The Spirit of Truth .
John 16:5-15

5. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' 6. But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9. concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10. concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11. concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12. "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

I didn’t find this particular exchange in the other three gospels; but John has a little different take on things, anyway. The person of the Holy Spirit is the most mysterious, I think of the trinity! It’s the hardest to understand, because there’s not a physical presence, as in Christ’s human form, nor is there concrete proof of its existence, as there is in God’s – by merely looking around us in nature—and even at ourselves in the mirror!

The sin referred to here is the sin of unbelief. The righteousness is that which was brought about by Christ’s death on the cross. The judgment was the defeat of Satan. That is quite enough for us to deal with! Anything else would, indeed, put our minds and hearts into overload, I think! Jesus certainly knew the disciples, without the benefit of history – and the resurrection – would not be able to grasp the concept of the Holy Spirit at that point!

We need the Holy Spirit to guide us on our Christian walk. God gave us the Word. Jesus gave us the perfect demonstration of what is expected. The Holy Spirit helps us make “it” personal. It helps us understand at a deep, deep level, how Christ’s death and resurrection should be applied to our lives. What does it mean to be a Christian in 2004? How can I live the kind of life Christ modeled? The Holy Spirit imparts that to us, and for us.

I guess I’m rambling again! The Spirit of Truth dwells within us. To help us exhibit, impart, and comprehend God’s word, the crucifixion of Jesus, the resurrection, and the ascension. And then it helps us glorify God by acting upon this knowledge and understanding! Wow! God with us. God as us. God within us. God for us. God the Father—creator of heaven and earth. Jesus Christ, the Son—man/divine—in His image and likeness. The Holy Spirit—Wonderful Counselor—within us for all time.

The disciples don’t ask Jesus where he’s going. They’re only worried about what they’ll do without him! They didn’t know what we do: The triune God is all we need to believe in, to honor and worship, to rely upon and to turn to for the answer to every question in our lives. God made us. He died on a cross for us. He dwells within us until the second coming.

I hope you spend our day honoring the triune God who made you, loves you and dwells within you.

Mary


  ¶ 7:22 AM

  He calls us by name .
Isaiah 44:24-28; 45:1-3

44: 24. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the Lord, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth -- Who was with me? -- 25. who frustrates the omens of liars, and makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back, and makes their knowledge foolish; 26. who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, `She shall be inhabited,' and of the cities of Judah, `They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins'; 27. who says to the deep, `Be dry, I will dry up your rivers'; 28. who says of Cyrus, `He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfil all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, `She shall be built,' and of the temple, `Your foundation shall be laid.'" 45: 1. Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 2. "I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron, 3. I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

Idolatry dominated the ancient world. God chastises His people that it is foolish to trust in anything, anyone but Him. He tells us that over and over again, doesn’t He!? Isaiah predicted the fall of Judah to Babylon, now he predicts the fall of Babylon and the return of Jews to their homeland. This may not seem so amazing—since we’re used to God revealing truths, even about the future, to prophets. But what is amazing about these verses is that God reveals the name of the person He will use to fulfill His plan! Cyrus ordered the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem. He tolerated and even embraced the idols of the people whose kingdoms he overthrew. Perhaps that’s why God chose to use him to fulfill His plan.

Jeremiah also talks about the temple being rebuilt! I actually was referred to several scripture on this topic! I feel so uneducated when I see references to so many other books of the bible! In a perfect world, I could spend my whole day reading the bible, going to and studying the references, and then use reference books to help me understand and relate it all! But, glimpses and bits and pieces will have to suffice! Because, alas, God intends me to live in the world—not in seclusion! But I do cherish those rare times when I can spend and hour or two in the word!

These verses are packed with powerful messages! One of the facts that is so striking to me, beyond God actually naming Cyrus, is that Cyrus’ rule was 150 years into Isaiah’s future! Some of my notes indicate that the reader may object to God using a ruler who worships other gods, I contend that this demonstrates the power He has over the history of the world. Isn’t it comforting to know that God is so personally and intimately involved in the workings of our world?!

It may not seem that that’s the case sometimes, but I am deeply comforted to think that the same God who “says to the deep, ‘Be dry, I will dry up your rivers’, and “I will go before you and level the mountains” is the same God who made me. The same creator who thought of me before creation began. The same ruler who patiently, lovingly, methodically, and purposefully laid out His truths for mankind since Adam, and still today allows us to wonder and wander. And when we realize His word is the only one we need to live, He rejoices!

He gives us signs and wonders. He sends prophets. He fulfills every promise and makes each prediction of future events a fact. And He does it all for us. For you. For me. For his beloved creations who He calls by name. Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Persian Empire. God used him to rebuild His own earthly empire. But God also uses ordinary, every-day, regular people to fulfill His plan, too. He uses you and me. I bow down to a God so great that He dries up rivers at the mere thought of it happening, and saves a place for me with Him in heaven.

I hope you spend your day trusting that God is in control of your present, and your future and that you find deep, abiding peace in the comfort that offers.

Mary

  ¶ 7:53 AM

  Power through Wisdom .
Ecclesiastes 7:18,19

It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes. Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.

1 Kings 3:5-15

5. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." 6. And Solomon said, "Thou hast shown great and steadfast love to thy servant David my father, because he walked before thee in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward thee; and thou hast kept for him this great and steadfast love, and hast given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. 9. Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?" 10. It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12. behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." 15. And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

Wisdom. Solomon knew he had inherited a formidable legacy. He was not a young child, but in his early 20’s at the time he became king. He may have been young, but he knew enough to know that he didn’t, on his own steam, have what he needed to rule wisely, as God desired. David, his father, had been a great king, and brought great glory to God. Solomon wanted nothing less—to serve God—well and within God’s will.

Solomon understood the enormity of his place in history. To me, he appears pretty wise even before his dream! But as a human, with all the shortcomings and limitations of mankind, Solomon knew he would need God to do what he needed to do. And God was pleased with him! Though he seemed to be equipped already to rule, he turned to God for guidance. That humility afforded him not only the divinely-inspired wisdom he requested, but a promise that if he continued to serve/rule wisely he would have a long life, wealth and honor on earth! Wow!

God gifts each of us. And he wants us to use our giftedness for service to the world. Sometimes, though, we need his guidance and direction as to how we are to deploy our gifts. We don’t want to squander them, nor do we want to dilute our effectiveness by taking on more than we can handle. It’s really a balancing act. And we need God’s wisdom to discern if and when we’ve hit upon the proper balance. Oh for the wisdom of Solomon!

