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.