The Important Stuff

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Yesterday my daughter Caroline and I had some exciting things on the calendar to take care of regarding her upcoming wedding. We looked for bridesmaid dresses and had an appointment to preview the table settings for the reception which we had previously chosen. She was also going to design her bouquet, stem by stem with the florist designer. The day would be topped off with a birthday party at her house with friends and family. In the middle of the day we had to squeeze in an errand of getting a Co2 tank filled at the gas company. She had a brand-new shiny tank to get filled. The company employee informed her that it was a trade out system where she would turn her empty tank in for a full used tank. As I stood there and saw the tanks next to each other, I asked her if she minded that she had to turn in her new clean tank for the used one. The employee smiled and said to me, ‘Ma’am, the important stuff is what is inside the tank, not the outer piece.’ I immediately thought of this verse when he said these words.

It is human nature to want the lovely outward appearance of everything. Somehow our culture gives value to what we see, instead of what the substance inside is. Thankfully, God reminded me this morning that He looks right past our appearance, status, wealth and popularity when determining our value. He looks straight at the heart of every person to determine beauty and worth. In the instance of my godly grandmother, she was one of the most beautiful women I knew. She didn’t wear make-up or dangling earrings. She didn’t highlight her hair (mercy!) or polish her nails. They didn’t have a great deal of money and their status was as pastors. But she reflected the loveliness of Christ that radiated more than anything money could buy.

It is so easy to fall into the mindset of being a measuring stick. Even at my reunion this past weekend, I found myself feeling a little insecure. I’m so thankful that God looks at our heart and sees us as forgiven…loved…chosen. Like the dirty Co2 tank, the important stuff is on the inside of us…God’s breath that powers us through this life. So, walk today in the confidence of your beauty which is in the contents of your heart. Let us all be lovely in Christ!

As Locusts Swarm

"Fear not…Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! For He has given you the former rain faithfully…‘So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied; And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you…Then you shall know that I am in the midst…I am the LORD your God and there is no other.’” Joel 2:21-27

The Book of Joel is akin to the neglected wallflower who waits for someone to ask her to dance only to reveal that she is one of the bells of the ball. Although Joel only has three short chapters in the entire Bible, it has some of the most beautiful principles. Our morning passage above is packed full of the most powerful promises from God. The first thing that is clear is that God wants us to be courageous…thankful…full of praise for the past things He has done. God establishes His future faithfulness by having His children look backwards at His past faithfulness. Then in one of the most powerful images He created for our imagination is the image of being swarmed by locusts…having locusts crawl all around us…being consumed by locusts. And just when we feel fear rising, He promises that whatever the locusts have eaten, He will give back. Whatever years the locusts have stolen from us He will replace them. He promises to remove the invaders and replace the dead crops with full healthy crops. It is through this process that we discover that God is in our midst…that God is who He says He is…that no other means will bring about restoration.

I began thinking about the years when my daughter was being consumed with darkness and how I felt invaded. Her darkness shrouded me in darkness, and I was terrified. My locusts were fear … emotional paralysis…guilt …shame. The locusts ate more than 8 years of our lives, but God has restored not only her life but the life of our entire family. Any broken relationships were made whole again thanks to God’s mercy and grace. Oh, how He has dealt wondrously with us! Through these eaten years, God revealed Himself in ways that anchored our faith. In those years that consumed us God was the only way home from darkness.

I know that some of you are living in the years of locusts right now. You are grieving someone whom you have lost…consuming locusts. Some of you are trying to heal from medical concerns but it’s hard…swarming locusts. Some of you are experiencing depression that has you feeling hopeless…crawling locusts. Many are watching the calendar turn from year to year as you are caring for your parent. Know this…God is working in every detail in these years of locusts. He will repay you with what was stolen…He will bring to life to what feels dead. During our years of locusts, we are more likely to see God and to experience God if we are watching for God. It is during these years…these seasons…that we know beyond everything else that God is God and will bring us through our challenging times.

“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Joel 2:32.

