Surprised

There have been a few times that my reaction to a situation surprised even me. One I remember vividly involves a special Christmas present I received from my daughter years ago. The gift inside the beautifully wrapped box immediately touched my heart and the emotion was so strong all I could do was cry.

Today I once again experienced that level of emotion. My husband and I are temporarily living in different states. I've kept strong by telling myself, "it could be worse he could be with a branch of the Armed Services and deployed to a foreign country", or, "it could be worse he could be a missionary in the jungles somewhere in South America". I thought if I kept that perspective I could easily handle our being apart temporarily.

Then tonight on my way home I became completely frustrated when our cell phone connection was bad causing conversation to be difficult. I told him that when I got to the apartment I would call him using Skype. For some reason the connection to the wireless service was not working and after a number of failed attempts I tried the cell phone again. While we spoke I kept trying to get my internet working. Then...SUCCESS!

We connected and the webcam turned on and there was his face smiling at me. Immediately I cried. I guess the tension of my technology not working for me built up so much that subconsciously I thought I'd not get to see his face and then THERE IT WAS! The overwhelming gratitude that I could see him resulted in tears.

Now, with our conversation over I begin thinking about my relationship with God. How many times is it like what I experienced tonight? Broken words, disconnected sentences, dropped line, etc. Sometimes I think my prayers must feel like that to God. I start and stop, I don't stay on topic, often I'm distracted by other things and may not even complete the prayer. God is just left hanging on, waiting, and waiting. All the time missing me and wishing we spent more time together, or at the very least that our time together would be free from distractions.

Then, we have that moment when I make that time with the Lord a priority and one that is free from things that would draw me away. I listen and wait for God instead of vomiting out my list of things I "need" or am worried about. I imagine God has an experience like I had with my husband. A moment where He sees me clearly and His heart is moved by the preciousness of it.

Romans 12:12 (NIV)
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for those many times I have not stayed focused. Forgive me for all the times I didn't even stop to pray. You give me free access to You 24/7 and yet I fail to seek You as I should. Father God, have mercy on Your servant. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Let my word's be few and my time with You be plenty. AMEN

Fear

Lately I've been thinking a lot about fear. I have come to the conclusion that in most cases fear is simply the absence of trusting in the Lord with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind. I say "simply" like it is an easy thing to overcome fear. Experience has shown me that is not the case.

I have been spending a lot of time alone driving in my car lately. This is good because it gives me time to think and pray. Recently I was thinking about all the times I've been told "Be careful what you pray for" and I remember specifically being warned against praying for patience. The reasoning was because God will give you hard and difficult situations that will give you no choice but to learn patience. Insinuating that it is only by God bringing you to a breaking point that He can teach you anything.

So here is where that teaching landed me. I was driving on a long quiet road having a great conversation with God when suddenly I stopped because I desired to pray that God would empty me of all I am and fill me with all He is. Then the thought "BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR" screamed in my mind. So I tried to think through all the things I've read in the Bible that would support that advice.

Nothing came to mind. Only positive verses came to mind regarding how and what to pray for. I could think of none that said "BE CAREFUL" because I (GOD) will test you first and try you until it hurts before I give you what you ask for. So I wondered. Why did I pause in my prayer? Fear. Have I been so influenced by these other people that it has caused me to have an incorrect view of God?

James 4:2 states "You do not have because you do not ask God." Now the word "simple" comes back to mind. That is sound and simple advice.

That brings me back to the prayer I had in the car the other day. Fear stopped me from asking fully for what I desired. Fear that God would somehow have to break me, or take away all He has blessed me with in order for me to experience what I desire. Fear...stupid fear. If I fully trust God then I would know that He would never give me more than He knows I'm capable of handling. He would never harm me. He would never abandon me. I would fully trust that His plans for my future are good. Yes, I need to learn to trust Him more.

Trust in God will drive out fear.

Psalm 112:7 (NIV)
"They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord."

AMEN

Beauty

What is precious to God? Have you ever wondered that? I have. I think about who He is and how everything belongs to Him. He owns it all. Created it all. Of all God's possessions what does He consider precious?

My husband and I had a situation where we had to look at our stuff and were challenged to think about how important it really was. Our home didn’t burn down, if it had we would have lost it all without having the opportunity to go through each item and decide: KEEP or Throw Away?

It was a long hard job. Some things we couldn’t keep even if we wanted to. Tears did come as I watched the garbage bags collecting my personal belongings fill up and multiply. Things that were very precious to me, I spent extra time working on to see if there was a way to salvage them. Some I could...some I could not. When I couldn’t I would tell myself “they were only things, they have no eternal value”. While that was true, the memory that accompanied that thing did have great value for me.

So what does God consider precious? I did a Bible search on it and found that in the book of Daniel God often referred to Daniel as precious. I wondered what kind of a man Daniel had been to receive such high praise.

Then I was reading in 1 Peter about women not needing to find their beauty in how they look. Because while a woman can be beautiful on the outside and have a natural beauty; many women (with the use of makeup, clothing, and hair styling) can also appear beautiful. But exterior beauty is not precious to God.