But we have more even than Solomon was promised! We have already received the greatest gift we could ever hope for or imagine! And all we have to do to receive it is ask! That’s wealth and honor – riches and renown – beyond anything we could acquire or earn for ourselves. Oh, to be a Christian, doing what we were made to do and seeking God's guidance and wisdom along the way!

I hope you spend your day wisely, using your gifts, talents and abilities in the service of others, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Mary
  ¶ 7:40 AM

  A Living God Who Made the Heaven and the Earth .
Acts 14:8-18

8. Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who could not use his feet; he was a cripple from birth, who had never walked. 9. He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10. said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and walked. 11. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" 12. Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief speaker, they called Hermes. 13. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the people. 14. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out among the multitude, crying, 15. "Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways; 17. yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." 18. With these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

In the days of Paul and his missionary journeys, the people of the world still worshipped multiple gods. Their gods were powerful, but fickle, and capricious. The concept of worshipping one god was ludicrous to them! What if that god were in a bad mood on that day? He/she might do something harmful or spiteful to the worshippers! When that happened, the people offered sacrifices to placate the angry gods, but also to the other gods – as a kind of insurance against their ill will.

This all sounds pretty childish and simplistic today. But if we stop to think about it, we haven’t really evolved all that much in 2000 years. Don’t we worship at the altar of MTV, the Bachelor, Who Wants to Marry My Dad, American Idol, and sports icons, and on and on and on?! We want everything we see and will spare nothing and risk everything to have it. We idealize the wealthy and the powerful—whether they deserve it or not! Because that’s what “society” has determined is important and intrinsically valuable. That’s pretty much how these folks were living in Paul’s time. Their gods offered temporary comfort, satisfaction, peace and abundance. But it never lasted! And they constantly found themselves seeking after other gods in search of what they wanted/needed.

So the idea of one God, who loves us, cares for and about us, provides for us, disciplines us out of parental love, who involves Himself in our daily lives and who came to earth in the form of a man but rose from the dead as divine . . . . I don’t think so! Paul and others certainly had their work cut out for them! But then, so do we as evangelists and missionaries today. We have an intrusive, invasive media machine sending us messages about how much we deserve, how much we need, how much we should value the things of this world. Conspicuous consumption doesn’t even begin to describe it all!

Today we don’t have the same excuses as these people 2000 years ago. Christ is risen! Everything the prophets spoke of has been fulfilled! God’s word is unimpeachable! And yet we find ourselves worshipping those other gods. We are faced with the continual onslaught of “this world” and find it so difficult to find time alone with God to pray and reflect and to fortify ourselves against “this world.” We long for heaven, and yet we stray every day away from the path that leads there! I am so very grateful to God and humbled and awed that my God forgives me; upholds me; enfolds and embraces me; loves and protects me. And all I must do is call upon Him. And the rest of this world just fades away.

Pray, read the bible, study the word. Intentionally seek out God’s wisdom, love, and presence in our lives. That’s how we keep our eyes fixed on heaven! Every day, every hour, every step along the way. I bow down at the altar of my God. The one, true, loving and living God.

I hope you spend your day worshipping the living God who made the heaven and the earth—and each of us in His image and likeness.

Mary

  ¶ 7:23 AM

  Walk by the Spirit .
Romans 6:6,14

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Galatians 5:16

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Matthew 4:1-13

1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. 3. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4. But he answered, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 5. Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6. and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you,' and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" 7. Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" 8. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; 9. and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10. Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! for it is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" 11. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him. 12. Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13. and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Roamed around through scripture again this morning! Started out in Ezekiel, and thought that was all a bit much for a Monday morning! Ended in Matthew, and then when I logged on to begin my morning routine, these 2 scripture were waiting for me through the “scripture e-mail” newsletter I subscribe to. Believe it or not, I often find that the scripture I ultimately feel led to share, is of the same theme – and sometimes the same scripture I receive through this e-mail service! It’s a wonderful affirmation, and encourages me that I’m on the right track!

Temptation. Sin. Gratifying the desires of the flesh. This theme is as old as time itself, isn’t it!? The bible begins with Adam and Eve and their temptation in the garden. By the time we arrive at the New Testament, Satan has had a long, long time to roam the earth, seeking out his victims. And there were many, some more willing than others! And still, even after Christ we are tempted. Even though we know the truth, and in spite of God’s grace, we continue to sin.

In Matthew, Satan tells Jesus, ‘If you are the Son of God” but my notes indicate that he means “Since.” He freely acknowledges that Jesus is God, but he recognizes that with the limitations of his humanity, he has a pretty good chance of working his ways on Jesus. After all, he’s hungry, tired, and faces a painful, difficult, agonizing future! Satan counts on that—or maybe he just hopes for a crack in the “full armor of God.” What he forgets is that while Jesus is physically weak and spent, he is spiritually fortified and empowered. After all he’s just spent 40 days with God—just the two of them—preparing for his life’s purpose.

Satan forgot that part! As mere humans we are powerless against the evil in this world. But when we immerse ourselves in scripture, when we study and question and seek, when we turn our lives over to God, through Jesus, we access great power, untiring strength, and immeasurable courage, relentless and mighty desire to spread the good news of the risen Christ. That’s how we defeat Satan! And he doesn’t like it when we tap into that! The cross is stronger than any weapon ever conceived of by man. The broken, beaten, brutalized body of Jesus upon that cross symbolizes every evil desire within us—and he paid the price and took the punishment for all of us. The Holy Spirit continues to roam the earth – two steps ahead of Satan every time!

It’s not easy to live in this world. It’s very easy to succumb to our human-ness. But we must remember that one who came to earth a long time ago, conquered even our most egregious sin and freed us to become like Him. God loves us that much. That He wants to become like the Son he sent to save us. And He won’t ever give up on us. He fulfilled that promise for all time on Easter morning.

In His image and likeness. That is not only a challenge and goal, but a blessing beyond description, imagining or comprehension.

I hope you spend your day walking by the spirit, basking in the light of Christ.

Mary
  ¶ 7:47 AM

  Graven in the Palms of God’s Hands .
Isaiah 49:8-18

8. Thus says the Lord: "In a time of favor I have answered you, in a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages; 9. saying to the prisoners, `Come forth,' to those who are in darkness, `Appear.' They shall feed along the ways, on all bare heights shall be their pasture; 10. they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall smite them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. 11. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be raised up. 12. Lo, these shall come from afar, and lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene." 13. Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted. 14. But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me." 15. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16. Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. 17. Your builders outstrip your destroyers, and those who laid you waste go forth from you. 18. Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather, they come to you. As I live, says the Lord, you shall put them all on as an ornament, you shall bind them on as a bride does.

