Anybody feeling a tad weary? Weary of worrying about this blasted, infernal virus. Weary of worrying about our courageous front-line health-care workers and other essential workers who face the relentless danger everyday of contracting COVID. Weary of cooking and cleaning up...cooking and cleaning up...cooking and cleaning up. Weary of not being able to fellowship or simply laugh and be with friends and family. Weary of face masks and social distancing and flat curves and recitation of ever rising daily death tolls. Weary of relentless hand washing. Weary of trying to choose gratitude over grumbling. Weary of that constant weight of anxiety over vulnerable or aged family and friends. Weary of feeling you're not doing enough to help yet not quite knowing what you can do. Weary of wondering and worrying about a very uncertain, unknown future. Weary of missing those plain old, basic routines of daily life that now seem utterly impossible for who knows how long.
Anybody feeling just plain weary?
Well, my hand is raised and waving wildly--me, me, me. I'm not despairing or desperate. I'm not facing catastrophic loss or overwhelming difficulty. I'm not battling this hideous virus on the front lines. So, guess what? I have absolutely no right or reason to complain...but I will admit to just a bit of weariness with this who-knows-how-long siege of COVID-19.
Therefore I figured it was high time to do a little preaching to myself. Do a little less listening to myself and a little more talking to myself. Because as I've shared over and over again--I'm mighty forgetful. I'm awfully prone to myopic thinking, selfishness, and fruitless worry. I sometimes suffer from spiritual amnesia. Sigh. Forgive me Lord.
But praise His great name that His mercies are new every morning. As the passage I read out loud about every morning (thank you, sweet Nancy McDougal!) from Lam.3 reminds us--"But this I call to mind, and therefore I 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. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lam.3:21-26)
We need to call it to mind--preach it to ourselves. We need to remember who the Lord is and His steadfast, never-ending, never-diminishing love. We need to proclaim the Truth to our souls that we may vacillate and grow weary, but He never ever does. His faithfulness is perfect, unchanging, and eternal. And we need to tell our weary-of-waiting and anxious hearts that it is good to wait on the Lord, that we are waiting on the Lord, not on the virus, and that we can wait with hope and peace, because God's timing and ways are always good, right, and pleasing.
And while we are waiting, He is working and moving. While we are waiting, He is shaping and moulding. While we are waiting, Almighty God is doing and accomplishing what only He can do--even if we can't yet see it or understand it.
So today, let's choose waiting on our God over our weariness. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Gal.6:9) His promises never fail, and His Holy Spirit will enable us to do all that He commands. So let's walk by the Spirit, and today choose to reject weariness and instead to continue doing the good that our faithful Father puts before us.
Lord, help us. Help us, by the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, to not give in to our weariness but instead to continue doing whatever good You sovereignly place before us this day. Help us to cook the meals with a joyful attitude...to love those around us...to express our gratitude for the countless little blessings all around us...to encourage others who might be weary or discouraged...to thank grocery workers, truck drivers, policemen, nurses, doctors and all those serving our communities...to stay in Your Word and preach it to ourselves...to pray without ceasing...to put on our face masks and wash our hands and do our little bit to help contain this virus in order that the most vulnerable among us might be safer. And to do it all trusting You to use it for our greater good and Your greater glory. In Jesus' mighty and triumphant name. Amen.
To God be the glory.
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Monday, May 4, 2020
Join the chorus of praise!
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one." (Ps.28:7-8)
"The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation." (Ps.118:14)
"The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isa.55:12)
Just a little reminder that we have a singing, joyful God. And what should be our response? Well, if life is going really well and all our needs are being met and all our family is doing great and we have plenty of toilet paper, all-purpose flour, and chocolate, then yes, we're to join in the chorus and praise Him, right?
Wrong, wrong, wrong!
"I WILL give thanks to Him in song"..."The Lord IS my strength and song"....or how about "MAKE a joyful noise to the Lord, ALL the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! COME into His presence with singing!" (Ps.100"1-2). I didn't see any qualifications in any of those. Did you?
How about any exceptions for pandemics or shortages or unwanted isolation? Nope. Maybe a teeny tiny loophole when we're simply at the end of our rope or life feels cramped and hard or the people around us are getting on our last little nerve? Ah, no once again.
Praising God, singing (or just making a joyful noise--and we can all do that!) is not a suggestion nor is it qualified in any way. It's a command. But here's the thing--like all of God's commands, this is a life-giving, strength-infusing, perspective-correcting, joy-reviving command. We don't do it based on our feelings but based on our love for God. We don't do it because our lives are wonderful in every way, but because our great God is worthy and He promised to make all things beautiful in His time.
And goodness gracious, I surely don't want the mountains and hills to out-sing me! All of creation sings of His glory, and we have both the choice, the privilege, and the joy of joining in the chorus and magnifying God's praise and glory.
I love how Charles Spurgeon puts it: "The material world has latent music in it, and a renewed heart knows how to bring it out and make it vocal. Mountains and hills are the bass of the chorus, while the trees of the wood and all things that have life take up the air of the melodious song."