No, it is the beauty within that God sees as precious. And everyone can achieve that beauty. It is not dependent on looks or wealth. It is only dependent on a heart that seeks after God and strives to honor Him in thought, word, and deed.

So...
May you be found beautiful by God.

May your beauty pour out of you and bless everyone who knows you.

And may you be surrounded by others who have also found beauty that precious to God.

1 Peter 3:4 <NCV>

No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.

Love

I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love.

Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.

Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others.

Love does not count up wrongs that have been done.

1 Corinthians 13:3-5 (NCV)

Love is NOT a feeling. Love IS a choice.

Expect

Psalm 5:3  <NIV>
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Preparing for church this morning I choose to seek the Lord expectantly. I don't know what the worship holds, or what the message will bring. I do know that I go with a heart prepared to hear from God. My requests this morning are simple:

1. That the Lord will be honored and glorified in the church service this morning.
2. That hearts will be convicted where needed, comforted where there is hurt, challenged where God may be calling, and encouraged.

AMEN

Encounter

Recently I was at a Christian retreat. Well, actually they said it was not a retreat but rather it was an “encounter”. Their reasoning was that an encounter is something that you remember the rest of your life; a retreat merely refreshes you for a time. It was only two days but it really did turn out to be an encounter. It was about “being” and not “doing”. Something I find impossible in the busyness of running a ministry. We prayed, rested, comforted, fasted, worshipped, and sought the Lord with all our hearts.

I also fasted from TV and any contact with others (except for my husband). I did not fill my free time with computer games or other things that distract me from seeking after the Lord. I did a LOT of journaling, Bible study, and spent long hours just “being” quiet. It was wonderful!

I remember one particular time when I was deep in prayer that I felt the Lord impress on my heart that “He is jealous for me”. The thought convicted that, in daily life, I devote so much time to tasks and ministry that it leaves little time for Him. I worry and pray for family and others yet spend little to no time asking: “Lord, what do You want to teach Your servant today?”

Suddenly my mind is flooded with Bible verses. One in particular that goes something like “seek FIRST the Kingdom of God”. And a popular praise song (“How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan) is playing in my head.

♪    He is jealous for me,

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,    ♫

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.  ♪

♬ When all of sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.    ♪♪

This morning during my quiet time I was reading 1 Corinthians 7:35 -

“I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.”

The words really hit my heart hard. Since getting back from my trip, all my time has been filled with distractions. I question if I experienced a retreat and not the encounter I had hoped for. So as I complete this short devotion I plan to take three minutes and just BE.

God bless and AMEN!

Worship

Had the most amazing worship experience. I'm at a conference and the worship band has been really good. But something truly remarkable happened. As we were singing "Blessed be the name of the Lord" all of a sudden the worshippers just took over the worship. The band stopped but we all just kept singing. We praised the Lord and the worship team was blown away. The worship leader looked like he was physically moved back a step or two by the power of the emotions that were being raised up. He said "I am blown away, you all have blessed us beyond measure."

It was AWESOME! I wanted to stay in the moment forever. I have never experienced anything like it in church. One woman said, "Wasn't that GREAT? Why do our churches have to have such anemic worship? It should always be like this." I had to agree.

The song has been done by a number of artists. Here are the lyrics Matt Redman wrote:

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

I have no idea how long we sang this song. Time didn't seem to matter. Anyway, this is my devotion I offer to you. If you know this song take a minute and sing in praise to the Lord. If you don't know it, go check it out on youtube or something. Or just read and meditate on the words. Powerful stuff. AMEN 

Shipping and Handling

I did some online shopping today. Looking for bargains. I was so excited until I "proceeded to the checkout". That is when I got the news that the S&H charges were as much as my purchases thereby doubling the total. What a let down. I realized my bargains were just not that great a deal. I can stop at the store, pay a higher price with sales tax, and it would still cost less than buying it online.

 

I ship things all the time. I know I'm not paying for the shipping with these outrageous charges. It is the "handling" they are asking me to pay for. You know; the time it takes someone to pull the item and put it in a box. That is what I'm paying for. So I canceled the order. Ironically, if they had a bigger price on the item and a lower price on the S&H, I probably would have completed my purchase.

 

Why am I like that? Genetics? I remember hearing my dad say as I grew up "its the principle of the thing". I had no idea what that meant as a child I just remember my dad being upset about something when I'd hear it. NOW, I understand.

 

So I wondered what could I learn from this experience that might allow me to understand God a little more. How does my reaction to this reflect the character of God in me? Sadly it doesn't that much. First of all God is never out there "looking for bargains". And for God, the cost was high but He purchased our freedom anyway. He didn't pause to see if He could find a better deal. No, He sent His one and only Son to die for us so that we could be reconciled with Him. 

 

But I also know God desires I do the best I can with the resources He gives me. So I could justify my reaction by trying to convince you it was about this deep spiritual desire to honor God with my choices. But it wasn't. It was just the "Dillard" in me deciding there was a principle involved here. And I was going "show them" by not buying anything from them.

