Shadows of Hope

 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…finding out what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works…” Ephesians 5:8-11

One of the most deceitful attempts that Satan uses to distract and discourage us is lulling us asleep spiritually. He knows the less time we spend walking near Jesus the more we will look like the world. He offers alternative views of who we are which contradict who God says we are. He guilts us into believing we can never really be free from past sins, even though God ‘remembers our sins no more’ once we have a repentant heart. His brushstrokes paint darkness over the canvases of our lives when we don’t protect our hearts. No wonder we sometimes walk around with our shoulders hung low with an unsatisfied heart. We have forgotten that we are children of the Light and have become scared to death of our circumstances surrounding us. We imagine so many things that never come to past. We walk as children who don’t believe God is really in complete control of everything we imagine…COVID-19…our government…our health…our relationships. Why on earth do we as children of Light need to be reminded? Because we live in a world where the enemy has been given certain licenses to roam…to steal our peace…to kill our joy…to distract our minds...to convince us God really isn’t as powerful as He says He is. Our fear is our proof that we have taken the bait!

Once we accepted Jesus, we were born into Light and we must remain diligent in our position in Christ. We are God's children with the ability to walk out anything we face if we distance ourselves from our dark and discouraging thoughts. ‘Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Ephesians 5:14. He is the Light we are encouraged to imitate, not the attitudes of our world.

So, during our first week of Advent as we claim HOPE, we remind ourselves that walking with Christ gives us all that we need. Because of this privilege in Christ, we have HOPE that when we walk as children of God, we discover what pleases Him through prayer and His Word. We have HOPE that He will keep us from participating in fruitless things that distract us and dim our light. We have HOPE that by distancing ourselves from the world and all its empty threats, we can feel complete confidence in the One who tells the stars where to shine and the waves where to crash.

Because of HOPE, we can trust God to adjust our conduct, conversation and character and shine our light onto a dark landscape. Hope is a shadow cast by God's Light!

The Heart of Advent

 "As followers of Christ, we are a people living between two advents: the coming of Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem and His future triumphant return as the King of kings. Since the fourth century, believers across the globe have observed Advent to remember Jesus’s birth and anticipate His return." Advent 2020 – Jesus Christ is Born, She Reads Truth, p.16

The other day I received a text from one of my precious friends telling me that she had left something for me on my porch. I was so touched when I discovered that she had bought me this Bible Study for the next 4 weeks wanting us to celebrate Advent together. What better way to lead up to celebrating Jesus as a little baby than remembering what He did for us as Savior. As believer’s we have the Word to read about the First Advent, that season of Jesus’s life when He came to fulfill the Old Testament prophesies and promises. He was the answer to the prayers of several generations who were anticipating the promised Messiah.

As believer’s we have the Christ-given authority to anticipate the Second Advent, the promised return of Jesus. One day in the future He will return, ushering in the fullness of His kingdom. ‘On that future day, every tear will be wiped away; there will be no more pain, grief, or death. All things will be made new, all that is wrong will be made right, and the eternal dwelling place of God will be with His people.’ p. 16

And that is our HOPE which is the first candle we light today in celebration leading up to peering into the manger to get a first glimpse at baby Jesus in December. Take some time this week and celebrate the things you are hopeful for in 2021. For me,

Because of HOPE:

I have a guaranteed room in Heaven walking with Jesus.

I will see my departed loved ones again one day and never be without them ever again.

I will experience God’s fulfilled promise of a deep desire hidden in my heart.

I will walk in joy apart from any challenging circumstances in 2021.

Welcome to the first week of Advent where HOPE will take center stage in the story of our lives.

All Things Multiplied

 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…” 2 Peter 1:2-4

As my preacher likes to state, the Bible is not a book but rather a library containing 66 books written in different formats…poetry…history...songs…biographies to name a few. This morning as I read the above passage written by Peter, I found my mind reading over most of these words instead of being the recipient of them. However, these words are too beautiful to not break down what it means for you and me as God's children.

As I read the word ‘partaker’ I was struck with yesterday’s Thanksgiving meal. The word partake means to participate in…join in…be a part of…to share along with. I sat at the table with my precious family and enjoyed culinary item after item until I was stuffed! In the same way, I love this image of feasting on and participating in God’s divine nature until we are full. Sometimes when a passage of Scripture seems to be above my head, I will write it making it first person and in a style I can better understand. With the fresh Thanksgiving meal on my mind from yesterday, and the fresh application of today’s Word I decided to write my own expression into a prayer from our passage.