This Far

“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: ‘Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?’” 2 Samuel 7:18

Most mornings I grab a cup of coffee as soon as I get up which is normally before the sun gets up. This morning was no different, but I also grabbed my little red blanket and went out on the dark patio. There was the most delicate chill in the air reminding me that Fall is almost upon us. I was listening to my worship music which I always do to get myself postured for my prayer time. As I began to pray, I was overcome with where God has taken me but also where I have regretfully taken myself in past years. Places that I never should have like the pursuit of image…places of secret spending that almost wrecked my marriage…places of unforgiveness towards certain people in my life. But as I was forming the words of regret God lifted this verse to my mind and onto my heart. It is one of my favorite verses and certainly one that readjusted my prayers to intense gratitude instead of shame. David’s prayer from a few thousand years ago express my prayer this morning. ‘Who am I and who is my family to whom you have brought great favor and blessings? Who are we and how is it that you have brought us this far in our life when we have done so little for You?’ These are the thoughts that fueled my worship this morning and powered my prayers.

My ‘this far’ is recalling how God interrupted my life of pursuing image 16 years ago and turned my heart to Him. My ‘this far’ is how He watched over and protected my daughter for 8 years as darkness overtook her and transformed her life into one of service and testimony. My ‘this far’ is His healing in my marriage when I had done so much to fracture it. My ‘this far’ is the amazing love that my children and grandchildren have for me. It is waking up beside Bruce who has such a deep love for God and family, and thankful that he's mine. Who am I to still have my sweet mother while so many do not? Who am I to receive complete forgiveness from God when I have withheld it from others? Who am I to be given the freedom from God that I will pursue His approval and acceptance over man’s?

I am who God says I am and so are you. He says that we are loved enough that He temporarily gave up His only Son so He would have us permanently in Heaven. He says that we are a chosen people, holy and righteous because of Christ Jesus. He promises that where the Spirit is, we will have freedom! He says that we will never walk alone on earth and that He has beautiful plans for every one of us. He says that His love for us is not based on our performance for Him. Being still…giving Him our devotion …serving in His kingdom. I’m confident that your ‘this far’ is also one of humility, gratitude and deep reference for the One who has brought you this point in your life.

Let us walk in the beauty of the favor of the Lord!

A Little Slice of Heaven

I had the most amazing weekend! Over the past year a group of us have been planning the 40th reunion for our high school, paying close attention to the smallest of details. Saturday, we met early in the day to prepare for the event and how the details came together exceeded anything in my mind. When the time came for the doors to open, there was a line that had formed to check in for the event. One by one the classmates rounded the corner and entered the banquet room. They had no idea the things we had planned for them before their arrival. Hug after hug…smile after smile…story after story…joy arose, and fellowship thrived in the purest of ways. No politics…no division…no heavy hearts…just people reuniting with their people and a party like no other boasting in the background! Last night, Bruce and I sat for 2 and ½ hours going over the evening and recalling the year that led up to the reunion.

This morning as I sat outside in this 65-degree weather listening to the chirping birds and watching the mist on the lake I was struck by the image of standing in line for Heaven. Every one of us as believers are awaiting our entrance into the biggest reunion we will ever have. We can’t know what lies ahead of us in that grand banquet room, but I do know who will be there to greet me. The Committee who perfectly planned every detail of the last 58 years. To see them face to face will be something I can’t even imagine. They will lead me to a certain table of my people. There I will snuggle up beside my daddy and feel his actual touch again. I will look across and see that million-dollar smile of my sister as our big brown eyes meet each other’s glance. I will move across the table and give my grandparents the biggest hug ever. The party is raging in the background with all kinds of glory and music like I’ve never heard before. There will be no need to turn the lights on for the Godhead will be our Light! And the most beautiful part of all is that the clock never strikes midnight, and Cinderella never has to leave the castle.

And all we must do is to believe…to turn our eyes to Jesus…to fix our gaze on the entrance of Heaven and wait in the most exciting line of all. This past weekend was a slice of Heaven for sure and I will treasure in my heart forever.

