"Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb.12:1).
What a magnificent verse! It's one of those jewels in God's Word that sparkles and shines in ever-varying and stunning ways as you return to gaze at it time and again.
Just one little aspect that struck me afresh today: all that "weight and sin" that we need to "lay aside." Yeah, yeah, we think. We all know our sin is hateful and harmful. We know we need to get rid of it, but even so, it's so easy to think of it in abstract and general ways, don't you think? My "sins" versus my specific tendency to commit the sin of worrying...or complaining...or envying...or gossiping.
What if we begin getting down to brass tacks by asking ourselves--what is all that "weight" and what does it mean to lay it aside...not just in general, but in particular--for me?
I remember eons and eons ago--before cell phones, personal computers, frozen yogurt, spandex, and the world as we know it today--I ran some races during the winter season for our track team in college. Now tennis was my main sport, but the track team was obviously in desperate need of some warm bodies, so they asked me to join the track team during the tennis off-season.
This was all very fine and good...until right before my first track meet when the track coach handed me the team uniform...which consisted of--as far as I could tell--a teeny, tiny tank top and a pair of orange and black (our school colors) underwear. That's sure what they looked like to me.
Now my momma had raised me right, and there was no cotton picking way I was gonna go out and run in front of a bunch of other folks wearing that ridiculously skimpy get-up. How about a tee shirt and a pair of shorts, for pete's sake? Or one of my tennis skirts? Anything but those glorified, stretchy underwear.
Well, the coach, despite being a great guy, was less than understanding regarding my reluctance to race in orange and black underpants. Soooo, thankfully there are no pictures (praise God for no cell phones with cameras back in the day) and yours truly--with her sturdy legs and, well, equally sturdy backside--hit the track. I must say, after I got over my self-consciousness (and it helped that all the other girls were running in glorified underwear as well), I largely enjoyed my brief college running career...despite the fact the coaches neglected to explain to me what it meant when they rang the bell before the last lap. Trust me, would have been good to know. But that's another story for another day.
So here's the thing--the reason for the skimpy track outfits was not to humiliate the runners but to cast aside all possible weight and encumbrances that might slow us down. The outfits were to help, not hurt us and to allow us to run our race as quickly and excellently as possible. (In the interest of full disclosure, this assumes, of course, that the athlete isn't fretting about what she looks like running along with sturdy legs in orange underwear rather than fully focusing on the race...not that this ever crossed my mind. Certainly not.)
But seriously, think about it: have you ever seen anyone running a race carrying their pocket book? Or their TV? Or their computer--just in case they need to check email in the middle of a race? No way! You'll never see Olympic athletes hauling their stylish wardrobe down the track...or pulling their new car behind them...or even dragging their beloved dog along on a leash.
Nope, when it's time to race, it's just the runner--usually wearing those lovely glorified underwear (only they look a lot better in them than I did)--and nothing much else to slow them down in their effort to win the prize. No added weights or detritus of any kind that might hinder their best effort in the race.
Yet somehow, when it comes to the race God has set out for each of us to run, we tend to load ourselves down with all kinds of weights and encumbrances. The weight of worry. The weight of envy and comparison. The weight of regret and guilt. The weight of fear. The weight of distraction. No wonder we're struggling in the backstretch--all that weight is dragging us down and keeping us from running the race flat out and filled with joy.
You know what, I'm tired of worrying. I'm tired of dragging all that burdensome luggage of fear of what might happen to my loved ones...or fear of the unknown...or fear of failure. I don't want to just barely crawl across the finish line, because I'm so caught up in worrying or fretting or complaining or comparing myself to others and always feeling like I come up short. That's no way to run a race! And that's sure no way to glorify the God who made us to run and feel His pleasure free of all that weight. We want to hit the tape in full stride with heads held high and "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." (Heb.12:2)
But we'll never be able to do that until we start getting rid of all that useless, ugly weight that's hindering our progress.
So it's high time we do some "casting aside." And that means we first have to ask the Lord to show us what's weighing us down. What weights are slowing us down killing our joy, destroying our peace, and hindering our race? We've got to recognize those weights before we can get rid of them.
Is it busyness and preoccupation? Is it worry and fear? Is it envy and comparison? Is it ingratitude and discontentment?
And then confess it for what it is--SIN. All that sin, all that weight ultimately reveals a lack of trust and faith in God.
