"For just as the body is ONE and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are ONE BODY, so it is with Christ. For the body does not consist of one member, but of MANY." 1 Cor. 12:12,14
During my time in the Word recently, God gave me some insights on the body of Christ. This is a truth I've been slowly learning over many years. I used to be a lone ranger Christian. I have the type of personality that processes things inwardly, so I really like my down time! When facing a crisis, I feel the need to get alone with God and pray and think things through. There is nothing wrong with this...in moderation. My problem was that I kept it all inside. I didn't want people to know I was struggling. I thought that my issues, especially in my spiritual walk, were between me and God. He could certainly handle anything I threw at Him, so I should be able to work through it with Him alone, right? Not so much. It is true that ultimately, God is all we need. He has the answer to every question. He sees all and knows all. He can and does carry us through every circumstance of our lives. But I think what some of us tend to overlook is that God has not just given us the gift of relationship with Himself....He also gave us relationships with others. And He chooses to do a lot of His work in our lives through those horizontal relationships.
Go back with me to the beginning of Creation. How did God set things up to function on the earth? He fashions Adam, the first human being, and then He says, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helper fit for him." Was Adam alone? He had God, His Creator, to fellowship with! So why would God say that he needed someone else? Quite simply, God created us for relationship. He created us to know Him. But God is so high and holy and complex that He knew we would be overwhelmed by a full revelation of Him. So He put pieces of Himself in every part of Creation, so to speak. Do not misunderstand me; I am not saying that nature is God, or that God is in all things. But He displays different aspects of His character and glory in nature. And He put the greatest part of His glory on display in the crown of His creation....Man. So I think that God gave us marriage, family, and community so that we could see Him reflected in each other, and thus better come to know Him whom we cannot see.
A year ago, I walked through a season of depression and anxiety. At first I thought it was a spiritual issue, and that if I could just get things straight with God, everything would be better. I was already in a situation where I was far away from my family and my closest friends, and I was feeling lonely and isolated. The worse I felt, the more I isolated myself. Still, there were people around me who cared and with whom I could find safe relationship. When I did choose to seek fellowship, I found that my spirits were uplifted and my emotions lighter. I have learned that the times when I least want to be with people are usually when I most need it. But during the darkest part of that season, I usually defaulted to wallowing in my misery alone. This is a pattern I have followed many times in the past. But this time it became too much for me to handle. I finally came to the point where I knew I had to start talking to people I trusted and bring my private pain to light. Destructive emotions and thought patterns, when kept hidden, are like a slow-moving poison filling the soul. Left too long, they will destroy you.
Stepping out the first time to expose the darkness in my soul was incredibly hard. But when I took that plunge, I felt an incredible weight lifted off me, just because someone else now knew what I was dealing with, and they assured me that I was not alone! There was still a hard road ahead, until the Lord brought full healing, but knowing that my brothers and sisters in Christ had my back made a huge difference! And one of the major lessons I learned through this time was how much we need each other in the body of Christ. Not one of us was designed to be a lone ranger.
Sin royally messed up God's relationship structure in the world. We are all broken. We are imperfect. We hurt each other, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. And usually the ones we love the most are also the ones we will hurt the most, and who have the greatest potential to hurt us. But when God sent redemption for our souls in the form of Jesus Christ, and reconciled us to Himself, He also redeemed our human relationships. We call it the Church. Everyone who comes to saving faith in Christ is part of this new family, one that spans the entire world! But it's more than a family...Jesus took it a step further....He said, "Abide in me, and I in you." John 15:4
In His prayer to the Father before His death, He asked for all those who would believe in Him...."that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:21
Jesus' intent for His church is that we will be one with God and with each other. This speaks of a deep intimacy....as a man and his wife are to become one flesh, so the followers of Christ are to be one body! Paul expounds further on this mystery in his letters to the church. He tells us that just as in our physical body we have different parts with different functions, so we are one body in Christ, and we are joined together as members of each other, just as our body parts are joined together. We each have unique functions, or gifts, and not one can function apart from the others! As a whole, we display the full glory of God to the world!
Think about this: how much good is your eye going to do by itself? Or your hand? Or your foot? Every part of your body depends on all the other parts to be successful in your daily life. It is the same in the body of Christ. Joined together, we are a mighty force that Jesus said the very gates of Hell will not be able to prevail against! (Matt. 16:18) But on our own? I'd say we're pretty powerless! We're like a coal cast out of the fire....separated from the combined heat of all the other coals, it quickly burns itself out and dies.
So here is the Scripture I just read that really made me think. Hebrews 10:24,25. "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
I am seeing in my own history, and in the lives of others around me, the terrible price of isolation. It tears us apart inside. It leaves us vulnerable to enemy attack. And it renders us ineffective in the service of our King.