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever." Rev 22:1-5

Toe to Water

“And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet…who bear the ark of the LORD… shall rest in the waters…the waters shall be cut off…and shall stand as a heap.” Joshua 3:13

If I close my eyes and call to mind an image from 26 years ago, I still find myself entertained. Our youngest daughter Caroline was 3 years old and we on our family vacation. She was intrigued with watching Kristen and Michael splash about in the water. She longed to be there with them but was frightened of the roar of the crashing waves. As I sat in my chair a few yards away I watched her numerous times creep up to the shoreline trying to muster up her courage. As soon as the waves broke and the water came rushing towards her feet, she took off running staying a few small steps ahead of the water. The seagulls scattered into the air at her sudden movements, flapping their wings and screeching. Her sandy feet never got wet and her courage crashed just like the waves. She never did put toe to water on that trip missing out on the fellowship with her siblings of enjoying the ocean.

I thought of this story today when meditating on the story of Joshua. At the time of the crossing of the Jordan, the Israelite's were under the old covenant. The presence of God resided above the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. We as believers now live under the New Covenant wherein, we are the ones who carry the presence of God in our hearts. We will be called to the shoreline at some point in our lives to cross over into a new season. We will need the courage to put toe to water when we find ourselves in a tough set of circumstances. We will need courage to place the soles of our feet onto the floor each morning even when we don’t like our story. We cannot keep running from the crashing waves, but we must trust that just as the Ark lead the Israelite's through the flooding Jordan, God will lead us through our floods. And thankfully we dip our toe into the cold water with the promise of Exodus 1:3 wrapped around us like a life jacket. ‘Every place on which the sole of your feet treads, I will give you.’

So, will we be like a three-year-old and run away from the approaching waters? Or will we have the courage to face the rushing waters with the confidence of God's presence and power that dwells within us? Blessings lie on the other side of our adversities, and only when we put toe to water will the Lord be on the move with the beautiful plans that He has for each of us.

The Guest List

“And Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people” Ge 25:8

I’m so excited about this weekend! Fifteen former classmates have met over the past 13 months preparing for our 40th High School Reunion. We have classmates driving in, flying in and so many more attending the event. Along the way we had snags in the planning, obstacles to overcome and laughter and love…lots of laughter and love. The music will be great! The food will be yummy, and the fellowship will be paramount with 210 people in attendance. I have not seen some of these classmates in over 40 years but thanks to social media we have contact with each other. So many memories I have shared with not only my little God-given group, but with so many amazing fellow classmates. I’m going to miss our committee’s monthly time together, but time and events march on and so will we. But for this weekend I am walking out my joy of the upcoming time with those friends I haven’t seen in forever. $40… a small price to pay to be reunited with those from my past.

There is another gathering that we will all be a part of…the gathering of and the reunions with our people. God is planning every detail along the way…a committee of 3…the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Our admission into Heaven is being planned in meticulous style and I’m confident in my heart that recognition of our loved ones is part of the gift. Just as Peter who had never met Moses and Elijah recognized them as they spoke to Christ; we will also recognize those people we have loved who now reside in Heaven. One of the beautiful truths about being reunited with our families is that it doesn’t cost us anything except belief. Belief that Christ went before us and paid the cost for the reunion. Belief that we are all sinners but Christ who was sinless wrote the check for us on the tree. Belief that God’s power raised His Son from His death and will also raise us. Belief that God reigns over all people and all things and that one day every single knee will bow to Him and each tongue will claim that He is both King and Head of the family.

Now that is an upcoming event which I cannot wrap my mind around. The music will be great, and the surroundings will be beautiful. All are invited…all are welcome…all have a place at the table!

Our Nightlight

“I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness…” John 8:12b

Bruce’s dad came to live with us with what ended up being his last year of life with Alzheimer’s.  We live in a home that is spread out and the guest room and den where Bud stayed was on the other side of the house.  One night I heard something in the baby monitor that we had installed in both our room and his room.  I crept down the steps and over to his area and found him in the bathroom up against a closet door unable to find his way back to bed.  It just broke our heart that the nightlights we had provided didn’t help him in the darkness.  After that night Bruce installed automatic lights in the bathroom in addition to the nightlight along the way.  Once he passed through the bathroom threshold, the light came on and would stay on until a few minutes after he had left the bathroom.  Even though the room was dark, there was light along the way every night after that.