Maybe you're feeling constricted or discouraged or downright desperate at this moment. Well, then now is the perfect time to stop and make the choice to praise God. Put on some music and belt out your praises. Or walk outside and notice the astounding beauty of spring exploding all around you--and give God thanks! He made it all, and He's given you the ability to see and savor it--so thank Him! Or simply listen to the constant and magnificent chorus of the birds outside your window--and give their Creator glory! Or breathe deeply of the sweet scent of honeysuckle or refreshing smell of fresh mown grass--and praise their Maker!
Consider the courageous front-line health care workers or the folks doing all the essential labor of getting food on the grocery store shelves--and thank the Lord for all they are doing to protect and help us. And let's not forget the restaurants providing take out (praise Jesus for Casa Carbone spinach calzone!) or friends like Julie making delicious casseroles to feed our families (making us look like rock stars!) or Hayes Barton Cafe cake (YES, Lord!)--don't you want to thank someone? A thousand times yes! Thank them, of course, but also praise and thank your loving Heavenly Father who is the Author and Creator of all good food and who is the Giver of great fellowship that seasons and sweetens every one of those meals!
So thank You, Lord, thank You. You have given us such an extravagant abundance, but please we ask You, give us one thing more--thanking, praising hearts. In the words of John Baillie's A Diary of Private Prayer: "give me today, I beseech Thee, the mind and heart to rejoice in Thy creation. Forbid that I should walk through Thy beautiful world with unseeing eyes...Forbid that when all Thy creatures are greeting the morning with songs and shouts of joy, I alone should wear a dull and sullen face...And above all give me the grace to use these beauties of earth without me and this eager stirring of life within me as means whereby my soul may rise from creature to Creator, and from nature to nature's God." Lord, we love You, we praise You, we thank You, we worship You. In Jesus' mighty and beautiful name. Amen.
To God be all the glory forever and ever.
"The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation." (Ps.118:14)
"The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isa.55:12)
Just a little reminder that we have a singing, joyful God. And what should be our response? Well, if life is going really well and all our needs are being met and all our family is doing great and we have plenty of toilet paper, all-purpose flour, and chocolate, then yes, we're to join in the chorus and praise Him, right?
Wrong, wrong, wrong!
"I WILL give thanks to Him in song"..."The Lord IS my strength and song"....or how about "MAKE a joyful noise to the Lord, ALL the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! COME into His presence with singing!" (Ps.100"1-2). I didn't see any qualifications in any of those. Did you?
How about any exceptions for pandemics or shortages or unwanted isolation? Nope. Maybe a teeny tiny loophole when we're simply at the end of our rope or life feels cramped and hard or the people around us are getting on our last little nerve? Ah, no once again.
Praising God, singing (or just making a joyful noise--and we can all do that!) is not a suggestion nor is it qualified in any way. It's a command. But here's the thing--like all of God's commands, this is a life-giving, strength-infusing, perspective-correcting, joy-reviving command. We don't do it based on our feelings but based on our love for God. We don't do it because our lives are wonderful in every way, but because our great God is worthy and He promised to make all things beautiful in His time.
And goodness gracious, I surely don't want the mountains and hills to out-sing me! All of creation sings of His glory, and we have both the choice, the privilege, and the joy of joining in the chorus and magnifying God's praise and glory.
I love how Charles Spurgeon puts it: "The material world has latent music in it, and a renewed heart knows how to bring it out and make it vocal. Mountains and hills are the bass of the chorus, while the trees of the wood and all things that have life take up the air of the melodious song."
Maybe you're feeling constricted or discouraged or downright desperate at this moment. Well, then now is the perfect time to stop and make the choice to praise God. Put on some music and belt out your praises. Or walk outside and notice the astounding beauty of spring exploding all around you--and give God thanks! He made it all, and He's given you the ability to see and savor it--so thank Him! Or simply listen to the constant and magnificent chorus of the birds outside your window--and give their Creator glory! Or breathe deeply of the sweet scent of honeysuckle or refreshing smell of fresh mown grass--and praise their Maker!
Consider the courageous front-line health care workers or the folks doing all the essential labor of getting food on the grocery store shelves--and thank the Lord for all they are doing to protect and help us. And let's not forget the restaurants providing take out (praise Jesus for Casa Carbone spinach calzone!) or friends like Julie making delicious casseroles to feed our families (making us look like rock stars!) or Hayes Barton Cafe cake (YES, Lord!)--don't you want to thank someone? A thousand times yes! Thank them, of course, but also praise and thank your loving Heavenly Father who is the Author and Creator of all good food and who is the Giver of great fellowship that seasons and sweetens every one of those meals!
So thank You, Lord, thank You. You have given us such an extravagant abundance, but please we ask You, give us one thing more--thanking, praising hearts. In the words of John Baillie's A Diary of Private Prayer: "give me today, I beseech Thee, the mind and heart to rejoice in Thy creation. Forbid that I should walk through Thy beautiful world with unseeing eyes...Forbid that when all Thy creatures are greeting the morning with songs and shouts of joy, I alone should wear a dull and sullen face...And above all give me the grace to use these beauties of earth without me and this eager stirring of life within me as means whereby my soul may rise from creature to Creator, and from nature to nature's God." Lord, we love You, we praise You, we thank You, we worship You. In Jesus' mighty and beautiful name. Amen.