 

Now, I have to find time in my busy day, scratch that, busy week, scratch that, busy month to go to the store and see if the items I need are there. Probably more than one store. Grrrrrrr

 

John 2:24  NLT

"But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature."

Generosity

There is an event in my area called the “Passion Awards” and it’s done through the National Christian Foundation – Heartland (http://heartland.nationalchristian.com/), a great ministry that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for years now. This year the theme for the Passion Awards is “Live the Generous Life”. So I have been thinking and praying a lot about generosity. Today my look into the Bible landed on this verse in Isaiah 32:8:

“But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” <NLT>

In other translations the “but” is often translated as “therefore”. I’ve always been taught that when reading the Bible for all its worth you must pause and ask yourself “what is the therefore…there for?”

I love that! So I looked back into verse 7 and here is what it said “The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil. They plot crooked schemes. They lie to convict the poor, even when the cause of the poor is just.” What a contrast to the generous person!

So now that I have the context of verse 8 what does it teach me? “Generous people plan” to be generous. I have to pause and challenge myself to search my heart and ask if I plan to be generous or does it happen by accident or when it is convenient? Not just generous with my bank account but also with my time and my talents. I’ve learned the discipline of planned giving over the years and am able to give when an unexpected need arises. I understand it all belongs to the Lord and I am merely an administrator of what He gives me.

But I am challenged by this thought of planned generosity with my time. I work in ministry and often go home exhausted. I “protect” my time away from ministry and will need to spend time thinking about if I have gone too far in that protection of my time. Yes, there is a lot to ponder here.

The verse ends with the picture of generous people standing firm in their generosity. Can you picture someone who does that? I can and I want to be just like that person when I grow up.

May you be generous today.

May you be challenged to plan your generosity.

May God, who owns it all, grant you the resources you need to stand firm!

AMEN

Work

This morning I am finding it hard to steady my mind and have quiet time with the Lord. I sit at my desk by the window and look out. A gentle breeze makes my tattered and faded American flag look like it is floating and free of the wire that keeps it in its place. The giant trees are so green and against the blue sky everything I see is inviting me to come out and play. But I am much like that flag. I am tattered and faded. I am held in place not by a wire but by obligations that require my time and attention. I am not free to run and play. Not now, not yet.

I must focus. I must work. I must use my time wisely in service to the Lord. This day will go fast and before I know it I’ll be laying my head back on my pillow. I will lay there and think about all the things I did not finish, forgetting all the things that were accomplished. What is up with that? Why do we so often look at the undone and not rejoice in what is done? Hmmm…I’ll have to marinate on that thought for a while.

I don’t know what this day holds for you. I don’t know what work is before you. I pray it is work of eternal value and that regardless of the tasks required you will do it as if working for Lord.

Ephesians 6:7 <NLT>

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Dust

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Isaiah 46:4 NLT

Father God, thank you for knowing me. For knowing the numbers of hair on my head and the color they are at the root. You made and formed me while I was still in my mother’s womb and you have never forgotten me. Who am I that you would notice me at all? I am nothing. Dust really. Because you love me I have value. Because you save me I have life! Carry me Father…all the days of my life. AMEN

What

So I did a short Bible study on the words “what should I do”? When I first did this word search at biblegateway.com I did not expect any verses to return. I was wrong. I read through the different verses, going to the entire chapter when needed to get the context of what surrounded the question. I saw a number of different situations where this simple question came up. SIMPLE?! Well maybe not. I’ll change that to “short” question. Sometimes the question was hypothetical and sometimes I got the impression it was asked not to seek an answer but to get the listener to think. And the list of those who asked the question is like a “who’s who” of the Bible:

Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do…”?

David prayed, “What should I do?”

Saul answered to Samuel, “What should I do?”

Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do?”

The king asked Haman, “What should I do…”?

Pilate asked the people, “What should I do…”?

An expert in religious law asked Jesus, “…what should I do…”?

Paul asked the Lord, “What should I do”?

In Hosea 6:4 the Lord asks: “What should I do with you?”

As I pondered this list I thought more and more about the question and less about the answer. What should I do?

Seriously, what should I do? When I’m asking this question it is because I’m seeking direction. I desire to be told something rather than discovering it for myself. I want the short cut and I want it with all the answers laid out before me.

Answer: what I believe I learned this morning is that the answer to this question requires action on my part. Finding the answer is part of the adventure. It is like looking for buried treasure. You don’t start by opening the chest, no you start by hearing it exists, then finding a map, then perhaps enlisting the help of others, then you have to go, then you have to dig…get the picture? Sometimes you might find the treasure and sometimes the true treasure was in the journey.

What should I do? Do the next thing, whatever that is. One step at a time, one conversation at a time, one discovery at a time. Do the next thing.

Labor

Ecclesiastes 5:18 <NIV>
"This is what I have observed to be good:
that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot."

