Worship for the Weekday
He is Worthy
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Isaiah 45:5-7
I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.
Revelation 4:9-11 NASB
And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, " Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."
When we finally come face to face with God I’m pretty sure we won’t be able to look Him in the eye. One reason will be that we are so ashamed of ourselves. I don’t mean in a self-loathing, self-pitying way, rather as a result of our discovery of who and what God really is! The glory and grandeur will be so breathtakingly unbelievable that we will prostrate ourselves before him—in gratitude, in awe, in abject humility and reverence.
I’ve wondered what it would be like to stand before the throne of God. Many have wondered. One of my favorite songs is “Imagine.” The writer says he can only imagine what his heart will see. He wonders if he will fall to his knees in the presence of Christ. It’s a beautiful song and expresses, I think the wondering of all our hearts—our deepest, most ardent desire.
I imagine that upon arrival in heaven, our minds and hearts and souls will be transformed to those of Christ himself. We will understand all things and our understanding will surpass the limits of our current humanity. I’m rambling a bit this morning. I think what I’ve gleaned from these two passages is that God has already revealed himself to man. What I wonder is that how we can turn away, how we can forget His majesty, how we can NOT strive tirelessly and relentlessly to join Him at the end of time.
It’s all a puzzle to me! I spent a glorious 36 hours at the ocean last week. Much of my time I sat on the sand and gazed out at the ocean. I had no “burning bush” revelations or discoveries! I did though reconnect with the eternal source of life. I sloughed off the world of man and opened myself up to sea and sand, sun and air. I was revived and refreshed in my soul.
The tide comes in and goes out. Every day. Ever single day. No matter what. God planned it that way. He is that constancy. He is that assurance. He is the creator and master of it all. I felt very close to God as I sat in the sand and breathed in the salt air, watched the white caps, heard the crash of the waves on the beach. I felt at the same time very small and very significant. I am one of the living creatures God created! He planned me before he even called the ocean into being. He covets me. He longs for me.
My prayer today is that you take some time to experience God in nature. He will meet you there if you open your mind and your heart to his glory.
Mary
Labels: Christ, darkness, glory, God, heaven, honor, Jesus, light, nature
Emmanuel – God With Us
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"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
I lean often on the words from John. I rely heavily on their reassurance. We know and trust the validity of the words because of the resurrection. At the time Isaiah made his declaration the people still had thousands of years to wait for the Messiah! Yet, there is hope even his words. He found his strength in one promise – yet to be fulfilled. We find ours in the ultimate fulfillment.
There are many, many names for God. In scripture, in the Old Testament especially, we find a name assigned to Him for just about every occasion. God, my ______. You can fill in the blank. This morning, I worship God, my provision. After a wonderful Christmas holiday, I have much about to joyful.
God can also be God, my support or God, my strength. God, my victory and on and on. Regardless of the situational assignment of a name, he is ever Emmanuel – God with us. That means that no matter where we find ourselves in our faith journey, no matter what situation we are in the midst of , no matter how turned around and confused and alone we may feel – we need not fear. God is with us.
My prayer today is that your call out “Emmanuel” as you go through your day. He will provide whatever you need to make it through your day. And He will be with you when you rejoice in the promise won for us on the Cross.
Mary
Labels: Counselor, Emmanuel, Father, God, Prince of Peace, Wonderful
Augustus Decreed A Census by Jon Walker
I can 't think of a better commentary on the "Christmas spirit" that we should carry with us all year long. This is a devotional by Jon Walker that he shared on 12/13/07. (Reprinted by permission)
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. … All returned to their own towns to register for this census. (Luke 2:1, 3 NLT)
Can you believe it's almost Christmas? Praise God for the gift of his Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who was born as a baby in Bethlehem!
As we read about the birth of Christ, can you see how God used circumstances to guide his Holy plan and how he uses circumstances to speak to us even now?
Jesus was born in Bethlehem because God decreed it so. His birth in Bethlehem was foretold by the ancient prophets. But what would compel Joseph and Mary to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, especially late in a pregnancy?
How would they – just as human as you and I, and still looking through the glass darkly – know they were to go to Bethlehem for Jesus to be born?
In Luke 2, we see God used a bureaucratic announcement made by a secular authority to guide Joseph and Mary. Augustus said the population should be counted, and that meant everyone was required to return to the “ancestral home.” Joseph was a descendant of King David, so he headed toward David’s ancient home – Bethlehem. (Luke 2:4-5)
What does this mean?