When I think of this verse I am reminded of that night and how terrified he was until the automatic lights were installed.  Jesus is our automatic light that shows the path when things are dark.  There are little nightlights along the way that keep our eyes focused on the journey.  Sometimes things are so dark that He lights up a full area to sooth our fears and calm our hearts.  In order to receive the light we need along the way, we must be a follower of Jesus and not a leader of the world.  The world promotes darkness while Jesus promises light.  The world will lead to destruction while Jesus leads to redemption.  The world ends in death, while Jesus leads us to life. 

We have a choice to make when walking through our circumstances.  Will we follow the light of Christ or will be make our way blindly, bumping into the things of this dark world?  I feel certain that Jesus rarely questioned the path God led Him because He fully trusted that His Father had gone before Him.  ‘God does not call us into places where His feet have not already marched.  Our job is to simply fit our footsteps into His.’  Ready – Courage to Face the Unknown, Heather M Dixon, p. 95.

Standing on the Bank

“They went as far as the Jordan and stayed there before crossing.” Joshua 3:1b

I love a good story, especially when I am reading the climax of something big that is getting ready to happen.  I’m tempted to flip the pages before I have read the details because this girl LOVES a happy ending.  To understand how impactful and applicable these 12 words in Joshua are, we must revisit where they have been.  Forty years ago, God promised to bring them to a new land…their land…a land full of abundance and blessings.  It would be a land they could call home, a land given to the children from their generous Father.  How they must have laid awake at night looking up at the stars visualizing setting up homes in their new land.  How they could picture their children playing among the fruit trees and chasing each other through the hills.  But this particular morning it was time to break camp, pack up their things and come to the bank of the Jordan.  As they stood there ready to receive, they must have noticed that the Jordan was flooded.  They couldn’t miss the fact that though they had been given the promise nothing could be seen on the horizon…just a view of waters too deep to pass through.  There at the bank they were in between the promise and the fulfillment.  How long would it be before there was a way to pass through?

I don’t know about you, but I have been standing on the bank waiting on a promise God gave to me 14 years ago.  I stand there ready and watching but the water has not yet receded.  I haven’t lost any faith regarding the promise because God has given me (and you) a Book of promises kept in the lives of countless followers.  The Bible is full of the ‘in-betweens’ – those living between the promise and the blessing.  My Bible study’s author shared a wonderful quote from a friend who had been waiting for many years on a promise God had given her.  She said, ‘Today, we throw hope in the trash.  We don’t hope.  We know.’  Ready – Finding the Courage to Face the Unknown, Heather M Dixon, p. 89.  That is what our backpacks must hold when standing on the bank.  Hope is good, but belief is paramount.  God has given us promise after promise in the Bible.  He has given each of us individual promises for which we must claim no matter what the deep waters boast.  Our in-between living is where faith shines the brightest.  ‘Each of our prayer requests are safely tucked away into God’s plan for you and for those you pray for.’ Ready – Finding the Courage to Face the Unknown, Heather M Dixon, p. 94.

God is Great!

“…may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘The LORD is great!’” Psalm 40:16.