As I studied this verse here is what I observed:
That upon reading it I experienced many varied emotions ranging from good to depressing. I like the part about eating, drinking and finding satisfaction. However...toilsome labor? toilsome? REALLY? Part of me wishing I could just eat, drink and be satisfied without that toilsome labor part. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the definition for toilsome is: marked by or full of toil or fatigue .

That doesn't sound fun. It certainly doesn't sound American either. Then add to that the next part of the verse above: "the few days of life". UGH. So I don't live long and I get to work until I drop. WHY? Well according to this verse because that is my lot. Bummer.

I guess doing a word search on "labor" this Labor Day was not the best idea I've ever had. So I decided to read on in this chapter. The verse states that "it is good to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it." Okay, I'm feeling a little better now. It also says to "enjoy your work and accept your lot in life" because this too is a gift from God. Well I got that one. I truly do enjoy my work. And I love the life God has given me. I have moved from depressed to blessed. How great is that?

Chapter five concludes with verse 20 stating "God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past".

Man God is smart.  :)

GMP

1 Timothy 1:2 <NLT>
"I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace."


God give grace, mercy and peace to deal with anything this day will bring. Grace to show others your love. Mercy to show others your compassion. And peace to show others your unending patience. Amen

Whisper

This morning in my quiet time I found myself once again seeking God’s will for my life. Asking for direction and clarity. In need of a BIG neon sign; clearly stating the answers I seek. However, I got nothing. No neon sign. No loud booming voice. Nothing. Nadda. Nilch.

So I began to wonder if perhaps my prayers are focused in the wrong direction or on the wrong thing. And I remembered parts of a verse from 1 Kings 19:11-12ish:

“… and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”

This verse challenged me to stop and wait for a gentle whisper. So I put my agenda aside and sat in the quiet and asked God to bring to my mind any verses that He desired me to meditate on. I sat in the quiet. I sat. I waited. I emptied myself of me. Eventually, the following words worked their way up from the recesses of my mind:

“MY burden is light”

“Come to ME all who are weak and heavy laden”

“You shall have no other gods before ME”

“I will always be with you”

I thought about how heavy a burden I’ve been carrying and I realized that was because the burden I'm carrying is mine and not the Lord’s. My focus was…correction…is wrong. I am weak; tired really. In my exhaustion I seek sleep for relief and find myself still tired when I wake up. I wonder have I not been taking things to the Lord as I should? Sometimes that darn “can do” attitude of mine can be more of a pain than a blessing. I hear myself say “I’m strong”, “I can handle it”, “I like to have a lot to do”, I…I…I…

If I am so good at everything then do I even need God? If I’m that good, or as good I want to think I am, then why am I tired, overwhelmed, and exhausted? If God really is my God then shouldn’t my focus stay on Him more than it is me? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

My God is always with me! Am I always with Him?

WHATEVER!

Finally, brethren,

whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is of good repute,

…dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8 <NASB>

All I can add is "AMEN"!

Heart

Quotes from a letter to a friend:

"I always thank my God when I pray for you"
"Your love has given me much joy and comfort"
"Your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of...people"
"I appeal to you to show kindness to my child" (child by choice not by DNA)
"I am sending him back to you and with him comes my own heart"

These words and others were written by Paul to Philemon. Paul is in prison and has become very close to Onesimus. As you read you come to understand the Onesimus must not have the best reputation with Philemon because Paul is requesting a huge favor by sending Onesimus back and goes out of his way to indicate that Onesimus is a changed man.

I also get the impression that Paul loves Onesimus a great deal and has found him to be a source of great comfort in prison. Sending him back had at least two stresses with it. One was sending someone he loves dearly into a potentially hostile situation where others may not trust him or love him as Paul does. The other was sending him away not knowing for sure if they would see each other again but hoping they would. I also get the sense that Paul needed him, yet let him go.

A lot of Paul's writings have such an authoritative tone to them but this short letter reveals his heart .

I thought a great deal about this letter and the emotion it reveals. I reflected back on the many friends I've had over the years. Some casual friends and a few that are closer than a sister. God has blessed me with great friendships. I miss those that I no longer see on a regular basis. I never had to "send" a friend away. I've seen some go but I don't think that compares to what Paul was experiencing here. He calls Onesimus his "child". This runs deeper than friendship. Paul protected him, guarded him, taught him, all the things you do with a child. And now he was sending him away. The time had come to let Onesimus stand on his own and perhaps correct past wrongs. Things that Paul could not do for him.

I am thankful for the "Paul's" in my life. I've had a few. They are special and dear to me. Precious jewels. 

Thank you Lord!

The book of Philemon

Unfaithful

This word – unfaithful – has been haunting me lately. My devotions are once again hurried and being done so I can tell myself “did that”. Just another thing to check off the daily to do list. I had hoped starting this blog would force me to be more disciplined in my study.

To take time to read His word for all its worth. Letting it marinate in my heart and in my mind so God can grow me in wisdom and use me to help others in ways that last.