When we're worrying, we're ultimately telling God we don't truly believe He's good; we don't truly believe His plans are good; and we don't truly believe He has our--and our loved ones--best interests at heart. And that's a lie from the pit of hell! Our Lord is always good, always great, always kind, and always working out all things for good for those who love Him. (Rom.8:28)
Finally, after acknowledging and confessing that sinful weight, we cast it aside by recognizing that Jesus died for that sin and destroyed it at the cross. "Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to Christ." (Rom.6:11) We can jettison that weight and start running our race with joyful freedom and faith, because Jesus defeated every sin, every weight at the cross. We daily, hourly need to reckon ourselves dead to that weighty sin, so we can cast it aside by the power of the Spirit that lives within us.
We all have a race to run. A race God has ordained for each of us. My race isn't like yours...and yours isn't like your neighbors. So let's stop comparing and simply start casting aside those weights and discover the joy of running freely and flat out for Jesus.
The finish line is just ahead...don't give up. Don't give in. Jettison that weight, look to Jesus, and run your race full tilt!
To God be the glory.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Moses and Bingley
One year ago today, our sweet old Moses went on to glory. Just remembering an incredibly loyal, gentle, and sweet-to-the-bones companion who brought our family so much love and joy--
One of his very favorite places--the mountains at Roaring Gap:
(and especially the sofa on the porch in the mountains!)
And all those days he'd faithfully sit (well, sleep) at my feet while I worked on Bible study lectures--
But how well I recall that long Sunday, a year ago today, when our dear old Moses breathed his last while we surrounded and hugged him in our kitchen. So many, many tears....but all born out of so much joy. The measure of sorrow in loss is surely reflected by the measure of all the happiness given in life. True for the adored family and friends in our lives...and the beloved pets as well.
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of love--from people and from our dogs.
And here we are, a year later, thanking God for the gift of another sweet dog--Bingley. A year ago we were weeping, but today we're laughing at Bingley's silly ways. He loves to sit in laps--
And hike along the greenway--
And boy, he loves, loves, loves big sticks--
Here's what I'm thinking--hills and valleys, highs and lows, joys and sorrows...that's life, isn't it? We tend to forget in the midst of the hard moment that "this too shall pass." When we're slogging through the valley of the shadow of death, it helps to remember that we truly are "just passing through." Sure, it often feels like we've stalled and are stuck in our sadness or disappointment or frustration.
But we're not. Not ever. Our Good Shepherd is always leading us to those greener pastures, those calmer waters, those paths of righteousness, and those places of goodness and mercy. Often in the midst of storms, we can't see Him or feel Him...but He's there, walking before, beside, and behind us. Moving us through the dark valley and into the sunlight. "To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isa.61:3)
Maybe it's just me, but slow learner that I am, I can sometimes forget this, especially in the dark. Forget that God is working and moving through all of life's ups and downs...and through all of our fits and starts and successes and failures. It's often been said that we must never doubt in the dark what we learned in the light. And part of that means recalling that our world ever turns, our circumstances ever change, and our God ever superintends and controls all of it for our ultimate good and His greater glory.
All of it. Even the ugly, hard, scary parts. Surely, slowly, and relentlessly changing every bit of it into glory. And from glory to glory.
The story of our lives will not be completed till the Master Author has put the finishing touches on a tale only He could dream up and craft into something extraordinarily beautiful. We might not be able to see or comprehend that story--but our God's working and moving in a thousand ways we cannot begin to see or imagine. I love how Bob Goff put it, "No book is a chapter. No chapter tells the whole story. No mistake defines who we are. Hope makes our lives page turners."
So today, I'm thankful for the gift of this day, for all that God has brought us through, and for all He will be leading us through--and to--in the future. He's always working...and He's always leading.
And I'm thankful, too, for Moses and Bingley. God's gifts come in all kinds of packages.
To God be the glory.
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of love--from people and from our dogs.
And here we are, a year later, thanking God for the gift of another sweet dog--Bingley. A year ago we were weeping, but today we're laughing at Bingley's silly ways. He loves to sit in laps--
But we're not. Not ever. Our Good Shepherd is always leading us to those greener pastures, those calmer waters, those paths of righteousness, and those places of goodness and mercy. Often in the midst of storms, we can't see Him or feel Him...but He's there, walking before, beside, and behind us. Moving us through the dark valley and into the sunlight. "To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isa.61:3)
Maybe it's just me, but slow learner that I am, I can sometimes forget this, especially in the dark. Forget that God is working and moving through all of life's ups and downs...and through all of our fits and starts and successes and failures. It's often been said that we must never doubt in the dark what we learned in the light. And part of that means recalling that our world ever turns, our circumstances ever change, and our God ever superintends and controls all of it for our ultimate good and His greater glory.