Revelation 7:13-17

13. Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" 14. I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

God contends that His love is greater, stronger, more intense and profound than the love a mother has for a newborn child. I can speak from experience: That’s a great, strong, intense and profound love! It is truly impossible for me to imagine being loved more than that! But I think God gives us glimpses of his love to spur us on, to keep us striving for perfection, to help us bear the waiting until our reward in heaven.

The title of this scripture from Isaiah is “Restoration of Israel.” The exiles are returning; the captives are being allowed to return; land rights will be restored; slaves will be set free. My bible notes imply that these verses offer a glimpse of what it will be like at the end of time. God will re-claim us as His beloved people. All our sins will be washed away and forgotten. We will want for nothing. We will be satisfied beyond imagining!

There are times in our lives when we need to keep this promise ever before us. On the days when it seems as if we labor in vain for the kingdom, we need to remember these promises. God’s word is unimpeachable. He has revealed to us a foretaste of what is to come. That’s so we don’t lose hope in the day-in and day-out of our lives. We can rejoice because of what is waiting for us! It will be better than Christmas! Better than a birthday! It will be better than anything we can imagine. Because the gift we’ll receive will be an eternal one.

I can hardly wait to kneel before the throne of God! And the hope of that inheritance is what keeps me striving to be worthy of that possibility. We will hunger no more – or thirst – or wander aimlessly desperately searching for meaning and purpose. I can keep going because I know I am sheltered by God’s presence in the world, and in my life. Salvation. Redemption. Heaven.


I hope today you fell encouraged, comforted and joyful that God reveals himself not only to the prophets of old, but to us through His word brought to life and revealed in the bible.

Mary
  ¶ 7:48 AM

  Abounding in Steadfast Love .
Psalm 103

1. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3. who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4. who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5. who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6. The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. 7. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger for ever. 10. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities. 11. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12. as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. 14. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 15. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16. for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18. to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 19. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 20. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! 21. Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will! 22. Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

I have been in kind of a funk the last week or so. This morning I realized part of what has been going on: I’m having a Lake Junaluska re-bound! (I spent a week in North Carolina with our Youth Group for a Youth-in-Missions week) Not really sure what that means, but I can remember so clearly how wonderful it was to be blanketed by God’s love, and to walk among other Christians who were longing, as I was, to see the face of God. It was overwhelming to experience the physical presence of the Holy Spirit on a rainy night when the power went out and all 500 believers were gathered together holding up glow sticks that had been distributed just moments before (a coincidence? I don’t think so!).

And then it was over. The “high” was sustained for about a week. Then reality hit me smack in the face! I made it through the second week, but struggled to keep my eyes fixed on God. But I stayed in scripture and prayed ardently for God to Bless my soul, and all that is within me. And guess what?! He did! He has! He will! And the blessing has always been there, will be there long after I am gone from this earth. Oh, yeah! For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our transgressions from us. I don’t know about you, but most days I need a God capable of loving me that much!

I need a God who dwells from everlasting to everlasting. I don’t know about you, but I need a love that expansive. I need a Lord whose throne is established in heaven. I long for His mercy and justice. I need a God who knows my frame and remembers that we are dust. He remembers that I am one of his beloved creations; and that I am limited in my capacity to live up to the promises I make to him. But I know that he is unlimited! His promise stands throughout time and space. Beyond the universe, before the beginning of time, and into eternity.

I need God’s grace. I hunger for it. I long for it. And I praise my God for granting it to me, though I am undeserving and full of flaws. He sent his son to die for me. There is no greater love. And I bow down before my God, God of the trees and mountains; God of the skies and the seas; God of the universe, and God of man. I bow down and thank him for his faithfulness. And his mercy. And his grace.

I hope you spend your day rejoicing in God’s steadfast and everlasting love, knowing that though we are undeserving, God is faithful and full of grace.

Mary
  ¶ 7:28 AM

  The Hope of Israel .
Jeremiah 17:7-14

7. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? 10. "I the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." 11. Like the partridge that gathers a brood which she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by right; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool. 12. A glorious throne set on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. 13. O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake thee shall be put to shame; those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water. 14. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise.

Our faith must be grounded in God’s word. If we study His word, and practice living by His commandments, our faith will sustain us in difficult times. During a drought trees send their roots up to the surface to acquire more water. But those trees, with shallow roots, are easily blown over in a strong wind. The tree with deeper roots stands.

Our trust must be in the Lord. Otherwise we will be disappointed and deceived. God’s word is unchanging and unfailing. The world deceives us and everything in it will disappoint in the end, if we have no faith. Our hearts deceive us—we long for earthly possessions and for power and for influence. Money is the mark of success by worldly standards. But we know better when we are grounded in God’s word.

The only possession we need, we already have through Jesus Christ. The only wealth we should seek to acquire is the richness of our reward in heaven. Without deep and abiding faith, we roam the earth, lost and confused and feeling completely alone. When we abide in God’s word, we have a beacon to guide us through all of life’s trials and tribulations. And we can rejoice through them, because we know what awaits us!

But we are foolish, weak, and proud. We forget who made us, and why. God knows our tendency to elevate ourselves too highly, to desire the things of this world too often, and to think only of that which gives us immediate gratification. He knows, because He made us. What Jeremiah reminds us is that God carves out an emptiness within each of us. It is a place deep in our souls that only He can fill up. Though we try, in vain, to fill that emptiness with every worldly thought and desire, action and deed, in the end we feel abandoned and alone. Nothing on this earth can satisfy!

If we would only put our foolish pride aside and run to God, our lives would be so full and we would “not fear when heat comes” into our lives. If we put God’s word in our hearts, we shall be saved. We will be judged in the end by how we lived our lives. By who and what we honored and praised. We must choose to be the tree by the stream with a deeply rooted faith, or we can roam the earth, desperate and alone, searching for something that will never satisfy.

I hope today you will call out to God saying, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise.”

Mary


  ¶ 7:37 AM

  The Truth Will Set You Free .
1 Chronicles 28:9 RSV

"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

Jeremiah 31:33 RSV

But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Proverbs 3:1-10,13-15, 19-22, 35 RSV

1. My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2. for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you. 3. Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9. Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10. then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 13. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, 14. for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. 15. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 19. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20. by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21. My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight, 22. and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

John 8:31,32 NIV

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."


I just love this verse from Jeremiah. It’s so poetic and beautiful! “I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” God wants us to make His law a part of our bodies—like an extra internal organ. In so doing, we are to honor, love, and acknowledge it as if it were crucial to our survival. And it is! Proverbs tells us to let our hearts keep God’s commandments.