To God be all the glory forever and ever.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Three little thoughts!
"Stand fast in the Lord" (Phil.4:1)--Part II
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."" (I Cor.16:13)
As I shared the other day, God used this verse, and several others like it, to greatly encourage my weary heart. Boy, there is nothing like God's Word, and there is no better way to begin your day than a dose of His supernatural, attitude-altering, strength-giving Word! But I did want to share three very brief, very simple thoughts that these verses and weariness brought to mind.
And here these three are: when you're weary, allow it to lead you to God's Word, look up in prayer, and lean in the Lord. (I told you they were simple! But sometimes when we're struggling--especially with exhaustion or weariness--we need something really simple to remind and preach to ourselves.) Just briefly--
First, lead you to God's Word. There's nothing more reviving to our hearts and minds than God's Word. How often have I opened His Word out of habit or even duty, and yet God, in His grace, speaks to and encourages me in a personal way. Or He gives His wisdom, His strength, His conviction, His forgiveness, His grace through something in His Word. Never ever underestimate the power of God's Word.
Second, look up in prayer. Again, duh, you're thinking. But seriously, how often do we simply fail to pray! We figure a little dose of chocolate will revive us, or some online shopping, or some mindless entertainment, but we fail first to pray! Corrie ten Boom always said, "Is prayer was steering wheel or your spare tire?" Make it your steering wheel--go to God and tell Him your problems, share your exhaustion, ask for the help and provision only He can give.
Third, lean in to the Lord. In other words, depend on Him! That's the part of the verse I love--stand fast in the faith, stand fast in the Lord! In our faith in Him. In HIM! He has all the power and provision and grace and hope and joy and love and strength we will ever need. So lean in and depend upon Him.
That's it--told you it was short and simple! But remember it the next time weariness hits--let it lead you to God's Word, look up in prayer, and lean in to the Lord in dependence. He's there and He's able!
To God be the glory.
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."" (I Cor.16:13)
As I shared the other day, God used this verse, and several others like it, to greatly encourage my weary heart. Boy, there is nothing like God's Word, and there is no better way to begin your day than a dose of His supernatural, attitude-altering, strength-giving Word! But I did want to share three very brief, very simple thoughts that these verses and weariness brought to mind.
And here these three are: when you're weary, allow it to lead you to God's Word, look up in prayer, and lean in the Lord. (I told you they were simple! But sometimes when we're struggling--especially with exhaustion or weariness--we need something really simple to remind and preach to ourselves.) Just briefly--
First, lead you to God's Word. There's nothing more reviving to our hearts and minds than God's Word. How often have I opened His Word out of habit or even duty, and yet God, in His grace, speaks to and encourages me in a personal way. Or He gives His wisdom, His strength, His conviction, His forgiveness, His grace through something in His Word. Never ever underestimate the power of God's Word.
Second, look up in prayer. Again, duh, you're thinking. But seriously, how often do we simply fail to pray! We figure a little dose of chocolate will revive us, or some online shopping, or some mindless entertainment, but we fail first to pray! Corrie ten Boom always said, "Is prayer was steering wheel or your spare tire?" Make it your steering wheel--go to God and tell Him your problems, share your exhaustion, ask for the help and provision only He can give.
Third, lean in to the Lord. In other words, depend on Him! That's the part of the verse I love--stand fast in the faith, stand fast in the Lord! In our faith in Him. In HIM! He has all the power and provision and grace and hope and joy and love and strength we will ever need. So lean in and depend upon Him.
That's it--told you it was short and simple! But remember it the next time weariness hits--let it lead you to God's Word, look up in prayer, and lean in to the Lord in dependence. He's there and He's able!
To God be the glory.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Stand fast
Last night, by the time I fell into the bed, a real weariness had settled upon me. Not just tiredness--who isn't tired by the end of the day?--but a deeper weariness. Since I'm a morning person, however, I figured it was time to go on to bed and when I awoke, I'd surely feel like a new person...because after all, tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start, and His mercies are new every morning (and afternoon and evening).
But when I woke up this morning in the peaceful, predawn darkness (which is always my favorite time of the day), that weariness still pressed heavy on my heart and body. Weary is simply the word that came to mind. Here's how Miriam Webster defines it: "exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor or freshness; having one's patience, tolerance, or pleasure exhausted." Hmm. Anybody been experiencing a bit of that recently? Well that certainly described some of what I was feeling this morning--exhausted in strength and freshness and exhausted in patience and tolerance.
The worst part of it was I have absolutely no reason to complain. Right now, our family and friends are still healthy. And none of us are bravely battling this virus on the front lines like our courageous health care workers--oh praise God for them and please help, empower and protect them, Father. Nor are we essential workers who are unselfishly keeping all the rest of us going by delivering mail or stocking grocery store shelves or working in factories producing our goods or manning pharmacies or driving delivery trucks. Again, thank You, Lord and bless and protect them all. But the point is--my weariness was compounded by shame that I felt weary! Forgive me Lord, when others are sacrificing and confronting so much.