· God knows you – You were born at the right place and at the right time. God was not surprised by your birth, the circumstances of your birth, or where you were born. He spoke you into your mother’s womb, and he knows you by name.
· You’re free to see – Knowing that God is working through your circumstances, you are free to take your eyes off the circumstances and to look around and look above. Peter took his eyes off the circumstances and walked across the water toward Jesus; only when he looked back at his circumstances did he begin to sink!
· You can be active; not passive in circumstances – Instead of saying, “Why me, God?”, you can ask, “What’s up, God?” God is working all things out. Look for where he is at work.
· Christmas question – How would you view the circumstances of this Christmas season differently if you were certain God was working in your circumstances? “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved.
Labels: Christmas, circumstances, God, hope, plans
Fearless!
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Romans 8:38-3938.
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Philippians 4:6-76.
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Well . . . do I really need to add anything to these two hopeful and uplifting passages? No matter what is going on in our lives, we have the assurance that God is in it; He is with us and walks through every moment with us. That’s not always easy to remember when we are in pain, experiencing a difficult time in our lives, or have lost a loved one. To my mind, those are the times we need the reassurance of these verses the most.
I read the Philippians to mean that once we have prayed and presented our supplications to God, we need to let it go. Once we give it our Heavenly Father, we can be assured that everything will happen as he has planned out of his wisdom and grace. In a time of tragedy, mourning, struggle or fear we may not feel very close to God. Those are the times we actually need to seek Him out. That’s when we need to read and pray upon the Romans verses.
Because of Christ, we have assurance that God has our present and our future in his hands. There is nothing we can do, nothing we can experience that is stronger than God’s love. Think about that for a minute! Beyond our own daily lives and our personal future lives, He holds the world! No war or revolt, no acts of genocide, no words of hatred, no earthquake, volcano, tsunami, drought or flood is beyond the depth and breadth, the height or the power of God!
More, in spite of our own sins and the sins of the world, God values us tremendously. He jealously oversees our actions and knows our thoughts. He loves us anyway—individually as his precious ones, and as a people. We are all His Own, his beloved. Nothing will ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Cross won for us eternity in heaven. That’s why we are not to be anxious, to fret, to be afraid. No traffic light color of alert level will change our future. We’re going to heaven!
I think it helps to step back and reframe our own little lives, and all the things going on in the world from that perspective. Since we are going to heaven, all we need to really be concerned about is taking as many with us as we can, and being the best person we can possibly be. It’s a cliché, I know. But it is true, and it is the answer to how to have the best life possible—a grace-filled life of abundance and blessings. Death is not the final word. Nor is warfare, natural disasters, hatred, military power or living in fear.
Because of Christ we are fearless! We are not afraid, and so we are free to share the Good News and to live abundantly and fully into the promise sealed for us 2000 years ago on Calvary.
Rejoice! We have nothing to fear! We are God’s beloved and His precious creations. He waits for us!
My prayer today is that you fearlessly go out into the world intending to be Christ to the world. And that you live the rest of your life with reckless abandon!
Mary
Labels: Christ, death, fear, God, war
Seek the Cross
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Matthew 24:10-13 NIV
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Is it just me, or could this have been written last week? I imagine that anyone reading these words could apply them to their own current times. Mankind doesn’t ever really change! Two thousand years after Christ we have Christians preaching the “prosperity gospel” and wars all over the world and corruption, deceit, hatred and greed. We just don’t learn, do we?
There’s nothing wrong with working to be as prosperous as possible as long as the intention is to give that prosperity back to God and his world. I so admire Rick Warren, the author of “The Purpose Driven Life.” He started what is now Saddleback Church with his wife in their living room. It’s now a multi-million dollar a year operation. But they haven’t lost sight of their purpose.
He’s personally acquired tremendous wealth from his books. As he acquired more wealth, he began paying back to the church the salary they have paid him over the years. At this point, he and his family are now tithing 90% of their income and living on 10%. That’s a stark contrast to flying around in multi-million dollar private jets, living in a mansion and owning several very expensive cars.
Again, I’m trying not to judge these folks, but it makes me want to examine them and their lifestyles in a little more depth. Speaking of trying not to judge . . . the latest poll reported on the news last night indicates that 65% of the country disapproves of the President and his performance. I probably don’t have to tell anyone which side of that poll I fall into. My hope is that if that if that many people are not satisfied with the current administration, they will get out and vote in the next election—for anybody—just vote!