“Lord you are more precious than silver, Lord you are costly than gold, Lord you are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares to you.” These are the word to a song I find myself humming often—I didn’t know the inspiration for it was 1 Chronicles! Wisdom—God’s law is truly the most precious thing we could ever imagine—especially because of God’s promise when we live by wisdom. When we write God’s law in our hearts, we acknowledge it with every heartbeat. It becomes a part of us.

There really is no other way to live. The righteous of this world struggle, just as they did long ago. God is in heaven. He made the earth—the land, the sea, the air we breathe—all thought of and created by Him, for us. And all He asks in return is that we acknowledge Him in all our ways, and serve Him with willing minds. He will be our God and we will be His people. Jesus was the incarnation of God’s promise. He provided the example to us of what God really was trying to tell us all those centuries! We just couldn’t get it! Not because of a lacking on God’s part, but because we rely on our own wisdom, seek our own truth, search for the easier path. We keep trying to make ourselves like God.

But we can’t even begin to equal Him! We can’t even imagine! Jesus came to earth in the form a man, because that’s all we could understand! And He died a man, not as a symbol, but as the fulfillment of the prophecies. He arose, not symbolically, but literally, on the third day. When we write God’s word in our heart, and put the law within us, we have the promise that we too will arise to a new reality one day: heaven. Eternal life, without the struggles and distractions of this life. Without the burdens and the questions, and the challenges. That will be our reward for honoring God highly and bowing down in humility and gratitude for His faithfulness.

We will dwell with Him and His Son, and the Holy Spirit will be upon us. He will be our God and we will be His people. The path to that paradise is through the truth of Christ risen. Our faith in a living, active, loving and mighty God, was personified in Jesus. He is our truth. And the truth will set us free.

I hope you spend your day writing God’s words upon the tablet of your heart, rejoicing that we have heard the truth. And the truth will set us free!

Mary
  ¶ 7:37 AM

  The Crown of Life .
Psalm 139:7-8
 
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!
 
Revelation 2:10 RSV
 
Do not fear what you are about to suffer... that you may be tested. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
 
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Job 1:6-7, 13--22

6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7. The Lord said to Satan, "Whence have you come?" Satan answered the Lord, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 13. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; 14. and there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them; 15. and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." 16. While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." 17. While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." 18. While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; 19. and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you." 20. Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped. 21. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." 22. In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
 
 
Another example this morning of God leading me in an unexpected direction!  I opened to Job—what better book to find yourself in when your heart is troubled and your spirit is being assaulted by tests?  Of course, I’m not facing anything close to what Job endured!  I’m just trying to work out a couple of things in my life that are nagging at me, and keeping me from focusing all my attention and praise on God 100% of the time.
 
These scripture excerpts illustrate that man will always struggle to achieve perfection.  We will never be worthy of God’s love and mercy.  But he offers it anyway!  He will never disappoint us or abandon us!  And like Job we must declare at every little turn or bump in the road, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
 
Satan is so hard at work, waiting to seize upon an opportune moment to turn us away from God!  He boldly declares to God that he has returned "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."  Pretty frightening!  But these scripture offer us hope!  God is ever with us!  Yes, we will experience hardships—but they are nothing compared to what Christ endured.  Not that they are small, meaningless, inconsequential; but rather that viewed in terms of Christ’s crucifixion, they are more bearable! Not that we don’t question God’s plan, but that when we question, when we ask for a reason, an answer, a purpose for our hardships, God answers, “because I said so!”
 
We must believe that today’s trial is preparing us for some future event or situation, where what we learn through our faith in God’s good intentions and what we learn about our own strength and courage through faith in God, is preparing us to endure something in the future. And maybe it won’t be as hard to bear, because we’ve learned today to trust in God and His plan, and His timing, and His will.
 
I know it sounds if I’m saying God plans us harm to make us strong!  But that’s not what I mean!  What I mean is that when we face difficulties of any kind, God offers His comfort and peace to us through our faith in Him.  And when we come out on the other side, look back and realize God was always there with us, our faith is strengthened. So that the next time we hit a bump in the road, we might not panic or over-react!  We don’t make it about us.  We make it about how trustworthy and faithful God is.
 
God is so good, so wise, so loving and so great!  We cannot help but worship Him!  And through our faith in Him, and because of His great mercy, he promises the “crown of life.”
 
I hope you spend your day trusting that God will be with you through every bump and turn in the road!  And that you will worship him with every word, and thought, and action throughout your day.
 
Mary 
  ¶ 7:43 AM

  Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer .
Luke 11:1-13

1. He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2. And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3. Give us each day our daily bread; 4. and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation." 5. And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; 6. for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7. and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9. And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12. or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

It seems a little odd that “The Lord’s Prayer” would bring me new insights. I’ve known it by heart since I was a child and repeat it each week in church—and for the most part I don’t think we really stop to reflect on exactly what the phrases mean. I’ve even taught a class on it with a friend; and it becomes rote recitation over time. But I was really attracted to the verses around the words of the prayer this morning!

Jesus made a habit of praying regularly and often. He knew inherently that he must do so to maintain his connection to his (and our) father. He encourages his disciples to pray with boldness. Not arrogance, but the boldness that comes from confidence that God gives us exactly what we need, when we need it. He desires what is best for us and we acknowledge that amazing, unconditional truth when we tell him “Thy kingdom come” the next line I learned expands upon this phrase to say “thy will be done.”

The examples Jesus uses illustrate the generosity and grace of God’s bounty to and for us. He wants us to share in his kingdom—in all the treasures of his creation! But we must be in tune with God to pray correctly. We are not to give God a laundry list of all the material things we desire, and then a checklist of all the hurts we want healed, and an accounting of all the ways we’ve been fine, upstanding Christians. He wants us to acknowledge that we are sinners, and rejoice that we are forgiven—over and over again, every time we sin—because of God's unending and unyielding mercy. We are to be grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ, who is our example of generosity and selfless sacrifice toward our fellow human beings.

We must also beg God to keep us from the evil in the world. It is so tempting to buy into the lies of advertisers and the power brokers and the unsaved! When we’re constantly exposed to immorality, corruption, dishonesty, blatant disregard for humanity or for the earth or for God, I think we sometimes slip and slide into a gray area, where we aren’t really comfortable, but, where we can toe the line of sin without really crossing it. That’s our contention, anyway! But Jesus told his disciples and reminds us that we must constantly go to God—ask him to keep us on the straight and narrow path—remembering that He is the source of all good things in our lives and in our world.