Well, I dutifully (and I mean dutifully--as in, I didn't feel one iota like doing it but did it simply because it's a habit I've tried to cultivate) refused to look at my phone or anything else until first spending a few minutes with the Lord. As I've shared here often, my early morning habit is quite simple and brief--first a few minutes in God's Word (I read Daily Light and a short Charles Spurgeon devotional), then write down a few things I'm thankful for from the day before in a gratitude journal, and then pray.
But upon opening the Daily Light, I read these words at the top of the page: "Stand fast in the Lord." (Phil.4:1) Thunderclap--that alone was sufficient to arrest my weary spirit. It was if the Holy Spirit spoke directly to my heart--"Stand fast in ME, Emily. Don't quit. Your job isn't to come up with the strength--that's the Lord's job. Your job is to make the choice to stand fast in HIM. Choose to look to Him."
The next verse declared "My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside." (Job 23:11) Don't we each want to be able to say that when all this is over? Again, our job isn't to know the way ahead or to forge the path into an unknown future. Our job is simply to hold fast to HIS steps. We follow Him and His way. And He's already been this way before, so He knows exactly where we each need to step and how we need to proceed.
This morning was one of those times when each word jumped off the page. Every verse shouted of God's faithfulness and provision--and also of my, of our, need to make the choice to stand fast in Him, cling to Him, endure through Him. "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (I Cor.16:13) Again, did you notice? Stand fast in the faith. Not stand fast in your own strength. Not stand fast by drumming up lots of strength and perseverance. Not stand fast by bucking up. Not stand fast by being the perfect Christian or displaying the perfect perspective or being the perfect parent or spouse.
Absolutely not! We are to stand fast in faith in Him. Stand fast in faith in the Savior who has all power, all strength, all perseverance, all wisdom, all hope, all love. He is our Power-source. He is our Perfect Enabler, Equipper, Encourager.
Not us, but Him.
A bit more on this in a day or two (as I had three specific thoughts based on this last verse) but for now, can I just encourage you today to "Stand fast in the Lord." Maybe you're slaying it today and your attitude sings of strength and joy, but we all know this virus is a grinding, hard marathon. We're all going to experience some pretty good days...some more challenging days...and some downright crummy days. And that's okay, because we're all doing the best we can to navigate these difficult times.
But remember what's eternally true--our God is still and forever on the throne. He conquered sin and death and rose from the dead to new resurrection life. His purposes and plans cannot be thwarted or defeated. And as James Bryant Smith says, "We live in the strong and unshakeable Kingdom of God. His Kingdom is not in trouble and neither are we."
Yes, our world might be shaking, but Almighty God's Kingdom is not. So we can stand fast in Him. He will not fail us or forsake us...not ever.
Today, stand fast in the Lord. He's got you.
To God be the glory.
But when I woke up this morning in the peaceful, predawn darkness (which is always my favorite time of the day), that weariness still pressed heavy on my heart and body. Weary is simply the word that came to mind. Here's how Miriam Webster defines it: "exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor or freshness; having one's patience, tolerance, or pleasure exhausted." Hmm. Anybody been experiencing a bit of that recently? Well that certainly described some of what I was feeling this morning--exhausted in strength and freshness and exhausted in patience and tolerance.
The worst part of it was I have absolutely no reason to complain. Right now, our family and friends are still healthy. And none of us are bravely battling this virus on the front lines like our courageous health care workers--oh praise God for them and please help, empower and protect them, Father. Nor are we essential workers who are unselfishly keeping all the rest of us going by delivering mail or stocking grocery store shelves or working in factories producing our goods or manning pharmacies or driving delivery trucks. Again, thank You, Lord and bless and protect them all. But the point is--my weariness was compounded by shame that I felt weary! Forgive me Lord, when others are sacrificing and confronting so much.
Well, I dutifully (and I mean dutifully--as in, I didn't feel one iota like doing it but did it simply because it's a habit I've tried to cultivate) refused to look at my phone or anything else until first spending a few minutes with the Lord. As I've shared here often, my early morning habit is quite simple and brief--first a few minutes in God's Word (I read Daily Light and a short Charles Spurgeon devotional), then write down a few things I'm thankful for from the day before in a gratitude journal, and then pray.
But upon opening the Daily Light, I read these words at the top of the page: "Stand fast in the Lord." (Phil.4:1) Thunderclap--that alone was sufficient to arrest my weary spirit. It was if the Holy Spirit spoke directly to my heart--"Stand fast in ME, Emily. Don't quit. Your job isn't to come up with the strength--that's the Lord's job. Your job is to make the choice to stand fast in HIM. Choose to look to Him."
The next verse declared "My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside." (Job 23:11) Don't we each want to be able to say that when all this is over? Again, our job isn't to know the way ahead or to forge the path into an unknown future. Our job is simply to hold fast to HIS steps. We follow Him and His way. And He's already been this way before, so He knows exactly where we each need to step and how we need to proceed.
