A day after Christmas prayer

        Whew. 

        Another Advent, another Christmas in the books.  For the record, we had a great one, since all our children came home.  That pretty much assures that despite the chaos, mess, busyness, procrastination, and disorganization (by yours truly), this is one happy mama.  With children home, it may not be a "Silent Night," but it will be a sweet and treasured night.  

        Thank You, Lord, for the gift of family.  And thank You that You came and You come even in the frenzy and the imperfect.  

        But let me just say that our Advent had plenty of hiccups.  As usual, my high (unrealistic) expectations for having meaningful family devotions every night, lighting the Advent wreath candle every week, and staying fixed on Jesus and focused His Word every day...well uh, not so much.  My husband coming down with the flu a little over a week before Christmas pretty much shot down all my happy, holy resolutions of preparing for and savoring the perfect Christmas...which, let's face it, doesn't exist.   

         Yet despite all the missteps, sporadic bad attitudes, occasional pity parties--"If I get the flu, none of the children will come home and Christmas will be terrible, sad, lonely, awful..."--last minute gift deliveries, and missed (though desperately needed) times alone with God in His Word, somehow despite all that, Christmas came as a beautiful gift from the Lord.  A time to treasure the Gift of all gifts and to celebrate the coming of that Gift with those we love dearly.  What an example in full living color of His glorious grace despite us--His wandering, silly, and often downright stupid little sheep.  

          Thank You, Father, thank You.  

          And now it's the day after Christmas. Rather than being sad that it's all over, let's choose to celebrate that it happened.  That once again we got to remember and rejoice in the Gift of the infant Savior.  And that today, when we can finally catch our breath, we can pause to remember and reflect upon the wonder of the Gift, the greatness of the Giver, and the hope of His return.  

          For many friends, I know this has been an especially hard Christmas with someone they love very dearly no longer sitting at their table.  I well remember my own mama's sudden and totally unexpected homegoing to heaven right before Christmas nearly 20 years ago.  But I also remember the tender grace, love, and compassion of my Heavenly Father in that time as well.  He carried us day by day in those difficult days, and we felt His nearness.  

          For them and for us all, I share Scotty Smith's prayer for this day after Christmas: 

        "Father, my prayer today is for all of us, no matter what yesterday was like.  For even our best days are in need of the gospel, and none of our worst days are beyond the reach of the gospel.  When the shepherds left Jesus' manger, they were still shepherds. They still couldn't worship at the temple; they still couldn't give testimony in a court of law; they still were stereotyped as thieves by many in their community.  And we shouldn't romanticize what Joseph and Mary did the day after Jesus was born, as though all of a sudden a five-star inn in Bethlehem did open up, as though Mary's body would have been spared all the normal chaos and pain of birthing and afterbirth, and as though angels would've started showing up as round-the-clock nurses.

          Father, thank You that we're Christians, not Gnostics.  We don't have to pretend about anything.  Christmas isn't a season in which we're supposed to be transported into a super-spirituality, rising about reality.  The gospel isn't about denial but is about learning to delight in You, no matter what is going on.  We praise You that Jesus came into a real world where everything is broken, but He did come to make all things new, starting with us.  

           Please give each of us the special and the common grace You gave the shepherds. Let us hear and let us see more of Jesus, even if we remain 'shepherds' the rest of our lives.  Enable us to glorify and praise You, Father, for You are not a man, that You would life about anything.  Everything You have told us in Your Word will come to pass.  This is good news for shepherds and kings alike." 

          Yes, Lord, yes.  In the days and months ahead, keep us grateful and worshipful. Help us to stay fixed on You, to repent quickly, and to remain dependent upon Your grace.  Might this be a year of loving You, loving others, and living by the power of Your gospel--whether we're feeling like lowly shepherds or mighty kings.  In Jesus' glorious and gracious name. Amen.  

          To God be the glory.

Worship works wonders!

        It seems like every time you turn around, someone is praising and worshipping God in the Christmas story.
       When Mary visits Elizabeth?  Praise every which way.  Elizabeth declares, "when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what He has spoken to her!" (Lk 1:44-45)
        Elizabeth offers praise, and the unborn John the Baptist dances and leaps for joy in her womb!  Mary responds with a song of worship and praise of her own: "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." (Lk 1:46-47)
         When John the Baptist is born and Zechariah's tongue is finally loosed, what's the first thing he does?  "Immediately...he began to speak, praising God." (Lk 1:64)  And then old Zechariah follows that up with a whole hymn of praise and thanksgiving himself: "Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people..." (Lk 1:68)
        And then, of course, there were the angels, surely the most famous worship team ever!  Here they are, appearing to a bunch of nobody shepherds in the middle of nowhere to announce the most astounding news ever.  No sooner does the angel announce the coming of the Savior--the Rescuer--than "a multitude of the heavenly host"--meaning innumerable stunning, shining angelic beings filling the sky!--suddenly appear and begin, you guessed it, praising God.  "Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth to people He favors!"
       Don't you wish you could've seen those shepherds with their eyes bulging and their mouths hanging open?  Astonished.  Awestruck.  And single-minded in immediately seeking after this baby Messiah.  After finding Him, they go tell everyone about Him...but they also--wait for it--worship.  "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told." (Lk 2:20)
       Then a few weeks later, when Jesus is dedicated at the temple, there's old Simeon who "praised God" after seeing the salvation God had promised. (Lk 2:28-32).  And ancient widowed Anna who "began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." (Lk 2:38)
       Worship and praise, start to finish. None of them knew the whole glorious story--how Jesus would go on to live the perfect life none of us could live.  How He would die the death for sins that we deserved to die.  How He would rise from the dead to give us new resurrection life.  How He would give us His Holy Spirit to empower us, guide us, comfort us, correct us, encourage us, and walk with us every moment of every day.  How He would take us to heaven to live with Him in glory forever and ever. 
        Nope, they didn't know all that...but based on the glorious Truth of the limited part they did know--that Almighty God had broken into His broken creation in order to send His Son to rescue His children--they worshipped and praised.  Most of them were at the very beginning of the story.  Most of them surely never knew, never saw the whole story unfold.  They never saw the miracles...nor the crucifixion...nor the resurrection.
       Yet no matter--they worshipped and praised, right where they were.  Because they knew, they believed that God keeps His promises.  That He is worthy.  And that His Son would save and rescue...even if they wouldn't live to see it all happen.   
       So here's what I'm wondering:  what's our excuse?  Why aren't we relentlessly worshipping Almighty God?  Why am I not tirelessly praising the Lord for sending Jesus--my Rescuer?  We have so much more knowledge than those shepherds or Zechariah or Simeon or Anna.  Yeah maybe our stories, like theirs--are imperfect and incomplete, but don't we know enough through God's Word and His Spirit that we can and should worship Him right where we are, right as we are?   If they could, why not us?   
        We know that God inhabits the praises of His people.  We know that worship not only glorifies God but brings us joy.
       Max Lucado puts it this way: "Worship does to the soul what a spring rain does to a thirsty field.  It soaks down, seeps in, and stirs life.  Are you stressed? Worship God, who could store the universe in His pocket and the oceans in an eyedropper. Are you ashamed?  Worship Jesus, whose love never fades.  Are you bereaved?  Open your heart to your Shepherd.  He will lead you through the valley of sorrow.  Do you feel small?  A few moments in front of the throne of your loving King will evaporate any sense of insignificance.  Worship works wonders.  For your own sake do what the angels did: make a big deal about the arrival of the King."
        God moves when we worship.  The heavens dance when we praise.  And our hearts sing when we magnify our Maker.  So stop waiting for your story to tie up in a neat, perfect little bow.  Stop wasting time staring at all those other lives at there and feeling inadequate.  Stop worrying and start worshipping! 
        Because worship works wonders.
       Today, right this very minute, no matter where you are in your story--whether in a hopeful place, a confusing place, a lonely place, a joyful place, or a sorrowful place--make the choice to worship and praise the glorious One who came down at Christmas....for you, for me--for our salvation, for our joy, for our hope, for our peace, for our rescue, for our redemption, and for our glory.
       Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing.  And heaven and nature sing.  And heaven and heaven and nature sing. 
          Time to start singing!  Now!
          To God be the glory.