All of it. Even the ugly, hard, scary parts. Surely, slowly, and relentlessly changing every bit of it into glory. And from glory to glory.
The story of our lives will not be completed till the Master Author has put the finishing touches on a tale only He could dream up and craft into something extraordinarily beautiful. We might not be able to see or comprehend that story--but our God's working and moving in a thousand ways we cannot begin to see or imagine. I love how Bob Goff put it, "No book is a chapter. No chapter tells the whole story. No mistake defines who we are. Hope makes our lives page turners."
So today, I'm thankful for the gift of this day, for all that God has brought us through, and for all He will be leading us through--and to--in the future. He's always working...and He's always leading.
And I'm thankful, too, for Moses and Bingley. God's gifts come in all kinds of packages.
To God be the glory.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Face-setting and Jesus-trusting!
How do we deal with bad moods? Or self-indulgent moods? Or pity-party moods? Or just plain old weariness moods?
I guess another way to ask this would be how do we make ourselves act and respond in ways we know we should rather than simply give in to those ways we feel? When we're disappointed...or angry...or frustrated...or worried...or simply hungry or tired, we (or at least your truly) can so easily fall victim to our vacillating and unreliable feelings rather than living out what the truths of our faith. Was it Churchill who said that exhaustion can make cowards of us all? Well, if we're cowards, we'll never exhibit the strength and courage it takes to do what's right despite our emotions.
Not that I've ever done that. Yeah, right.
But you know, that's simply no way to live. Living based on feelings rather than faith leads to see-sawing...crazy highs and lows...unreliability...discouragement...frustration...and ultimately to a life that fails to glorify God.
But there's Someone who always responded based upon His faith rather than His feelings and acted out of truth rather than misleading emotions--the Lord Jesus. "When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem." (Lk9:51) I love that phrase--"set His face." What a picture of resolute strength and dogged determination.
Isaiah50:7 put it this way: "But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." Flint is defined as "anything extremely hard, unimpressible, and unyielding." We're talking remarkable strength here.
You know, some days we (translate--me, myself, and I) don't feel like trusting...or obeying...or loving...or forgiving...or doing whatever it is God has called us to do. On those days, we have the choice. We can "go with the flow"--which means giving in to our feelings...and that inevitably leads us nowhere we want to go. Or we choose--no matter how we feel--to "set our face like a flint" towards obedience and the rock-solid truth of God's Word...which inevitably leads to renewed strength, joy, hope, and peace.
And here's how and why we can do this: if Christ is our Savior, then we have the Spirit of Almighty God dwelling within us. Sure, I have the strength and self-discipline of a housefly. Maybe a gnat. Or worse. When I'm hungry...or tired...or fearful...or frustrated, well, let's just say I've got nothing, nada, zip when it comes to the resources to deal with my bankrupt emotions.
But praise God, it's not me confronting those feelings! It's not me trying to figure out how to respond to that stress or disappointment. NO--it's the Holy Spirit living within me who'll enable me to love or forgive or encourage or trust or obey.
As Elizabeth Elliott once said, "The secret is Christ in me...not me in a different set of circumstances." Yes--it's not me, but Him! "Christ in me, the hope of glory." (Col.1:27)
But we still have to choose to set our faces like flint even as we moment-by-moment seek the enabling power of the One who indwells us.
I love how Henri Nouwen put it: "Our emotional lives move up and down constantly. Sometimes we experience great mood swings [you think?!]: from excitement to depression, from joy to sorrow, from inner harmony to inner chaos. A little event, a word from someone, a disappointment in work, many things [like teenagers] can trigger mood swings. Mostly we have little control over these changes. It seems that they happen to us rather than being created by us. Thus it is important to know that our emotional life is not the same as our spiritual life. Our spiritual life is the life of the Spirit of God within us. As we feel our emotions shift, we must connect our spirits with the Spirit of God and remind ourselves that what we feel is not who we are. We are and remain, whatever our moods, God's beloved children."
I guess the bottom line for me? It's high time we stop falling victim to our moods and instead follow the example of our Messiah. And that means setting our faces like flint and acting based upon our faith in God's Word, not our feelings of the moment. But--and this is the key--we trust and know that it's the Holy Spirit that enables and empowers us to do what we can't.
Time to stop talking...or waiting for the right feelings. No, it's time to do some face-setting and some Jesus-trusting, don't you think? Time to live out the truth of what we believe...and experience the joy of Christ living it out through us.
As the Nike ad says--Just do it!
To God be the glory.