Finally, we are to use our spiritual gifts, and our talents and abilities to serve God. We do that by serving our brothers and sisters in this world. Selflessly, generously, with joyful abandon that God has gifted us so greatly and that he empowers us to use them so mightily in service to his kingdom.

“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” I don’t know of any other place where you can get this kind of assurance! God is the source of all we need. And he is big enough, and strong enough, and wise enough, generous and full of grace and mercy. And he will never leave us to our own devices. He will never abandon us.

From now on when I begin this prayer, I’m going to try to remember all this. It really is a model, not only for prayer, but the proper attitude for living.

I hope you spend your day asking God for exactly what He knows you need. That you find what you are seeking and that the door to God’s love and understanding will be opened to you.

Mary


  ¶ 8:17 AM

  Light Dawns for the Righteous .
Psalm 96

1. O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5. For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. 6. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9. Worship the Lord in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth! 10. Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." 11. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12. let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy 13. before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

As you may be able to figure out, my mood has lightened as the week has progressed! The only down side of being in a place like Lake Junaluska, is that you do eventually have to come back into the world! But this psalm helps me realize it’s okay. When we ascribe to God all the glory He deserves, it is easy to rejoice! Even in this crazy, sin-filled world in which we live!

When I read the phrase “come into his courts” I recall a television special we watched a couple of years ago about one the ancient cities in the holy land. The temple was massive – the courtyard probably the size of two football fields! A full-grown man was dwarfed within the walls of the courtyard, let alone the temple complex! I think the men of that time, and before (and since!) wanted to erect a monument worthy of God. They wanted a building that would be big enough and beautiful enough to contain God’s essence.

Of course we know that’s impossible. How could man ever create or even imagine anything that would compete with the trees of the woods, the roaring waves of the ocean, or even man himself? I wonder if the psalmist has just finished up a week or so of spiritual retreat and renewal!? These verses certainly express the joy and the fullness and the celebratory hope I felt throughout my time in the mountains last week! The trick – and test of our faithfulness – is to maintain that hope when we are in the world again. I am feeling as if I have re-captured that hope! I am filled up with gratitude and humility and praise for a God so mighty, so strong, so powerful, and yet so gentle and loving as to count me among his creations. And to save a place for me with him in eternity.

Psalm 97

1. The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2. Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3. Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about. 4. His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. 7. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him. 8. Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of thy judgments, O God. 9. For thou, O Lord, art most high over all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods. 10. The Lord loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11. Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

I hope you spend your day glad and rejoicing that light dawns for the righteous and joy comes for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to his holy name!

Mary

  ¶ 7:15 AM

  The Suffering and the Glory of the Servant .
Isaiah 52:13-15

13. Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. 14. As many were astonished at him -- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men -- 15. so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand.

Romans 15:17-22

17. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19. by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ, 20. thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation, 21. but as it is written, "They shall see who have never been told of him, and they shall understand who have never heard of him." 22. This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.

All who looked upon Christ on the cross were indeed astonished! His battered, mutilated body was horrific, beyond imagining. Any who were not ashamed of the torture done to him, were certainly frightened at what the ultimate consequence may be for allowing it to happen! But more: we are startled at the stark truth of his message. So simple, yet so very difficult. So pure, yet so deeply stained by man’s sin. So right, and yet so easily corrupted. Kings shut their mouths because of him, because he clearly exudes power and strength and might beyond the imagining of any earthly king! His words leave no question as to what is required. Our hearts ache, because we know we can never, ever, live up to Christ’s sacrifice.

Paul understands these verses from Isaiah. He revels in the truth of the Risen Christ! His life has purpose and meaning because of Jesus! And His honor and pride are not because of his own abilities, accomplishments, victories—but rather how God has chosen Him to preach the good news to all “who have never heard of [Christ].” As Christians, we are also called to preach the gospel to everyone. We are disciples and prophets of this day and time. And by the power of signs and wonders—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the salvation of our very souls—we are compelled and spurred on to declare unceasingly the wonders of Christ Jesus!

I had about 6 or 8 different scripture in mind this morning. Some of the verses described cities built of jewels of every color; walls of gold, extending to the sky. I wanted to talk about those verses this morning, but God brought me to the very last line of the Romans quote this morning: “22. This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.” I have many things I ardently desire to accomplish in this life—not for myself, but in order to bring glory to God. And I anxiously strive to accomplish them all right now—today—lest I miss my chance! But Paul sees the wisdom in God’s plan for him. Paul really wants to visit his brothers and sisters in Christ, but he realizes that God needs him to be exactly where he is at that point in time—for His purposes.

We share in The Servant’s glory when we raise and lift Him up in our hearts and in our minds. When we obey God’s plan and honor His timing, we are glorified. Our suffering, our anxiety, our desires become secondary. They take a back seat to God’s will. Like those kings mentioned in Isaiah, we shut our mouths—but we do so because we are unable to utter adequate and appropriate thanks and gratitude and praise to the perfect servant who gave everything for us. His suffering gives us hope and strength – and grace.

I hope you spend your day not venturing to speak of anything “except what Christ has wrought through” you.

Mary
  ¶ 7:35 AM

  My Soul Waits for the Lord .
Psalm 130

1. Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord! 2. Lord, hear my voice! Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! 3. If thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? 4. But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6. my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

I wasn’t sure where God would lead me this morning. I survived my first day back at work—“in the world.” I then went to the grocery store, since we had been gone for a week! Yes, reality had really set in by the time I got home last night! But it’s okay! It’s all good.

God is so faithful. He is so good. No matter where we are, literally or spiritually, He hears us when we call to Him. He is ever vigilant for the call of his beloved. The reference to the watchmen in this psalm summons a powerful image: the watchmen guarded the cities at night; they watched for the enemy, in case they were attacked at night and taken by surprise. The very lives of those in the city depended upon the watchfulness of the night watchmen, their trustworthiness and attentiveness. Even as we sleep, God watches over us.

Were it not for God’s gracious, loving forgiveness, we would indeed fear Him! Such power and might are frightening when not tempered with gentleness and mercy. But our God uses His power to sustain us and His might to guard our souls. He is more dependable than any earthly parent and more reliable than any security system you could ever install.

This psalm has a tone of resignation—not sadness or futility—but of complete acceptance that God is God and He is ever attentive. And He is the only source of strength when we are spent and tired and feeling far from His love. Call to Him. He will answer. And He will blanket you with that feeling you had when you were a little child and you had a bad dream and your Mom or Dad came in and hugged you and told you they would stay with you until you fell asleep. It’s been a long time since I experienced that, but I still feel that comfort and security. My God offers it.

Psalm 131

1. O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul. 3. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.

God is God. And He is powerful and mighty, full of love and comfort. Full of grace. Our hope is in Him.