What are you treasuring?

        Luke 2:19 “But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.”

        I hit the wall this morning.  It began with an inability to sleep most of the night.  As a result, I got up a bit later than usual, and from the moment my eyes opened, I felt pressured, my heart weighted with indefinable stress.
       What stress?  That vague sense of having far too much to do with not enough time to do it.  Of feeling disorganized and discouraged.  And topping it all all, of a sense of condemnation over my feeling overwhelmed and frazzled.
        But then God's still small voice: what about time alone with Me and My Word?  Not only today, but for the past couple of days, what has been my very first priority? 
      I already knew the answer, and ironically, knowing that made me feel even more defeated and condemned over my misplaced priorities.   Small wonder I fell off the wagon of peace and joy this morning!   We forfeit so much wisdom, hope, strength, perspective, and peace when we fail go to God first in order to hear from Him, be loved and encouraged by Him, and worship Him. 
      I know, know, know all this...and yet my busy, preoccupied, prideful flesh loves to pull me off course.  Sigh.
      But for this we have Jesus...and forgiveness...and grace.  Thank You, thank You, thank You Father.
       It's often been said that when we feel conviction, that is from God.  But when we feel condemnation, that is from the enemy.  So I'm thankful for conviction from the Lord to start afresh this morning and to savor being in His presence and enjoying His Word...and I refuse to heed the enemy's condemnation.

I thought I'd just share a few thoughts I wrote this morning in my journal after reading Luke 2:19 in hopes that it will encourage someone else out there who's feeling a bit overwhelmed or discouraged--

        What am I treasuring today? What am I pondering?  I can tell you: my to-do list.  Myself.  My needs and wants and fears and worries.  Me, myself, and I makes a mighty small and ugly package!  Forgive me, Father. 
        I'm treasuring and meditating on precisely the wrong things!  Rick Warren says that we all know how to meditate, because we all know how to worry.  Boy, that's so true--we're professionals at turning and churning those worries over and over in our minds.  Before we know it, a tiny gnat of concern has become a behemoth of fear that consumes us.  Instead, we're to turn the life-giving Word over and over in our minds.  

        Don't churn those worries.  Instead chew on the Word.  

Today, I choose to chew upon and ponder this verse: “But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” (Luke 2:19)  

        Help me, Lord, to treasure You, to treasure Your Word, to treasure Jesus—the Gift of all gifts.  To treasure the people You’ve put in my life (rather than worry over how I’ll get everything done for them!).  To treasure the joy of getting to celebrate Your birthday rather than worry over what needs to be done in the process. 
       I GET to celebrate the Lord Jesus.  I GET to be with the ones I love.  I GET to cook meals for those I cherish and demonstrate how much I love them with food.  I GET to eat yummy food that the Lord gave us, with taste buds that He gave us.  (Thank You, Father, for making food taste so good!)  I GET to purchase gifts with the money the Lord gave us.  I GET to drive around and run errands in the car God gave us.  I GET to be busy with the feet, arms, eyes, ears, and hands that God gave me--and that work properly--because He so generously allows them to work!  Forgive me, Father, for taking far too much for granted!  

Lord as I treasure YOU, Your Word and the Gift of Your Son, I am meditating on Your goodness and grace in my life.  And now, rather than feeling overwhelmed, I’m feeling thankful.  Rather than feeling burdened, I'm enjoying your joy and peace. Thank You, Father.  Please enable me to carry this, to carry You,  with me throughout this day and empower me to do all You’ve called me to do with a thankful, joyful heart that I might be a blessing to others. 
        To God be the glory. 
         

"While they were there"

  My cell phone just beeped with some hot late-breaking news.  Whew, what a picture of the world we live in--busy, noisy, crazy.  Relentless and graceless.  No wonder so many folks walk around exhausted, overwhelmed, discouraged.  It's too much of too much!
          How thankful I am to put away the phone and pick up the Word--the life-giving, perspective-restoring, truth-telling, joy-filling words of Almighty God.  Oh my how we all need His words and His wisdom.
          Luke 2:6: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth."  (Luke 2:6)
          "And while they were there."  Consider where they (Mary and Joseph) were--in a dirty, smelly, unsanitary stable.  Far from home.  Far from every single family member and friend.  Far from comfort and help.  Mary and Joseph surely never imagined, and most certainly never desired, to be "there" and to give birth to the Messiah "there" in that distant, inhospitable place.
          And yet, by God's sovereign, mysterious plan, that's where they were.  And so "while they were there" in this imperfect, unplanned (from their human standpoint) place, Mary and Joseph simply walked with God and allowed His plan of redemption to unfold.  No fussing.  No complaining.  No handwringing...though surely they must have felt like it!   Accepting where they were, faithfully obeying, and in the process revealing the glory of God.
         Where are you right now?  What place has called you to today?  And how are you responding "while you are there?"
          My husband and I are in the stage of life where our children are leaving home and setting out on their own.  I love seeing them grow into the men and women God's called them to be, but this growing up, emptying the nest, and heading out into the wide world is tough on mama and daddy!  We miss them and want them close.  It's easy to pine for those days when our home was filled with happy, noisy littles.  Our little children...little needs...little worries. 
          But that's not where we are today, and if we long for the good old days, we miss the wonder and joy in this present stage of life.  And there's so much good, so much delight to be enjoyed right here, right in this place and stage where we are!  We don't want to miss it...or miss how God plans to use us--and bless us--"while we are here." 
        This place, this stage, this time of life, wherever each of us finds ourselves today, is the place the Lord calls us to obey, to love, to share His greatness and glory with others around us.  "While we are here"--no matter where "here" is--God can use us, bless us, speak to us, encourage us, strengthen us.  But we must choose to be thankful and faithful--while we are here--in this day, this place, this season, this moment.
 Father, help us this day--in whatever place, whatever circumstances You have placed us--to be thankful and faithful.  As we go about our daily activities, might we be fully present, awake, and alive to Your Spirit and Your leading.  Thank You for Mary's and Joseph's example of walking with You in obedience and faith, even in a hard, perplexing place.  "While they were there"--You came...the greatest Gift ever bestowed upon the world.  Who knows how You are working and moving in myriad marvelous and glorious ways even in our challenging, or confusing, or exhausting, or discouraging moments.
        "While they were there," You brought the Messiah out of a smelly, messy manger, so we can trust You "to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" according to Your power that is at work within us in our lives as well. (Eph.3:20)
        To God be the glory.