I guess another way to ask this would be how do we make ourselves act and respond in ways we know we should rather than simply give in to those ways we feel? When we're disappointed...or angry...or frustrated...or worried...or simply hungry or tired, we (or at least your truly) can so easily fall victim to our vacillating and unreliable feelings rather than living out what the truths of our faith. Was it Churchill who said that exhaustion can make cowards of us all? Well, if we're cowards, we'll never exhibit the strength and courage it takes to do what's right despite our emotions.
Not that I've ever done that. Yeah, right.
But you know, that's simply no way to live. Living based on feelings rather than faith leads to see-sawing...crazy highs and lows...unreliability...discouragement...frustration...and ultimately to a life that fails to glorify God.
But there's Someone who always responded based upon His faith rather than His feelings and acted out of truth rather than misleading emotions--the Lord Jesus. "When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem." (Lk9:51) I love that phrase--"set His face." What a picture of resolute strength and dogged determination.
Isaiah50:7 put it this way: "But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." Flint is defined as "anything extremely hard, unimpressible, and unyielding." We're talking remarkable strength here.
You know, some days we (translate--me, myself, and I) don't feel like trusting...or obeying...or loving...or forgiving...or doing whatever it is God has called us to do. On those days, we have the choice. We can "go with the flow"--which means giving in to our feelings...and that inevitably leads us nowhere we want to go. Or we choose--no matter how we feel--to "set our face like a flint" towards obedience and the rock-solid truth of God's Word...which inevitably leads to renewed strength, joy, hope, and peace.
And here's how and why we can do this: if Christ is our Savior, then we have the Spirit of Almighty God dwelling within us. Sure, I have the strength and self-discipline of a housefly. Maybe a gnat. Or worse. When I'm hungry...or tired...or fearful...or frustrated, well, let's just say I've got nothing, nada, zip when it comes to the resources to deal with my bankrupt emotions.
But praise God, it's not me confronting those feelings! It's not me trying to figure out how to respond to that stress or disappointment. NO--it's the Holy Spirit living within me who'll enable me to love or forgive or encourage or trust or obey.
As Elizabeth Elliott once said, "The secret is Christ in me...not me in a different set of circumstances." Yes--it's not me, but Him! "Christ in me, the hope of glory." (Col.1:27)
But we still have to choose to set our faces like flint even as we moment-by-moment seek the enabling power of the One who indwells us.
I love how Henri Nouwen put it: "Our emotional lives move up and down constantly. Sometimes we experience great mood swings [you think?!]: from excitement to depression, from joy to sorrow, from inner harmony to inner chaos. A little event, a word from someone, a disappointment in work, many things [like teenagers] can trigger mood swings. Mostly we have little control over these changes. It seems that they happen to us rather than being created by us. Thus it is important to know that our emotional life is not the same as our spiritual life. Our spiritual life is the life of the Spirit of God within us. As we feel our emotions shift, we must connect our spirits with the Spirit of God and remind ourselves that what we feel is not who we are. We are and remain, whatever our moods, God's beloved children."
I guess the bottom line for me? It's high time we stop falling victim to our moods and instead follow the example of our Messiah. And that means setting our faces like flint and acting based upon our faith in God's Word, not our feelings of the moment. But--and this is the key--we trust and know that it's the Holy Spirit that enables and empowers us to do what we can't.
Time to stop talking...or waiting for the right feelings. No, it's time to do some face-setting and some Jesus-trusting, don't you think? Time to live out the truth of what we believe...and experience the joy of Christ living it out through us.
As the Nike ad says--Just do it!
To God be the glory.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Mornings matter
Mornings matter.
I've been remembering some mornings over the past few months. A glorious early morning in the mountains-
Or in Raleigh on a cold, snowy day with a cardinal gracing our bird feeder--
Or one clear morning in California watching Preyer on the golf course as he enjoyed God's majestic creation (who can concentrate on golf with that kind of view
?)--
Gazing at the graceful Blue Heron on an early morning walk with Bingley--
Birthday mornings at Krispy Kreme with a couple of buddies--
Or Christmas mornings with Grandaddy--
Yes, mornings--the dawn to a brand new day with all it's possibilities--matter a great deal.
In fact, I'd even venture to say that mornings--and more specifically the manner and tone in which we set our minds and attitudes for the day--comprise the most critical part of the 24 hours that God chooses to give us each day.