I am sharing a house with a few other women. We have our own rooms, our own jobs, our own lives. We come and go at will. It's easy to keep to ourselves. But we have decided that we need to build and maintain fellowship as sisters in Christ, so we set aside one night every week to sit down and share dinner together and talk about things in our lives. The house we live in is also used for various ministry, including ladies' Bible studies. Sometimes this brings in a large group, but we've had some nights when only three or four were there. But whether it's a Bible study, a family, or just fellowship as housemates, I realized that we are still the Body of Christ, and we need to stay together if we want the power of God to be manifest in our lives! In the church of America today, most people think they're doing good to make it to the worship service once a week. But this is not what Jesus intended for His body! If you read the book of Acts, you will see that the first believers at the birth of the Church met together EVERY DAY to break bread, to fellowship, to hear the teachings of Christ, and to pray! I don't think this was a formal church service. It was part of their daily lives. They met together because they needed the encouragement, the accountability, and the perspective of their fellow Christ-followers. They knew that the will of God and the mission of His kingdom could be accomplished only through a unified body of believers. What soldier single-handedly wins a war? What athlete wins the Super Bowl alone? The Body of Christ is the most important team, the greatest army in all of history! We are here to be the salt and the light in this dark world....together! So what are we doing, separating ourselves in our individual lives? You will find so much in the Bible telling us how the Body of Christ is supposed to function. We bear each others' burdens. We build each other up in love and faith. We challenge one another to greater holiness and good works. We confess our sins and struggles to one another and pray for each others' healing. We steer each other back to the right path when one has strayed. We share whatever we have that another needs. The list goes on! How can we ever hope to gain all these blessings and benefits if we neglect to come together, and if we allow our differences and the distractions of life to divide us?
Brothers and sisters, we are far from the unity that Christ envisioned. But we have hope! Christ, our Head, is with us and is still building His church! His Word declares that He is preparing a pure and spotless bride for Himself. We are that bride! He knows what it will take to make us one, and He is able to do it! He WILL do it! So don't lose heart. Purpose today to do what is in your power to cultivate unity in the Body. Stop hiding behind your wounded pride, your critical spirit, your fear, your unrealistic expectations, your secret sin, your private pain, or whatever it is that keeps you from real fellowship. Come together with your brothers and sisters. Let us rise up and be the Church!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
A Page In The Story
I need to get motivated and write more frequently. But sometimes I come across another writer who says it so beautifully and so in hopes of sharing the encouragement, I borrow. I have just discovered my new favorite music artist....Matt Hammitt. Every song I've listened to so far has an amazing message, and you can tell that this guy is for real and living the tough joy of the life that is continually being surrendered to God. I've been so touched by the back-story I found on his song, All Of Me. This and some of his other new songs have come out of the journey that he and his family have been on with his now two-year old son, born with a serious heart defect. If you're looking for inspiration through a dark time, I highly recommend checking out their story. You can find a lot of it at www.bowensheart.com.
But the song I want to share with you today is the first song of Matt's that I heard. It speaks so candidly to the place my heart is in right now. I'm fighting a lot of uncertainty and anxiety about my future, and I constantly have to come back to my Father and lay these burdens on Him. I have so many questions about why He has me here and now and what His intentions are in the story of my life. But He is gently teaching me that this is His story, not mine. My life is all for Him. It's all about Him. And the more I see Him as He is, the more I focus on seeing and naming the thousands of gifts He pours out on me, and the more He opens my eyes to His work around me, the deeper my desire grows that all of my life be a song of praise recklessly poured out on Him. I want to be like water. Like a mountain stream that starts out on the heights and joyously pours itself down and down and down, always lower, into the deepest valleys and through canyons, always seeking to join itself to the sea. That water doesn't cling to its own identity. It gives and gives, merging with countless other waters on its journey, and that first tiny stream becomes so much more than it could have ever been by itself. Its destiny is to lose itself in the vast depths of the ocean. Oh, that we might lose ourselves in our God, allowing our identity to be swallowed up in His!
Philippians 3:8-9 echoes this heart-cry: "I count EVERYTHING as loss because of the SURPASSING worth of knowing CHRIST Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of ALL things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found IN HIM."
Colossians 3:2-3 gives us the focus of a redeemed heart: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is HIDDEN WITH CHRIST in God. When Christ WHO IS YOUR LIFE appears, then you also will appear WITH HIM in glory." (emphasis mine)
I love the way Matt puts it in the song: "The story is Yours; I'm just a page." One page in a novel is like one drop of water in the ocean. But that one page has value and meaning, because God wrote it. He doesn't need you or me to complete His story, but He CHOSE us! Isn't it amazing, that the Author of everything chose you to be part of His story?!!! With that in mind, read these words, and let God speak to you. This is what I want to do with my life.
But the song I want to share with you today is the first song of Matt's that I heard. It speaks so candidly to the place my heart is in right now. I'm fighting a lot of uncertainty and anxiety about my future, and I constantly have to come back to my Father and lay these burdens on Him. I have so many questions about why He has me here and now and what His intentions are in the story of my life. But He is gently teaching me that this is His story, not mine. My life is all for Him. It's all about Him. And the more I see Him as He is, the more I focus on seeing and naming the thousands of gifts He pours out on me, and the more He opens my eyes to His work around me, the deeper my desire grows that all of my life be a song of praise recklessly poured out on Him. I want to be like water. Like a mountain stream that starts out on the heights and joyously pours itself down and down and down, always lower, into the deepest valleys and through canyons, always seeking to join itself to the sea. That water doesn't cling to its own identity. It gives and gives, merging with countless other waters on its journey, and that first tiny stream becomes so much more than it could have ever been by itself. Its destiny is to lose itself in the vast depths of the ocean. Oh, that we might lose ourselves in our God, allowing our identity to be swallowed up in His!
Philippians 3:8-9 echoes this heart-cry: "I count EVERYTHING as loss because of the SURPASSING worth of knowing CHRIST Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of ALL things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found IN HIM."