Advent: waiting, reflecting, preparing

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1,14

Advent—a season of waiting…reflecting…preparing.  Waiting to celebrate the coming of our King.  Reflecting upon all that His coming means to us.  Preparing for His coming again.  He came the first time as a weak, defenseless newborn baby.  He will come again as an omnipotent, conquering King of Kings.  He came the first time to die for the sins of the world.  He will come again to reign and rule this world He made in glory forever and ever.
But right now, we live in the “already...but not yet.”  Already He has come to redeem lost mankind, but not yet has He come again to restore not just mankind but all of creation to the perfection, beauty, and glory for which He originally created them.  No wonder we live on a broken, sin-scarred planet—yes, He’s already come, but all creation waits and groans for the glorious “not yet” when He will come again to fully, perfectly, completely redeem, restore, and renew.
Jesus is the Word who is God, who has always existed, and who at one particular moment in time, entered this world as flesh and blood.  Astounding.  May we never get over the wonder of that—Almighty, sovereign, infinite God becomes limited, finite, vulnerable man.  The eternal Word became flesh, and in the words of Eugene Peterson, “moved into the neighborhood.”   The Word made flesh that we might behold the glory of God.
Over these days of Advent, let's take time—make time—to ponder the wonder of it all.  Praise the One who came and did it all. 
Teach us, Father, over these next few weeks how to wait, reflect, and prepare.  Help us to still our anxious hearts, calm our jangled nerves, and push aside our crazy to-do lists for a few minutes every single day between now and Christmas day so that we can hear from You, talk to You, and worship You.  Might our Advent season this year be tangibly different, because we make it our top priority—before we check our phones or rush to our agendas or worry about our myriad tasks—to bask in Your healing, helping, holy presence.
In You, and You alone, we will find wholeness, restoration, and deep joy.  Not in marking things off our list.  Not in perusing our emails.  Not in careening all over town chasing our endless chores.  Not in efficiency, busyness, consumption, purchasing, accomplishing, doing...
        But in You.  In seeing You.  In savoring You.  In slowing to walk with You at Your pace rather than rushing ahead in hurry or lagging behind in worry.  Thank You for walking with us, beside us, before us, behind us, and in us.
        And thank You for Christmas, where the eternal, infinite, omnipotent Word became flesh and moved into our neighborhood.  Remind us today that You are here with us, no matter how we feel or where we go.  You are here and that changes everything.  To God be the glory.   

Not lost but ALIVE!

        When I think of Sam, I think of the mountains--a place of strength and security, towering and imposing....yet at the same time an oasis of quietness and peace, safety and refuge.  Strong, yet kind.  Dignified, yet humble.  Mighty, yet gentle.  Immovable, yet welcoming. 
         Our world has lost another oak of righteousness.  Oh my, how many we have lost this year, and how sorely they will all be missed.  But how thankful we are should be that they have been in our lives and in our world.  They've demonstrated how to faithfully run the race all the way to the finish line with gazes locked on Jesus, "the founder and perfecter of our faith."  Sam now joins that glorious cloud of witnesses that have gone on before us--even just this very year--and have testified with their actions and attitudes, their lives and loves, what it means to love extravagantly and follow passionately after their beloved Savior.
          Oh Father, like those who've gone on ahead--and like our glorious Lord "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb.12:2)--enable us to faithfully and joyfully persevere all the way till we, too, cross that finish line!
          I couldn't help but think of George Verwer's words when asked what he'd like to have put on his tombstone: "'Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord' (I Cor.15:58)  That's probably too long for a tombstone, so maybe jut the words 'Keep goin.'"
         Amen!  Might we all "keep goin'" as we keep running, keep looking to and living for our Savior--the One who kept goin' for us...all the way to the cross...and the empty tomb.
         For all those who are grieving and deeply missing dear ones this Christmas, can I just remind you that they are not lost.  Simply upgraded to an infinitely better and more glorious address.  They cannot be lost, because you know exactly where they are and you will see them again one day.
         The day Sam went home to heaven, our children also all left our home after the Thanksgiving holiday to return to their homes and apartments in Charlotte, Atlanta and Chapel Hill.  It was a hard day, for Richard and I had enjoyed every moment of being with them for several wondrous days.  When the last one drove off, well, it left a big gaping, sad hole.  How I would miss seeing them,  eating with them, laughing with them.  Yet while our children might not be with us, we knew exactly where they were going, where they were living, and we knew we'd see them again...even very soon--at Christmas, praise God! 
         I kept thinking of Sam and his family.  They were deeply grieving and missing his presence.  He had left them to head on ahead to his perfect, ultimate, joyous, heavenly home.  But because of Christmas--because Jesus came to our earth to redeem us and save us--Sam's family and friends will all see him again.  And so will the families of countless other dear friends who are deeply missing their mamas...daddies...siblings...friends this Christmas.
        Our loved ones who have died in Christ are fully alive today....in fact, every one of them is more abundantly, joyfully, and perfectly alive this very moment than any of us still stuck here in the "shadowlands"  (to quote C.S. Lewis).  And because Jesus left heaven to travel down to this world to save us, we know, know, know our loved ones have traveled to heaven and are radiantly alive with the Savior...and we will see them again, praise God! 
        No one ever expressed it better than the poet John Donne: "I shall rise from the dead...I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines.  I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began...No man ever saw God and lived.  And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die."
        Thank You, Lord, for Jesus, for salvation, for heaven, and for all those who have gone on ahead of us to rejoice and reign with You in glory.  Might we sing afresh this year: "Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice.  Now ye need not fear the grave.  Peace! Peace!  Jesus Christ was born to save.  Calls you one and calls you all to gain His everlasting hall.  Christ was born to save. Christ was born to save."
         To God--who came at Christmas, saved at Calvary, rose in glory, and will take us home to heaven--be all the glory.

Seeing...and singing

       "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us...Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!"
        Everywhere and at every time, the Lord is working, moving, and revealing His handiwork.  What a creation...what a Creator!  Even a predawn walk with our dog--while crossing over the beltline bridge for pete's sake!--we see His glory broadcast all over the darkened highway--

        Did the folks driving along see it?  Did they notice?  Did they give thanks to the One whose steadfast love is higher than the heavens?  And how many times have I missed His gracious, glorious gifts?  And when I glimpse His gifts, is my immediate response to "Bless the Lord, O my soul?"  Oh my, I don't want to miss any opportunity to bless Him and give Him glory!  But all too often--in my busyness, preoccupation, or plain old self-centeredness--I rush right by and forfeit the joy of praising the Creator for the big and the little blessings He showers upon us so relentlessly.   
        I couldn't help but think of A.W. Tozer's wonderful words--
        ""We make a mistake if we do not learn to admire God in all things, great and small; for a new rich mine would be opened in our consciousness if we could learn to recognize God in nature as well as in grace!  We do acknowledge that the God of nature is also the God of grace; and it is true that we glorify God's redeeming grace no less when we glorify His creating and sustaining power.  When Christ came to redeem us, He stepped into the framework of an already existent nature.
         If we will obey and believe, we can go on pushing back the narrow borders of our spiritual world until it takes in the whole creation of God!"
         Thank You, Father, for Your glorious creation...from the magnificent sunrise to the refreshing air of autumn to the carpet of brilliantly colored leaves on our path to our silly stick-toting dog. 

    You created it all, You sustain it all, and You are redeeming it all.  Help us to see You in every atom of the world around us and then to immediately turn our seeing into a ceaseless chorus of praise and thanksgiving.   
     Please keep us seeing and then singing...for You are forever worthy.  To God be the glory.         
       
         

Pausing to truly see

         Mr. Bingley...stopping to "smell the roses" (sort of) by staring at a butterfly alighting on a mum.  Butterflies and mums at the same time?--what a happy fall surprise.