Seriously, have you ever opened your eyes in the morning with your first thought being some worry or concern that has been nibbling at you from the night before? Or perhaps awoken with a groan as you contemplate the difficult or challenging activities of the day that lay before you? Or even just rolled over in exhaustion, finally climbing out of bed feeling defeated or discouraged or distracted?
Well, I've learned firsthand that's no way to set your mind and start your day. C.S.Lewis says that "The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind."
That's it--those early morning moments when everything can suddenly plop into your lap--all your worries, your disappointments, your petty disagreements, your fears--and you have the choice. Will you simply lapse into dwelling on all those diverting and disabling voices and so allow your day to follow that same disastrous path? That's surely the path of least resistance. If we don't resist that negative, faithless mindset first thing, we'll surely fall into it's well-worn, destructive rut for the rest of our day.
Or will you choose--by a conscious act of your will--to turn a deaf ear to all those whining and terrorizing voices--and listen instead to the gentle but strong voice of Your Redeemer and Sustainer?
Your choice--every. single. morning.
But your choice each morning can quite literally make all the difference in the world in your day. And those days add up. Day upon day upon day of focusing upon self and circumstances or day after day of dwelling upon the Savior and His glory.
Bob Goff put it this way: "The first decision we make each day is who's in charge. Who we pick will determine a lot about where we'll end up."
Yesterday, Janie and talked about how we both love in the book of John where the risen Lord Jesus cooked breakfast on the beach for His disciples. The Bible says it was "just as the day was breaking" (John 21:4), and the disciples had fished and fished all night long without catching one thing.
Chilled, exhausted, dirty, discouraged, and defeated. Ever had any sleepless mornings like that?
That's when Jesus shouts to them, "Come and have breakfast!" (John 21:12) Oh my, don't you know that hot fish and warm bread prepared by the Master Chef tasted heavenly after such a long, tough night? And they came. And ate. And talked and surely laughed and were satisfied and filled by their beloved Lord.
Every day we have that choice. Every morning, our Savior beckons us. "I know you've had a hard night. I know those fears that are destroying your peace. How about some hot manna from my Word?"
"I understand your disappointments. I see your hurts. But I'm here ready and waiting for you this morning. How about some breakfast with the One who adores you and can't wait to pour His strength and love into you?"
"Oh my child, I know your hopes and dreams…and your sorrows and worries. Come, let me fill you with some of my piping hot joy and fresh peace? Let's start this morning off right…together. And then you can enjoy My presence and power throughout the rest of whatever this day offers."
Each day is precious, isn't it? Never to be repeated.
But so is each morning. A wondrous new opportunity to begin the rest of your day with the Sovereign, Omnipotent King. The King…who adores you as the apple of His eye and asks eagerly, "Come and have some breakfast!"
Tomorrow morning we have another opportunity. What's our choice?
Oh might we choose wisely…and be filled to overflowing by the One who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water. For in Him is fullness of joy--from dawn to dusk…and everything in between.
To God be the glory.
I've been remembering some mornings over the past few months. A glorious early morning in the mountains-
In fact, I'd even venture to say that mornings--and more specifically the manner and tone in which we set our minds and attitudes for the day--comprise the most critical part of the 24 hours that God chooses to give us each day.
Seriously, have you ever opened your eyes in the morning with your first thought being some worry or concern that has been nibbling at you from the night before? Or perhaps awoken with a groan as you contemplate the difficult or challenging activities of the day that lay before you? Or even just rolled over in exhaustion, finally climbing out of bed feeling defeated or discouraged or distracted?
Well, I've learned firsthand that's no way to set your mind and start your day. C.S.Lewis says that "The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind."
That's it--those early morning moments when everything can suddenly plop into your lap--all your worries, your disappointments, your petty disagreements, your fears--and you have the choice. Will you simply lapse into dwelling on all those diverting and disabling voices and so allow your day to follow that same disastrous path? That's surely the path of least resistance. If we don't resist that negative, faithless mindset first thing, we'll surely fall into it's well-worn, destructive rut for the rest of our day.
Or will you choose--by a conscious act of your will--to turn a deaf ear to all those whining and terrorizing voices--and listen instead to the gentle but strong voice of Your Redeemer and Sustainer?
Your choice--every. single. morning.
But your choice each morning can quite literally make all the difference in the world in your day. And those days add up. Day upon day upon day of focusing upon self and circumstances or day after day of dwelling upon the Savior and His glory.
Bob Goff put it this way: "The first decision we make each day is who's in charge. Who we pick will determine a lot about where we'll end up."
Yesterday, Janie and talked about how we both love in the book of John where the risen Lord Jesus cooked breakfast on the beach for His disciples. The Bible says it was "just as the day was breaking" (John 21:4), and the disciples had fished and fished all night long without catching one thing.