Have you ever noticed how when something good happens to us we are quick to post or to say, ‘God is good?’ But not once have I said to someone during my most heartbreaking events, ‘God is great!’ It’s not that I don’t think it and pray that, it is just an odd thing to say to others with tears pouring down my cheeks. Now I don’t say that out of judgment, but rather an observation. It is so easy to see His loving character when something is positive in our lives. But I realized for the first time in Psalm 40 this powerful sentiment…stating God’s greatness while we wait for Him to save us…while we beg Him to remove our painful thorns. What makes this Psalm even more powerful is that David was at one of his lowest times in his life. He was begging the God to save him. He was pleading with God to not delay in dealing with his enemies. He had been on the run from King Saul who continuously sought to kill him. But the first part of this beautiful Psalm is David telling God why He is so great and thanking Him for so many past wonders. God did hear David’s cry and raised him up into one of the greatest kings ever. But the most difficult part of his reward was the decades that David had to live out before he received it. He had a heart for God and although he wasn’t perfect, he was passionate trusting God in frustrating and fearful circumstances. ‘David didn’t receive his blessings because he was special; he was honored among men because he honored the Lord above all. And since he trusted in God’s faithfulness, he endured hardship with patience. We, too, can expect to be blessed when we wait on the Lord.’ The Rewards of Patience devotional, In Touch, Charles Stanley.

So, hopefully the next time I am caught up in my frustrations or my painful circumstances I will be reminded of this beautiful idea of worship of proclaiming His greatness before the deliverance. Just maybe as we are handed a tough pill to swallow, we will remember that God is the living waters to help the pill go down more smoothly. Waiting is one of the toughest parts of our faith because it feels like nothing in happening. But when we live in Christ, we live on a higher level than our feelings…we live on our faith. Waiting is act of worship…calling God great in the face of the fire is a weapon in the battle. Our faith calls out to us to hold on…hold tight…remember God's greatness and track record for saving us. God is working amazing things in His own time and details to save us and to bless us.

Heaven's Curriculum

"I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning." John 15:26-27

Yesterday I was standing in line at the grocery store waiting to check out. There was a sweet little family in front of me with their purchases spread out on the cashier’s revolving belt. The little girl whose eyes were level with the purchases kept reaching up and touching the items…grouping them…arranging them. I began looking at what they were purchasing, and my heart was transported back 50 years ago. Pencils…pads… crayons…packs of notebook paper. It suddenly dawned on me that Monday is the first day of school for many children. I remember the excitement of summer ending and the school year beginning. The night before my clothes and shoes were laid out by my mother. In the morning, she would gently wake me up and I would smell the aroma of bacon and eggs, grits and toast. My little tin lunchbox would be packed for later in the day. We would pile in the station wagon and Mother would begin her morning of chauffeuring us to school. It was so exciting to turn the page to a new year and walk into a new classroom. In later years, our first day would always entail the teacher going over her expectations for us for the months to follow. She gave us a curriculum to help us follow the plan for our time in class. Then she was there every day to guide us through the learning process. We all had the authority to be in our class because we had passed the previous academic year.

This morning I was thinking how we enter our new seasons by the authority of God and the plans He has for each of us. We don’t enter our seasons ill equipped or empty-handed. We enter with a new foundation on which to build from things He has previously taught and shown us. We have been given the curriculum of Heaven by His words that are beautifully expressed throughout the pages of the Bible. How we do in our seasons will be determined by how much time we have spent in His teaching. It is all there in black and white just like in the classrooms of yesteryear. And most importantly, He doesn’t leave us alone in our seasons of learning but has placed a Teacher in our hearts to help guide us…encourage us…and give us wisdom in every situation.

My Bible studies are such blessings from these dedicated authors and scholars. The curriculum along with the Holy Spirit are awesome teachers who remind us of things we have previously learned and who encourage us to gain more wisdom and experience. Every new season will be full of knowledge, revelation and blessings if we invest in the work and show up prepared daily with a hungry heart and a focused mind.

The Untouchables

“Now as for you, everything has been turned over for destruction. Don't covet or take any of these things. Otherwise, you'll make the camp of Israel itself an object worthy of destruction, and bring trouble on it.” Joshua 6:18

The marching orders had been given from God to the Israelite's and the time was upon them to conquer Jericho. The crowd was reminded that Rahab and her family’s household would be spared if the scarlet cord was in the window. But God added another command and underscored the importance of it. He instructed everyone that once the city had been devastated and taken over, nothing should be taken other than the gold, silver, and vessels of bronze and iron which would be consecrated to the treasury of the LORD. God had already given them the land in theory but there was a specific order of circumstances that had to first occur. But we soon discover that not everyone obeyed, and the choice to disobey was a costly one. “Israel has sinned…they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they put it among their own stuff.’” Joshua 7:11. The victory was promised by God, and the long-awaited dream was finally on the horizon. All they had to do was obey the one command God added to the march. Don’t touch!