         I've noticed Bingley does a far, far better of this than yours truly--this ceasing and pausing to observe and study the remarkable world around him.  Yeah sure, sometimes his careful observation results in sudden, loud, annoying barking, but maybe that's his way of hollering, "Wow! Check this out!  Can you believe God made this amazing butterfly...or bumble bee...or dog...or Fed Ex man...or garbage truck...or tree waving in the wind...or giant stick...or____...." (just fill in the blank with whatever has captured his full attention for the moment).
        What's keeping us from noticing and then thanking?  Noticing not just the beauty of the world around us but noticing the people all about us.  Busyness?  Preoccupation?  Sorrow?  Overwhelming discouragement?  Plain old selfishness?  Hustling to the next activity?  Long, relentless to-do lists?
       Whatever the reason, we still have the choice whether to rush by in our hurry and worry, ignoring the beauty, missing the moment, brushing past that person--that eternal, made-in-God's image soul.  Or we can pause to open our eyes, look around, gaze rather than glance, savor, offer a hug or a smile or a you-can-do-it, or a prayer, and then thank the Giver of all good gifts. 
        And here's the amazing thing: in the process, the Lord often uses that pause of noticing, caring, sharing, and thanking to renew our weary hearts and strengthen our souls.  We simply can't out-give God. 
          Shauna Niequist writes about such a time when she was overwhelmed with life.  In the span of a couple of weeks, she'd hosted several showers and a rehearsal dinner, changed jobs, helped care for the needs of several dear friends while looking after her own two small children, and on top of all that, had a husband with complications from the removal of his wisdom teeth.  We've all had those seasons of life, haven't we?  Nothing horrible, but just too much of a lot!  And all we can see are needs, deficits, and difficulties. 
           Niequist recounts how she rushed out to get more gauze for her ailing husband and zoomed through the store, hurling things into the cart.  "When I got back home, he told me that I bought the wrong gauze.  I stomped out the door, and then I stopped in my tracks.  Across the street, one of the tallest trees, twice as high as a two-story house, was the brightest, lit-from-within red I have ever seen.  I had not noticed one stop of its turning.  I had stopped seeing the important things.  I saw the to-do list.  I had gifts to buy and people to celebrate.  But I wasn't seeing the people of the celebrations.  I wasn't seeing anything beyond the chaos of my life."

         Oh what a reminder that beauty and wonder is constantly happening all around us.  And people who need to be loved or encouraged or appreciated or simply noticed and thanked are all around us, all the time.  Even in our sometimes chaotic lives, even when it feels hard and dark, even when we're facing too much of a lot, might we pause to truly see, to savor, to thank, to encourage, to love, to thank, to bless even in some small way. 
         Open our eyes, Father, that we might see, truly see. 
         To God be the glory. 
       

Tune our hearts

        "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Ps.34:1)
        "Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day." (Ps.16:23)
        "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thess.5:16-18)
         "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil.4:4)
          A little reminder to all of us that rejoicing in the Lord isn't an occasional thing...or a seasonal thing...or a frequent thing...or even a most of the time thing.  Nope--it's a constant, continual, habitual part of our lives every single day! 
        We're to "bless the Lord at all times:" His praises should be "continually in my mouth."  "Day after day" we should be singing and proclaiming His salvation.  And we're to rejoice always: give thanks "in all circumstances."  I don't see any limitations or delineations there, do you?  When it doubt--shout His praises out! 
          Worship and thanksgiving should be our daily occupation and preoccupation.  Is it?  I wonder: what does it take to cause me to start grumbling...or comparing...or envying...or complaining...or self-pitying?  The antidote for every single one of those is always and forever to choose to start worshiping and rejoicing.  When we can't find reason to praise because of the heavy load we're bearing...we can always rejoice in our Lord.  And  even we can't rejoice in our circumstances, we can forever rejoice in our salvation.
            I loved this challenge from A.W. Tozer: "It is my experience that the totality of our Christian lives--our entire attitude as persons--must be towards the worship of God!  If you do not know the presence of God in your office, your factory your home, then God is not in the church you attend either! I became a Christian when I was a young man working in a tire factory in Akron, Ohio.  I remember my work there--but I remember my worship there too!  I had plenty of worshipful tears in my eyes. No one ever asked me about them, but I would not have hesitated to explain them.  You can learn to use certain skills until they are automatic.  I became so skillful that I could do my work and then I could worship God even while my hands were busy.  If the love of God is in us and the Spirit of God is breathing praise within us, all the musical instruments in heaven are suddenly playing in full support! Even our thoughts become a sanctuary in which God can dwell."
            Might this day be a day of rejoicing in the Lord...and then tomorrow...and then the next...and the next...all the way to heaven.  Might our thanksgiving daily build a golden bridge of praise all the way till we meet our glorious King face to face. 
          Father, Help us, teach us, enable us to praise and worship You continually throughout our days.  Tune our hearts to sing Your praise, as the great old hymn proclaims.  Sometimes my heart needs some serious tuning, Abba, but You are the perfect One to tune and perfect our hearts that we might become magnificent instruments singing and proclaiming Your praise.  You are forever wonderful and worthy.  Thank You, thank You, thank You.  Amen.
           To God be the glory. 
         
         

Displace and replace

        Day 3 of the gratitude challenge--
         "He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, 'My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.'  Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!  My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me." (Lam.3:16-20)
         So whose blessed and encouraged by those words in Lamentations?  hmm?  Well, don't stop reading, because here are the very next verses--   
         But this I call to mind, and therefore have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lam.3:21-23)
          Yep, right after honestly assessing the dark and desperate situation of his people, the Jews, who are now defeated, have lost their homeland, and are captives in exile, this are Jeremiah's very next words--"BUT THIS I CALL TO MIND, AND THEREFORE HAVE HOPE..."
          And what's his hope? The steadfast love of the Lord that will never. ever cease.  And His mercies that are new and fresh every single morning--even mornings that we think are dawning dark and desperate...nope, not to the One who knows all and can do all.  And His faithfulness that is great beyond all our imagining.  Because our idea of "great" surely pales in comparison to Almighty God's idea of GREAT!
           And what's the key?  "But this I call to mind."  It's not just a passive mamby pampby wish.  No, it's a conscious calling to mind. Choosing to set our minds and thoughts in a new direction.  We've got to counsel our minds and call to mind what we know but don't feel.  What we should remember but have forgotten.  What we believe but have allowed to be clouded by sorrow or doubt or fear.  We've got to walk by faith, not by our ever vacillating feelings.
           By faith--not by feelings--we choose to call His Word, His character, His goodness, His gifts to mind.  Practically that means going to His Word, finding a promise and rehearsing it over and over again.  Or choosing a new soundtrack for the background of your mind--replace that soundtrack of despair or doubt or anxiety with a soundtrack of worship, life, hope.
           Choose to take that fear or discouragement or frustration and replace it with His Word, with a worship song, with your thankfulness list! 
           Displace and replace.
          Yes, we have to choose to do it--sometimes a thousand times of day--and we may have to start very, very small...but start.  It's never too late to start afresh, and it's always too early to quit.
           So today, Lord, thank You for Your beautiful Word.  Thank You for Your promises.  Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your faithfulness.
            And thank You today for a walk with a dear friend.  Thank You for the spectacular beauty of the leaves in the shining sun.  Thank You for a gift from a precious friend.  Thank You for the priceless joy of friends.  Thank You for Mr. B's happy nap in the sun--

   And thank You for being our forever faithful Lord.  Might we rehearse and recall Your goodness, and remember and write down Your gifts to us this day.  Because there is always, always, always something for which to be grateful.  To God be the glory. 
       
     

A Thanksgiving Challenge!