The Middle East is a hotbed as I’m typing. I’m convinced that ardent prayer is the only explanation as to why we haven’t experienced a nuclear war! Spoiled celebrities make the “news” headlines and the continent of Africa is still plagued with genocide, HIV/AIDS, famine and abject poverty.
I don’t mean to be sounding off a doom and gloom message! I’m really just ticking off the things that ran through my mind as I read this passage. The media outlets are “loving” all the turmoil and anxiety, fear and violence in the world. It makes good copy. And we buy into the hype. Even faithful Christians can get caught up in it all.
Our only hope is the Cross! We need to surround ourselves with Christians and participate in a faith community in order to stay focused on what really matters. We are not powerless. We have the might and strength of our God within us and around us who longs for us to be one who makes a difference by how we live our lives, in simple ways—large and small.
My prayer today is that you turn to the Word of God to find truth and understanding. And that you seek the Cross before all else.
Mary
Labels: Africa, Christ, Christian, Cross, famine, genocide, God, HIV/AIDS, war
C’mon, God!
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2 Corinthians 4:6-11 6. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. 8. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9. persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10. always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
I think these verses are referring to the old adage, “God never gives us more than we can bear.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve doubted his wisdom in that regard more than once! I think sometimes his confidence in me is misplaced and mistaken! I do believe God is both wise beyond my comprehending and merciful beyond measure, but I admit I pause every so often, raise my eyes to the heavens and protest “C’mon God. Enough, already!”
I readily admit this because a friend of my agreed with my response a few days ago. She and I have had some similar challenges in our lives recently and so have shared some of the same battles of spiritual warfare. The very fact that she and I have someone else with whom we can share our sense of being overwhelmed and feeling ill-equipped for our current circumstances is reason to be hopeful and even comforted. We are part of a faith community together. We have a built-in support system because we belong to the same church.
So I wonder how does one deal with disappointment, discouragement, even anger and grief if they have no one with whom they can express their feelings. I recently was overcome with regret and disappointment regarding a particular situation. It overtook every aspect of my life. My best friend shared with me that she was concerned about the source of my uncharacteristic responses to situations and events. What was the root? What was causing me to view the world so harshly? Why was I so unsettled? Why did I feel so put upon and disgruntled?
The truth was, I felt as if God had let me down. I felt I had done my part to bring about a positive conclusion, but ultimately I doubted if I had done enough; doubted whether my efforts had been enough. Notice a pattern here? My efforts, my doing, my, my, me, me. It’s so easy to get to that point when we have a bad day, piled on top of an issue or situation we’re struggling with. Then something else comes along that throws a monkey-wrench in the whole works. It doesn’t matter the situation. We’ve all experienced those situations where we have invested time and energy, in some cases sweat and tears, only to have someone say, “Oh, I can make that right.”
What? Where was this person all along? Why wasn’t this option presented earlier? Why? Why? “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.” Get over it! God’s plans are not always evident! Look at the life of Job? He lost everything—absolutely everything. God restored his life, gave him a new family, wealth and land and abundance that far exceeded his original life. No, he never stopped remembering his past life. Job would always miss the family he lost. That didn’t stop him from celebrating his current blessings.
I think that is the lesson. We can look back with regret, sadness, even anger. But when we do that we miss the blessings of today. Worse, we lose hope for the future. God assures us that He has a plan for us. He will take every pain, disappointment, regret, sin and event and make them into something good, powerful, reason for rejoicing. We can rejoice not because we forget, but because we remember and then realize God was in it all! And He is in our future.
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9. persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10. always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
My prayer today is that you turn over all your regrets and disappointments to the God who restores us. And that you look to the future – where Christ won for you a place in heaven.
Mary
Labels: Christ, despair, future, God, grief, heaven, Jesus, regret
Holy and Beloved
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Colossians 1:9-109. For this reason also, since the day we heard [of it], we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10. so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him] in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 3:12-1312. And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13. bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Have you ever taken a job or agreed to lead a committee or organize a function only to realize you were in way over your head? Paul apparently never felt that way when he was bringing others to Christ! In his letter to the Colossians, he takes great care spelling out what kind of lives believers should be living. He doesn’t claim to live like this absolutely, but he certainly tried harder than most at that time or since. He was so grateful for his conversion, he dedicated literally every moment of his life and every ounce of energy working to encourage others to accept God’s amazing grace, manifested in Jesus.