I find this spiritual principle too close for comfort when considering how this ancient story intersects my story. When reading it I am reminded of the many times I have taken control of my circumstances when God said, ‘Do not touch!’ Things He told me not to say but I did…things He told me to say but kept quiet. I recall times when I was convicted to forgive yet held out. Times I withheld a version of the truth which God still considers a lie…all accursed things! Some of the accursed things are choices we make that negatively affect the lives of others. Other times we are negatively impacted from the selfish choices of others. God has promised us good and perfect gifts (James 1:17). He has an amazing harvest for all our lives if we will just obey Him and walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh. ‘The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ Ga 6:8-9.

What does it mean to sow to please our flesh? It means we withhold our time from someone who could use a friend. It means we tell white lies to benefit ourselves. We sow to please our flesh when we deny others forgiveness and grace. Our flesh will always find gossip or judgmental words to satisfy our jealous hearts. I don’t know why the children of Israel felt the need to steal something God had already promised them. I guess it the same reason we disobey God…impatience… entitlement…weariness…pride. ‘Every child of God must trust the Father with their future and the provision of their needs. He delights in providing for His children. We can learn from the example of the disobedient Israelite's. We can trust the heart of God, choose obedience, and accept God’s way and timing. The difference is between life and death, blessings and curses (De 30:19-20). The Study Bible for Women, NKJV, p 267. When we choose to sow to please the Spirit, we are living out our best and will inherit a wonderful harvest in our lives.

Passed Over

“Your lamb shall be without blemish…And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts…of the houses…Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you.” Exodus 12:5, 7, 12-13.

These verses are a portion of the instructions given to the Israelite's in Egypt to protect them from the plague God was going to strike against the Egyptians. Animals being used as sacrificial offerings to the Lord was the Old Covenant that God made with Abraham. The Israelite's would not have been shocked by this command since it was their norm for the repentance of their sins before God. What was different this time however was the instruction to take some of the blood of the unblemished lamb and smear it on the two doorposts. When the Lord would move throughout the land, those He would save from death would be identified by the visible blood on the door frames. It wasn’t until this morning that I read a verse in 1 Co 5:7 which I have never before read. I have always known that the blood on the doorposts in Exodus was the foreshadowing of the saving blood of Christ being shed for us. But I have never heard Jesus called our Passover until this morning. ‘For indeed Christ; our Passover, was sacrificed of us.’

Because Christ shed His blood although unblemished God sees what Christ did in place of what we do. Instead of Jesus giving an offering He became the offering given for each of us. As a result, eternal death will pass over each of us as believers. There will be a day when God scans the earth, and our very lives will display the character and actions of Christ. Because He will see that we are covered and protected under the blood of Christ we will not be destroyed but have everlasting life. Once Christ died for you and for me, the New Covenant took over and the price of sin was paid once and for all. This truth will never seem normal to me…this truth will always overwhelm me …this truth that a perfect stranger whom I had never met chose to be my Passover wrecks me. And because of the unblemished life of Jesus, my dark stains from sin are washed back to snow white. When Christ is our life, He becomes our covering and His mark upon our lives becomes our redemption. How can a single moment pass without this awareness in our hearts and minds? I’m so thankful I don’t have to ‘sing for my salvation’ or perform for my position in God's family. Indeed Christ…you are our Passover from death and separation from God and our sins are remembered no more.

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Col 3:4.