But my last serious study was on August 18. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t unrealistic with my goals. I never expected that I would have the time to write a daily devotion. I did hope it would be more often than every 8 days. Oh woe is me. Can you hear the self pity? What a faithless wretch I am.

Yet in this moment of honesty with myself I see something beautiful. I found two Bible verses as a direct result of this crazy self-defeating mood.

2 Timothy 2:13 <NASB>

If we are faithless (or as I see it – unfaithful), He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

Even in my unfaithfulness God is faithful. Always there. Always waiting for me. I can see that in my weakness, He shows me His strength. WOW!

Romans 3:3 <NIV>

What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness (or mine) nullify God’s faithfulness?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for always being faithful. Thank you that I am not measured by my unfaithfulness but only by your great love. I do not deserve such favor. I am honored to be called a child of God. Watch over me, guard me, encourage me and equip me. AMEN

Stagnation

Have you ever heard someone say “if God wants that to happen it will just happen” or “if you only had more faith then it would just happen” or my personal favorite “if you do it then you aren’t trusting that God is in control and you are limiting God” (like we have any power to limit God). I think these types of comments can often be lacking in wise advice. Situations vary and so the wisdom here needs to be applied appropriately. Proverbs 15:22 starts by saying “without consultation”.

For those two words to mean anything it would imply that someone has to do something. Like seek consultation from others, duh. This verse implies that someone has “plans”. There is something they would like to do. The instruction is not sit around with plans and just wait and see if God moves in some miraculous way. The assumption being made here is that we are doing something to see our plans succeed and it is giving advice about what the best thing to do is. Seek advice from someone wiser or more experienced than yourself. In fact don’t stop at one someone – seek out the advice of “many counselors”.

The expectation here seems to be that we will live active lives, doing things. Not passive lives waiting to see God do things. In fact, in my experience it is when I’m active doing something for God that I see Him working in my life and the lives of others more than ever. And I also wonder how many times God was doing something and planned to use me (or you) but we didn’t act because we were waiting for Him to do it. All the time He is screaming “I am doing something. And I’m wanting you to be part of it!”         Hmmmm…

May all your plans succeed.

May God go before, with and after you.

May your life be full and may you always be busy with things that have eternal value.

Proverbs 15:22 <NASB>

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.

Drunk

Proverbs 23:29-35 <The Message>

Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It's those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don't judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with— the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? "They hit me," you'll say, "but it didn't hurt; they beat on me, but I didn't feel a thing. When I'm sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!"

I stumbled (pun intended) across these verses this morning while looking for something else. I rarely read from The Message as I often prefer more literal translations of the Bible when studying. However, occasionally, The Message translates things in a way that gives really good word pictures. These verses are a prime example of that.

I grew up in Wisconsin where there is a bar on every corner and great pride is taken in their beer (and their cheese J). Drinking was and still is a big part of life in that state (and many others). For some it is not “serious business” but for many it is. Back in my drinking days I had many friends who knew the cure for a hangover and almost every cure involved some type of alcoholic drink. I guess that is why these verses caused me to stop and reflect.

Back then I didn’t know that the Bible had so much information and advice in regards to drinking. I knew it wasn’t polite to get drunk and thought the Bible probably said something like “thou shalt not allow wine to pass through your lips” – which by the way I can’t find in the Bible. But I also knew that in the church where I grew up we had communion which consisted of a small sip of wine. So naturally I was confused.

Sometime in my early thirties I came to realize that drinking played too much of an important role in my life and was defining me. So I made the choice to eliminate alcohol from my life. It was hard because so much of what I did socially involved being with others who drank. My heart broke as I found out that some of my closest friends were really only drinking buddies. At first I felt sorry for myself and then I felt left out. Yes, it was hard for many reasons. But that was twenty years ago. My life now is fun, full and even exciting! I would never want to go back and am so thankful that God helped me find a better path for my life.

The verses above reminded me how blessed I am. I still remember some pretty ugly hangovers (“splitting headache, queasy stomach”) and am very thankful that is no longer part of my life. There was a time when the word “sober” translated in my mind as “somber”. Now it translates in my mind as “HALLELUIAH!”

Monday

Good morning Lord,

Thank You for allowing me another day to serve You. I lay here not quite ready to get out of bed wondering what this day has in store. I’ve checked my calendar and it is full. Monday. Does that matter to You? Is the day of the week important? Or is it the quality of the day. May I be able to lay my head back on this pillow tonight and know that this day was spent honoring You. Looking for ways to love others and seeking out opportunities to show others who You are.

Father God I ask for patience, wisdom and flexibility to get through this day. Not necessarily in that order. May my abilities be limitless. AMEN

Psalm 5:3 <NIV>

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Walk

I just got back from a walk. It is good to get back in the habit of walking every day. I really missed it. Today the weather was wonderful. Since it had been in the 100s recently 88 or 90 actually feels nice.