This morning was one of those times when each word jumped off the page. Every verse shouted of God's faithfulness and provision--and also of my, of our, need to make the choice to stand fast in Him, cling to Him, endure through Him. "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (I Cor.16:13) Again, did you notice? Stand fast in the faith. Not stand fast in your own strength. Not stand fast by drumming up lots of strength and perseverance. Not stand fast by bucking up. Not stand fast by being the perfect Christian or displaying the perfect perspective or being the perfect parent or spouse.
Absolutely not! We are to stand fast in faith in Him. Stand fast in faith in the Savior who has all power, all strength, all perseverance, all wisdom, all hope, all love. He is our Power-source. He is our Perfect Enabler, Equipper, Encourager.
Not us, but Him.
A bit more on this in a day or two (as I had three specific thoughts based on this last verse) but for now, can I just encourage you today to "Stand fast in the Lord." Maybe you're slaying it today and your attitude sings of strength and joy, but we all know this virus is a grinding, hard marathon. We're all going to experience some pretty good days...some more challenging days...and some downright crummy days. And that's okay, because we're all doing the best we can to navigate these difficult times.
But remember what's eternally true--our God is still and forever on the throne. He conquered sin and death and rose from the dead to new resurrection life. His purposes and plans cannot be thwarted or defeated. And as James Bryant Smith says, "We live in the strong and unshakeable Kingdom of God. His Kingdom is not in trouble and neither are we."
Yes, our world might be shaking, but Almighty God's Kingdom is not. So we can stand fast in Him. He will not fail us or forsake us...not ever.
Today, stand fast in the Lord. He's got you.
To God be the glory.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Don't miss the gifts
"But Joseph said to them, 'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people would be kept alive, as they are today.'" (Gen.50:19-20)
Many years earlier, Joseph's brothers had hated him, betrayed him, and sold him into slavery. They assumed he was dead, but Joseph was alive in a foreign land in Egypt where he first served as Potiphar's loyal, servant, then was imprisoned for ten years in an Egyptian dungeon, because he was accused of a crime he did not commit. Yet through it all, even though he surely felt utterly abandoned, Joseph remained faithful and true to his Lord. And remarkably, he was eventually elevated to Pharaoh's second in command and saved the world--and ultimately his own family and people--from starvation.
It's sometimes referred to as "The Genesis 50 Principle"--what the enemy intends for evil, God can and will use for good. As Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."
I don't begin to pretend to understand all the pain and suffering that COVID-19 has inflicted. The illness, death, financial struggles, job loss and on and on are undeniably terrible. There are no pat, easy answer for the sorrow caused by this pandemic.
But this I do know--God is sovereign, in complete control, perfectly good, completely wise, and infinitely loving. And somehow, someway, He is going to use all of this for our greater good and for His glory. He will use what the enemy wants to use to steal, kill and destroy and instead bring out of it life more abundant. (John 10:10).
And so today, I choose to remember that even with this terrible virus, God is giving us some gifts, all sorts of unexpected gifts. For many of us--
The gift of time to ponder, to read, to study God's Word, to get outside into God's magnificent creation.
The gift of unexpected time with family to talk, to walk, to laugh, to share meals together, to ask questions and really listen to the answers.
The gift of savoring the beauty of nature. I don't think I've ever appreciated the happy pinks of the dogwood blossoms or the scarlet red of the cardinals or the smell of fresh cut grass more than I have in recent weeks. Somehow this crisis has birthed a new appreciation, a renewed sensitivity to the astounding wonder of the world around me. What a creation and what a Creator!
The gift of disruption that causes us to question our constant busyness and materialism. What needs to go? What is truly necessary? How can we simplify? In this forced simplicity, many of us are finding a sense of renewed peace and tranquility.
The gift of reading or writing or gardening or cooking (I'm still working on that sourdough bread! More on that another day!) or taking up some kind of life-giving hobby.
And the gift of margin--most of us simply don't have anywhere to rush off to! All those meetings--cancelled. All those children's sporting events--cancelled. All those get-togethers--cancelled. All those appointments--cancelled. Now I'm not saying that's all good. Of course not. But it does give us the gift of margin in which we can slow down, pause, breathe deeply, look around, savor, appreciate.
So my encouragement to all of us today is to take advantage of these gifts. Ask the Lord to show you how He wants you to grow, to learn, and to use these gifts of time, family, nature, disruption, margin. What might He be teaching us? What new dreams might He be birthing in us? What new visions might He be giving us?
To help illustrate this idea, I wanted to close with a wonderful piece I heard not too long ago entitled "Welcome to Holland," by Emily Pearl Kingsley. She wrote--
"I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help
people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would
feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a
bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David.
The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go.
Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in
Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of
pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And
you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've
been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice
that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about
what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's
where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a
very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free
to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland."
I don't want to miss the gifts of Holland...or time...or family...or simplicity...or disruption...or bread-baking...or anything else God has for me in this season. Might I, might all of us, be present and awake to all the Lord is doing in this challenging season. Might we be faithful, loving, giving, serving, listening, praying, and worshipping. For our God is worthy, and He is working, even when we cannot see it.
To God be the glory.