Colossians 3:2-3 gives us the focus of a redeemed heart: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is HIDDEN WITH CHRIST in God. When Christ WHO IS YOUR LIFE appears, then you also will appear WITH HIM in glory." (emphasis mine)
I love the way Matt puts it in the song: "The story is Yours; I'm just a page." One page in a novel is like one drop of water in the ocean. But that one page has value and meaning, because God wrote it. He doesn't need you or me to complete His story, but He CHOSE us! Isn't it amazing, that the Author of everything chose you to be part of His story?!!! With that in mind, read these words, and let God speak to you. This is what I want to do with my life.
Let It Bring You Praise
by Matt Hammitt
Lord, You created me, perfectly shaping me
I know my heart is safe in your arms
Lord, You know everything so when I feel afraid
I put my faith in You
This life is Yours to give so with each new day
Let every breathe that I take
Let it bring You praise, bring You praise
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made
When You choose to take let it bring You praise
Reminding the world that heaven awaits
Let it bring You praise
Before I even speak You know my every need
All that I am is because You are
You know my heart, You know my heart
Let it bring You praise, bring You praise
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made
When You choose to take let it bring You praise
Reminding the world that heaven awaits
Let it bring You praise
Before I was born You numbered my days
The story is yours, I'm just a page
With every word I want to proclaim
Let my life proclaim
Let it bring You praise, bring You praise
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made
When You choose to take let it bring You praise
Reminding the world that heaven awaits
Let it bring You praise
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/matt-hammitt/let-it-bring-you-praise-lyrics/#ZpYLCAYm7WQ3PeGw.99
I know my heart is safe in your arms
Lord, You know everything so when I feel afraid
I put my faith in You
This life is Yours to give so with each new day
Let every breathe that I take
Let it bring You praise, bring You praise
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made
When You choose to take let it bring You praise
Reminding the world that heaven awaits
Let it bring You praise
Before I even speak You know my every need
All that I am is because You are
You know my heart, You know my heart
Let it bring You praise, bring You praise
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made
When You choose to take let it bring You praise
Reminding the world that heaven awaits
Let it bring You praise
Before I was born You numbered my days
The story is yours, I'm just a page
With every word I want to proclaim
Let my life proclaim
Let it bring You praise, bring You praise
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made
When You choose to take let it bring You praise
Reminding the world that heaven awaits
Let it bring You praise
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/matt-hammitt/let-it-bring-you-praise-lyrics/#ZpYLCAYm7WQ3PeGw.99
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Such A Time
"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14
One more day. One more year. By the mercies of God we live and move and have our being. You are not here for yourself. I am not here for myself. Not to be what I want or do what I want or to make a great life for myself. We exist by and through and for Jesus Christ. "For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth....all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER." Colossians 1:16-17
We are here on this earth, at this time in history, for the advancement of His kingdom and the glory of His name. This is a time of gathering darkness. A time of deception. A time of wars and disasters and suffering. But it is not a time to fear. It is not a time to be uncertain and undecided. It is not a time to lose hope. It is a time when the grace of God is still freely extended to all men. It is a time to stand up and be counted as ambassadors of the King of Kings! It is a time to fish for men and love God with all the heart and fight on the side of Light with all the soul and dive deep in the Word and drink deep of His love and have no will but His and lose the life to find it and be all that Christ CHOSE us to be!
Father, empower us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and to make Your passion our own. This is a supernatural work....possible only for You. We don't know where You will lead us or what You will give and take away or what Your yes will look like in our lives in the days ahead. "For all the promises of God find their yes in Him (Jesus). That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory." 1 Corinthians 1:20
But this is what we know....our Redeemer lives! (Job 19:25) You are Life and Your love is forever and Your Word will never fail and YOU ARE FAITHFUL! In such a time as this, Father....we are Yours. We trust You.
One more day. One more year. By the mercies of God we live and move and have our being. You are not here for yourself. I am not here for myself. Not to be what I want or do what I want or to make a great life for myself. We exist by and through and for Jesus Christ. "For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth....all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER." Colossians 1:16-17
We are here on this earth, at this time in history, for the advancement of His kingdom and the glory of His name. This is a time of gathering darkness. A time of deception. A time of wars and disasters and suffering. But it is not a time to fear. It is not a time to be uncertain and undecided. It is not a time to lose hope. It is a time when the grace of God is still freely extended to all men. It is a time to stand up and be counted as ambassadors of the King of Kings! It is a time to fish for men and love God with all the heart and fight on the side of Light with all the soul and dive deep in the Word and drink deep of His love and have no will but His and lose the life to find it and be all that Christ CHOSE us to be!
Father, empower us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and to make Your passion our own. This is a supernatural work....possible only for You. We don't know where You will lead us or what You will give and take away or what Your yes will look like in our lives in the days ahead. "For all the promises of God find their yes in Him (Jesus). That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory." 1 Corinthians 1:20
But this is what we know....our Redeemer lives! (Job 19:25) You are Life and Your love is forever and Your Word will never fail and YOU ARE FAITHFUL! In such a time as this, Father....we are Yours. We trust You.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Of Gifts and Givers
Christmas is about giving, right? We spend time, money, and energy looking for the perfect gift for someone we love in remembrance of the greatest gift of all time...God the Father gave us His Son so that we might have life. "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:12
Of course in the hustle and bustle of this holiday madness we have created, the glitter of the retailers' big hurrah, and the ever-growing march of our society away from God, the greatest gift and the Greatest Giver are often lost, forgotten, or pushed aside. We cheat ourselves. We grieve our Creator. And when tragedy strikes, as it does in this world, those for whom Christmas is only a festive occasion are suddenly left with nothing to celebrate. No hope.