        It's November 1st!  Do you know what that means?
        Thanksgiving is coming!  Yahoo--the best holiday season of the year (well, at least in my humble opinion).  What's not to love?  Generally beautiful weather--not too cold yet, but chilly and invigorating.  The fall leaves are still colorful for a few weeks yet.  Pumpkin everything--Hallelujah!  It's the Bubba Shrimp time of the year for pumpkin--from pumpkin cake to pumpkin lattes, to pumpkin pie, to pumpkin candles, to pumpkin chocolate chip bread, to pumpkin pasta, to pumpkin beauty products.  Thank You, Lord, for creating pumpkins...You did pretty much a home-run on that one!
         But that's not all there is to love about Thanksgiving.  There's pilgrims and our remarkable heritage of godliness, perseverance, and faithfulness in the most difficult of circumstances.  There's family coming home and getting together--praise, praise, praise God for that!  And surely most life-changing of all: there's a huge emphasis on gratitude and thankfulness.  We simply cannot be reminded enough to be thankful--thankful to our glorious God and thankful to all the people He's put in our lives. 
         So here's the deal: how about joining me in a 30 day gratitude challenge?  And that means something very simple: everyday, let's be very deliberate to notice and then thank the Lord for His blessings and goodness in our lives that day.  Write down or record in some way whatever it is for which you're grateful to God that day. 
           It doesn't have to be long or elaborate.  Even if it's just one tiny thing--because sometimes in the hard seasons of life it's more of a struggle to find reasons for thanksgiving.  But that's especially the time we need it most badly!  When life seems uncertain or dark or desperate, we need to remind ourselves of God's unfailing goodness, grace, mercy, power, forgiveness, and love. And we especially need to notice the gifts He showers upon us even in those sad or challenging seasons--the beauty of a fall sunset, the song of a bird, the hug of a friend, the happy "welcome home!" of a dog, the invigorating bite of the air, the joy of a sweet memory, the comforting warmth of a hot beverage, the encouragement of God's Word.
           No matter what you're enduring or facing, there are always, always, always myriad reasons for gratitude.  So start your list--even if it's just one thing a day.  When our daughter was so sick in the ICU and fear threatened to totally overwhelm me, I started--by faith, NOT feeling--listing His gifts.  The Starbucks downstairs...our dear family and friends helping and keeping us going...the wonderful ICU nurses...  It was truly remarkable how starting that simple, short list would change my attitude and infuse me with a shot of hope...a shot of "God is here and He is good, and I will feel Him with my faith even when I can't feel Him with my feelings."
           So there you have it--30 days of listing your reasons for gratitude.  Oh, and one more thing: how about sharing at least one of those reasons for thankfulness with at least one other person?  You could email them or text them or call them or tell them over dinner.  Because thankfulness shared not only multiplies our joy but is also contagious!  Who knows how someone else might be encouraged or strengthened by your expression of gratitude? 
           By the way, one of the things I'm thankful for today is the ministry of Young Life.  Thank You Lord for the difference Young Life has made in the lives of so many kids across this world...including the Fountain crew and their friends in our little neck of the world.  Thank You for the selfless leaders who give of themselves in countless ways and who invest relentlessly in the lives of others.  And thank You for the Raleigh Young Life banquet tonight and the privilege of telling Your story and Your work across this city. 
           Might all our lives be a gigantic thank You to the One who has done all and given us all.  He is worthy of all our thanksgiving and praise!  To God be the glory.

On frogs and friends

                          A little food for weekend thought--

        "Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look at the stars." Henry Van Dyke
        Yesterday afternoon, I went out on our deck to sit down on a rocking chair and do some reading.  I glanced down and noticed a bright green leaf in the middle of the seat.  As I absent-mindedly looked down to brush it away, I was stunned to discover this little fellow--

 Holy cow!  Where did he come from?  I must say, I've always thought of frogs as not particularly lovely, but he was pretty stunning with his lime green color and yellow accents. 
        I decided to move to a different location and give him the opportunity to hop away.  After all, isn't that what frogs are supposed to do?  Aren't they jumpy, active little critters? 
        Apparently this little guy didn't get that memo, because I never saw him so much as move a muscle (uh, do frogs have muscles?  Well, he never moved a membrane.)  So I waited, and a good hour or two later, came back out, and he had moved...but just a teeny bit...to get out of the sun, I presume--

        I simply couldn't help but be amazed once more by God's creation.  What a Creator to craft such variety, such complexity, such stunning colors and shapes and textures!  Can you imagine the creativity involved in thinking up a frog?!  Seriously, who would do that? 
       Only the Sovereign of the Universe, that's who! 
       He's infinite and holy and glorious...but He's also joyous and creative and loving and fun.  Yes, fun--after all, HE created fun.  HE created laughter.  HE created neon colors and clown fish and giraffes and porpoises and frogs.  I mean, how can you not smile and chuckle when you look at some of His astounding handiwork? 
        Oh Father, keep us awake and alert to all You have made and all You are doing.  Don't let us miss it.  Don't allow us to slip into complacency, but instead instill in us an endless sense of wonder and gratitude.  And might our daily response then be to worship and thank You.  Worship of our awesome Creator and gratitude for His myriad gifts...and for the gift of life. 
        But I also have to add one more thing this little fellow reminded me of--my dear friend's Mama who recently went to heaven. Her mom apparently added the frog emoji to all her texts to her children and grandchildren. 
        Why, you might ask?  Because of the acronym for frog: Fully Rely On God.  Makes you feel a bit different about the lowly frog, doesn't it?!
        I'd heard that little acronym a while back and have always loved it, but now it means far more,   because it reminds me of the priceless gift of my friend and of her remarkable, godly Mama.  All gifts--friends, mamas, frogs, and most of all--Almighty God--upon whom we can always and forever fully rely!
        So today, open your eyes and see all that God has for you.  It's all around you, because He is a relentless gift-giver.  And sometimes, His gifts come in mighty small and surprising packages!  But I kinda think that's the kind He likes the best....'cause He loves to see us smile. 
        Thank You, Father, today for frogs and friends and fun. And thank You that no matter what we're facing or where we're going, we can always and forever Fully Rely On You. 
         To God be the glory. 

The Door

        It's a seemingly small, tiny moment I still remember vividly to this day.  Our daughter, Janie, was desperately sick in the ICU--unconscious, high fever, unresponsive.  My dear sister and husband insisted I go to a hotel room nearby for a few hours of sleep while they remained with Janie for the night.  Exhausted, I fell into bed...but felt jittery, tearful, frightened, alone.  Despite bone-deadening fatigue, I'd be able to fall asleep shackled by this fear and sorrow. 
         And then His still, small voice spoke to my heart.  I don't how else to describe it.  A gentle, peaceful whisper to a thirsty, terrified heart--"I am the Door."  Words I had read days earlier in the Gospel of John.  "I am the Door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 9:10) 
        His voice spoke Truth and peace into my very soul--I am the Door.  I am the Door in the midst of all this fear, uncertainty, sadness.  Walk through Me and find rest for your soul.  And I did...and for the first time in days, slept.  Knowing that my Savior had our girl and was holding her in His arms.  And no matter what happened, He would have us too.  For He was the Door in that wall of fear and sorrow.
         Why this sudden vivid recall of this particular memory?  I don't know--the Lord suddenly brought it to mind, but I have to believe our Good Shepherd knows someone out there needs to be reminded today that He is the Door.
        He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...and He is the Way through your sorrow, your suffering, your terror, your depression, your pain, your uncertainty.  He was the Door, He is the Door, and He will be the Door forever and ever. 
         I just found these words I scribbled down weeks ago.  They are from Nabeel Qurershi, a brilliant Pakistani American physician, who was a former Muslim, dramatically converted to Christianity and who then became a powerful apologist for Christ.  Nabeel recently died from stomach cancer at the age of 34.  As he endured the horrors of his terminal cancer, Nabeel shared these words:
        "If you are going through something right now, if you are suffering and struggling, what I have learned is that there is some door that the suffering and struggling has opened for you that would not be open if you were not struggling or suffering.  Walk through that door.  Or dwell on that door and praise God for that door.  Take advantage of that door.  Don't waste your suffering." 
           Nabeel did that in the midst of his battle with cancer.  He walked through that door and has impacted untold thousands through his testimony.  And now, having walked through the ultimate Door, he rejoices in glory. 
           There is always a door.  No matter what sorrow, what terror, what perplexing hardship you are going through right now, there is always a door.  And that Door is Jesus.  He is the Doorway through the suffering.  He is the Doorway that will enable you to endure that suffering.  He is the Doorway to hope, joy, and peace in the midst of that suffering and on the other side of that suffering.  He is the Doorway that will ensure that your suffering--every painful shred of it--will somehow, someway, be used for your ultimate good and His glory.   And He is the Doorway to no-more-sorrow, no-more-separation, no-more-struggling, no-more-fearful-uncertainty, abundant, perfect, glorious eternal Life.
           Walk through that Door today. 
            To God--the Door, our Door--be the glory.   
           