Many years earlier, Joseph's brothers had hated him, betrayed him, and sold him into slavery. They assumed he was dead, but Joseph was alive in a foreign land in Egypt where he first served as Potiphar's loyal, servant, then was imprisoned for ten years in an Egyptian dungeon, because he was accused of a crime he did not commit. Yet through it all, even though he surely felt utterly abandoned, Joseph remained faithful and true to his Lord. And remarkably, he was eventually elevated to Pharaoh's second in command and saved the world--and ultimately his own family and people--from starvation.
It's sometimes referred to as "The Genesis 50 Principle"--what the enemy intends for evil, God can and will use for good. As Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."
I don't begin to pretend to understand all the pain and suffering that COVID-19 has inflicted. The illness, death, financial struggles, job loss and on and on are undeniably terrible. There are no pat, easy answer for the sorrow caused by this pandemic.
But this I do know--God is sovereign, in complete control, perfectly good, completely wise, and infinitely loving. And somehow, someway, He is going to use all of this for our greater good and for His glory. He will use what the enemy wants to use to steal, kill and destroy and instead bring out of it life more abundant. (John 10:10).
And so today, I choose to remember that even with this terrible virus, God is giving us some gifts, all sorts of unexpected gifts. For many of us--
The gift of time to ponder, to read, to study God's Word, to get outside into God's magnificent creation.
The gift of unexpected time with family to talk, to walk, to laugh, to share meals together, to ask questions and really listen to the answers.
The gift of savoring the beauty of nature. I don't think I've ever appreciated the happy pinks of the dogwood blossoms or the scarlet red of the cardinals or the smell of fresh cut grass more than I have in recent weeks. Somehow this crisis has birthed a new appreciation, a renewed sensitivity to the astounding wonder of the world around me. What a creation and what a Creator!
The gift of disruption that causes us to question our constant busyness and materialism. What needs to go? What is truly necessary? How can we simplify? In this forced simplicity, many of us are finding a sense of renewed peace and tranquility.
The gift of reading or writing or gardening or cooking (I'm still working on that sourdough bread! More on that another day!) or taking up some kind of life-giving hobby.
And the gift of margin--most of us simply don't have anywhere to rush off to! All those meetings--cancelled. All those children's sporting events--cancelled. All those get-togethers--cancelled. All those appointments--cancelled. Now I'm not saying that's all good. Of course not. But it does give us the gift of margin in which we can slow down, pause, breathe deeply, look around, savor, appreciate.
So my encouragement to all of us today is to take advantage of these gifts. Ask the Lord to show you how He wants you to grow, to learn, and to use these gifts of time, family, nature, disruption, margin. What might He be teaching us? What new dreams might He be birthing in us? What new visions might He be giving us?
To help illustrate this idea, I wanted to close with a wonderful piece I heard not too long ago entitled "Welcome to Holland," by Emily Pearl Kingsley. She wrote--
"I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help
people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would
feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a
bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David.
The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go.
Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in
Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of
pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And
you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've
been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice
that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about
what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's
where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a
very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free
to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland."
I don't want to miss the gifts of Holland...or time...or family...or simplicity...or disruption...or bread-baking...or anything else God has for me in this season. Might I, might all of us, be present and awake to all the Lord is doing in this challenging season. Might we be faithful, loving, giving, serving, listening, praying, and worshipping. For our God is worthy, and He is working, even when we cannot see it.
To God be the glory.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Disappointment the day after...
Disappointment the day after...
We just celebrated the holiest and most wondrous day of the entire year for believers--the joyous celebration of Christ's resurrection and victory over sin and death. Of course, this Easter was like none other as we are mired in a deadly, terrible pandemic. But even while desperately missing family, friends, and church fellowship, yesterday still was a day of joyous worship and a happy respite from all that's been happening. I went to bed still basking in that glow.
Until the day after...
Only hours after Easter, I struggled to sleep and awoke early, bleary-eyed and jittery. Outside the heavy dark clouds glowered, the wind pummeled the trees, and soon the rain began pounding. It was if the weather reflected my anxious, antsy heart. I couldn't even put my finger on it--after focusing on Holy Week all last week and experiencing God's peace and joy despite the world's circumstances, it was if it all evaporated in an instant.
Moreover, two of our children who are here right now and working from home, were both experiencing extremely stressful work issues today. I tiptoed around, trying not to disturb them, even as I fussed and fumed inwardly at myself for not being more productive and getting all those myriad projects done (or at least started!) that I was sure I'd get accomplished with all this "extra" time at home.
Sigh. I don't know where on earth the days go, but let me just say, I'm terribly disappointed in myself. I've yet to spring clean my whole house...nor declutter every room and closet (oh help me, Jesus!)...nor learn to play an instrument and speak a new language...nor become an accomplished cook like Julia Child.
I have managed to finally try (emphasis on the word "try") making sourdough starter and homemade whole wheat sourdough bread. And let me just say for the record--GOOD GRIEF! I thought kneading dough was supposed to be relaxing and therapeutic. Nope. Maybe it would have been if I hadn't created such a colossal mess making and feeding the sourdough starter. Instead, all that went through my mind was "What on earth was I thinking of taking this on?!!" I guess it didn't help that the final products could also be used as doorstops. But I guess those brown bricks might prove handy in all this wind.