Paul prays for the Colossians to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit n every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” This is what God expects of us as well. That’s a pretty tall order in my book! Paul is painstakingly clear on what qualities one acquires and demonstrates when one is living a life worthy of the Lord. To my mind, rather than get better, the detailed explanation of those qualities make it even harder!
I don’t have a problem ticking off each of the qualities listed in the second scripture passage. I do try to be compassionate, kind, humble gentle and patient. Of course, once I leave the house in the morning I often have trouble remembering this list! In all honesty, once I get out bed, I forget it all too often! But notice Paul uses a particular tense; he doesn’t want us to be compassionate, he wants us to be compassion. He doesn’t tell us that we are to be kind and humble, but rather we will be kindness and humility. When people look at us and how we live our lives, Paul prays they will see these qualities manifested in us.
Being a Christian is hard. God expects us to exude forgiveness, patience, gentleness, humility, kindness and compassion, just as Christ surely did. Exude means to project or display conspicuously or abundantly; radiate. Do you radiate these qualities? Have you abundantly manifested these characteristics in your life? Is your heart so full of gratitude and reverence that the world can easily identify you as “different”?
But there’s more! Not only are we to possess these qualities and to live them out each and every day, we are also required to bear fruit and increase in the knowledge of God! Now that’s really pushing the envelope, don’t you think? I guess if we spent all of our time and energy and resources toward accomplishing this kind of life and lifestyle, we wouldn’t have time for anything else! Well . . . God is a jealous God. He doesn’t want anything else in our lives! He wants us to work to bring about His kingdom on earth. And even tells us how. We just need to figure out how to be a little less human and a little more divine. No small feat.
This truth is why it’s so important to belong to a small group or a community of believers. We all need support, encouragement, direction and correction. Who better to walk with us than another believer striving to bear fruit and increase in the knowledge of God? Who are your friends? Who do you socialize with? Who do you work with? That’s where we start to do God’s work, both by influence and direct action. We attempt to live a worthy life so that others will see how they can gain access to the kingdom. By exhibiting all the qualities we’ve discussed, we leave the door open from someone to ask us, what is the source of our strength and joy? How do we do it? How can we in light of everything bad in the world?
Our answer? We are each chosen by God, holy and beloved, made in his image. He loves us so much he sent Jesus to die on the Cross. That’s we need to say. That opens the door. The Holy Spirit will determine whether or not your questioner enters.
My prayer today is that you remember you are holy and beloved. And that you are conspicuously kind, gentle, humble, patient and compassionate with yourself and everyone you meet.
Mary
Labels: Christ, compassion, gentleness, God, Holy Spirit, humility, Jesus, kindness, patience
Come Thirsty
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John 4:25-30-39-42
25. The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." 26. Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." 27. Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" 28. So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, 29. "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" 30. They went out of the city and were coming to him. 39. Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." 40. So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41. And many more believed because of his word. 42. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
Immediately preceding these verses is the story of the Woman at the Well. She is one of the New Testament figures to whom I most relate. Not that I have had “many husbands” as we learn she has. I relate to her because of her thirst. She represents, for me, that part of each of us that longs for something more than what this world can offer us. She needed hope. She needed to be looked upon as a person of value. She needed Christ! She is each of us.
The story tells us that it was noon or mid-afternoon when the woman went to the well in the center of town for water. Most often women or older children went to the well early in the morning before it was too hot, and in order to have water for cooking and cleaning for the day. This woman was either shunned by the other women or was ashamed and wanted to avoid the sneers and sarcastic asides of the other women and so avoided them.
Of course we know that it was no coincidence that Jesus chose to rest at that particular well. It wasn’t uncommon for the disciples to play a “caretaking” role on Christ’s behalf. They wanted to serve him and do whatever they could to protect and sustain him, so they went to town to buy food while he rested at that well. The woman was so overcome with excitement and astonishment, she forgot why she had even come to that well – or no longer cared. Though she was an outcast, she spoke to everyone she met. She didn’t care what the others said or thought—she couldn’t keep this to herself! It had to be shared!
The surprising thing is that the others believed her. Even though she was a woman; even though she was an outcast; even though she had no right to look them in the eye, they believed her! I imagine they thought she must be speaking the truth since she was defying all convention and disregarding her low status to address them. I’m sure they noticed the change in her face and in her eyes, as well. The sullen, gray complexion and dull, dark eyes were surely to a smooth, warm skin tone and dancing, sparkling eyes! She must have truly met the Messiah! Nothing else could explain the profound transformation.