My prayer is that you spend your day ever hoping in the Lord who never sleeps, never falters, never fails to forgive and comfort.

Mary
  ¶ 7:17 AM

  An Urgent Appeal for Relief .
Psalm 38

1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy anger, nor chasten me in thy wrath! 2. For thy arrows have sunk into me, and thy hand has come down on me. 3. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thy indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. 4. For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me. 5. My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness, 6. I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. 7. For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8. I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. 9. Lord, all my longing is known to thee, my sighing is not hidden from thee. 10. My heart throbs, my strength fails me; and the light of my eyes -- it also has gone from me. 11. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12. Those who seek my life lay their snares, those who seek my hurt speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all the day long. 13. But I am like a deaf man, I do not hear, like a dumb man who does not open his mouth. 14. Yea, I am like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes. 15. But for thee, O Lord, do I wait; it is thou, O Lord my God, who wilt answer. 16. For I pray, "Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!" 17. For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me. 18. I confess my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin. 19. Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. 20. Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good. 21. Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! 22. Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

I had so much trouble finding the scripture upon which to reflect this morning! I think I’m “blocking” God’s message to me, in part because I return to work today after a week of living completely immersed in God’s word at Lake Junaluska with fellow Christians and seekers. So many youth came to Christ last week! So many of us renewed our commitment—and vowed to be better Christians. But this morning, I return to “the real world.” Back to work. Back to rush hour traffic. Back to phones ringing and fax machines whirring. Back to living and working side-by-side with those who are not saved. And it’s really bugging me!

God revealed so much to me last week about things in my life I need to give up to him, and things within me I need to turn over to him. So many burdens I should not be bearing—but they have become a part of me. And no matter how heavy, how painful they have been—and continue to be—they have become almost comfortable. But He wants me to release them. That’s the only way I’ll be open to His direction, and that’s the only way I’ll have the strength and energy to live in a world full of unsaved sinners. It’s the only way I’ll have the courage and the fortitude to stand firm in my beliefs and to be a light to those who haven’t heard the Good News—or at least who haven’t accepted it yet!

It’s so easy to be a Christian when in the midst of 500 seekers! No television, no telephone, no carpools, no meals to prepare, no shopping, no distractions. Today I venture out of that cocoon and return to the real world. I hesitate. I ask God to ease my discontent, my discomfort, my weariness. He alone is my strength and my hope. He alone gives my life meaning. He alone sustains me.

David is suffering from a physical ailment of some severe nature in this psalm. But I applied his physical distress to my spiritual distress. When we are uneasy, unsure, feel unqualified and unable to be strong and sure and good and right, we must turn to God. He will never turn His back on us. He will never disappoint us. He will never leave us alone.

I’m not complaining. My distress is not debilitating. It is more like an anticipation of an unpleasant task—even though you know it will be okay—it’s still unpleasant. God is so good! And I am going to work very hard to turn all my burdens over to him. I want to be unyoked of my burdens, because they weigh me down. They distract me from worshipping my God. They inhibit my joy. And most of all they prevent me from loving God with my whole heart and mind and soul.

I hope you spend your day turning over your burdens to the only God who is big enough and strong enough to bear them for you.

Mary
  ¶ 7:17 AM

  Let Us Worship and Bow Down .

Psalm 95:3-7

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it; for his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our
Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Back from Lake Junaluska less than 12 hours ago! I can’t begin to explain and share, yet alone process and understand everything that happened in the last 4 days! That will come as the days ahead unfold. But one amazing thing did happen when I got home and logged on to my computer last night. I subscribe to a “scripture a day” e-mail service, and last night I checked each scripture—every single one mentioned God’s mountains! That was certainly in keeping with the theme of the week! God-incidences abounded and by Monday night, there was a physical, tangible, very real presence that descended upon that camp and every person there! But more later!

This scripture is so fitting, whether you’ve been at a Youth in Missions camp, whether you’ve driven through the mountains of western Virginia and North Carolina, hiked the Appalachian trail, or sat at the edge of the sea and closed your eyes and listened with a certain assurance that the next wave was coming to crash against the sand, and that if you sat in that one place long enough, the tide would come in and meet the sandy shoreline. The words of this scripture that summarize my week are: let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord.”

That’s what the entire week was about. Every session, every family group, every mission activity. Worship God. The meaning and purpose of our lives. The only one we need. The only thing we should seek after in this life is more ways to worship God through our actions, words, and thoughts.

I’m so sleep deprived. I’m so physically tired. (I told the kids (many times!) I’m really too old for this!) But really, I felt reborn again! I felt vital and full of energy and found myself jumping up and down to “stomp Satan” and singing with abandon and clapping my hands until they were numb. And I deepened friendships with the other adults, and spent some quiet, relaxed time with some of our youth—in the wee hours of the morning there’s an intimacy that isn’t generally felt in the bright light of the day. I know . . . I’m rambling. But just wait until I’m rested and had time to decompress and pray and think about everything that happened and every revelation from the Holy Spirit and every message from God.

God not only dwells in the mountains of North Carolina, but in our hearts, within each one of us. It’s easier to believe that during the “mountaintop” experiences like the week at LJ. But when we’re in a valley—in a hard spot or a painful situation—we need to draw on those to sustain us. I bow down to praise my God who is wonderful beyond description or imagining.

I hope you spend your day feeling God’s presence, and bowing down to worship him through your words and your actions.

Mary



  ¶ 9:56 AM

  One Lawgiver and Judge James 4

1. What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? 2. You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4. Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5. Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us"? 6. But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. 9. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. 10. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. 11. Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12. There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor? 13. Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain"; 14. whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that." 16. As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17. Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

This is the entire Chapter 4 of James! He doesn’t waste words, does he? He is economical in quantity, but the words he chooses pack a lot of punch! He really leaves no question as to what is expected of us! He makes it clear that God wants all of us—our hearts, our minds, our bodies and our souls. And He doesn’t like to share! He will not allow one part of our being to be devoted to anyone or anything on this earth, in this life. Only Him.

And why not! He made us. No one in this world owns us. So we should not submit to anyone. We shouldn’t sign over our souls to sin by judging others, by speaking falsely about them, by thinking too highly of ourselves, by setting our own course apart from God and His example through Jesus Christ.

He doesn’t want our arrogance and sense of self-importance to keep us from remembering who is in charge! We act like spoiled children, and expect God to respond. We throw a temper tantrum, and assume He will relent. We run off into the world and set our own course, and then we can’t understand why things don’t work out! We look at others and see their “success” by this world’s standards and jealously long after what they have.