It seemed like all the "What if's" and "What then's" of this virus started storming the citadel of my heart and by lunchtime today, Resurrection Sunday seemed like a million miles away. My anxious, fretting thoughts were flitting and flying about like those wind-tossed pine branches in our backyard...
...until the Lord, in His great grace, sent His Word to my troubled, antsy heart. "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." (Ps.62:5)
Such a simple word, and yet the Lord used it to immediately arrest my disobedient thoughts and anxious heart.
"Calm down, soul," His Word said to me. "Be still anxious thoughts. Wait on God. He's in control--not you, not the virus, not our jobs, not our to-do lists, not anything or anyone but God alone. And place your expectation and hope in Him alone--your Redeemer and Sustainer and Deliverer and Helper and Encourager and Strengthener."
And it occurred to me--of course the enemy would assault our hearts and minds today--the day after the most joyous celebration of the entire year for believers. Silly, amnesiac that I am, I had forgotten that we're in the midst of spiritual war. Yesterday marked our annual happy remembrance and celebration of Christ's victory over satan, sin and death. The enemy surely hates being reminded!
And this world isn't a playground but a battleground where the enemy wages war against our hearts and minds as much as our bodies and lives.
So we should expect days like this--days of discouragement or defeat or disappointment. And by the way, isn't it funny how often those kinds of hard, difficult days seem to immediately follow a time of great joy or victory or celebration?
Maybe nobody else out there is experiencing disappointment "the day after" like I am, but just in case you are, let me remind you and me--we know the One who is really in control. And we know the One who has already won the war. And we know that He has promised that He's using all things for our ultimate good and His greater glory. And we know that He loves us beyond all reason, and nothing can separate us from His love. And we know that "this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (II Cor.4:17-18)
And so, we can wait on Him and place our hope and expectation in Him, even as get back to work, doing all that we can, the best that we can, but doing it all for His glory and entrusting the results to Him. We won't get it all done...and that's okay, because He's already finished the ultimate work so we can look to Him and rest in Him.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for defeating our greatest enemies of satan, sin and death. Since You already defeated the absolute worst that we could or will ever face, we know that You will also make a way and give us the grace to deal with anything this day brings us.
To God be the glory.
We just celebrated the holiest and most wondrous day of the entire year for believers--the joyous celebration of Christ's resurrection and victory over sin and death. Of course, this Easter was like none other as we are mired in a deadly, terrible pandemic. But even while desperately missing family, friends, and church fellowship, yesterday still was a day of joyous worship and a happy respite from all that's been happening. I went to bed still basking in that glow.
Until the day after...
Only hours after Easter, I struggled to sleep and awoke early, bleary-eyed and jittery. Outside the heavy dark clouds glowered, the wind pummeled the trees, and soon the rain began pounding. It was if the weather reflected my anxious, antsy heart. I couldn't even put my finger on it--after focusing on Holy Week all last week and experiencing God's peace and joy despite the world's circumstances, it was if it all evaporated in an instant.
Moreover, two of our children who are here right now and working from home, were both experiencing extremely stressful work issues today. I tiptoed around, trying not to disturb them, even as I fussed and fumed inwardly at myself for not being more productive and getting all those myriad projects done (or at least started!) that I was sure I'd get accomplished with all this "extra" time at home.
Sigh. I don't know where on earth the days go, but let me just say, I'm terribly disappointed in myself. I've yet to spring clean my whole house...nor declutter every room and closet (oh help me, Jesus!)...nor learn to play an instrument and speak a new language...nor become an accomplished cook like Julia Child.
I have managed to finally try (emphasis on the word "try") making sourdough starter and homemade whole wheat sourdough bread. And let me just say for the record--GOOD GRIEF! I thought kneading dough was supposed to be relaxing and therapeutic. Nope. Maybe it would have been if I hadn't created such a colossal mess making and feeding the sourdough starter. Instead, all that went through my mind was "What on earth was I thinking of taking this on?!!" I guess it didn't help that the final products could also be used as doorstops. But I guess those brown bricks might prove handy in all this wind.
It seemed like all the "What if's" and "What then's" of this virus started storming the citadel of my heart and by lunchtime today, Resurrection Sunday seemed like a million miles away. My anxious, fretting thoughts were flitting and flying about like those wind-tossed pine branches in our backyard...
...until the Lord, in His great grace, sent His Word to my troubled, antsy heart. "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." (Ps.62:5)
Such a simple word, and yet the Lord used it to immediately arrest my disobedient thoughts and anxious heart.
"Calm down, soul," His Word said to me. "Be still anxious thoughts. Wait on God. He's in control--not you, not the virus, not our jobs, not our to-do lists, not anything or anyone but God alone. And place your expectation and hope in Him alone--your Redeemer and Sustainer and Deliverer and Helper and Encourager and Strengthener."
And it occurred to me--of course the enemy would assault our hearts and minds today--the day after the most joyous celebration of the entire year for believers. Silly, amnesiac that I am, I had forgotten that we're in the midst of spiritual war. Yesterday marked our annual happy remembrance and celebration of Christ's victory over satan, sin and death. The enemy surely hates being reminded!
And this world isn't a playground but a battleground where the enemy wages war against our hearts and minds as much as our bodies and lives.