Dear Father, You have given to me through Your divine power all the things that pertain to my life and my pursuit of godliness. I don’t join in through my own virtue and glory but only through knowing You and the ways You have called me. The precious promises that You have uniquely given me are tucked in my heart. They are indeed wonderful and undeserving by my own deeds or words. They exceed anything You have ever promised me and through Your divine power You allow me to partake…to receive…to participate as You assign and will for my life. Through your multiplied grace and peace, I am blessed beyond imagination. Amen.

Being a partaker of the divine means peeking into heaven while we are still on earth. Being a partaker of the divine means filling up on the promises and privileges from God. Being a partaker means joining in on the spiritual things instead of the worldly things. I’m so grateful that Peter reminds us of our position in Christ. One of our greatest Thanksgiving blessings!

The God Who Sees

 “Now the Angel of the LORD found her…in the wilderness…And He said, ‘Hagar...where have you come from, and where are you going?’” Genesis 16:7

This morning we are introduced to a young woman named Hagar, who was the personal servant to Sarai, the wife of Abram. We witness through Scripture her sobbing in the wilderness after fleeing from home with her life turned upside down. Previously, one day as she went about her normal duties the decision of one selfish impatient woman disrupted her life on every level…her work…her health…her home. Sarai, her master was barren and had grown impatient with God answering her prayers of pregnancy. She demanded that her husband Abram marry Hagar and impregnate her so that Sarai could be a mother. Once she was pregnant, she despised Sarai for the decision that had changed her life. These circumstances are where she has come from and the story picks up where the heart of the Lord looked down and saw her misery. The Angel of the LORD appeared beside her and began a tender dialogue with her. He asked, ‘where have you come from, and where are you going?’ With swollen eyes and a tear-streaked face she answered His question. This is a story that has played out a million times since the beginning of time.

This morning I wonder the same about your story with God… ‘where have you come from, and where are you going?’ To the spouse who came from a happy marriage to the life of being single again…where are you going? To the person who came from a healthy body to the life of medical concerns…where are you going? To the couple who raised their baby in church to the reality that their teenager is living in darkness…where are you going? To the employee who came from a good job to discover that the job has been eliminated…where are you going? The list of ‘comings and goings’ are dizzying at best and terrifying at worse. The answer as believers is that we are going straight into the arms of Jesus with everything we face!

In an instant our lives can change but God never does for ‘He is…and was…and is the One to come!’ (Rev 1:8). He is the One who saw Hagar at her loneliest moment and He is the One who sees you. He reminds us from where we have come and to where He has taken us in past troubles. He already knows the answer to what He asks of us, but He asks so we can remind ourselves of His unshakeable faithfulness. He reminds us that He is greater than any circumstance that lies before us. He comforts our fears and brings peace out of situations that scare us to death. He is our anchor is every storm, and He walks beside us in all our comings and goings.

Just like you, I may not know where I’m going in my future but I know where I’ve been and Who has been with me every step of the way…the God of Hagar, the God of my parents and grandparents, and the God of every moment.

Next time you consider where it is you are heading, have confidence and thank God that He has already arrived there before you.

Swinging at Air

“Why are you afraid?” Matthew 8:26

When I was a little girl, I was always intimidated by a Pinata and usually shrunk back allowing others to take a swing at birthday parties. But on a few occasions a well-intended mother of a friend would insist that I take a turn. It always seemed a bit scary to me as a child to be blindfolded, and dependent upon another person to guide my steps to the unknown. If the blindfold wasn’t enough, I was to take a big stick and begin wildly swinging at air in the small hope I would land a devastating blow causing an explosion of candy. On the far chance that I was successful, by the time I removed the blindfold the other children were on the floor clamoring for the candy.

Sometimes I feel like that little girl blindfolded and swinging at air when there is a threat up ahead…If I make contact with the unknown what in the world will the fall-out be? What about you? Are you swinging at something fearful that has not even come to pass? We are all blindfolded when it comes to our future so what will our response be? Will we swing the stick of fear at whatever is dangling before us? Will the explosion be chaos instead of ‘candy?’ Focusing on fear will always diminish our hope for victory over the unknown. ‘Fear is the consummate robber…Faith is not as easy to come by as fear, but it is colossally easier to live with.’ The Quest, Beth Moore, p. 34.