What about us? We’ve drunk deeply from that well. Do we glow? Do our eyes dance and sparkle when we share the Good News? Are we truly new creatures in Christ? All too often we keep silent so as not to offend or annoy others. Political correctness seems to be the order of the day in the U.S. Be careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings by sharing your religious beliefs. We don’t want to take the chance that someone will think we’re a “Jesus freak” or wacky, or out of touch with “reality.” The message Christ delivered is for everyone. If we truly live a Christ-like life, we couldn’t possibly offend anyone. Nothing we say about Jesus and His message is counter to acceptance, peace, cooperation, understanding or compassion. Jesus stands for hope! Jesus is the incarnation of God’s grace.
I believe that any God big enough to send his son/himself to earth to deliver a message so profound and so radical is big enough to love and accept all faiths based on the principles Christ represents. Some faith systems are much older than Christianity. I think Christ is for those of us who need him. Don’t forget, Christ is God! I don’t think it can be wrong for those of other faiths to worship God based on their history, ethnicity and heritage. We all have the same goal: heaven. Call me a heretic, but I think God can be manifested in many different ways. We all hunger and thirst for Him. I have found Him in the person of Christ. That well is never empty. No matter how thirsty I am, my thirst is quenched each time I read His word and live out His teachings to the best of my ability.
My prayer today is that you come thirsty to the well of living water. And that you offer a cool drink to everyone you meet.
Mary
Labels: belief, Christ, faith, God, Messiah woman
Come Forth and Come Here!
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Zechariah 13:9
...I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, "They are My people," and they will say, "The Lord is our God." -
If you aren’t familiar with the process of refining metals, this verse may not provide as much comfort and hope for you as it is intended to do. An unknown author told a story about a woman who was interested in learning how the refining process worked.
“She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured. As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....”
Sometimes in our lives we may feel as if we are in that furnace of trouble, shame, fear, doubt, loneliness, grief or pain. During those times, it helps to remember that though we an the super-heated refiner’s fire, God has his gaze steadily fixed on that furnace. Dross is the waste that is burned off during the refining process. As the metal is heated the dross rises to the top and has to be removed by the metallurgist. God works the same way in our lives. He removes all the dross from our lives until we are a reflection of His Son.
Dan 3:12, 19-26
12. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 19. Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20. And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21. Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were cast into the burning fiery furnace. 22. Because the king's order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." 25. He answered, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." 26. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
That fourth image in the furnace was Christ. And He is in our furnace with us. Even though it doesn’t feel like it, He is with us as the dross is burned off and scooped out and thrown away. And when He sees His own reflection transposed over ours, He calls to us to come forth and come here.
My prayer today is that you find peace in the truth that no matter what you are experiencing in your life, Jesus is walking through the fire with you. And that you wait with great anticipation for Him to call you to come forth and come her.
Mary
Labels: God, gold, Jesus, refiner's fire, silver
Behold! He is Coming Soon!
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Revelation 22:12-14
Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.
Colossians 3:1,2 MSG
So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides.
Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is.
See things from his perspective.
I recently happened upon an earlier post where I discussed the word “behold.” Basically it means, “Hey, pay attention! I’m about to say something very important!” And if you read the sentence immediately following it in the passage from Revelation, you’ll see that John was sharing some wonderful news! As a matter of fact, this passage was part of a sermon I delivered at a nursing home recently as part of my Lay Speaking Ministry. The topic of the sermon was hope and being a blessing to others.
For some reason I find tremendous comfort and even get a little excited when I read the first line of the Revelation passage, “Behold, I am coming soon.” That declaration brings me immediately to the Colossians passage where we’re instructed, “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is.”
So, we are to wake up, look up, get ready, be prepared and see things from the perspective of the Risen Christ. That’s a much different perspective than the one we’ll be hearing on the evening news! It’s not the frame of reference from which we generally see the world. But we have good news! We have hope! We have a promise! And it’s a promise from God – the Alpha and the Omega – the God of Genesis, who was already in existence when he decided to make Earth and the universe and us.
His power is above all others. His promises never fail – have you read the story of Exodus? Have you read the Old Testament? After 2,000 years of defying and disobeying God, He still sent us a Savior! Behold! We must be ready when Christ comes again so we must pursue the things over which Christ presides. He doesn’t preside over war, murder, hate, anger or fear. He is the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of God, Deliverer, Bread of Life and Chief Cornerstone. Run that in tomorrow’s news cycle!
