places, and He loves me...He delights in me! In my natural self, I don't understand; but the more I read it and trust the very Word of God, and what it says about HIM (it isn't about me...it's about the way He loves us!), I find myself longing to sit quietly in His love, knowing that in His presence is fullness of joy... I find it welling up in my heart and the things of this life, well, they don't have a hold on me. I long to please my Heavenly Father, not out of compulsion, but because I delight in Him...and He delights in me!

He is beyond me!

 As I worked my way through this past week, I was reminded that the ways of God are beyond my understanding!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

This started me thinking about my frailties and my shortcomings in light of who He is. I am amazed when I think about how much He knows about me...my coming in and my going out, my sitting down and my standing, my thoughts before I even speak them. He even understands my motives better than I do! I have been married to the same man for nearly 35 years, and there are STILL things about him I don't understand; I don't know what he's thinking at any given moment, even though there are times I can finish his sentences. But, sometimes...”What is he doing?” crosses my mind...but God always knows!

I marvel at the creativity of humanity. I will listen to beautifully orchestrated music and I am amazed at the way layers of instrumentation come together, weaving in and out with different rhythms and dynamics, to create a tapestry of sounds that soothes the soul and generates scenes of beauty and grandeur. Or I look at a work of art like Michelangelo's David,

carved out of a solid block of granite, chiseled and smoothed by hand, somehow accentuating muscle and bone to create a life-like portrayal of the young man in his physical prime. But then...I marvel in awe and wonder at the One who gave the composer ability to put notes to paper and artist the skill to craft and shape and detail. None of us is a self-made man; the intricacies of the human body, the way new life is conceived, the way oxygen is transferred to the bloodstream through the lungs, the way the body knows how to absorb the nutrients it needs to carry on life, the way our eyes capture light and allow us to see His magnificent creation. My very breath is a gift from His hand. Man's creativity is as nothing before the One who fashioned him.

And what of love? This I fail to understand in my human limitations. I certainly find it easy to love those who love me, those with whom I find commonality and companionship. But what of those with whom I struggle? What about the people who irritate me and anger me, who take advantage of me...those who never respect me or thank me. In my own humanity, I struggle with loving the difficult and the unlovely. But somehow our Creator loves those who abuse Him and mock Him and disregard Him. His love is perfect...in stark contrast to my love, and I struggle to understand it.

We must never put God in a box, putting on Him the imperfections of our humanity. I may not, and cannot, assume the thoughts and motives of others, but nothing is hidden from Him; all things are laid bare before Him. I may not understand the creative mind within engineers and artists, composers and chemists, but I know the infinitely wise One who called all creation into being with a word. I cannot fathom the love of God for me, one who is so unworthy and so weak; it is beyond my understanding, but it doesn't make it any less true. God's ways are not man's ways. His wisdom, His power, His creativity, His justice, His love...these are the standard. May we never think God is not greater than what our finite, frail human minds can comprehend.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more 

than all we ask or imagine..."

Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

It's rising up all around!

Sometimes we can look at the Bible and see stories that we think are outdated...we don't live like that anymore, right? Well, I present, for your consideration, Isaiah 44:13-17:

The craftsman stretches out his rule, he marks one out with chalk; he fashions it with a plane, he marks it out with the compass, and makes it like the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. He hews down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak; he secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take some of it and warm himself; yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; with this half he eats meat; he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire." And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god."

What are the things we carve out for ourselves, bring us warmth and satisfaction, and then bow down and worship them? It may not be so obvious in our lives; most of us aren't woodworkers or silversmiths by profession, wielding the instruments of the trade to create something that suits our fancy. But...what do we rely on to bring us warmth and satisfaction, to bring us peace and security? Do we realize that if we don't consider the One who blesses us with every heavenly blessing, and forget to worship the One from whom all goodness, righteousness and beauty flow? 

Instead, let us consider Psalm 72:18-19:

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory!

Let's be a part of the glorious congregation, where the anthem of the Lord's renown is rising up! Holy is the Lord! The earth is full of His great glory! Let us worship, not the works of our own hands, but the One who gave us hands to build, wisdom to create and lips to praise Him now and evermore!

I will!

 As I took a walk yesterday, I was reminded of the refrain that has repeated itself over and over in my mind and heart over the years...it is the refrain repeated in Psalm 42 and 43...”Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help and salvation of my countenance and my God.” Jesus said in John 16:33, “...In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Our lives in this world will be difficult, full of grief on the heels of great joy, life in the midst of death, tears of laughter that lead to tears of agony. God said that He brings the rain to fall on the just and the unjust...those who walk with Christ will see days of affliction just as those who do not know Him.

 But His word also says that, for those whose lives are rooted in our relationship with Him, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5). This is not to say that our pain is not real or that our grief is not disabling...I have walked through days when I couldn't function for the heartbreak weighing on me, driven to distraction by searing emotional pain. But the psalmist here is calling us to change our gaze and look to the only One who is faithful and able to walk through every storm with us; He alone is our salvation and our God! I will yet praise Him! This is the same God who walked out on the water of a storm-savaged sea and bid Peter to walk with Him! I will yet praise Him! This same One, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bids me to ponder what great things He has done, take Him at His word, and walk forward with Him, today. I will yet praise Him! When I realize that nothing separates His great love from those that He calls His own, I can't help but praise Him! 