God did not give us a spirit to fear things; fear comes from the flesh. God gave His Spirit because of His love for us to convince us we are held. His Spirit provides us with power, courage to walk through our fears, and vision to guide us. He gives us self-discipline to take our thoughts captive and replace them with full belief that we are okay and everything will be okay. Whatever threatens us we must swing at it with our eyes wide open, using the Word of God as our staff. His yield is beautiful and bountiful if we really believe that God is good and He is in total control.

Our Eastern View

“And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’” John 1:46

I’ve never thought of this question until today and how rich it is in application for you and for me. Nathanael’s question was in response to Philip, his friend who was encouraging him to meet Jesus. Philip believed Jesus was the coming Messiah based on the prophesies of past prophets. Clearly, Nathanael’s opinion of Nazarenes was negative and judgmental leaving a bad taste in his mouth. This question is hauntingly similar to thoughts that I have had during some of my most challenging seasons. I have had the same distaste in my mouth when considering outcomes from life’s problems beckoning the same question…, ‘Can anything good come from ________?’

Sometimes the very thing that we dislike will be the very thing that God uses to deliver us. The phone rings, the text is delivered, the medical test comes back and our mind and heart sound the battle cry, ‘Can anything good come from this? This situation stinks!’ Suddenly, our doubt replaces our hope…our fear screams over the whisper of our faith…our expectations are replaced with exceptions. We must remember that the same ‘good’ that came out of Nazareth for the disciples is the same ‘good’ Who comes out of Heaven for us…Christ Jesus! He has been coming out for us since our first breath and our first heartbeat. He is the answer to every single question in all our quandaries.

When we begin asking the question of ‘What on earth could possibly be good about our situation’ we only need to look at our past seasons. The same Jesus who came out of Nazareth is the same Jesus who came to us in our hurting. He is the same Jesus who walked us through our failures to the other side. He is the same Jesus who stays with us when we walk away. There is spiritual good to be found in every season which is an overflow of our experiences when we walk them out with God.

He will turn everything we face into the ability to face everything!

Here I Am!

“Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” Genesis 3:9

“Scholars estimate…that the Bible is home to somewhere around thirty-three hundred inquiries depending upon the translation…Hundreds of questions are exchanged laterally between humans…but the ones that will most profoundly shape our landscape will be vertical: questions man asks of God and those God asks of man…To walk with God is to be on a quest. And a quest is no quest without questions.” The Quest, Beth Moore, p. 14.

Considering the fact that my devotionals are usually written out of the overflow of my Bible Studies it dawns on me this morning that the next 6 weeks might be awkward to write. Our questions to God at best are those which we are too embarrassed to ask or those we push into our subconscious not really wanting to know the answer. But my questions at worst will be in full view which leaves me feeling vulnerable and a bit embarrassed. But, like Jesus instructs us in Matthew 10:27, ‘Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak it the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.’ Over the next 6 weeks I will share whatever questions the Lord leads me to for transparency and shared encouragement.

Today’s instructions were to answer the same question God asked Adam and Eve in the garden, ‘Where are you? As I re-read my answer to this question, I have written statements regarding different circumstances I presently face. My written statement in part is as follows: ‘Excited and joyful because of good news. Humble that I am being used by God in certain areas, but also feeling insecure at the same time. Impatient still having to live with Covid, but grateful my family has not been devastated by it. Disappointed in government with no good answers. Weary in waiting on a promise God gave me years ago, but fully expecting it to be realized. Praising God for giving me self-discipline in an area I’ve needing for years. Frustrated that I am battling jealousy in a few areas of my life.’ WHEW! What a mess but without honesty freedom will tarry and intimacy with God will fade.

I encourage you this morning to consider the call from Ge 3:9. God doesn’t ask these questions out of condemnation but out of a longing to engage more deeply with us.

‘Where are you?’