In my family, we have tried to simplify our Christmas festivities. Yes, family togetherness and special food and gifts are a part of it, but our desire is to keep Christ in the center. We spent some time sharing what we are thankful for...some thought of simple pleasures that we can enjoy because God allows it , others spoke about the blessings God has given us that outlast our material world. Our conversation turned to Kingdom matters and how to be better God-seekers. Then we enjoyed the time of giving and receiving. We didn't go wild buying gifts and we didn't spend what we don't have. The gifts chosen were few but meaningful. Sometimes fun, sometimes practical, sometimes surprising, depending on personalities, but always with careful thought to delight the recipient.
With twelve people in the family, opening gifts turns into quite an event, despite our simple preparations! We have a secret name exchange, so it's a time when we get to find out who drew our name. It's a time for trading stories about where someone got a creative idea or where they found some special item or how they knew just what the person wanted. It's a time to enjoy being together and expressing our love for one another in the tangible form of giving. And it's a time to rejoice in each other's joy....the expressions, exclamations, and appreciation as each gift is revealed.
Today, the day after Christmas, I was thinking about the way our giving and receiving reflects our Heavenly Father. It was fun to watch how everyone reacted in different ways to their gifts. My seven year old brother was ecstatic over everything, especially his new cars! He kept saying, "I can't believe it!!!" One of my sisters was amazed that whoever got her name knew exactly what she liked....which happened with a little clandestine help from her roommate. My mom was supremely pleased with her gift of new clothes...everything was perfect for her...the result of a cooperative effort by two daughters. Everyone was fascinated by the uncommon gift that my inventive-minded brother gave my dad. And when my future brother-in-law produced a gift of gourmet chocolates from his parents, we swarmed it like bees to honey! Each of us took pleasure in the gifts we received, but we had double pleasure in watching our family members delight in what we gave them. How sad would it be to give someone a special gift that you planned to bring them joy, and have them dislike or reject it? Maybe this has even happened to you.
I think that if I can get such pleasure from watching someone enjoy my gift, how much more joy does God have when we delight in His gifts to us? When He created the world, Genesis tells us that He said everything He made was very good. He takes great delight in the flaming sunset, the soaring mountain peak, the ocean waves roaring, the brilliant colors of sky and grass and flower, the grace of an eagle riding the air, the icy tendrils in a snowflake, the colors and shapes and sizes and unique handprints and personalities and gifts of every human being. But God didn't fashion these things because He needed them. He didn't need to put a little bit of His glory into every part of His creation in order to see or know how glorious He is. I think He did it because He wanted to share His glory and joy with us! Imagine Him planning every intricate detail for our enjoyment! Think of the way you feel when your best friend absolutely loves the gift you gave them. Can you imagine how much pleasure it gives God to see us loving the things He's made? And when we begin to take the time to name every gift we can think of that He has given, and the list goes on and on and on, and we find even greater joy in the naming...how that must thrill His heart! And then when we begin to look harder and discover the beautiful in the ugly things, the hard things, the painful things, and we understand that everything coming from the hand of our Father is good and perfect, even when it doesn't make sense, and we trust Him despite the pain....that must bring Him the deepest satisfaction, for He sees the whole of the beautiful tapestry He is weaving in your life and mine...we only see the ugly knotted underside. And He knows that some of the sharpest and ugliest stones will become the most brilliant gems...ashes will become beauty, mourning will turn to dancing, streams of water will burst forth out of dry ground, and deserts will bloom! Remember, the greatest gift came at the highest cost. And it wasn't pretty. Picture Jesus hanging on the cross. Covered in blood. Flesh ripped open. Horrid, long nails through His body. Gasping for breath. Screaming in agony. Heart broken as the full weight of our sin hangs on His shoulders and His Father turns away. It's the ugliest picture you can imagine. But it's also the most beautiful. "But God shows His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 It's the ultimate love story. "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32
Sadly, untold numbers of people have rejected the greatest gift and the Greatest Giver. Others have ignored Him, seeing their own small pursuits as more significant than knowing the One who gave them life. And many, even those of us who call ourselves His children, have worshipped the gifts rather than the Giver. Imagine if you gave a wonderful gift to your friend. Maybe they expressed their gratitude at first, but they loved the gift so much they became obsessed with it. They began to spend all their time and energy with this gift. They no longer spent time with you, and soon your lives drifted apart. This is how many people treat God. They'll eagerly take His blessings, but they lose interest in cultivating a deep relationship with Him. We also fall into taking the gifts for granted, neglecting to say thank you. Instead of opening our eyes and telling God how much we are grateful for, we focus on what we don't have, and we become blind to everything we do have.
So today, think about the Greatest Giver, and consider whether you truly want Him, or only His gifts? Think about the greatest gift. Have you accepted it and opened it? Do you have the Son? Think about your daily life. Are you seeing, naming, and delighting in Father's countless gifts to you today? Are you remembering that you have the best gifts, like hope, peace, and everlasting life, in Jesus Christ? That no matter what happens, your life is bound up in the Giver, not the gifts? He loves you. He died to prove that. He delights in your delight, but most of all, His joy in full when your delight rests in Him. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 He will be your desire. Nothing else can fill you like He can. He made you for Himself. God is with us. Immanuel.
Of course in the hustle and bustle of this holiday madness we have created, the glitter of the retailers' big hurrah, and the ever-growing march of our society away from God, the greatest gift and the Greatest Giver are often lost, forgotten, or pushed aside. We cheat ourselves. We grieve our Creator. And when tragedy strikes, as it does in this world, those for whom Christmas is only a festive occasion are suddenly left with nothing to celebrate. No hope.