We must consciously and deliberately banish all evil and sin from our lives if we expect eternal life in heaven. By turning off offensive t.v. shows, by not speaking or thinking inappropriately, by not desiring what is wrong or sinful, by being satisfied and content with the blessings beyond imagining which God has bestowed upon us—it doesn’t get much better than eternal life!

There is one lawgiver and judge. And he’s the one I worry about offending. He’s the one whose opinion matters to me. His is the only Word I want to hear, every day of my life.

I hope you spend your day seeking the counsel of God, choosing His friendship and love over that of this world. Because God doesn’t like to share!

Mary
  ¶ 1:04 PM

  All the Fullness of God

Colossians 1:15-20

15. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16. for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him. 17. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. 19. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, 20. and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

My bible notes indicate these verses may have been an early Christian hymn. They are rather lyrical and I can see how that may have been the case. Paul sets out to establish through these verses Christ’s supremacy on two fronts: first, His supremacy in creation, and second, His supremacy in redemption. Christ is called the “image of the invisible God” meaning He is the exact representation of God. I think He sent Christ in the form of a man, because that is what we could understand – we’re not too quick (just like the apostles) with “esoteric, symbolic” explanations of things! We needed something “concrete” that we could see and touch.

Paul stresses Christ’ pre-eminence numerous times in these few verses! He wants to be sure we recognize, understand, accept and infuse into our hearts and minds that Christ is Supreme. He is above all rulers of this world. His law – perfect and pure – supercedes all human law. His Word – holy and true – is the only word we need to hear and understand. When Adam and Eve defied God and disobeyed his only command; they not only created a rift between God and mankind; but the whole world – all of creation – suffered and was out of synch with God’s will. That is until Jesus Christ.

He is God, yet separate. He is man, yet divinely superior. He is first-born of all creation – and is entitled to all the privileges and rights of an heir and successor. He was with God at creation and will be with Him in heaven at the end of time—and dwells there now with Him. And yet he humbled himself. He made himself like us. And He offered himself up for us. And the world has never been the same! All things are now reconciled to Him. He made peace with God on our behalf with his body and his blood. And “all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell” in him.

We keep on trying to throw this world out of synch. We have our own great ideas about how things should be. We insist on changing the course of history and thus, God’s plan and His timing and His will. But we never quite get it right! And we never will until we let Him be in charge. Through Christ all things are held together. Until we adopt a lifestyle modeled for us by Him, and adapt our way of thinking to that of His thoughts, we will never “get it right.”

So if “life is good” it’s because we are living as God desires—according to His will, His plan, His timing. And if life’s not so good, it doesn’t mean we’re bad or terrible sinners. It just means that God is refining us and preparing us for heaven. And it’s worth the wait, and the preparation, and the work. It’s worth everything!

I hope your spend your day dwelling with Christ – all the fullness of God – and rejoicing that we are being prepared for heaven.

Mary


  ¶ 6:32 AM

  Freedom from Human Regulation


Colossians 2:6-10

6. As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, 7. rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8. See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, 10. and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

The Gnostics were actively preaching a false doctrine to the Colossians and others during this time. They believed and taught that for salvation, one must not only have faith in Christ, but must have acquired a secret knowledge and abide by man-made regulations, including circumcision, eating and drinking, and observance of religious festivals. Really, these false teachings are not so different than what we are told today.

Ever seen that car commercial that ends with “It’s not more than you deserve, it’s just more than you’re used to.”? That’s a real zinger! And I can relate to that—I just bought my first brand new car in over 20 years! We’ve had some newer (2 years old or so) vehicles, but have not had a brand new one since the kids were born! And I really LOVE my car. It’s not top of the line, and doesn’t have EVERY bell and whistle, but it has more than I had hoped for, and certainly more than I planned to have—because the price was right and the financing was arranged so that it worked within my pre-determined budget. And I have found myself from time to time reassuring myself I deserve it—I’ve worked hard my whole life! Never took anything from anyone; never expected to receive anything more than I earned myself. So I understand the mentality behind that commercial. And I understand the appeal of that contention to the viewers.

But do I covet that car? Would my world end if it were totaled? Would I be able to live without it? Well, for a split second I would grieve—okay for longer than that! But that’s not the point! Most of the time we don’t even stop to think about deservedness! We are a society weaned on entitlement and privilege. Wealth is the measure of a man (and woman). Power is the weapon of the entitled.

But woe to us! The Gnostics may not be around any more, but there are sure a lot of false prophets and teachers of false truths in our world! I have a real problem accepting that the latest wedding plans of Brittney Spears are the lead story on the evening news. I am quite concerned that our President wants access to the membership rolls of churches. I am mortified that the entire continent of Africa is dying of AIDS or on any given day in America over 5,000 people are homeless and we don’t hear about that on Sixty Minutes or Weekend Edition, or Fox News.

I’m distressed and discouraged that the media is for the most part controlled by the wealthy and the powerful. And that those of us who know another truth are left to our own resources! But that is the way of God’s people throughout history. The prophets of old must have been perceived as fools by many of their contemporaries. Jesus himself was shunned and scorned. So where does that leave us?

“See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, 10. and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Go to church. Read the bible. Surround yourself with godly friends. Seek to live a holy and righteous life. I’m not advancing or endorsing a political agenda – Democrat, Republican, whatever—there’s plenty of good and bad to go around! That’s not what matters. What matter is that we listen to everything we hear and we reflect on everything we see and ask ourselves what it means from a heavenly perspective.

My prayer today is that you join me the whole fullness of God, made real to us in Christ Jesus, and who is the head of all rule and authority.

Mary
  ¶ 6:44 AM

  Saints Equipped for the Work of Ministry
.
Ephesians 4:1-13

1. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2. with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3. eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." 9. (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10. He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11. And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12. to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13. until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;

I’m preparing these ahead of time, as when Jim publishes these next few posts, I’ll be in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina with 24 junior and senior high schoolers (and 5 college-age young adults, and 5 other adult chaperones)! This will be my third year going on this trip, and I am quite excited and full of anticipation! The week of July 4 every year is the “Youth in Mission” week at LJ. The “camp” provides and idyllic setting – mountains, a beautiful lake, gardens, nature trails, and my personal favorite: no televisions! (Although, for the 3rd year in a row, we’ll be in nice little “apartments.”) And the youth perform a mission activity every year – painting a house and garage for an elderly woman in the community (in 100 degree weather) or gleaning sweet potatoes in the pouring rain. And there is worship—lots and lots of worship and praise! Music, prayer, small group sessions.