At the Base of the Hill

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

A few weeks ago, I went hiking in the woods with a dear friend but I had to have two important things for the hike. She loaned me a bright orange vest that would alert hunters of my presence. She loaned me a long sturdy staff to make the incline easier by allowing it to bear some of my weight. The stick also was to tap on the path to alert snakes that intruders might be approaching. We had a great time and my friend made it funny, entertaining and enlightening. From the base of the hill to the top, she would stop and point out things along the path. She would answer any questions I had regarding that area. We wouldn’t continue the hike until she had told me everything that she wanted me to know.

This morning welcome to The Quest, my new Bible Study by Beth Moore. It is about engaging in dialogue with God instead of just experiencing life as a spectator…a bystander…an onlooker. God calls us to do more than just sight-seeing during our journey on earth. His desire is for us to arrive at a stop and linger with Him…hike the hills of that area…ask questions in search of His answers. There are precious artifacts to unearth on whatever path to which He has brought us. He has provided us with what we need for the journey just like my friend provided me. He has considered the path ahead of the hike that He desires to walk with us. He has things He wants to share with us for our greater understanding. He is no hurry and longs for us to ask our questions regarding our surroundings. Asking is a form of intimacy and worship.

Throughout the Bible God has been asking His children questions of His own to bring them into fellowship. We must ready ourselves for the hike by using God’s word as our staff which we will lean on for truth. We must use His spirit to reflect the warnings of danger on our journey. And above all, we must linger with the Lover of our soul and ask the questions so He can answer…seek His heart so we can find what we need…knock on the door of trust so we can discovery. It’s going to be a great adventure!

An Empty Barn

“Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.” Haggai 2:19

God’s way with words is always thought-provoking but can also be entertaining in its inquisitive nature. In short, God loves to answer His own questions! In the time of Haggai, God had finally gotten the people’s attention through the scarcity of certain provisions. He pointed out the obvious…there was no growth hanging on the vines. His question was more of an underlying consideration of the location of the seed. As the people were discouraged that nothing had come to ripeness as they looked on the vines, God reminded them that they had planted the appropriate seeds for future growth. The seed was in the ground so it would only go to reason that blessings were coming although the vines were currently bare. ‘Soon, whatever they had planted would grow. Whatever they sowed would sprout. They will have plenty once again. They will live in abundance. But the evidence of God’s promised blessings was not yet hanging on the vine. What God said and what they saw didn’t seem to match.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p.166.

Whew! Now that last sentence preaches for this girl who has been promised a major blessing for 15 years and yet His ‘yes’ still looks like a ‘no’ on the vine. I am constantly checking the vines for growth…a sign of life…a single bud. Impatient at best, discouraged at worse. God reminded me this morning with a question, ‘Is the seed still in the barn?’ It struck my heart that He was saying, ‘Have I not promised you the yield of your desire? Have we not planted and sown what will be ripe for the gather?’ He wants me to fully embrace the wait and understand that while I don’t yet see the growth, there is growth within me. ‘When a blessing takes a long time to show up, it gives us time to grow up…The process of patience matured me…As we grow in patience, we grow in faith. As we grow in faith, our capacity for patience grows. We are all in process. You can be patient with the seed because God is faithful with the seed.’ p. 167

I wonder this morning, what vine in your life has not yielded the fruit? Do you really believe that the seed has been planted and no longer is in the barn based on God’s promise to you? Are you going to God daily in partnership and fellowship to water and nourish the seed? There are many verses that speak to the question of doubt, ‘Is the seed still in the barn?’ Any questions we have regarding our future has already been answered in the holy writ of God’s book.

‘The vision is yet for an appointed time; at the end it will speak and will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come.’ Habakkuk 2:3.

“Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” John 13:7

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:3

Taking Courage

 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid...for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

As I turn the last page on my Bible Study, Take Courage by Jennifer Rothschild, I cannot leave you without her closing encouragement. I couldn't express this any more eloquently, so I will exhort you with her heartfelt words as you go about your day on this beautiful Fall morning.

"When the landscape of your life seems dotted with the rubble of hopelessness, take courage, you are not alone. God is with you, and He will give you strength to rebuild what is broken.

On those days when your priorities get confused, take courage and consider your ways. God will stir up your spirit to do the next right thing.

When you're worn out and feel like your fatigue is stronger than your faith, take courage. God will strengthen your hands and heart.

During the times you feel like you can't stand, take courage because Jesus will stand up tall in you and for you.