One thing I've noticed now that the temperature is more tolerable is that there are a LOT more people out. When the heat index was 105 and 110 I didn't have to share the sidewalk with anyone. I miss that. So why are there more people now? Is it because it is more comfortable? It is easier? People don't want to walk outside if they think they will be miserable. I walk in the heat, the rain, the wind; even in the cold and snow. I enjoy it all. I think it helps me appreciate the nicer weather days more as a result.

I did a Bible search on the words "walk in". I got more than I bargained for. Here are some things we are told to walk in:
God's instruction.
God's laws.
Obedience.
His ways.
The fear of the Lord.
Integrity.
God's truth.
Love!
The brightness of His presence.
The way of good men.
A manner worthy of your calling.
Walk in newness of life.
WALK IN FREEDOM!


Things to avoid:
Walking in the stubborness of my own heart.
Walking in a way that results in dishonest gain, taking bribes and perverting justice.
Walking in the counsel of the wicked.
Walking in my own devices.
Walking in the flesh.


When I follow God's plan with my walk He promises:
"rest for my soul" Jeremiah 6:16
"it will be well with me" Jeremiah 7:23


So I will keep walking. No matter the season or the weather. Not just because of the excercise it provides but because of the reminder it is that I am on this journey with God that requires me to consider my walk. Where am I going? How am I getting there? Who am I serving in the process? Who am I loving?

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
2 John 1:6

Every time I obey God I am showing Him how much I love Him.  

Hmmmm....I think I'll ponder more on that.

God

What is your perception of God? There was a time in my life when I thought of Him as this big angry God. I pictured Him looking down from heaven in disgust and just waiting for the opportunity to punish someone, anyone. Typically me.

Where did that come from? Was it how my brain translated the Old Testament stories when I was a young child? Was it exposure to cartoons or movies that represented God in that fashion? I really don’t know. I don’t know if I was taught that or incorrectly learned it. But that was my perception of God for many years.

In my teenage years I grew away from God. No longer going to church I was only learning about God through the music I listened to. That was in the 70s and I wasn't listening to Christian radio. Here are a few of the songs that mentioned God or religious things:

“God knows I’m good” – David Bowie

“Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin

“Imagine” – John Lennon

“American Pie” – Don McLean

“Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

And many more I can’t remember. I was sure there was an Alice Cooper one but my brain started to hurt trying to think of it.

As you might imagine many of the messages in these songs were not exactly Biblically accurate. So my understanding of God and what or who He was just got more jumbled up.

Then I moved into adulthood. A husband, children, a home. All these things led me back to church. It was in this process that I began reading the Bible for myself. To my surprise I found that God is not who I thought He was. He wasn’t waiting for me to screw up so He could punish me. He wasn’t distant and aloof. He wasn’t trying to take my fun away or stop me from doing the things I thought I loved.

I found God to be caring, loving, compassionate, forgiving, and merciful. God became “real” to me. He expresses joy and sadness. Things I could relate to. When I came across this particular verse in the beginning of the Book it really touched my heart.

Genesis 6:6 <NASB>

“The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

The Lord was sorry. Man can I relate to that feeling. Not for the same reasons as God had but just reading that made God someone I thought I might be able to understand. At least a little.

“He was grieved in His heart.” Just reading that chokes me up. How great a grieve does the God who created all we see carry?

Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the times I made You sorry You ever allowed me to exist. Forgive me for any and all the grief I cause You. Father God please help me when I am weak so that I might resist temptations and that I may love others as You first loved me. AMEN

Lost

There was a popular TV show titled “LOST”. This post is not about that. But let me digress for just a moment.

When that show first came on the scene it was hugely popular. So many watched it and more importantly talked about it. Then...the infamous ending. That ending left some baffled, some disappointed, some were quite furious feeling they had wasted a lot of time watching the show. I didn’t hear anyone jumping up and down excited about the ending. You probably should know that I come from the MASH era. That series finale still has people talking. But LOST has been forgotten except by a faithful few.

I recently lost something very precious to me. It is irreplaceable. I am still in denial that it is lost. I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t find it. It has been with me since 1992. Today when someone looked for it, where I was sure it would be found, I still had hope. But then I got the email that basically said “no luck”. My eyes immediately teared up. I got that lump in my throat that only comes when I am completely heart broken. What will I do now? 19 years of wisdom written on the pages lost. It would be impossible to reconstruct it all or even in part. I feel broken and defeated. Why was this “thing” so important to me? It isn’t the book itself; it is all memories that are contained on each page. I need it and it is gone.

I’ve lost other things in my life that didn’t affect this deeply. I lost the diamond out of my wedding ring, my homework, my virginity (yes it’s true - ask my kids). All had different emotions but this one cuts to my soul. Yet, I am not hopeless. I continue to pray that I will find it. I pray that I will remember the last time I saw it. Where was I? I don’t remember borrowing it to anyone; I can’t even imagine I would have. So I turned to God’s word for comfort and wisdom.