Today--live!

        "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!  You have set Your glory above all the heavens.  Out of the mouth of babies and infants, You have established strength because of Your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.  When I look at the heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?  Yet You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." (Ps.8:1-5)
        Just this morning, they ambled across the greenway right in front of us--a mama and her buddy along with a baby--

(That's the little fellow--the grownups had just passed into the woods ahead of him.)
         What gentle, graceful creatures deer are!  We see them fairly frequently on the greenway, but I never want to grow apathetic and not be amazed at God's astounding creation.  Aren't you thankful He made deer...and hawks...and hummingbirds...and butterflies...and dogs?  And how about changing leaves...sunlight splashed across the pavement...cool, crisp air...pumpkins and mums?  What a Creator!  What a Giver of innumerable good gifts!
          Here's how worked up  Bingley was when we glimpsed the deer--

 He'd found his usual big stick and languidly glanced back at me as if to say, "Deer again.  Ho hum."       
         It was one of those moments where you pause, sensing how precious, how lovely the gift of life is, and how grateful you are to be enjoying your moments on this planet.  This day is what He's given us--this day to laugh and love and see and savor and thank and encourage and feel.
      Oh don't let me slip into autopilot while walking our dog or cooking a meal or chatting with friends or running errands.  Help me to see--truly see--God as reflected in His creation all around me and in His priceless, irreplaceable gifts of the people He puts in my path.
         There are no "throw-away" moments.  There are most definitely no throw-away people.  It all matters.  He crafted every blade of grass and every star in the heavens--it's all His.   And they all matter--every single priceless person so lovingly created by their Heavenly Father. 
       Might we have eyes to see clearly, hearts to love boldly, and senses to experience fully each moment, each person the Lord has so extravagantly and generously placed in our lives.  And might every moment we savor, every person we cherish point us always straight to the Giver of every, every, every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17)
        While we are alive, let us live.  Live thankfully.  Live kindly.  Live forgivingly.   Live encouragingly.  Live joyfully.   Live fully and gratefully.  Live today!  
       And today--and every single day--might we live all by His grace and all for His glory.
       To the One who came and died that we might truly live, be all the glory. 

Slowing down...and savoring

         Well, it's been several weeks--a packed and busy couple of weeks--since I've last been here and written a post.  And it's been good things that have kept me away: things like working hard on lectures for Bible study--which is exactly where God has called me to be and what He's called me to do in this season of life; and watching our sons play in golf tournaments--a gift to be with them and to watch them in this brief season of life before they're all grown up and off on their own; not to mention life's daily necessities from laundry to carpooling to, well, you get the idea.
        It feels like life's been hustling by at a frantic pace...but finally, a moment of respite.  A Sabbath rest.  Ahh.  Breathe out stress and hurry.  Breathe in His Spirit's strength and hope.  Sit quietly with God's Word, not studying it to learn and prepare so I can try to give it out...but savoring it to hear His wise voice, admire His beauty, and enjoy His presence.
        We need both--the busyness and the stillness, the studying and the savoring--but oh how we suffer when it becomes all about the practical, the get-it-all-done, the fill in the blanks and check the boxes and move on to the next bit of urgent business.  Our souls must have time to breathe.  Time to worship Him, rest in Him, gaze at Him.
        I don't recall who wrote it, but I read many years ago--It's the glance that saves but it's the gaze that sanctifies.  Even a believing glance at Jesus can save...but the process of sanctification and holiness requires gazing at the Savior.  And with that gazing comes peace, perspective, deep-rooted joy, and wonder.  But gazing takes time and patience.  Gazing isn't hurried or frantic. 
        John Newton wrote, ""A Christian is not of hasty growth, like a mushroom, but rather like the oak, the progress of which is hardly perceptible, but in time becomes a great deep-rooted tree."
       Goodness, we know all this intellectually...but in the stress and busyness, haste and urgency of everyday life, we forget.  And so we push...rush...accomplish...toil...do...go...achieve...until we suddenly discover we're running on fumes with weary, worn hearts.
        That's when we  need--we must--crawl into our Abba Daddy's lap.  Come to Him with all our weariness and weakness, hand it all to Him and simply rest.  Listen.  Look.  Exchange our worry for worship.  Exchange our hurry for humble dependence.  Exchange our all our doing for desiring and loving Him.
        The really good news?  Our weakness makes room for His working and moving.  Our inadequacy makes room for His infinite ability.  Our emptiness makes room for His overflowing fullness.
         As Paul put it in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
        Spurgeon said "Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up."
        So right now if you are feeling weak and inadequate or weary and worn, take heart, because your Heavenly Father is ready and waiting to envelop you in His arms, to restore you with His love,  to forgive you by His grace, to encourage you in His Word, to empower you through His Spirit.  Our job is simply to come to the Father. Come to be forgiven. Come to be filled.  Come to be renewed.  Come to be restored.  Come to be redeemed.   
         "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Mt.11:28-29)
           Father, help us to come to You for the rest and rejuvenation that we all need and that only You can give.  As we gaze at You, restore to us the joy of our salvation.  Give us thankful, rejoicing hearts.  Renew our strength so that we can run and not be weary as we fix our eyes on You and run this race You have set before us.  You are infinitely worthy and able, Abba, and we place all our trust in You.
         Slow us down that we might savor You, Lord Jesus.
         To God be the glory.   

This day

           A little over a week ago, most of our family went to the mountains.  We arrived on Friday evening to rain.  Cold rain.  Pounding rain.  And fog, lots of fog.  We were completely enveloped by a blanket of chilly, damp, grey.  We couldn't see more than a few feet in front of us.
           The next morning...same thing.  More cold, grey, rain, fog.  We'd look out over the valley on our porch and saw...absolutely nothing.  I'd have never believed even a tree, blade of grass, or any other living thing existed out there in that vast white deadness.  And it lasted all. day. long.  And into the evening.
            Isn't that like life sometimes?  We feel alone, discouraged, fearful.  Slogging through some hard or exhausting time.  Anxious and uncertain about what's around the bend.  Thinking we're surely the only one.
            But faith says we're never ever alone.  Faith says God's in control. Faith says all of God's promises are "Yes!" in Jesus.  Faith says we walk by faith in our never-changing omnipotent God rather than worrying and wobbling along based on our ever-vacillating unreliable feelings.
            And faith says everyday--every single day--is a gift to be opened and enjoyed, not a burden to be endured or wished away.  Even the hardest of days have God's fingerprints all over them.  As such, they are His never-to-be-repeated gift of 1,440 minutes for us to love Him and love people.