In those barren seasons when you get weary in well-doing, take courage because you build more than you see.

When you are burdened by the weight of your discouragement, take courage because a far greater glory grounds and anchors you.

And, ultimately, when you feel like you just can't hold on to hope, take courage. You are held securely in the hand of God forever."

Choosing Joy Again!

 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Yesterday while on our church's Zoom Prayer Team call it was my turn to share what request I had for prayer. The only thing I kept focusing on was how grouchy I have been over the past two weeks. Typically, I am full of optimism and encouragement but those companions recently have seemed hidden. Sheepishly, I asked the team to pray that my grouchiness would leave me. In their prayers the call for one thing kept arising...the call for joy in the Lord. Ahhhh...how did I forget about joy? This morning, I immediately opened the lid on the treasured writings God has given me over the last 12 years. I searched on the word joy bringing up past writings and found this treasure. Sometimes when we need our emotions to be settled, joy is something we choose rather than something we feel. Our decision to choose to be joyful is blessed by God giving us His joy. His joy is our reward for seeking Him for what we lack.

Our morning passage used to seem more like a fairy tale than verses in the Bible to me. Who on earth can consider the multiple trials in which we have all experienced ‘pure joy’? Before we roll our eyes and skip over this passage let me share with you the most complete definition I have ever read defining joy. Years ago, I read Kay Warren’s book called Choosing Joy, Because Happiness isn’t Enough. Her definition of joy is ‘the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.’ And that is the core of joy – choosing it despite our circumstances.

Joy is the overflow of spiritual maturity and completion once we really embrace God's track record. Joy is cumulative and progressive as God proves Himself faithful in all seasons. Joy runs the race to the very end, while happiness constantly searches for another path. We are certainly going to face trials until we step into Heaven so why wouldn’t we choose joy understanding that our trials are not empty? Why wouldn’t we step into maturity and move towards completion in God? What does it look like when are living a life lacking nothing? It looks like the woman who despite her broken relationship fully understands that God is still in control of every detail. It is the man who has God’s assurance that provision will be there to carry him through the lean times. It is the parent that continues to praise God even while awaiting the prodigal to return…a settled assurance… a quiet confidence…a determined choice to praise God through it all.

Seasons come, and seasons go, and they are strung together with both beautiful days and heart wrenching moments. Most times we cannot control the hardships that crash into our lives, but we can walk through them with joy…pure joy as the author described. God promises that we will have everything we need to face any trial. In Him we will lack nothing, so with that truth we can take comfort and choose joy!

From Mess to Message

 “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did’… They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Many of the Samaritans…believed in him because of the woman’s testimony…” John 4:28-30, 39.

I just love the story from the Bible of Jesus and the woman at the well. Her story eerily echoes my story of bad choices…wrong priorities…flawed thinking. We can assume that this woman was possibly in the mid-season of her life since she had already had five husbands and was involved with another man. Her life had been filled with chasing the approval and acceptance of men. Her heart revealed misplaced priorities and futile pursuits of love. Day after day she placed that empty water jug on her head and walked to the well. Little did she know her heart was as empty as the pottery she usually temporarily filled. But instead of filling her jar that day, she met a man who filled her heart and changed her life…His name was Jesus.

But the next part of the story is seldom highlighted when considering her interaction with Jesus. It is the story of a woman whose life was radically transformed giving her hope and a new direction. It is a story of a person who interacted with a Savior and couldn’t keep quiet about it. It is a testimony that had to be told to everyone back in her town resulting in new believers. We must remember that most likely she was shunned by her community because of all her past failures. The very people who had judged her were the very people she courageously shared the good news of Jesus with.

It will require boldness to point others to God. It will require a listening ear as others may question our knowledge of Jesus. Since the Garden of Eden our experiences with God matter and should be shared with others for their benefit. God has given us a spirit of courage and power, not a spirit of fear and cowardliness. When we witness about the transforming love of God, our messes will turn into our messages and God’s work will be displayed through our lives inviting all to Him.

Latter Glory

“‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:9

I just adore our church! By the time we walk into the worship center the greeters have been positioned to welcome us and video screens have been prepared to display God’s word for us. Every seat has been prayed over prior to our arrival and a prayer team has been chosen to both encourage and pray for us at the end of the service. We are surrounded by the sweet voices of all as we lift our songs of worship to God. They work all week to ‘prepare the temple’ and we are the beneficiaries of the hard work.