My first search brought back 151 verses. I narrowed my search to just the NASB and had 41 verses return. So many lost things are mentioned. Here is a short list:

·         Riches

·         Courage

·         Lives

·         Power

·         A coin

·         Hope

·         “Their” heart

·         “Their” senses

·         “Their” faith

God however is only concerned about one thing when it is lost…you and me. That’s it; nothing else.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 tells us that there is a time to search and a time to give up as lost. I’m not giving up yet on what I lost, I will keep searching. But, at some point, if it is not found I will give up the search. If you are lost to God, He will keep seeking you. He will not force Himself on you but He also will not tire of waiting for you. I once was lost and the funny thing is I didn’t even know it. I only discovered how lost I was after God found me.

Luke 19:10   <NASB>

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Love

What does God love?

God loves the people of this country (Israel) 2 Chronicles 9:8

the LORD loves justice Psalm 37:28

The LORD loves righteousness and justice Psalm 33:5

The Lord loves the godly Psalm 146:8

The Lord … loves those who pursue godliness Proverbs 15:9

the LORD loves the Israelites Hosea 3:1

the sanctuary the LORD loves Malachi 2:11

God loves a cheerful giver 2 Corinthians 9:7

God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves Ephesians 1:6

love comes from God 1 John 4:7

God is love  1 John 4:16

God loves you Deuteronomy 7:8   Deuteronomy 23:5   John 16:27   Romans 1:7   Colossians 3:12   1 Thessalonians 1:4 2 Thessalonians 2:13   Jude 1:1

God loves us Romans 5:5   2 Thessalonians 2:16   1 John 3:1 1   John 4:16

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12

Suffer

Philippians 3:10-11 <NLT>

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.” What a GREAT start to the Bible’s verses that I was pondering this morning. How exciting is this sentence? I mean really…to know and experience Christ’s mighty power? Who wouldn’t want that? Especially a power that was able to raise Him from the dead. Imagine it. How great would that be? I say “Yes Lord! I’m in! 100%. All the way. You can count on me. Where do I sign up?”

And I keep feeling that way for a very brief moment. It would have lasted longer if I had stopped at that sentence and not finished reading this verse. However, it goes on to say “I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death”. WHAT? Ummmm, wait a minute (imagine hearing brakes squealing here). Suffer? Share in His death? I read the Book and I’m not sure I like the sound of this. Christ suffered more than any human could possibly endure. Betrayal, beating, crucifixion. I remember reading how He prayed so hard one night that His sweat was like drops of blood. I don’t think I’ve ever broken a sweat while praying. I’ve prayed long and hard. I’ve prayed with intensity and tears. I’ve fallen to my knees in despair but nothing I’ve experienced could be described with the word picture given of Christ praying.

Perhaps I jumped on the band wagon of this verse too quickly. AND…verse 10 ends with a comma. I’m just a little scared to read the next verse but if I don’t then I won’t know how this thought ends. What to do, what to do. Read on or stop here. I pause, take a deep breath and read on:

“so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”

Life after death! To share in His death, to suffer with Him leads to eternal life with Him. I don’t know exactly what that eternal life will be like. All the details of eternity have not been given. But I do know Christ and I know what He did on the cross for me. For me! Someone completely unworthy and undeserving. To follow Christ into eternity means to follow Him while I’m still here on earth. To live a life that sets me apart from the things that are common among men. To be misunderstood, ridiculed, perhaps abandoned. To experience His mighty power and to suffer with Him. I do not have the liberty to pick and choose what I like about my Christian walk. It is not a “mix and match” kind of faith. It is all or nothing.

I choose all.

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”    Philippians 3:10-11

Contentment

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NLT)

And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.

As I meditate on the first part of this verse two things strike me. One is “receive wealth from God”. I’m intrigued by this. What is this wealth? Based on looking at various biblical translations (I’m not trained in the original Greek) my best guess is that this verse is indeed referring to material wealth; things, money, possessions. There are so many movements out there claiming you can “get rich” if you just have enough faith. But I don’t see this as a “get rich” statement. Wealth is subjective. I live in a modest home and have a modest income (by American standards). Yet I consider myself wealthy because I believe all I have and all I own are gifts from God. Whether it is little or it is much. I know so many who never have enough, they are always seeking to have more, and they never seem to be satisfied. I am thankful that, for the most part, I am satisfied with what I have.

The second part of the first sentence is that God gives us good health to enjoy our wealth. Again, I am intrigued. “Good health”, the NIV states it this way “and the ability to enjoy them”. I find that interesting and perhaps it speaks to my observation that some who have much wealth never seem to be satisfied by it. The “want for more” becomes their religion and since that can be an unending cycle they never find what they are seeking.

Perhaps true joy comes from knowing all we have is a gift from God. And if we seek to enjoy our work, whatever that is, our reward is contentment. Ahhhh...contentment; if I had that all the time I would consider myself the wealthiest person on this planet.

Hunger

Few of us in America will ever experience hunger to the point of complete despair and even death. According to the United Nations, about 25,000 people die of hunger or hunger related causes every day.

God’s word speaks of hunger and of those who die from it. Often it is talking about physical hunger for food. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. I guess it is because of the high price of food and eating out. I hear so many complaining about food prices...yet in America mortality rates associated with obesity continue to rise. Obesity related illnesses continue to rise. What a contrast to other parts of the world.