There is nothing I will face alone; He will work all things together for my good and His ultimate glory...I will yet praise Him! And on the day I draw my final breath, I will see Him face to face...and I will yet praise Him!

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

One thing I have desired...

This seems like a simple question; but, if I have to narrow it down to just one thing, I find some many thoughts and ideas flood my mind. 

I want to live a life of safety and security, where there is a warm bed at night, food in my cupboards and a hot cup of coffee to start my day...clean and uncomplicated. I want to live a healthy life, free of pain and disease, full of vitality and clear-mindedness. I want to live long with the love of my life, my husband of nearly 35 years, and enjoy deep, close, nurturing relationships with my beautiful children. And I want my life to matter in this world...I want to serve others, bring help and encouragement to the suffering, the downtrodden and the lost. 

But is there just one thing...?

What if...

...I am no longer safe in my home, or fire ravages and destroys all I own? Or my personal security is breached and I lose my savings or my identity?

...I become sick or my body no longer cooperates with what my mind wants it to do? Or what if my mind fails all together?

...John passes away, leaving me to live my days in an empty house, filled with nothing more than silence and memories? Or I lose my children, through circumstances beyond my control...death, distance, betrayal?

...I am unable to serve others, through physical limitation or financial hardship...or I cannot speak or write?

Is there just one thing? Truly, one thing? 

Today, I sit at my kitchen table, 36 years since I received new life in Christ, and I can look back at my life, how circumstances change, and people come and go. Every day I remember that my life is fleeting, but I long to hold on, cling to something sure and steadfast; I need to anchor myself to something that doesn't move, doesn't shift with the wind or the waves

"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, the delightfulness of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple." Psalm 127:4

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."  

Jeremiah 17:7-8

"I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence 
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”

Philippians 3:8 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Liberal, conservative, left, right, Republican, Democrat...brothers and sister in Christ. That last identifier - THAT'S all that matters.

I have been so grieved seeing and hearing the vicious, venomous words that are being thrown among believers and followers of Jesus, and this should not be! In John 13, Jesus shows us how we are to love one another...serve one another, wash one another's feet, walk humbly with each other. We are to love one another in such an amazing way that the world will look at us and wonder how our hearts can be knit together in such ways! "...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) What is the world seeing in us, Christ-followers, when we speak words of division and hatred; are we bringing glory to our Father, or are we acting like ones who have no hope in this life, forgetting that we are only passing through here...forgetting that we need to turn our eyes upon Jesus! Jesus said, "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things...for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:34-37) Let us never think that just because something isn't spoken out loud it doesn't pour forth from our hearts! Remembers, dear brothers and sisters, murder and treachery begin in the heart and mind! What idols are we erecting in our hearts that eclipse the self-denying, self-dying that Christ has called us to? Have storms and tumult caused us to remove our gaze from Him and give us license to devour one another? 

Let us walk with wisdom and love in these very challenging days; the kingdoms of this world will rise and fall by the decree of Almighty God, but our faith must not been in those things. If He calls us home to Himself today, how will we answer for our cutting and divisive words? (And know for certain that we WILL answer for them). When we turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, then the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Psalm 39:4-5 "Lord, make me to know my end and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor." 

A new year, a new practice...

Again, it's been a while since I last published anything on my blogpost here, but I feel it's time to get back to it! I'm hoping that Fridays will be the day of my weekly post. Welcome (or welcome back)!

As I face a new year and a new morning, I found myself in Psalm 24. What richness there is in this chapter, specifically verses 3-6...there are profound words here, penned by men, inspired by God Himself through the Holy Spirit. I am humbled as I consider the Almighty Creator with Whom I have an audience, the way purchased by the life and blood of Jesus Christ. The price of admission is beyond anything I could ever hope or imagine to be able to afford; I am but a beggar approaching the mighty King! But, by His grace through faith, I come...

"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully."

On my own, I cannot clean my hands or purify my own heart...who am I to think I can decide the standard of righteousness required to come before Him? He is the Potter, I am simply His creation, an earthen vessel, fashioned for His use and His glory. Then, it goes on to say...

"He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

When we receive new life in Christ Jesus through His life, death and resurrection, we are given His righteousness and our beggar's filthy garments are done away with. And we shall receive blessings from Him. His salvation should be enough for me to love and follow Him with my whole life, but He pours out blessings on top of it all! I have life today...there is breath in my lungs, there is food in my cupboards and running water when I need a drink. I am loved by a good Father, empowered by the Spirit to live a new life in Christ!

Oh, that each and every day this year I will wake with gratitude and thankfulness for the unfathomable grace that has been poured into my heart. Though my earth has been shaken and the storms beat against my heart, imploring me to succumb to feelings of despair and loss, I will ascend into the hill of the Lord, and meet with my God; I will stand in His holy place and bow before Him, in full surrender...for only there is fullness of joy and pleasure forever more!