So we should expect days like this--days of discouragement or defeat or disappointment. And by the way, isn't it funny how often those kinds of hard, difficult days seem to immediately follow a time of great joy or victory or celebration?
Maybe nobody else out there is experiencing disappointment "the day after" like I am, but just in case you are, let me remind you and me--we know the One who is really in control. And we know the One who has already won the war. And we know that He has promised that He's using all things for our ultimate good and His greater glory. And we know that He loves us beyond all reason, and nothing can separate us from His love. And we know that "this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (II Cor.4:17-18)
And so, we can wait on Him and place our hope and expectation in Him, even as get back to work, doing all that we can, the best that we can, but doing it all for His glory and entrusting the results to Him. We won't get it all done...and that's okay, because He's already finished the ultimate work so we can look to Him and rest in Him.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for defeating our greatest enemies of satan, sin and death. Since You already defeated the absolute worst that we could or will ever face, we know that You will also make a way and give us the grace to deal with anything this day brings us.
To God be the glory.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Resurrection Sunday
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
This has surely been an Easter like none other for many of us. Yet, praise God corona virus, quarantine, and social distancing cannot change the astounding, destiny-altering reality that Jesus is alive. And because Jesus lives, sin and death have been defeated. And because Jesus lives, our loved ones who have died in Christ, live. And because Jesus lives, we will live. And because Jesus lives, we have no reason or cause ever to despair. And because Jesus lives, even if corona virus does it's very worst and kills us or those we love physically, we still win...and live.
Countless words have already been said about this most glorious event in history, so there's not much I can add, save, thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord and praise You, praise You, praise You, Jesus!
I recently heard David Jeremiah point out that the world gives promises that are ultimately full of emptiness; but Christ and His resurrection gives us emptiness that is full of promises. Surely corona has revealed the emptiness of the world's promises: health, prosperity, job, busyness, popularity--none of these give us lasting peace and happiness. They can all crumble with a mere invisible virus that can destroy livelihoods, health, and even life itself. The world's promises are empty.
But the God gives emptiness that is full of glorious hope and brings us His unchanging, wonderful promises. The cross is empty. The grave clothes are empty. The tomb is empty. And Jesus is alive and every promise in God's Word is "Yes!" in Him. Yes to peace. Yes to hope. Yes to joy. Yes to forgiveness. Yes to grace. Yes to eternal, abundant life. Yes to heaven.
And so this day, might we simply worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He has conquered sin and death, risen from the grave to glorious resurrection life, reigns on high forever, and lives with us and in us through His Holy Spirit, and prepares a perfect place for us in heaven.
"'Why are you looking for the living among the dead?' asked the men. 'He is not here, but He has risen!'" (Luke 24:5-6)
Praise You Lord that we need no longer look for the living among the dead. You are alive. Our loved ones who have died in You are alive. And when we draw our last breath on this earth, we will truly live. We might still live in the land of the dying, but we are headed for the land of the living, so help us to live this day and everyday with gazes locked on You, with great hope and joy in our hearts, and with glorious eternity in view.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! To God be the glory.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
This has surely been an Easter like none other for many of us. Yet, praise God corona virus, quarantine, and social distancing cannot change the astounding, destiny-altering reality that Jesus is alive. And because Jesus lives, sin and death have been defeated. And because Jesus lives, our loved ones who have died in Christ, live. And because Jesus lives, we will live. And because Jesus lives, we have no reason or cause ever to despair. And because Jesus lives, even if corona virus does it's very worst and kills us or those we love physically, we still win...and live.
Countless words have already been said about this most glorious event in history, so there's not much I can add, save, thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord and praise You, praise You, praise You, Jesus!
I recently heard David Jeremiah point out that the world gives promises that are ultimately full of emptiness; but Christ and His resurrection gives us emptiness that is full of promises. Surely corona has revealed the emptiness of the world's promises: health, prosperity, job, busyness, popularity--none of these give us lasting peace and happiness. They can all crumble with a mere invisible virus that can destroy livelihoods, health, and even life itself. The world's promises are empty.
But the God gives emptiness that is full of glorious hope and brings us His unchanging, wonderful promises. The cross is empty. The grave clothes are empty. The tomb is empty. And Jesus is alive and every promise in God's Word is "Yes!" in Him. Yes to peace. Yes to hope. Yes to joy. Yes to forgiveness. Yes to grace. Yes to eternal, abundant life. Yes to heaven.
And so this day, might we simply worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He has conquered sin and death, risen from the grave to glorious resurrection life, reigns on high forever, and lives with us and in us through His Holy Spirit, and prepares a perfect place for us in heaven.
"'Why are you looking for the living among the dead?' asked the men. 'He is not here, but He has risen!'" (Luke 24:5-6)
Praise You Lord that we need no longer look for the living among the dead. You are alive. Our loved ones who have died in You are alive. And when we draw our last breath on this earth, we will truly live. We might still live in the land of the dying, but we are headed for the land of the living, so help us to live this day and everyday with gazes locked on You, with great hope and joy in our hearts, and with glorious eternity in view.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! To God be the glory.
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