            Sure enough, Sunday dawned spectacular--a gigantic painting only God could craft.  The sun melted the darkness with an astounding show of color and clouds.  It had all been there all along--all the trees, all the valley below, all the birds and butterflies and mountain ranges.  Just because we couldn't see it, didn't matter one iota.  The rain and fog temporarily clouded our vision, but not the reality of what was still there.  It was always there.  A brand new, sparkling day.  But isn't everyday like that?
            Thank You Lord for every gift of a new day.  Thank You that You promise that "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lam.3:22-23)  Thank You that those very words were written by the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah in a time of great sorrow and distress for the people of Israel.  Despite the fog of sadness and tragedy, Jeremiah knew God was still there.  Jeremiah trusted that God still loved His people.  And he still believed in God's forever faithfulness and endless mercies.
             A very dear friend of mine just lost her godly, wonderful Mama.  And right now, I'm sure the fog of sorrow and the rain of missing her feel overwhelming, even oppressive at times.  But I also know that the Lord Almighty is there, working and moving and redeeming and reviving in the midst of it all.  We might see the clouds, fog and rain on this side, but her Mama, oh her Mama on the other side, sees nothing but glory, light, wonder, radiance, joy, love, laughter...and Jesus.
            Apparently her Mama's favorite verse, and one she recited every morning, is Psalm 118:24: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  I had to smile when I heard it, because it's always been one of my favorites as well, and it's the first thing I say out loud every morning. That along with Ps.143:8 "Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust.  Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul."  I speak them both out loud each morning to Mr. Bingley (since he's the only one up) so my heart can be reminded that this new day is a gift from God.
          And it's His gift to you too.  Might these verses counsel our hearts that the Lord wants us to rejoice in this day.  That His love for us is steadfast--no matter what's going on or how we might feel.  And that He will guide and direct us this day--for these glittering, never-to-be-repeated 24 hours of time.          
        As long as He gives us breath in our lungs, might we rejoice in Him, expend ourselves in love, and live this day to His glory.  Let's do it this day...until He takes us Home.  And then, oh my then, well why don't we let John Donne tell us--
            "I shall rise from the dead...I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines.  I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began...No man ever saw God and lived.  And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die."
           Until that glorious day when we see Him face to face, this is the day the Lord has made.  Because He made it, because He's given it to us, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
          Until that wondrous day of our Homegoing, this day, this very day, we will obey, forgive, love, give, trust, worship, and rejoice...all by His grace, all for His glory.
           To God--to the Resurrected Sun of Glory, our Redeemer, the Ancient of Days, and our King of Kings--be all the glory.  

One of those days...

        The other day, I had "one of those days."  Nothing major or even specific had occurred.  I guess it was more like a million teensy piranhas nibbled away at my joy and hope, so that by the end of day, I felt utterly discouraged and defeated.  Honestly, looking back, I'd have to point to a lack of sleep as one of the major contributing factors.  But throw into the mix sorrow over various hardships some dear friends are facing, as well as plain old feelings of being completely overwhelmed by too much to do with too little time and ability to do it.
        But here's the thing: when these feelings of discouragement and anxious stress overwhelm me, I'm inevitably doing one thing...and failing to do another.  Let me explain.
       What I'm doing: fixating on all the tasks, difficulties, and challenges facing me totally apart from Christ.  Yep, figuring and calculating and planning without taking into account the sovereign power, abounding love, amazing grace, endless mercy, and infinite power of Almighty God.
      Gee whiz, will I never learn?  Please tell me I'm not the only one whose default position, all too often, is to unconsciously but pridefully assume it's all up to me and my paltry abilities and resources.        BUT IT'S NOT!!  God's Word provides us with a stunning treasure trove of promises of God's limitless ability, wisdom, power, and provision.  But we have to choose--yes, choose--to exit the pity party, open the Word, and ask God to speak to us and strengthen us through His Word.
       Just today, in fact, I sent this promise to one of my children who was feeling really overwhelmed at work:"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa.41:10)
       Or how about "God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that having ALL sufficiency in ALL things at ALL times, you may abound in EVERY good work." (2 Cor.9:8)  That's a lot of "alls" and a mighty nice "every" thrown in there, right?  Yet somehow we think it's all up to us?
       And there's this one: "'I will never leave you nor forsake you;' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Heb.13:5-6)
       And "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Rom.8:32)  
      Yes, I could go on and on and on, but check it out yourself.  There is nothing like God's Word!  When those feelings of fear or anxiety or despair set in, open the Word.  Open and read.  Open and be filled.  Open and be reminded of Who your mighty Lord is, all He has done, all He has promised, and all He will do.
         I mentioned there was one thing I did wrong but also one thing I failed to do, and it's related to all of the above.  I failed to preach the gospel to myself.  Because nobody preaches to you more than you.  And the question always is--what are you preaching to yourself?  What are you muttering to yourself?  Words of life or death?  Words of hope or despair?  Words of rock solid Truth or of vacillating lying emotions?  Are you preaching the good news of the gospel of our Redeemer and Savior or the bad news of your feelings, your inadequacies, your fears?
        Even if we don't have a Bible handy, when those feelings of discouragement and fear assail us, we need to start preachin' right then and there!  Before those beginning little thoughts morph into a monster mountain of fear and despair, we need to quickly, immediately, ASAP start preaching!  Preaching God's Truth.  Preaching the true Truth.  Preaching the gracious Truth.  Preaching the powerful Truth.  Preaching the joyful Truth.  Preaching the you're-never-alone Truth.  Preaching the God's-got-this Truth.  Preaching the He's-never-ever-failed-me-before-and He's-not-gonna-start-now Truth!
        Preach the gospel whether you "feel" like it or not.  Because the power's not in us, or our emotion, or our abilities, or our anything.  The power is in Jesus--the beautiful, omnipotent Living Word and in His supernatural written Word, the Bible.
        I don't know if you're having "one of those days" or if you're having a whole, long, hard season of those kinds of days, but this I do know: our God is able.  Infinitely, eternally, perfectly able to help you, lead you, equip you, strengthen you, comfort you, and empower you to get through it to the other side.  Not somehow, but triumphantly.  But you've got to remember not to do--don't trust your crazy emotions and assume it's all up to you.  And you've got to remember what to do--trust God, open His Word, and preach that life-giving Word to yourself.
        To God be the glory.
       
       
         

See you in the morning

        "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  And He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold I am making all things new.'  Also He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" (Rev.21:4-5)
         "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
         "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:9)
         Oh what sweet words to hear from the lips of the Savior--words of Life.  Real, eternal, glorious, abundant, resurrection Life.
        How thankful I am for Jesus today--for all He is, for all He did for us, for all He's promised us, for all He's given to us.  His death for our sins.  His grace and forgiveness.  His mercy.  His love.  His righteousness.  His joy.  His hope.  His Word.  His promises.  His complete and utter defeat of sin and death.  His resurrection to new life.
          Yes, Lord, we answer with Mary that "We believe this."  We believe...even through tears.  Even through confusion.  Even through sorrow over the death of those we love...but that You love far, far more.  Because You live, we know, know, know that our dearest, sweet Lynda will live.  Because You live, we know that wise, gentle Dickson will live.
         Because You live, we know that our every loved one in Christ who has gone on to heaven,  they live right at this moment.  They are more alive today than any of us who still reside in these "shadowlands" can even imagine.  Even as we weep over missing them here, they rejoice there.  They see as we are all meant to see.  They are experiencing wonders that we cannot begin to comprehend.  They see You face to face and hear You saying to them "Well done, my good and faithful servant."  They "laugh on glory's side"--all the pain of cancer vanished.  All the harshness and hardship of this often cold, dark world, long forgotten.
       "Death is swallowed up in victory," says Paul in I Cor.15:54.  Oh how I love that promise.  Like when we wake up from a really horrible nightmare.  Have you ever done that?  Perhaps dreamed that something terrible has happened--perhaps all your family has been killed--when suddenly you wake up and realize, stunned beyond words, that it was all a terrible dream.  You want to weep for joy and astonishment.  Such an extraordinarily joyful moment, and now your regular old life seems infused with far, far greater preciousness and wonder and joy.  Those people you had taken for granted just the night before, they've suddenly become ever more dear to you.  They are still here, you think, amazed and with sudden and overflowing gratitude.  Death has become swallowed up in victory.  
        Yet that is simply a tiny hint, a whiff of the victory over death that King Jesus has given us.  And that is merely the teeniest glimpse into the wondrous and beautiful reality that our dear Lynda and Dickson and so many, many more loved ones are experiencing right this moment.  Their death has been swallowed up in victory and they dance and laugh and sing on glory's side.  Praise You, Jesus praise You!
        I've said it so many times before, but when our loved ones go to heaven it's so true--we feel deep pain in our hearts and yet at the very same time have a song--a glorious, joyful song--in our souls.  Thank You for the song of redemption You've put in our souls, Lord Jesus.  And thank You that those we love who are no longer on this earth are alive, fully alive, with You, singing that song at the top of their lungs.
         One of my favorite stories comes from Joni Eareckson Tada who said she's often thought about what she'd like on her tombstone.  Here are her words: "When I was little, just growing up, when it was time for the family to go to bed and the lights would be turned out, we would hear--called from around the house--'See you in the morning!  See you in the morning!'  I would say that to my sisters as I went off to sleep.  'See you in the morning.'  I think I might like that on my tombstone: 'I'll see you in the morning.'"
          Precious Lynda and dear Dickson, we will see you in the morning.  Thank You for your faithfulness here on this earth.  Thank You for your extraordinary love and wisdom and kindness.  Lynda, we have one less prayer warrior on this earth, so we will try all the harder to pray and love and encourage and give as relentlessly as you did.  Thank You for showing us all how it's possible to finish well and to run all the way to the finish line with your eyes glued on Jesus and your arms pumping hard to greet the Savior you loved so well, so incredibly well.
          We will see you in the morning.  And until then, we will keep running our race all the way to the end, all by His grace, all for His glory.
         To God--our Savior, Redeemer, and Resurrection Lord--be all the glory.