In my family, we have tried to simplify our Christmas festivities. Yes, family togetherness and special food and gifts are a part of it, but our desire is to keep Christ in the center. We spent some time sharing what we are thankful for...some thought of simple pleasures that we can enjoy because God allows it , others spoke about the blessings God has given us that outlast our material world. Our conversation turned to Kingdom matters and how to be better God-seekers. Then we enjoyed the time of giving and receiving. We didn't go wild buying gifts and we didn't spend what we don't have. The gifts chosen were few but meaningful. Sometimes fun, sometimes practical, sometimes surprising, depending on personalities, but always with careful thought to delight the recipient.
With twelve people in the family, opening gifts turns into quite an event, despite our simple preparations! We have a secret name exchange, so it's a time when we get to find out who drew our name. It's a time for trading stories about where someone got a creative idea or where they found some special item or how they knew just what the person wanted. It's a time to enjoy being together and expressing our love for one another in the tangible form of giving. And it's a time to rejoice in each other's joy....the expressions, exclamations, and appreciation as each gift is revealed.
Today, the day after Christmas, I was thinking about the way our giving and receiving reflects our Heavenly Father. It was fun to watch how everyone reacted in different ways to their gifts. My seven year old brother was ecstatic over everything, especially his new cars! He kept saying, "I can't believe it!!!" One of my sisters was amazed that whoever got her name knew exactly what she liked....which happened with a little clandestine help from her roommate. My mom was supremely pleased with her gift of new clothes...everything was perfect for her...the result of a cooperative effort by two daughters. Everyone was fascinated by the uncommon gift that my inventive-minded brother gave my dad. And when my future brother-in-law produced a gift of gourmet chocolates from his parents, we swarmed it like bees to honey! Each of us took pleasure in the gifts we received, but we had double pleasure in watching our family members delight in what we gave them. How sad would it be to give someone a special gift that you planned to bring them joy, and have them dislike or reject it? Maybe this has even happened to you.
I think that if I can get such pleasure from watching someone enjoy my gift, how much more joy does God have when we delight in His gifts to us? When He created the world, Genesis tells us that He said everything He made was very good. He takes great delight in the flaming sunset, the soaring mountain peak, the ocean waves roaring, the brilliant colors of sky and grass and flower, the grace of an eagle riding the air, the icy tendrils in a snowflake, the colors and shapes and sizes and unique handprints and personalities and gifts of every human being. But God didn't fashion these things because He needed them. He didn't need to put a little bit of His glory into every part of His creation in order to see or know how glorious He is. I think He did it because He wanted to share His glory and joy with us! Imagine Him planning every intricate detail for our enjoyment! Think of the way you feel when your best friend absolutely loves the gift you gave them. Can you imagine how much pleasure it gives God to see us loving the things He's made? And when we begin to take the time to name every gift we can think of that He has given, and the list goes on and on and on, and we find even greater joy in the naming...how that must thrill His heart! And then when we begin to look harder and discover the beautiful in the ugly things, the hard things, the painful things, and we understand that everything coming from the hand of our Father is good and perfect, even when it doesn't make sense, and we trust Him despite the pain....that must bring Him the deepest satisfaction, for He sees the whole of the beautiful tapestry He is weaving in your life and mine...we only see the ugly knotted underside. And He knows that some of the sharpest and ugliest stones will become the most brilliant gems...ashes will become beauty, mourning will turn to dancing, streams of water will burst forth out of dry ground, and deserts will bloom! Remember, the greatest gift came at the highest cost. And it wasn't pretty. Picture Jesus hanging on the cross. Covered in blood. Flesh ripped open. Horrid, long nails through His body. Gasping for breath. Screaming in agony. Heart broken as the full weight of our sin hangs on His shoulders and His Father turns away. It's the ugliest picture you can imagine. But it's also the most beautiful. "But God shows His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 It's the ultimate love story. "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32
Sadly, untold numbers of people have rejected the greatest gift and the Greatest Giver. Others have ignored Him, seeing their own small pursuits as more significant than knowing the One who gave them life. And many, even those of us who call ourselves His children, have worshipped the gifts rather than the Giver. Imagine if you gave a wonderful gift to your friend. Maybe they expressed their gratitude at first, but they loved the gift so much they became obsessed with it. They began to spend all their time and energy with this gift. They no longer spent time with you, and soon your lives drifted apart. This is how many people treat God. They'll eagerly take His blessings, but they lose interest in cultivating a deep relationship with Him. We also fall into taking the gifts for granted, neglecting to say thank you. Instead of opening our eyes and telling God how much we are grateful for, we focus on what we don't have, and we become blind to everything we do have.