Hunger. I have experienced it but not because of an inability to buy food. When I was much younger, a child really, I was very busy playing and having fun. Sometimes I would play so hard that I would forget to take time out to eat. I only remembered when my stomach hurt so bad I thought I would throw up. When my hunger got that severe I had to eat something very slowly and only in small portions or my stomach would quickly reject it. I experienced a similar sensation in the early stages of pregnancy.  None of that compares to hunger that can kill.

Starvation. Some have starvation forced on them and some purposely starve themselves. Hunger and starvation can also apply to things other than food. We can be starved for attention. We can be hungry for love. 

What scares me the most is that we can, and often do, suffer from a self-inflicted starvation from God. The symptoms can be obvious and severe or they can be gradual and hard to recognize. The obvious and severe symptoms often involve crisis and find us quickly on our knees. The other symptoms sneak up on us and can go undiagnosed for years and even entire lifetimes. Symptoms like: indifference to others, having a critical heart attitude, selfishness, lack of interest in Church or reading the Bible, busyness, and list goes on. Left untreated these symptoms rob us of life as God intends it to be.

I believe we need to hunger sometimes in order to really crave what is good for us. I find as I age that I hunger more after the Lord and understanding how to draw closer to Him than I did in my youth. I find that as I spend more time developing an eternal perspective I spend less time worrying about things that don’t matter after death.

If you are hungry, please read on:

Psalm 17:14   <NLT>

“By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants.”

Amos 8:11   <CEV>

“I, the LORD, also promise you a terrible shortage, but not of food and water. You will hunger and thirst to hear my message.”

Matthew 5:6   <NASB>

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

John 6:35   <NASB>

“Jesus said to them, “ I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

May you be treasured by the God of all creation, Maker of heaven and earth. May He and He alone satisfy you.

May you experience a hunger and thirst for God’s word so severe that it brings you to your knees and causes you to be unsatisfied with everything else.

And may you be so filled with the Lord that you NEVER hunger or thirst again.

AMEN!

finished

John 19:30
"Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “ It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."

nuf said

Words

Ephesians 4:29 <NASB>

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Wow this short verse has a lot of wisdom and challenge in it. “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth”. YIKES! Just thinking of the many times I failed and continue to fail on this one really humbles me. If every human being on the planet practices this the world would be a much quieter place. I better stop there with my commentary because any more would most likely cause me to fail on this command yet again.

But this isn’t saying DO NOT talk. In fact, it is encouraging talking and giving instruction on how to talk. Words that are “good for edification”. Other translations use the descriptive “helpful”. And it goes on to say these edifying or helpful words should address the “need of the moment”. Hmmmm…the need of the moment. How many times have I given advice that had my own agenda and did not really address the hearer’s immediate need? Probably more than there are grains of sand in the desert. This, for me, is the challenge part of this Biblical verse. To even begin to accomplish this I must remember there is a reason God gave me TWO ears and only ONE mouth. It is to remind to listen more than I speak. To listen with purpose and intent; to uncover what the meaning is behind the words someone is sharing with me. This requires patience and a genuine desire to put the other person’s needs above my own. Yes, this part of the verse comes with a great challenge.

Yet, if I accept that challenge and practice what is described here there is a GREAT reward. God will use me to “give grace” to others. The NLT states it this way “your words will be an encouragement to others”. WOW! Another translation says you will “help others by what you say” and the NIV says that it may “benefit those who listen”.

Dear Lord,

Help me this day to apply all that this verse from your Holy Word is teaching. Help my words be few and do not allow anything that tears people down to escape from my lips. AMEN!

Doubt

Genesis 3:1-6a <NLT>

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

 The woman was convinced.

And so it began. This entire exchange between Eve and Satan is only about six verses long. That’s it. Depending on the translation you look at there are over 31,000 verses in the Bible. But these six verses certainly tell a big story.

What do these verses tell us about Satan “the serpent”? God made him. He was shrewd. And may I suggest that he is perhaps a bit lazy? I know, based on exposure to modern film, books, and media I have this vision or idea of him being really busy and loud and really REALLY scary. Those things could be true as well but when I read these passages I see him as lazy. Cleaver and lazy…a very dangerous combination. Yes, he could have got in Eve’s face and scared her into eating the apple. He could have threatened her into it. There are so many things he could have done but he didn’t. All he did was say, “Did God really say…?”

That is all it took. He planted a seed of doubt and pretty soon after that he leaves the scene. And the rest is…well shall we say…history.

Doubt. That may be our biggest enemy. With doubt comes fear. Fear clouds reason. Without reason, logic and truth are forgotten. Where logic and truth are void: faith becomes fruitless.

Jesus said in Matthew 21:21 “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.”

Often I find myself wishing I trusted God more. Knowing if I could only do that, I wouldn’t worry about things as much. Yet, I wonder. Is it that I lack trust or is that I wallow in doubt?