Chilled, exhausted, dirty, discouraged, and defeated. Ever had any sleepless mornings like that?
That's when Jesus shouts to them, "Come and have breakfast!" (John 21:12) Oh my, don't you know that hot fish and warm bread prepared by the Master Chef tasted heavenly after such a long, tough night? And they came. And ate. And talked and surely laughed and were satisfied and filled by their beloved Lord.
Every day we have that choice. Every morning, our Savior beckons us. "I know you've had a hard night. I know those fears that are destroying your peace. How about some hot manna from my Word?"
"I understand your disappointments. I see your hurts. But I'm here ready and waiting for you this morning. How about some breakfast with the One who adores you and can't wait to pour His strength and love into you?"
"Oh my child, I know your hopes and dreams…and your sorrows and worries. Come, let me fill you with some of my piping hot joy and fresh peace? Let's start this morning off right…together. And then you can enjoy My presence and power throughout the rest of whatever this day offers."
Each day is precious, isn't it? Never to be repeated.
But so is each morning. A wondrous new opportunity to begin the rest of your day with the Sovereign, Omnipotent King. The King…who adores you as the apple of His eye and asks eagerly, "Come and have some breakfast!"
Tomorrow morning we have another opportunity. What's our choice?
Oh might we choose wisely…and be filled to overflowing by the One who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water. For in Him is fullness of joy--from dawn to dusk…and everything in between.
To God be the glory.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Out of Nothing
Whew. Coast to coast yesterday. Hard to believe that in the morning you can be looking out over the Pacific, watching the seals sleekly cut through the water like torpedoes and then sleep soundly on the rocks like stuffed bags of sand...
...and then that night, be listening to a chorus of crickets as you arrive home on the opposite coast. Remarkable. And funny, as beautiful as San Diego and La Jolla was, I missed the canopy of green leaves and bushes everywhere, the sweet sound of song birds and crickets, the lovely lilt of southern accents, and the dear people and places of home. Ah, what a beautiful word--home. Thank You, Father!
So much to think about, remember, and be grateful for, but for today, just savoring the memory of the remarkable variety of God's creatures we enjoyed seeing in California. From the seals on the shore, to the sharks at the aquarium--
From the grizzly bears, orangutang, and panda at the zoo--
To the astounding beauty and color of the birds--
What a Creator to have made such varied and astounding creatures! I couldn't help but think of the words of Job: "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:7-10)
Imagine the unsearchable mind of the Almighty to create such creatures and such a world out of nothing. As the words from the musical, Sound of Music, put it: "Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could." No, nothing ever comes from nothing...except for our all glorious, all powerful, all wondrous Lord who fashioned an entire universe out of absolutely nothing.
And if He could create such creatures, such planets, such stars and sun and moon out of absolutely nothing, imagine what He can do with all our nothings? When our love registers nothing...or our hope...or our joy...or our strength--that's when our Lord does His finest work. For He delights to create beauty and wonder and glory out of nothing.
Feeding thousands upon thousands of people with nothing but a couple of rolls and a few tiny fish. Or creating sight in the eyes of a blind man who had beheld nothing his entire life. Or taking a man who was nothing but a hater and persecutor of Christians and turning him into the most powerful evangelist the world has ever known. Or commanding a man dead for four long days--a man with no life, no breath, no nothing--to rise and come forth to new life.
What's our nothing today? Oh my, how tempting to just fuss or fret or even despair over our nothings. But where does that get us? Just more nothing.
And all the while the Almighty Lord of the universe waits for us to place our nothings into His omnipotent, grace-scarred hands so that He can take them and transform them into hope...or joy...or love...or forgiveness...or patience...or wisdom...or strength...and always, always, always glory.
Might we hand whatever nothings we're struggling with this day to our Heavenly Father, trusting that He who created life out of nothing will take our nothings and fashion something beautiful and God-honoring out of them. For that's what He does, you know, every single day. If you forget, just open your eyes and look at the evidence on full display all around you.
To God be the glory.
So much to think about, remember, and be grateful for, but for today, just savoring the memory of the remarkable variety of God's creatures we enjoyed seeing in California. From the seals on the shore, to the sharks at the aquarium--
Imagine the unsearchable mind of the Almighty to create such creatures and such a world out of nothing. As the words from the musical, Sound of Music, put it: "Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could." No, nothing ever comes from nothing...except for our all glorious, all powerful, all wondrous Lord who fashioned an entire universe out of absolutely nothing.