A game-changer question for decisions

        I've always been one of those folks who struggle with decisions...or more specifically with making hard decisions.  No wonder I despised taking the SAT.  I would agonize, "Well it could be answer a...but then there's always a chance that this other factor comes into play, so it could be c...and d's a non-starter, unless you consider..."  Oh mercy, multiple-choice tests threw me into a tailspin--please, oh please, let me write an essay about this instead!  I'd happily compose pages explaining all sides of the dilemma...and then maybe you can decide.  Sigh. 
        The same can hold true in life.  Hard decisions are so, well, so hard.  For one thing, this old stick-in-the-mud detests change.  But any kind of decision--no matter which way you decide to go--always involves and results in change of some sort.  But I want my children, my friends, my family to stay right here with me all the time; no change, no growing old, no moving away allowed.  Is that really too much to ask?  Apparently yes.
        No wonder I have such a hard time clearing out clutter--everything has some meaning. For instance, this was daddy's seersucker jacket and even though nobody in our family can fit into it, I have to keep it.  Or this was Aunt Janie's frying pan and even though it's a bit rusted and worn out, I have to keep it.  Or these were the gazillion pictures our children painted in preschool, I have to keep every. single. one. of. them. And books, oh mercy, just go ahead and sign me up for one of those hoarder shows when it comes to books.
       But clutter, I'm discovering, is essentially the inability--or the refusal--to make a decision about giving away or throwing away some item.  And for a girl who struggles with decisions and change, this is, to put it mildly, a challenge.
       Life, however, consists of nonstop decisions and constant change.
      And here's the great news for those of us who wrestle with decisions and change: Almighty God is the Source of perfect wisdom, knowledge, and power.  "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!...For of Him and through him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." (Rom.11,33,36)
        He is eternal, constant, and changeless.  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Heb.13:8)
       And He has promised that He will never, ever leave us nor forsake us. "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deut.31:6)
       Yep, we may sometimes feel as if we live on some cosmic helter-skelter roller coaster, but the truth, the true Truth, is that our Lord's in complete control, He's with us every moment, and He's got everything we need for life and godliness.  (2 Peter 1:3)
       Translation: God's got this, so trust and follow Him.  We don't need to be able to see the way ahead...God sees it.  God's already  in the future, and He's got that future--and us--securely in His nail-scarred hands, so we can go to Him first, then make those decisions, stop the hand-wringing, and enjoy the ride.
        And can I add one question that I recently heard on a podcast that was a game-changer for me? When you're struggling with which way to go on a challenging decision ask yourself this question: "Am I being led by love or pushed by fear?"  
        Am I choosing based upon my fears or based upon God's love?  Am I allowing fear to push me into the "safe" choice or am I allowing God's love to  lead me into His often more adventurous ways?  Another way to put that is am I living, deciding, and moving ahead in this area based upon my fears or my faith?
        Today if you're facing some difficult decision or some unwanted change, maybe you can join me in first asking yourself that question: Am I being led by love or pushed by fear?  If it's fear, we all know the antidote--faith in our forever faithful, infinitely powerful, perfectly wise, and extravagantly loving Lord.  Faith over fear.  Love over fear.  Our Heavenly Father over fear.
        Lord, in all our decisions of life--big and small, easy and challenging--teach us and enable us to choose based upon faith in You rather than fear of the unknown or the imagined.  Help us to be led by Your love this day and every day.  To God be the glory.  
       

Start today

                         
        The events of the past week have been beyond disheartening and disturbing.  Frankly, there have been many moments when many of us have felt down right despair.  How is it possible that such hatred, horrific racism, vitriol could exist right here, right now, in our nation?   The horrible underbelly of sin has been on full display, and what an unimaginably ugly, terrible, destructive picture it is.
        It's been hard to even know how to respond, but one thing I do know: our only hope is the redemptive love and forgiveness of Christ.  How I pray the Lord would move mightily in our nation to bring conviction and redemption...forgiveness and healing...restoration and revival.
        And you know what?  It has to begin with every one of us.  In our every human heart.  We each need to ask the Lord where any pockets of hatred or prejudice might be hiding in our hearts.  And then we confess those areas as sin and ask God to enable us to love as He loves. To see as He sees.  To forgive as He forgives.  To understand, serve, encourage, strengthen as He does.
        Seems like a nearly insurmountable task, doesn't it?  And it is...in our own strength and ability.  But it's not us, but Him.  It's not us loving, but Him.  Not us forgiving, but Him.  Not us bringing reconciliation, hope, and healing, but Him doing it for us and through us.
        We simply have to start.  Stop letting the fact that we can't do everything prevent us from doing the something that we can do.  Start small...but start.  Love, encourage, forgive, help in small quiet ways...but start.  Don't allow the size of the mountain ahead prevent you from lacing up your hiking boots and then simply starting, putting one foot in front of the other.  Golly, that's been my problem with writing lately--allowed myself to be too overwhelmed to even begin.  So instead of writing something, instead of writing anything, even writing it really poorly, I failed to even start.  I kept pushing away the challenging  in favor of the comfortable.  I kept choosing diversion rather than confronting difficulty and doing what I know deep down God wanted me to do.  
         And here's how I overcame that discouraging, self-defeating inertia: I simply pulled out my computer, refused to be sidetracked by reading endless emails, and began typing.  One letter at a time.  One word at a time.  I took that first step of typing and trusted that God would do all the rest--give me the words, put those words together, and maybe use those words to encourage someone else who might be struggling.  And before I knew it, that teeny tiny beginning had become a something.
        Yeah sure, it's not even close to everything...in fact, it might be next to nothing...but it's something.  And guess what?  That's good enough for me, because God hasn't called us to do everything...or most things...or even many things...but to do the something that He's given us to do.  To love, to forgive, to encourage, to serve, to strengthen those He's placed in our path and in our lives.
         God's Word says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)  With our Almighty God, it's never too late to start, and it's always too soon to quit.  
         So start today.
         To God be the glory.