Friday, August 13, 2010

Connected to the Power

It all began innocuously enough: I started dinner by putting the chicken in the oven to bake and then about 45 minutes later opened the oven back up to put in the bread when I discovered the oven was stone cold! All the lights had been on, everything appeared to be operating normally but there was absolutely no heat. So I tried the lower oven--same thing: all the lights but no heat. Well, no problem (other than a disgruntled husband anticipating the appliance repair bill), I'd just cook it on the grill.
Dinner was coming along when I put something in the microwave to cook, and low and behold, all the lights and sounds and action of a working microwave but again, no real power, no heat. That appliance bill was getting bigger, and my husband was getting grumpier. Not to mention it felt incredibly hot and stuffy in the kitchen.
But even with all those malfunctioning appliances, dinner was cooked, served, and while being consumed, we noticed the lights seemed a tiny bit dimmer. As we talked, we noticed, that yes indeedy, the lights were definitely dimmer! In fact, as it got darker outside, the lights seemed to be growing dimmer exponentially! We may be a little bit slow around my house, but it dawned on us that either we were in the midst of a twilight zone episode or something was wrong with our power! It truly was spooky: while we waited on the power company to come determine the problem, the house grew stiflingly hot and the lights quickly dimmed and then went out completely. By about 9:30 the whole house was dark and quiet (and did I mention, HOT?)
Thank heavens for Progress Energy! They arrived and quickly determined we had some problem with the place where the power came from the street to our house. Some fuse or something or other was blown and hence almost no power was getting to our house. It looked for all the world like we were connected to power--the line was connected, the appliances were ready to do whatever they are supposed to do, the lamps and lights had working light bulbs all ready to supply all the light we needed, and the air conditioner was trying to cool the house. But nothing worked because the source of power had been cut off. We had all the bells and whistles but no power. Not until Progress replaced the fuse or repaired whatever was preventing the power from coming through the lines from the power source to our house did we get any power. But, o, glory, when that power line got reconnected, we had air conditioning! We had lights! We had working washing machines and whirring blenders, and baking ovens!
The thing is, we could have the nicest appliances, the most fanciest lights, the most efficient cooling system, but if we don't have power, it's all for absolutely no avail. Without power, we got nothing except a dark, hot, useless shell of a house.
Isn't that so true of our lives? We tend to get so preoccupied with all the bells and whistles, all the trappings of "life," yet we grow exhausted and discouraged and frazzled because we are not connected to The Power Source. How often have I tried to rush out into my busy day without first being sure I am connected to the infinite power of my Savior? And then I wonder why I can't seem to get anything done or why I snap at my children or why I feel utterly ungrateful for all the manifold blessings bestowed upon me by my Extravagant Lord.
Jesus made it abundantly clear for us: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing." John 15:5 O, Lord Jesus, I am such a slow learner--or such a quick forgetter! Help me to daily, hourly abide in You, my power source and the source of every blessing and every good thing in my life. Today, will you stop and choose to abide in the Lord Jesus? When you feel discouraged or discontented or distracted or defeated, will you go to Him and ask Him to teach you what it means to quietly abide in Him. To, in the words of Brother Lawrence, "practice His presence" and acknowledge that He is right there with you and ask Him to guide and direct your thoughts and actions and words. Tell Him simply, "Yes Lord" to whatever He has for you today. And then rest in Him, Your power source.
When you do, you'll see those dimming lights start to come alive and hear the air conditioning of your heart start humming again in the light of His presence and power and peace. To Him be all the glory!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Glimpses of the glorious sun/Son

It was quite early in the morning on our last day of our week long vacation at the beach. I was out walking and enjoying the gentle sea breeze and the stillness that lingers so briefly just before the busyness of a new day. I walked with a heavy heart as I thought of and prayed for friends dealing with very difficult challenges--cancer, possible paralysis, loss of a loved one. I listened to God's Word on my ipod (technology is definitely good for some things!), but my heart asked "why, Lord?" "Why cancer? Why tragic death? Why paralysis?" The world can be such a hard, unforgiving place sometimes.
Most mornings at the beach I had been walking right on the sand by the ocean, but today the tide was too high so I was relegated to the sidewalk behind the houses and away from the ocean. A small disappointment...or so I thought at first.
As I walked, I noticed off to my left and up ahead a tinge of orange. I tried to look through the trees and to my astonishment, glimpsed just a tiny sliver of a brilliant pumpkin colored light coming up through the clouds. At first I didn't even realize what it was. And then it dawned on me--it was the sun coming up in all its' glory!
And glorious it was! As I walked along, I would catch snatches of it through the trees as it rose higher and higher in the sky. Now it was a giant, shimmering ball of orange fire, and it had pushed past the clouds and the trees that had been obscuring my vision. The water on the sound shown with a beautiful peach reflection. And at the end of the podcast I had been listening to, I heard a psalm of praise of how joy comes in the morning and how God turns our mourning into dancing!
I felt like Job! God had not answered my "why" questions. He had needed to--He simply gently reminded me of who He is and what He does and all He has and is creating.
Just as I could not see that brilliant sun for much of my walk, it was still there. Whether I saw it or not, it was there, shining in all its' glory! He is there--even when we cannot see Him or feel Him. But, O, how glorious the tiniest glimpses of that shimmering sun! Just a sliver here, a peach reflection there, a moment of seeing the ball of fire through the trees. I realized that is so often what I really perceive of the Lord of the universe--He is so far far above my thoughts, my understanding, my imaginings. But every now and then--whether through a worship service or a powerful song or a gorgeous glimpse of His creation or the tender love of a friend or the hug of a child or a powerful word from His Scriptures--I catch just the tiniest glimpse of His glory.
And it is so incredible, for it reminds me that we were not made for this world but for the next. And the view there will be glorious..all the time...for it will be filled with Him. No sorrow. No cancer. No paralysis. No divorce. No separation. No disease. No disappointment. No guilt. No aging. No death.
But glory! And the beauty of that flaming sun will be seen in everything and in everyone. I can't see that sun now. But I can remember. And I will remember that the One who fashioned that sun with a mere word is in control of ALL things, all circumstances, and all people. Whether we can see Him or feel Him, He is there. And one great day, we will see Him as He really is. And it will be glorious. So until that time, we wait and we trust and we remember. The sun is there shining in all its' glory, even when we cannot see it through the clouds or the rain or the storms. And so is The Son. Even now, with nail scarred palms open wide, He welcomes even the most wretched of the earth (like you and like me) and beckons "Come to me, all ye who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. For my burden is easy and my burden is light and I will give you rest for your souls."
Come, Lord Jesus. Come, brilliant, shining Son, come and to You be all the glory!