And if He could create such creatures, such planets, such stars and sun and moon out of absolutely nothing, imagine what He can do with all our nothings? When our love registers nothing...or our hope...or our joy...or our strength--that's when our Lord does His finest work. For He delights to create beauty and wonder and glory out of nothing.
Feeding thousands upon thousands of people with nothing but a couple of rolls and a few tiny fish. Or creating sight in the eyes of a blind man who had beheld nothing his entire life. Or taking a man who was nothing but a hater and persecutor of Christians and turning him into the most powerful evangelist the world has ever known. Or commanding a man dead for four long days--a man with no life, no breath, no nothing--to rise and come forth to new life.
What's our nothing today? Oh my, how tempting to just fuss or fret or even despair over our nothings. But where does that get us? Just more nothing.
And all the while the Almighty Lord of the universe waits for us to place our nothings into His omnipotent, grace-scarred hands so that He can take them and transform them into hope...or joy...or love...or forgiveness...or patience...or wisdom...or strength...and always, always, always glory.
Might we hand whatever nothings we're struggling with this day to our Heavenly Father, trusting that He who created life out of nothing will take our nothings and fashion something beautiful and God-honoring out of them. For that's what He does, you know, every single day. If you forget, just open your eyes and look at the evidence on full display all around you.
To God be the glory.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Getting past the gate!
But surely one of the most memorable sights from this trip for Preyer and me will be--
Yes, the parking lot gate.
Because here's the thing--this gate truly would blow away any and all competition for the absolute worst parking gate in the history of mankind. It almost never works. Seriously.
The very nice folks (and they are exceptionally nice) at the Sheraton front desk warned us when we checked in--
"Use your room key to get and out of the parking lot." Yes, you have to use the key not only to get in but also to get out...which is counter-intuitive. But I digress.
The kind lady continued to explain: "If the room key doesn't work when you are trying to come into to the parking lot, just punch the button and get a parking ticket. Then simply throw the ticket away. Don't worry about how many tickets you get--just throw them all away." This is quite the interesting system. Sounds a bit like the federal government.
She went on: "When you are going out, if the key doesn't work--and it often doesn't--you just have to try to find someone in the front of the hotel to come help you get out."
I am totally not kidding. This is the way it works.
All righty then, that sounds great. And believe me, it works just as well as it sounds. Preyer and I try multiple keys every time we go in or out. They invariably do not work--although every once and while, the planets align and the key mysteriously works and raises the gate! Alleluia! But the other 99.9% of the time, we push the button, grab the parking ticket and throw it away. So incredibly efficient.
Leaving is proving to be more of a challenge since someone is often not available to come help us. So we pray a lot. This is surely improving our prayer life.
But other than the parking gate that allows us to come and go to our hotel (such a minor thing, right? After all, who needs to actually get to the hotel or leave the hotel), this place is beautiful and our trip has been so much fun.
You know, it got me thinking...how often do I operate like that parking gate. Just the other day I read in God's Word: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb.4:16)
What an offer! Can we even find words for such a gift that the Sovereign King of the universe happily extends to us every single day? We can come to Him--the Almighty Who has all the wisdom we need, all the power we need, all the grace we need, all the forgiveness we need, all the love we need--but we fail to come!
We're like that broken gate. We might look great. We might look like we're functioning just fine. We might even have fooled ourselves that we can handle our problems on our own, thank you very much. But we're missing out on so much peace, joy, love, strength, and wisdom, because we're failing to open the gate...and come and draw near to God. We're refusing to open the gate of our busyness, our preoccupation, our pride, our self-sufficiency, or even our shame...and come and draw near to the throne of all mercy, grace and help.
You know, if Preyer and I hadn't figured out a way to get past that dysfunctional gate, we would have sat in the parking lot and never seen the sea lions...or played golf (or in my case, watched golf)...or eaten great meals (Praise God!)...or walked and witnessed the astounding beauty of God's creation. We had to get past the gate to experience any of it. And we did--thank You Lord (although who knows about tomorrow--we may just take an ax to it).
Oh might we put away our excuses. Cast away our pride...or guilt...or discouragement...or fear...or preoccupation and simply draw near to the throne of grace.
And guess what? You don't need to draw near in some pitiful, frightened, namby pamby manner. NO! We come with confidence! We come with confident hope and trust, because we are coming to our Abba, our Heavenly Father. And we are coming based upon the perfect, sinless, blood of Christ who made a way for us. Our Savior made the way to draw near and come straight to the very throne of heaven and earth. Wow.