So today, think about the Greatest Giver, and consider whether you truly want Him, or only His gifts? Think about the greatest gift. Have you accepted it and opened it? Do you have the Son? Think about your daily life. Are you seeing, naming, and delighting in Father's countless gifts to you today? Are you remembering that you have the best gifts, like hope, peace, and everlasting life, in Jesus Christ? That no matter what happens, your life is bound up in the Giver, not the gifts? He loves you. He died to prove that. He delights in your delight, but most of all, His joy in full when your delight rests in Him. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 He will be your desire. Nothing else can fill you like He can. He made you for Himself. God is with us. Immanuel.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The Coming Kingdom
"God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne." Psalm 47:8
Election Day 2012. Today we are faced with choices. These are ripples in the water, the kind of choices that will affect not only ourselves but our family, friends, nation, and the world. Will we stand in the gap for our nation through prayer, or do nothing? Will we vote for leaders who uphold truth and justice, or do nothing? Will we trust in God as sovereign, or fear the disasters that are coming upon our nation? Will we answer the call to our God-given privilege and responsibility, or stand idly by as the storm clouds gather on the horizon? It has been said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) But if you are like me, you may find yourself wondering if anything you do is going to make a difference at this point. We hear stories of corruption and manipulation in the election process. The candidates are constantly slinging mud at each other. The media tries more and more to tell us how to think. Our economy is on the brink of collapse. We are quickly losing the favor and respect of other nations. Our culture is filled with corruption and immorality is the accepted norm. It brings to mind this passage from Isaiah...."Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey." Isaiah 59:14-15
To be honest, I have not been praying fervently and earnestly for my country and for the results of this election. And I wonder how many of us have been? Often I put these things out of my mind and in selfishness I choose not to care, as long as it doesn't affect me and my little world. But as I come to know God more and to understand what matters to Him, I realize that this is not about me or my world or an election or the United States of America or all the nations....all these are drop in a bucket to God. This is about Him. It's about His glory, His kingdom, His reign over all things, His agenda. We and all our history and the history of the world since the beginning is part of His story. As I turned my thoughts to Him this morning and spent some time in the Word and prayer concerning this Election Day, this is what I learned.
Many times in the Bible, we can read the prayers of Godly men who pleaded for mercy upon their nation. They knew judgment was immenent and they prayed for God to stay His hand. So I asked God to have mercy on our nation, to put men at the helm who have the wisdom and courage to turn this ship around before the storm hits. Leaders who understand the times and know what our country should do. I believe it is right to pray this way. As citizens of the kingdom of God, we have a responsibility to care for the souls of men and to stand in the gap. But we must see beyond this. Maybe it is time. Time for God to shake all that can be shaken in our world. Time for the church, the bride of Christ, to walk through fire and come out refined and ready for the wedding. Time for everything to fall apart so that people will call upon God and turn from their wicked ways and be saved. This too is part of God's kingdom. His story. We know that judgment is coming. We know that Jesus Christ will soon return. We know that every knee is going to bow before Him. Again, let's be honest. Could it be that in my prayers for mercy, my only true concern is for myself and the people I love? I don't want my comfortable world to be dissolved. In my heart of hearts, I know that God is my only Rock and I cannot hang on to anything else. I know that loving Him means dying to myself and my kingdom. I know I probably need to have my world drastically rocked before I will follow Christ with abandon. But I don't want to pray for it.
Now what will I do if God does stem the tide for awhile longer? Will I make the most of the opportunity to win the world for Christ and to do everything in my power to have a Godly influence on the culture and the government? I haven't done so up to this point. What makes me think that I will start doing things differently if God answers my prayer for mercy? Does God know that His people will wake up and be watchmen if He gives us another grace period? Or does He know that we will only wake up through severe trial and testing? Maybe it is time. Time for God to strip all the glitter from our lives and the pretense from our hearts. Time for us to lose everything we cling to so tightly, that we may gain what cannot be lost. And, as we read in the book of Esther, our Father has brought each one of us to the kingdom, the kingdom of His Son, for such a time as this. The storm is coming. The lines will be drawn. Our true allegiance will be discovered. And so we must pray. We must pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done, regardless of personal cost. We must pray that people everywhere will be brought out of darkness and into light and will come to the knowledge of the truth, for it is His will that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance. Whatever happens at the polls today, whatever happens in the next four years, may the Kingdom of our God become flesh and blood in our lives, as real as it already is in Heaven. Don't be terrified by what is ahead. Take comfort in the living Word of our Father. We can know that He is with us. And we can know that come what may, He will be exalted.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea...the nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utter His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:1,2,6,7,10
Be exalted, O God!
Election Day 2012. Today we are faced with choices. These are ripples in the water, the kind of choices that will affect not only ourselves but our family, friends, nation, and the world. Will we stand in the gap for our nation through prayer, or do nothing? Will we vote for leaders who uphold truth and justice, or do nothing? Will we trust in God as sovereign, or fear the disasters that are coming upon our nation? Will we answer the call to our God-given privilege and responsibility, or stand idly by as the storm clouds gather on the horizon? It has been said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) But if you are like me, you may find yourself wondering if anything you do is going to make a difference at this point. We hear stories of corruption and manipulation in the election process. The candidates are constantly slinging mud at each other. The media tries more and more to tell us how to think. Our economy is on the brink of collapse. We are quickly losing the favor and respect of other nations. Our culture is filled with corruption and immorality is the accepted norm. It brings to mind this passage from Isaiah...."Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey." Isaiah 59:14-15
To be honest, I have not been praying fervently and earnestly for my country and for the results of this election. And I wonder how many of us have been? Often I put these things out of my mind and in selfishness I choose not to care, as long as it doesn't affect me and my little world. But as I come to know God more and to understand what matters to Him, I realize that this is not about me or my world or an election or the United States of America or all the nations....all these are drop in a bucket to God. This is about Him. It's about His glory, His kingdom, His reign over all things, His agenda. We and all our history and the history of the world since the beginning is part of His story. As I turned my thoughts to Him this morning and spent some time in the Word and prayer concerning this Election Day, this is what I learned.