In His Arms

“‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me…I go to prepare a place for you… that where I am, there you may be also.’ ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’” John 14:1-6

Some of my greatest memories revolve around the 3 times I was putting together a nursery for my babies to enter this world. I carefully chose the furniture, a crib that would protect them as they slept. I decorated with soft colors that would be soothing to their eyes. I purchased things that would provide for them from the time they drew their first breath. And most importantly I placed a rocking chair in the room where I would tenderly hold them and build intimacy with them. These were precious times of preparation and I wouldn’t exchange them for anything in this world. This morning as God lifted this beautiful verse to my mind, I received a new message from an old favorite. This verse has always meant to me the comfort of life in exchange for the sadness of death. But this morning, I am blessed to hold the prism in a different light. This morning the prism sparkles with the message of the present. God not only prepares for our eternal home, but He has prepared for us the circumstances of today and the seasons of tomorrow. Just as we carefully and lovingly prepared nurseries for our children, He goes before us in every circumstance and prepares things along the way that we will experience. He sets protection in place, soothes our fears by placing His comforts around us, and provides for us in every way. But never must we forget that place of shared intimacy that He puts in every season to hold us close…to whisper in our ears in the dark…to console and comfort us…and show us how He prepared for our particular moment...He gently rocks us.

God has been preparing for us, in us and around us since before we drew our first breath. ‘We shouldn’t be surprised to learn that God has been getting things ready for us. He has done this all along for His people. Before He created man and woman, God planted the garden that would feed them. Before He called His people out of Egypt, God called an infant Moses out of the reeds of the Nile. Before Jesus died to promise salvation for all, God watered the tree that would become the cross. God is preparing things for you even now.’ Ready – Finding the Courage to Face the Unknown, Heather M Dixon, p.73.

To the person who will begin treatment…God has given the knowledge to the ones who will care for you. To the parent who is scared to death about losing their child…God has made a promise to never leave them and will guide them home. To the lonely heart, God is moving and preparing hearts to receive love…watch for His movement. To the brokenhearted who is grieving, God has given our loved ones their mansion and is preparing ours for an amazing reunion. God has been preparing for our lives before we ever took a breath. Just as our children trusted us as we watched over them, we must trust God completely as He executes the beautiful plan He has for every one of us.

‘Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you…’ Jeremiah 1:4-5.

Taking Hold

“I know that the LORD has given you the land…For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water… and what you did to the two kings…whom you utterly destroyed…and as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted…for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” Joshua 2:9-11.

Meet Rahab the prostitute of Jericho. I don’t introduce her that way to shame her but I’m repeating the Bible’s introduction of her. Her home is located and built into the wall of Jericho with a watch area where she can see everything. We know several things about her…she is a sinner looking for a way out… she lives among people who do not follow God exclusively but allow many gods into their lives…she has heard of the miracles that God has performed for His chosen people…she is confident in God’s favor among His children. Lastly, she wants what they have…the power of God within them and the victory of freedom among them. But Rahab knew something that we need to know today. She knew that life apart from God would lead to death. She knew that in order to have God she would have to watch for God and His movement in her life. She fully understood that by choosing to help the people of God she would have to risk the very life she had fashioned for her family. On that day she made a choice between the old and the new…she made a choice between being a leader of faith or a passive pawn…she made a choice to risk everything to gain everything. She hung a scarlet cord in the window as a sign of promise and protection once Jericho was attacked. “‘…when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window…and whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him’…and she bound the scarlet cord in the window.” Joshua 2:18-21.

How different are we all these years later living in our own self-made Jericho’s? We have a list of sins for which we too feel shame. We want a new way…a new focus…a rescue and a new life from our past circumstances. We also live in a culture where so many false gods are exalted, and the One true God is forgotten. We look at those devoted Christians who give their lives over to Christ and put His will ahead of their own. We see the miracles that God has performed for others and we want the same for our own lives. How can we have the same level of intimacy and favor that the people in our passage this morning had so many years ago? We can boldly stand on our own watch towers looking for the movement of God. Through the sacrifice of Jesus and the blood He shed for us we have a scarlet cord that runs through each of us once we have asked Him to come into our hearts. If we want to find the favor of God, we must set aside daily time to fellowship with Him.