Behold! He is coming soon!
My prayer today is that you will see things from Christ’s perspective. And that you will be ready when He comes—for behold! Today could be the day!
Mary
Labels: Christ, Colossians, God, Revelation, second coming
Multi-vitamins and Green Pastures
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Psalms 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I guess I could have called to mind about 10 or so scripture verses that would apply to my situation this morning. What possessed me to forego my morning routine of meeting with God before I began my day for all those months? I am so out of that habit that when I logged on this morning my first impulse was to check my email. I stopped myself though, because at a minimum posting today is a matter of pride. At its core, it is the renewal of my part of a covenant with God.
I have been tired. I don’t mean sleep deprived, though that is true! I’ve been tired of breathing, walking, even thinking. Not in a suicidal or even a depressed way at all. I’ve just been worn out in my soul. I know it’s because I haven’t been turning enough over to God. I’ve been persevering, carrying on; maintaining the status quo. I’ve craved those still waters and green pastures. I have not lost my faith that God will provide for me, care for, sustain and love me. I had just stopped going to the next level: resting in him.
Enough of bewailing everything I haven’t been doing! This morning as I jumped from verse to verse, every single word of scripture sounded so beautiful and seemed so applicable to my life! Every one! I was blown away by how glorious the word of God sounded to me this morning and I realized that’s what I’ve been missing: relishing scripture, being enfolded and embraced and empowered by it. I guess the best way I can describe it is that scripture for my life is like a multi-vitamin for my body. I can get by without the extra nutrients and minerals but after a couple of weeks, I don’t have that little extra that I need to walk the extra ½ mile or clean an extra room or do an extra load of laundry.
I know that sounds pretty mundane. But that’s why my discovery of what I was missing has been so elusive. Slowly, day by day, it becomes easier and easier to not do that little extra because I just don’t have that extra boost! In my case, the boost has been my mornings with God. Trust me, 5 a.m. came very early this morning!
On my way in for a 2nd cup of coffee I realized I’m rambling and really struggling to explain the subtleties of a life grounded in and centered upon Christ. I haven’t done a very good job and I know it’s because I’m out of the habit not only of experiencing it fully, also of sharing the glorious, wonderful, amazing, unspeakable depth of God’s love and the deep well of grace from which he allows us to drink, even when we don’t think we’re thirsty.
Today my prayer is that you will go to him, all who labor and are heavy laden. He will give you rest. And remember that no matter how hard your life is his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Mary
Labels: God, Jesus, rest
The Secret
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Philippians 4:11-13
11. Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. 12. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. 13. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Paul was imprisoned numerous times because of his faith. He really knew what he was talking about when he said he knew how to be abased and to face want. He actually rejoiced each time he was persecuted and hungry! Persecution was the measuring stick Paul used to determine if he was doing all he could to advance the message of Jesus Christ! Less is more never applied so aptly than in this man’s life after he was converted!
I’ve never been imprisoned. Although in my youth, during the Vietnam War, I thought it would be cool to be arrested at an anti-war protest. Actually, I still do think that’s pretty cool, but I like my creature comforts way too much now and have some health concerns . . . yeah, I know . . . Paul’s point was that he was living for the next life! This life was just the trial run. This life was intended to prepare us for heaven. Carrying that logic forward, the more hardship, suffering, etc., one endures as a disciple of Christ the less refining is left to be done. More is better in this context.
One thing God revealed to me throughout the past eight months of our adventures in unemployment, underemployment and losing and finding jobs is that money makes a big difference. I don’t mean money makes a difference in whether you live in a million dollar house or a rented apartment. I don’t mean money makes a difference in whether or not you order prime rib at an expensive restaurant or “dine in” at a fast food restaurant. Having money matters when you look to your future needs. Being able to pay your bills is not a “given.” It is a luxury and a blessing. Knowing your future is secure financially is a gift! Yes these things take planning and work. But they are also by God’s grace.
Fortunately, we never dipped below the poverty line. We had savings we could draw on when needed. Many do not have that cushion built in. What I realized is that being in want is really scary. Being hungry is an uncomfortable feeling if you’re not sure when you’ll have your next meal. Being in want is a constant stressor and strain on your relationships and in your life. We realized some other important things throughout these past months. We didn’t have enough life insurance. The main reason for this is that we had both worked for many years for employers who provided at least a minimum level of life insurance.