‘Preparing the temple…’ such a phrase falls fresh upon me this morning. We all carry within us the temple of the Lord…the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I wonder if I am working as hard as my church in preparing my meeting place with God where we fellowship? Do I examine my heart’s worship center to ensure it is not cluttered with distractions? Am I praying for His will over every facet of my life, not just some of them? Am I doing everything I can to keep my temple holy? Have I created a center for worship like my church has? The more attention we pay to the seat of our heart where God indwells, the greater glory He will show in our lives. Every action…every word…every thought should be aligned with the attitude of Jesus. He stated that everything He gave was what God had given to Him. We are no different since we have been given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of things to come. With each passing day, the intimacy we gain with God will be more than the previous days…the latter will be greater than the former.

But like my church the preparations must be done…the heart must be hungry…the temple must be attended to. When our devotion and love grows for God through daily supplication and meditation, our lives will fling open the doors of our temple welcoming all people to benefit from the glory of God.

A Little While

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty." Haggai 2:6-9

When I was a little girl one phrase that I rarely enjoyed hearing was ‘In a little while.’ I would get so irritated to hear that because it lacked any new information. What I sought, was never found with that short answer. It seemed that my world was controlled with those four little words. Although frustrated, I trusted my parents that what they promised would be received. They had proven themselves over and over again.

I have a promise from God tucked deeply in my heart. Year after year I hear His whispers, ‘In a little while.’ When I see nothing on the horizon that looks even remotely like a hint of the fulfillment, I run back to Him, pulling on His hem asking, ‘Now, Father?’ Like my parents, He never ignores me nor tires of my question. He knows that I am confident that with Him, promises made are promises kept. There have been other times when He has shaken heaven and earth and filled my circumstances with His glory and peace. The beautiful words that follow ‘in a little while’ couldn’t be more encouraging. Those words…’once again’…anchor my soul and remind me that what I am waiting on now has already been done by Him in the past. He is able…capable…faithful...unstoppable…when the proper time is revealed.

What ‘in a little while’ situation are you facing? Is it a reconciled marriage? Is it a new job? Is it a prodigal child? Is it a cure? I know that when the heart is aching and the journey gets long, a day can feel like a year. ‘What might seem to us as God dragging His feet about a promise is actually a reflection of His patience and plan. We need to keep this in mind so we don’t get discouraged…impatient…exhausted of doing good…of building and rebuilding. Some fruit takes a long time to grow and show. However, that doesn’t mean the seeds you planted are not taking root.’ Take Courage, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 128-129. Because we can fully trust God’s future promises on past fulfillments our answer is ‘when and not ‘if.’

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Ga 6:9

Picking Up Straws

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…It is the Lord you are serving.” Col 3:24-25

This morning I read something in Take Courage, my Bible Study by Jennifer Rothschild that seemed odd at first consideration. She encouraged me to ‘practice God’s presence.’ I found that strange because God controls His own presence and tells us that He is always with us, never leaving our side. So, to practice His presence seems foreign to me, but she gave a beautiful illustration in a story of a monk who lived in the seventeenth century. His name was Brother Lawrence and he worked in a monastery kitchen ‘where his love for God grew and his awareness of God’s presence became a practice.’ He wrote, ‘We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love for Him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before Him, Who has given me the grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.’ pp. 118-119.

When we practice His presence, we view every little action we take as doing it in the presence of God and out of our love for Him. Through this awareness the smallest of things can elevate its value since it is a love offering to Him. In considering my calendar for this week, I began picturing every item as doing it for God because I love Him. I need to sweep the dead leaves off of my front walkway so I will practice God’s presence by thanking Him for the new crisp season that only He could create. I am keeping my great-nephew for my niece on Friday and I will practice God’s presence by praising Him for breathing life into Him. I need to mail a few bills and I will worship Him with gratitude that He has given us the provision to cover them. I’m sure your calendar is bogged down but when we commit to practice His presence with a keen awareness that He is the beneficiary of our efforts ‘even picking up a straw’ can be motivated by our love for God. When we practice His presence, our focus shifts from grumbling to gratitude and troubles to triumphs.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.” 2 Co 4:18