And every year I come back wishing I could just live there all the time! Because it is so beautiful, and free from all the distractions of daily life “in the real world.” And we learn every year about the “grace given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” We feel God’s love and reflect long and hard on the sacrifice of Jesus. And we talk about and try to discern how we can be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, or whatever God has planned for us. It’s pretty amazing to experience this process with hundreds of teenagers. If you have any doubt about or concern for the future of this world, spend a week at LJ!

The guest speaker is always some phenomenal human being, doing unimaginable things to advance God’s kingdom! One lives in abject poverty among some of the poorest neighborhoods in a major city so he can better minister to his neighbors. He gave up the prospect of a promising career with the potential to make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year (he’s 30 years old!). One lives in South Africa with his wife and 2 children—on a continent where the entire population is at very real risk of dying of AIDS or are victims of “racial cleansing” and live in inhuman conditions He talked about how he overcame addiction—and struggles still – but for God’s grace. And yet he is able to serve so faithfully and with such love.

For one week, in the mountains of North Caroline, we experience what it means to “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2. with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3. eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” My challenge has been to keep that experience new and fresh and alive as I go out into the “real world” each day.

My prayer today is that you will walk in lowliness and meekness with patience, forbearing your fellow humans in love.

Mary
  ¶ 8:23 AM

  Happy 4th of July! .
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

  ¶ 5:24 AM

  An Impudent and Stubborn People .
Ezekiel 2

1. And he said to me, "Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you." 2. And when he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. 3. And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4. The people also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them, `Thus says the Lord God.' 5. And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them. 6. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit upon scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear; for they are a rebellious house. 8. "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you; be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth, and eat what I give you." 9. And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and, lo, a written scroll was in it; 10. and he spread it before me; and it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

Webster’s Dictionary defines impudent as “shamelessly bold or disrespectful.” Not to be impudent myself, but this scripture seems to confirm that God is pretty irritated, even angry and frustrated, maybe he even borders on a temper tantrum! The Israelites have not gotten the message, even after all that has happened – and God warned them through various prophets and through various signs to confirm the prophetic declarations of the few faithful and obedient servants left among the people over hundreds and hundreds of years!

Jim and I had a brief conversation this morning about why in the world God chose the “chosen people.” After reading through Jeremiah, Lamentations, then into Ezekiel, it does make you want to shake your head in wonder. What was God thinking!?

What were the foolish, blind, impudent and stubborn “chosen people” thinking? God destroyed everything—absolutely everything—they had known, trusted in, every building, every temple, every tradition, their way of life, their freedom. And they just didn’t get it! They refused God! But I have to ask myself, “Am I impudent sometimes?” Are you? Do we know in our hearts what God desires of us—in large ways and in small—and disobey? Do we know what is expected of us, and what is right, and how we should live, and act, and throw that all out the window when our pride, our way of life, our source of income, or our personal freedom are at risk?

Are we so different? Don’t we worship idols? Don’t we choose the easy way out? Don’t we run away from God? So maybe God chose the stubborn, impudent, chosen people to demonstrate to us that no matter how much we sin, no matter how much we have done what is wrong, even detestable, God will continue to love us. There is no place we can go that He won’t be waiting for us to run to Him. There is nothing—absolutely nothing—we can even imagine doing that will make God stop loving us. But along the way we will suffer. Until we get it, He’s going to leave us on that last frayed fiber of the rope that keeps us from falling into eternal damnation! Don’t mean to be so dramatic, but let’s get real! That’s just the way it is.

We can craft idols, we can conform to the ways of this world, we can sin and rebel – but when we see the truth—God rejoices! That’s not to say we can cavort in reckless abandon through life! I don’t recommend it, though I think most of us experienced a few years like that in our youth! But when we grow to be mature in our faith, we don’t even want that way of life anymore. We desire a life grounded in Christ, full of comfort and peace. We are joyful, even when unhappy, because we know that God has seen us through every bump and bruise and every foolish decision, and each attempt to rely upon our own wisdom. I envision Him shaking His head, taking a deep breath, and stretching out His arms to us. I like living with that kind of assurance. And I choose to be one of His chosen people.

I hope today you choose to one too!

Mary
  ¶ 8:01 AM

  1 Kings 6:13
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

On the internet yesterday, I found this interesting information:
This is what Americans believe, according to Gallup:
• 90 percent believe in God.
• 70 percent believe in the devil, up from 65 percent in 1994.
• 81 percent believe there is a heaven, up from 72 percent in 1997.
• 70 percent believe there is a hell, up from 56 percent in 1997.
90 percent of us believe in God. Woe to the other 10%! But even more interesting, I think is that 70% believe there is a hell—up from 56% in 1997. More people believe in hell today than in 1997!? Only 81% believe there is a heaven—up from 72% in 1997.

What has happened since 1997? Could most of this increase be attributed to what happened on September 11? I think it might. But what did happen? For a few hours in time we stood speechless, in disbelief and shock. Then, as the reality sank in, we began to cry and grieve. As the days passed, we really grieved, with body-shaking sobs. And we got angry and frightened.

I imagine on that day, the percentage of people who believed in God decreased dramatically! Why God? How could you let this happen to us? We found some answers, but they seem to have been short-lived. For a few months the country worshipped God openly and shamelessly through the media. For a few months it was “popular” to be patriotic again. For a few months, we were all one nation—under God.

But by 2004 life has returned to “normal.” My family and I went to Ground Zero a few weeks ago during a trip to New York City. It was just a “big hole in the ground.” Construction has begun so most of what was there is obstructed from view. But you can see the remnants on a couple of the buildings – the face of one that still shows the scars. And we talked with a homeless man who told us a chilling tale about those who planned the plane crashes—he watched them for months sit in the park and plan and think and calculate and watch . . . We believed him, in spite of ourselves.

What does all this mean? What does it have to do with anything? To me, it means that life is unpredictable. It may be short, or last a century for each of us. We don’t know, we can’t. When tragedy happens, man turns to God. When the world is not “comfortable,” we ask God why? When things don’t go our way, we lift our eyes to heaven and cry out, “woe is me.” I’m included in that 80% of fellow Americans who believe in heaven. That’s the only way I get out of bed some mornings.

That’s how I manage to make it through the day and through life. I know without doubt what awaits me. And that makes me want to be a better person, a better American, a better citizen of this world. It makes me want to thank God, and to try to never question His plan. He didn’t crash a plane into the Twin Towers. But I believe He used the aftermath of that event. We turned to God, because we had no place else to turn. And we don’t. It’s the only way. Trust and Obey. Live and Breath. Thanks and Praise.

I hope you spend your day living for heaven and breathing for eternal life with God.

Mary
  ¶ 6:34 AM