Now that we are “older” we need more life insurance, because neither of us wants to work until we die at 90! More than that, we realize that is a responsible thing to do. We are now aware that life insurance is a luxury that many working poor, and even middle class workers, don’t have. It’s expensive. We’ve decided to bite the bullet. Being assured neither of us will lose our house or our lifestyle is a tremendous comfort and relief. I didn’t realize that not having that safety net was a “background stressor.”
We knew that our reduced income was a temporary situation. But my eyes were opened to a whole way of living that I didn’t really comprehend before. If you never expect to have enough, or a little bit more than enough, that’s really tough. That reality shapes every decision you make in your life. That is a difficult way to live and I have deep compassion for the working poor on a level I could never really understand previously. I have been given a vision of what the future would look like if we never did find jobs that afforded us a good income. I have spent time reflecting upon what years of joblessness might look like and how it must feel to be on welfare.
We’re evaluating our lives and our lifestyle in a whole new way now. One way we managed our money differently than we would have several years ago is that we never stopped our tithing to our church. We didn’t reduce our weekly offering to our church even on the weeks we had literally no income. It didn’t even occur to us. We never discussed it. A few weeks ago it hit me that we hadn’t even had a conversation about it. It didn’t make me feel prideful or boastful. It made me realize in a very personal and absolute way that God has been providing for us and we
expected that provision. Somehow He has helped us see that our faith in Him is all we need to survive—and to thrive.
Money is not the root of all evil. Love of money is. Lack of money can be, too. Another lesson we have learned is to be content in whatever state we are in.
My prayer today is that you trust in God and His promises. And that you rejoice, knowing you can do all things in him who strengthens you.
Mary
Labels: faith, God, tithing, trials, trust
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Psalm 139:14
I will give thanks unto thee; For I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
This is a copy of a posting I orginally made at orble.com on March 26. Regular readers will realize I have gone from making a daily posting to once or twice a week . . . to weekly . . . to seldom. I don't know exactly what that's all about. Well . . . I guess in all honesty I've been "busy" with the business of living. I told my husband last night that in spite of revelations over the past several weeks, I have refused to succumb to seeking God first AND last. I made a promise to myself and to God, but have broken it over and over again. I know I have suffered physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually because of my disobedience.
Thankfully, I worship a God of second chances, third chances, forty times forty chances. I'm starting over today. Here's where I am -- again!
A little over a week ago (mid-March) I sat in a doctor’s office with some hard-to-identify illness. There was discussion of white count and IV antibiotics and hospitalization. I was alternately stunned, numb, terrified at the thought that I might not be able to live out my life as I had seen it unfolding for me in the past several months.
The ultimate diagnosis indicated a condition that was serious but not life-threatening. The wake-up call, however, was undeniable In the midst of all the testing and poking and prodding I made a promise to God: regardless of diagnosis or prognosis, my life changes today! I realize now that I could only make that promise, more than a promise – a covenant – because God has been preparing me for this lifestyle change for a long time. I had, in fact, begun the preparation before I ever knew I would care or need to know how to accomplish my goal.
My weight is out of control and has been most of my life. While that was not the cause of the illness for which I am being treated, I know it is a symptom of a greater illness—impacting everything else in my life—an illness of the heart.
I had lost weight before only to gain it back – the yo-yo effect everyone talks about and so many have experienced. I know what to eat, how to eat, how much to eat, when to eat and in which combination foods are to be eaten. I know because I’ve read all the books, researched every new and better plan, done all the dieting, and learned all the scientific evidence behind why every diet “works.”
I’m ignoring it all! I’m not on a diet plan now. I’m just eating properly and exercising. I don’t know how many pounds I’ll lose, though that’s not the point. I know I will feel better, have more energy and stamina and creativity. This time it just feels different.
The difference this time is that I have a reason to be healthy and whole beyond my own selfish desire to look better and feel better: to do the work God designed me to do. It is to live out the plan he has made for me. God has indeed been preparing me in many ways for this turning point. Many of the events in my life have served to shape and mold, refine and redefine who I am at my core. God has been busy within me—in my mind and my heart and especially within my soul. So this time things are different.
The difference this time is that it is not about me and what I want and what I feel I’m depriving myself of by not eating the food I am so addicted to, or my eating because of what I feel so deprived of otherwise in my life. This time it is about God’s desire for me to be the person He sees me as. This time, I want to be the whole, healthy, energetic, dynamic person he sees in his mind’s eye – and I cannot be that person with my current BMI, at my current weight, with my current eating habits, and in my current job.