Oh might we never miss another day of drawing near with joyful confidence to that throne of all grace, mercy, help, wisdom, power, and love. Get rid of whatever gates are blocking your way and draw near today! What a privilege--oh thank You thank You thank You, Father!
To God be the glory.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Praising the Creator--our Father!
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him all you shining stars! Praise Him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Praise the Lord from the earth you great creatures and all deeps,
fires and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for His people, praise for all His saints, for the people of Israel who are near to Him. Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 148)
Oh might we praise the Lord this day as our awesome Creator, Savior, and Sustainer! For He is so infinitely worthy.
Our son, Preyer, and I traveled across the country yesterday, and we are quite literally perched on the opposite shore of this nation in San Diego, CA (well, really in La Jolla). Now while I'm a Carolina girl through and through--because we all know North Carolina is the finest place to live in the world!--goodness gracious, God has created so much astounding beauty all over this remarkable planet!
So shouldn't our immediate and consistent response be thanksgiving, praise and adoration to our Maker and Redeemer?
Thank You, Father, for crafting seals! Preyer and I stood transfixed as they lounged on the sand and then slowly inched themselves into the water to gracefully swim off into the blue ocean. You've never seen such a picture of complete relaxation as they sunned in the sand! They reminded me to slow down, savor this fleeting life, and rest in my Savior. I silently prayed the Lord would bring them to mind the next day when I would be watching Preyer play golf and would be tempted to worry and stress! (I think watching your child play sports is just practice for learning to deal with--and, Lord willing, eliminate!--our tendency to fret. Ridiculous to worry over a game, I know. But then, when the Lord of the Universe is Your Father, isn't it absurd to worry about anything?)
Thank You, Lord, for the birds...and the sandy cliffs...and the crashing ocean. Thank You for eyes to see them. Thank You for my child with whom I could share the gift of enjoying this remarkable place. Thank You for Your creatures and all they teach us about You. Thank You for the summer sun and the slower pace. Thank You for our dear family and friends back at home. And thank You for home!
Thank You most of all, Lord, for the gift of salvation and the privilege of calling You--the awesome Creator of all this beauty--my Father, my Abba, my Daddy. Oh might we never ever get over the astounding wonder and joy of this! Our Father--the Almighty Lord who dreamed and fashioned all this in His mind, who created all this out of nothing, and who sustains all this every day and night by His omnipotent power.
Such is our God and there is none other. Might we live to the praise of His glory this day and everyday. To God be the glory.
Praise the Lord from the earth you great creatures and all deeps,
Oh might we praise the Lord this day as our awesome Creator, Savior, and Sustainer! For He is so infinitely worthy.
Our son, Preyer, and I traveled across the country yesterday, and we are quite literally perched on the opposite shore of this nation in San Diego, CA (well, really in La Jolla). Now while I'm a Carolina girl through and through--because we all know North Carolina is the finest place to live in the world!--goodness gracious, God has created so much astounding beauty all over this remarkable planet!
So shouldn't our immediate and consistent response be thanksgiving, praise and adoration to our Maker and Redeemer?
Thank You, Father, for crafting seals! Preyer and I stood transfixed as they lounged on the sand and then slowly inched themselves into the water to gracefully swim off into the blue ocean. You've never seen such a picture of complete relaxation as they sunned in the sand! They reminded me to slow down, savor this fleeting life, and rest in my Savior. I silently prayed the Lord would bring them to mind the next day when I would be watching Preyer play golf and would be tempted to worry and stress! (I think watching your child play sports is just practice for learning to deal with--and, Lord willing, eliminate!--our tendency to fret. Ridiculous to worry over a game, I know. But then, when the Lord of the Universe is Your Father, isn't it absurd to worry about anything?)
Thank You, Lord, for the birds...and the sandy cliffs...and the crashing ocean. Thank You for eyes to see them. Thank You for my child with whom I could share the gift of enjoying this remarkable place. Thank You for Your creatures and all they teach us about You. Thank You for the summer sun and the slower pace. Thank You for our dear family and friends back at home. And thank You for home!
Thank You most of all, Lord, for the gift of salvation and the privilege of calling You--the awesome Creator of all this beauty--my Father, my Abba, my Daddy. Oh might we never ever get over the astounding wonder and joy of this! Our Father--the Almighty Lord who dreamed and fashioned all this in His mind, who created all this out of nothing, and who sustains all this every day and night by His omnipotent power.
Such is our God and there is none other. Might we live to the praise of His glory this day and everyday. To God be the glory.
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