We are God’s blessed children because His first born made a way for us to receive our abundant inheritance on earth and later in Heaven. May we boldly choose to display our ‘scarlet cord’ for all to see as we live out God’s best for us. If we want a life of freedom we must let go of the cord of this world and take hold of the scarlet cord of Christ.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life…” De 30:19-20

Stale Bread

“Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. Too bad that with many of us He waits so long, so very long, in vain.” A.W. Tozer.

I love spending time with my children but as grown adults they are so very busy. There are times when I am with them that I can tell they have carved a little bit of time for me out of obligation…because it is the thing to do. There are other times when we are together that I can tell their hearts are really in it and the shared joy is pure…authentic…engaged. I share this with you because I sometimes do this with God. I go through my spiritual checklist…listen to worship music…lift a prayer…do the Bible Study…write the blog. But I must say that sometimes that checklist seems more like an obligation than a joyful privilege. I know that God can sense my stale prayers, empty worship and hurried meditation in His word. This morning I was struck by this quote from A. W. Tozer. When I read the short sentence ‘He waits to be wanted’ tears filled my eyes and conviction struck my heart. I know that I have been disengaged this week and I can feel the spiritual chasm. I have been that child who has shown up this week because she was supposed to. I have marked through the spiritual to-do’s only to leave my time with God the same way my heart approached Him…unchanged…unmoved…disengaged. This week I have been feeding on stale bread instead of the fresh bread He promises us each day.

Stale bread has no worth except as a crumbled topping and certainly cannot fill the cravings of hunger. It’s amazing to me how God can take 5 little words…He waits to be wanted…and awaken my heart to desire more. He fully understands when we approach Him out of obligation instead of joyful intimacy. But even in our complacency, He welcomes us. Even in our lazy attempts to fellowship He fully engages with us. He makes time for us no matter our approach because He promises to never leave us even if we are absent in spirit. Our heart of worship is what He wants us to bring to Him, not our spiritual checklist. It is interesting to me that God waits on us just as much as we wait on God. I never want to think that God’s pursuit of me is in vain.

I'm sick of stale bread this week and I'm so thankful that God never closes the kitchen. He calls us back to the table regardless of how many meals we have missed with Him. He longs to share His best with each of us. When our worship is authentic and our desire for God is great, Christ will be manifested in all of our lives. We must never settle for stale bread when sharing time with Jesus.

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33 NKJV)

No Turning Back

“I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back…no turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me…no turning back…no turning back. Though none go with me, still I will follow…no turning back…no turning back.” I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, a song based on the actions of Nokseng, a Garo man from a Meghalaya tribe in Assam.

Yesterday when I was walking, this old song from my early childhood came floating into my mind and heart for the first time in decades. I was immediately transported back to my church and the pastor who regularly offered altar calls. I can’t remember the first time I stood up in the pew, made my way to the aisle and walked down to the altar, but I do remember that it didn’t even seem like a choice. It seemed like I couldn’t get there fast enough. My heart would race and everyone else was blocked out from my sight. This song couldn’t be played without me responding by rushing down front…again and again. My mother still jokes about how often I marched down that aisle, and how people must have thought I was the biggest sinner. A for a moment yesterday morning I was back in this little girl's body remembering the power of Good News!

But this morning as I am listening to the song again, it dawned on me that what that little girl knew 52 years ago is what this 58-year-old woman still needs to be reminded of. That while we all received Jesus into our heart at one point, we still must choose to follow Him every day. We still must choose to follow Him when He leads us into the unknown. We must still be willing to follow Him when our plans are not His plans for us. We must take our eyes off the world and keep the sacrifice of the cross always in front of us. We can’t turn back on spiritual land we have already conquered in Christ. We can’t turn back when we don’t get our way. We can’t turn our back on what the Bible says in order to please other people. We must understand that at some point in life God will arrange circumstances to where we must decide whether we are really still following Jesus…even if no one supports us…though none go with us.

I love my contemporary Christian music but there is something very powerful about the old hymns beckoning us to remember the simple truths of Jesus. The decision to originally follow…the choice to keep following…the freedom of the cross because He followed.