When we talk about needing to set our mind on something – like losing weight or quitting smoking or giving up another addiction – it’s really missing the point. We need to set our hearts on it. We need to surrender our own will and our own desires to God. The past 50 years have borne out the fact that I am incapable of doing what I need to do to be healthy and whole on my own. It is now clear, in no uncertain terms, that God must be the key ingredient.
Vocabulary changes once God enters into the conversation.
“I’ll go to the gym if I’m not too exhausted after work,” becomes “After I go to the gym I’ll have more energy and feel better. I also won’t be as hungry for junk food, and will want healthful foods for nourishment.” Each of us can substitute the vocabulary for his own stronghold and replace it with a new vocabulary that contains God-filled, God-centered words of renewal and rebirth.
This is about more than my desire to lose weight. My weight is the last stronghold in my life, the last vestige of my own attempting to be in charge of myself and my life. I have used food as an excuse to not be the person God made me to be. I don’t even like most of the junk food I’ve been medicating myself with all these years! I am a defiant and rebellious child, petulant and ego-centric.
What is so breathtaking to me is that God doesn’t care how much I weigh. He doesn’t care what I look like. He doesn’t care what clothes I wear, or where I live. He doesn’t love me less because I have built this wall of food addiction around me. He doesn’t try to knock down the wall, because he knows he could at any time. But he hasn’t done so because He wants me to be the one to punch a hole in the brickwork and walk on through to the other side.
Of course, God wants me to be healthy and happy and whole. I don’t speak the truth when I say he doesn’t care. God cares very much. He cares so much he hung on a cross for me. He hung there, by choice, to show me how very much I mean to him. What I meant to say is that God is not distracted or deterred in his love for me by appearances or circumstances.
God cares so much that he wants me to be healthy and whole and to grow into the woman he designed me to be, with a specific purpose and a gift to give the world.
Labels: faith, God, health, trust, wholeness
The War is Real. The Victory is Certain
Psalm 42:1-2
1. [For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah]. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for Thee, O God. 2. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
This passage pretty aptly defines my own longing for God and the only solution I have found to remain positive and quiet within myself. In this case, David is feeling alone and adrift, assailed by enemies, both verbally and physically. Actually David spent a great deal of his life running from the enemy, fighting the enemy and/or dealing with the aftermath of confronting the enemy. While most of us don’t wage war against our enemies in the physical world, we are in a battle each every day.
The war is real. Evil exists and is thriving and it has since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and Cain murdered Abel. If you doubt we fight a war against the evil one think about how often in any day you participate in gossip, tell a lie, curse a driver who cuts you off or do something your boss has instructed you to do, even though you know it’s unethical. If more convincing is required, listen to the news tonight and then sit and watch the prime time television programming until you fall asleep.
Still more convincing may be necessary. Explain that feeling of disquiet and sense of being unsettled in your soul. Can you figure why you’re just plain angry at the world and everyone in it, especially those in your life – your family, friends (if you have any), coworkers – the world! Why are you so sad so often? Why do you have indigestion, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue? Why are just plain unable to get up and go out into the world with your confidence intact and your heart on your sleeve?
The answer to our life problems is not found in a gym, on the golf course, at the water cooler at work, on the internet, through homeopathic medicine, astrology or alternative anything. There is one answer, and only one. David knew that: As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for Thee, O God. He has suffered an astounding defeat prior to writing these words. Yet another of the many earthly wars he fought ended in defeat and he was beyond discouraged.
Life is hard. If we allow that truth to rule us, we will spend our lives very sad and alone and lost. God is good. We long for Him, yet we seek out everything else. I use both the editorial “we” as well as the all-inclusive (meaning I’m included) “we.” Life is hard but God is good. Long for him; thirst for him; run to him. Rest in Him. David looked around the battlefield and surely crumpled into a heap on the ground. He surveyed the unspeakable loss of life and certainly had to felt defeated and alone; as if he had let down his people and failed to be the kind of leader he wanted to be. Probably he was bewildered at the defeat because he was God’s warrior.
He didn’t retreat in anger and bitterness, though. He offered up his defeat to God. He recommitted his life to God. Life is hard. God is good. David longed for him. He opened his parched lips, prostrated himself and called out to his God.
My prayer today is that no matter what battle you are fighting against the evil in the world, you will remember that God is always victorious. And that you call out to God, running to Him with all your strength and speed, for the days are evil.
Mary
Labels: angry, evil, God, health, life, sin, war