Many times in the Bible, we can read the prayers of Godly men who pleaded for mercy upon their nation. They knew judgment was immenent and they prayed for God to stay His hand. So I asked God to have mercy on our nation, to put men at the helm who have the wisdom and courage to turn this ship around before the storm hits. Leaders who understand the times and know what our country should do. I believe it is right to pray this way. As citizens of the kingdom of God, we have a responsibility to care for the souls of men and to stand in the gap. But we must see beyond this. Maybe it is time. Time for God to shake all that can be shaken in our world. Time for the church, the bride of Christ, to walk through fire and come out refined and ready for the wedding. Time for everything to fall apart so that people will call upon God and turn from their wicked ways and be saved. This too is part of God's kingdom. His story. We know that judgment is coming. We know that Jesus Christ will soon return. We know that every knee is going to bow before Him. Again, let's be honest. Could it be that in my prayers for mercy, my only true concern is for myself and the people I love? I don't want my comfortable world to be dissolved. In my heart of hearts, I know that God is my only Rock and I cannot hang on to anything else. I know that loving Him means dying to myself and my kingdom. I know I probably need to have my world drastically rocked before I will follow Christ with abandon. But I don't want to pray for it.
Now what will I do if God does stem the tide for awhile longer? Will I make the most of the opportunity to win the world for Christ and to do everything in my power to have a Godly influence on the culture and the government? I haven't done so up to this point. What makes me think that I will start doing things differently if God answers my prayer for mercy? Does God know that His people will wake up and be watchmen if He gives us another grace period? Or does He know that we will only wake up through severe trial and testing? Maybe it is time. Time for God to strip all the glitter from our lives and the pretense from our hearts. Time for us to lose everything we cling to so tightly, that we may gain what cannot be lost. And, as we read in the book of Esther, our Father has brought each one of us to the kingdom, the kingdom of His Son, for such a time as this. The storm is coming. The lines will be drawn. Our true allegiance will be discovered. And so we must pray. We must pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done, regardless of personal cost. We must pray that people everywhere will be brought out of darkness and into light and will come to the knowledge of the truth, for it is His will that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance. Whatever happens at the polls today, whatever happens in the next four years, may the Kingdom of our God become flesh and blood in our lives, as real as it already is in Heaven. Don't be terrified by what is ahead. Take comfort in the living Word of our Father. We can know that He is with us. And we can know that come what may, He will be exalted.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea...the nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utter His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:1,2,6,7,10
Be exalted, O God!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
The Complete Life
Recently, I've been memorizing and meditating on Psalm 34. It has a lot to say about the benefits of fearing the Lord and His care for the righteous. So I'd like to share some insights God gave me from the middle of the chapter. Verses 8-10 say, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."
It's quite a statement that we will lack nothing! What a wonderful thing, but does it really mean what it sounds like? I want a lot of things. And for the most part, they're good things. At least that's what I think. God has the power to give me all of them, but He doesn't. I know in theory that He knows what's really good for me and that some of the things I want are not good, just like parents know better than their children. But can I believe that there is no good thing I lack? Listen to Psalm 84:11. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." So not only will we lack nothing, but God has promised He will not keep back any good thing from us when we fear Him! And Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
What God is helping me to understand is, first, that the more I taste, meaning personally experience, of Him, the more I will discover that He is the source and the essence of all good, and that He is all the good I will ever need. Secondly, God created me. He knows what is good for me, even more than a parent knows what is best for their child. He has wisdom without limits! "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
My heavenly Father knows what is truly good for me. He knows that many of the "good" things I want for myself are actually dangerous to me because they will distract me or drive a wedge in my relationship with Him. If all the good I need comes from Him, then anything that steals my attention away from Him is destructive to my soul. Basically, if I fear the Lord, meaning I love, worship, adore, trust, and obey Him over everyone and everything else, then I have in Him all I need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) If there is something else I think I need that God chooses not to give me, and I won't let go of it, I'm fearing (worshipping and requiring) that thing over God.
So I don't think our focus is supposed to be on the question of whether or not we can trust God to give us every good thing. I think the real question is, do you fear God? Who or what are you worshipping today?
I leave you with one final thought from the Word of God. Psalm 16 expresses the heart of a man who fears the Lord and has found the fullness of life in Him. Listen to verses 1 and 2. "Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.'"
And verse 11 is one I have long loved; it tells us the results of a life that is utterly dependent on the Lord...."You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
It's quite a statement that we will lack nothing! What a wonderful thing, but does it really mean what it sounds like? I want a lot of things. And for the most part, they're good things. At least that's what I think. God has the power to give me all of them, but He doesn't. I know in theory that He knows what's really good for me and that some of the things I want are not good, just like parents know better than their children. But can I believe that there is no good thing I lack? Listen to Psalm 84:11. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." So not only will we lack nothing, but God has promised He will not keep back any good thing from us when we fear Him! And Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
What God is helping me to understand is, first, that the more I taste, meaning personally experience, of Him, the more I will discover that He is the source and the essence of all good, and that He is all the good I will ever need. Secondly, God created me. He knows what is good for me, even more than a parent knows what is best for their child. He has wisdom without limits! "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
My heavenly Father knows what is truly good for me. He knows that many of the "good" things I want for myself are actually dangerous to me because they will distract me or drive a wedge in my relationship with Him. If all the good I need comes from Him, then anything that steals my attention away from Him is destructive to my soul. Basically, if I fear the Lord, meaning I love, worship, adore, trust, and obey Him over everyone and everything else, then I have in Him all I need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) If there is something else I think I need that God chooses not to give me, and I won't let go of it, I'm fearing (worshipping and requiring) that thing over God.
