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Sometimes we can look at the Bible and see stories that we think are outdated...we don't live like that anymore, right?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!