So I don't think our focus is supposed to be on the question of whether or not we can trust God to give us every good thing. I think the real question is, do you fear God? Who or what are you worshipping today?
I leave you with one final thought from the Word of God. Psalm 16 expresses the heart of a man who fears the Lord and has found the fullness of life in Him. Listen to verses 1 and 2. "Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.'"
And verse 11 is one I have long loved; it tells us the results of a life that is utterly dependent on the Lord...."You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Enjoy the Journey
It's been an absolutely beautiful week! The temperature cooled off and we had a great time with the kids on the ranch. To top it all off, God has brought me back to a place of peace and contentment, and I know once again that Taylor is the right place for me right now. He's given me such joy and high spirits these last few weeks, and I praise Him for the work He's doing to show Himself in and around me! The weekend finds me grateful but physically spent. I was ready for some serious down time. So today I've done very little. Oh, I have a list of good stuff I'd like to accomplish, things I feel I need to get a move on, such as writing on this blog! In the last week I had an inspiration for something to write about, and then a few days later I got some really cool insights on a Psalm I'm memorizing, which I would also like to share. The trouble is that if I don't have or take the time to write the same day, it usually won't happen. I begin to lose the train of thought and the inspiration. When I sat down this morning with the intention of writing, I was distracted and couldn't get started. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with these ideas anymore. So I didn't try very hard. What I needed most was to sit in the gorgeous mid-70's sunshine on the lake beach and listen to the water lapping the shore and talk to God. So that's what I did. After that I messed around for awhile, doing seemingly a lot of nothing. But it really was something. I cleaned the shower, which improved my general outlook. I read a letter from a close friend, which gave me great pleasure. I spent time chatting with some other friends. The day was wearing on, and I still hadn't gotten to any of my writing or reading, but I was determined to get out and move for awhile, so I pulled out my bike. It turned into quite a long ramble over hills and gravel roads and into some lovely secluded spots. On the way home, as I pushed my tired muscles along, I began to focus on how much time I'd spent away from the list of things I "needed" to do. I was becoming weary of the journey and anxious to just get home and be done with it. But I stopped myself and considered what a pleasant ride it had been, and I remembered that I ride my bike because I enjoy the scenery and the experience. I don't do it to knock off a certain distance and get back home. And I realized that it's the same way with life...the joy is in the journey. Yes, we do need to be certain of our destination and intentional in the way we travel. There is a reward at our journey's end. Yet what would the homecoming be without the journey? It's in the trials, triumphs, hardships, and joys of this walk through life that we are being shaped into all we were meant to be. And God is working through it all to take the emptiness of our lives and turn it into fruitfulness. Take my day, for example. God can do as much or as little as He chooses with one day of my life to make an impact on eternity. Did I make myself completely available and surrendered to His use today? Probably not. Have I ever had a day when I did that? Not that I can tell. But God is constantly working to bring me and you closer to that goal. And sometimes, to be honest, we need a day to do absolutely nothing. A day to breathe deep, lay on the sand, and listen to the sound of water.
Back to my bike ride. It matters little how many miles I went or how many times I had to get off and walk up the hill. The journey wasn't about my speed or my physical strength. For me, the greatest reward in a bike ride, and in life, is in the times I stop to smell the roses. It's in making a memory. It's the sunshine on your face and the wind whipping your hair. It's stopping on a secluded back road among the trees to listen to the stillness. It's catching the scent of Fall in the air. It's hearing the corn stalks whisper as you pass. It's the excitement of seeing what's just over the next hill or around the bend. It's drinking in the jeweled blue of the sky and trying to imagine how that color would feel and taste. It's the crunch of gravel under the tires and the buzzing of the cicadas. It's the thrilling and slightly scary rush of flying down a hill. It's singing along to your favorite worship songs in your earbuds, and then turning the music off and talking to God.
Today I spent time with God. I spent time with people I care about. I didn't accomplish a lot of tangible stuff. Maybe I didn't reach my full potential in a lot of areas. My life isn't long enough to write every inspiration. And that's ok. I don't have to try to recapture what was on my heart a week ago. But I shared what was on my heart today. We all have a lot of living left to do, if the Lord wills. Slow down a little bit. Savor what means the most to you. Let's look for the joy in the journey.
Back to my bike ride. It matters little how many miles I went or how many times I had to get off and walk up the hill. The journey wasn't about my speed or my physical strength. For me, the greatest reward in a bike ride, and in life, is in the times I stop to smell the roses. It's in making a memory. It's the sunshine on your face and the wind whipping your hair. It's stopping on a secluded back road among the trees to listen to the stillness. It's catching the scent of Fall in the air. It's hearing the corn stalks whisper as you pass. It's the excitement of seeing what's just over the next hill or around the bend. It's drinking in the jeweled blue of the sky and trying to imagine how that color would feel and taste. It's the crunch of gravel under the tires and the buzzing of the cicadas. It's the thrilling and slightly scary rush of flying down a hill. It's singing along to your favorite worship songs in your earbuds, and then turning the music off and talking to God.
Today I spent time with God. I spent time with people I care about. I didn't accomplish a lot of tangible stuff. Maybe I didn't reach my full potential in a lot of areas. My life isn't long enough to write every inspiration. And that's ok. I don't have to try to recapture what was on my heart a week ago. But I shared what was on my heart today. We all have a lot of living left to do, if the Lord wills. Slow down a little bit. Savor what means the most to you. Let's look for the joy in the journey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)