Hanging Our Harps

“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps.” Psalm 137:2

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his armies attacked Jerusalem and kidnapped most of its brightest and best people from all age groups. They were forced to live under the command of an environment who didn’t represent God. They went from free worshippers to oppressed slaves. This particular verse was most likely written by a Levite who used these musical instruments in their temple service while worshipping God. This psalm no doubt was written by a person with a broken heart and a depleted spirit. As the author considers the joy of his past he mourns the circumstances of his present life. He longs for what he had and cannot muster up any hope to even play a soothing song. His powerful image of hanging the harps in the trees because of his great sorrow reminds me of yesterday.

I purposely did not watch one second of the hearings…it just would be too sad. I too consider our America of the past and long for those kinder days. I feel like God's people have been taken captive. Our songs of America that use to resonate proudly and purposefully has been quietened for now. I have noticed that I don’t sing my praises of America as proudly as I used to, but I do still sing my praises to the God upon whom this country was founded. I find myself this morning sitting by the river disillusioned and disgusted by the circumstances of what is occurring. It’s easy to hang our harps on the poplars and feel hopeless, but just as our author knew deep in his heart…this is not our home and we are not residents of this place but of a better place…a perfect place.

We belong to a future city where no one can take away our music and our worship. We must place our eyes on Jesus who knows each truth and each lie. We must sit under the authority of God and take our eyes off those who don’t sit under God’s authority but act on their own preferences. We cannot hang up our harps at a time when the music is so crucial. We must continue to sing of truth…God’s truth. We must continue to believe that we will not be slaves to the world forever. So let us sing of what’s important and trust God for the process of turning America’s heart back to Him.

In the Deep and Dark Waters

“For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7

Yesterday as I was walking across the Folly River Bridge I was reminded of a re-nourishment project. This project was approved as a response to major beach erosion after Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Irma flattened the dunes and changed the landscape of the beautiful shore. These unattractive vessels are doing incredible work by carrying sand from the bottom of the river through underwater pipes and pumping it out onto the eroded beach. It is quality sand, but the vessels must go deep to bring it to the surface reshaping, restoring and re-nourishing the shoreline. All the important and necessary work is being done in the dark and deep waters.

Our hearts are no different as God uses different vessels to dig deep in our attitudes and experiences. He knows what has laid in the dark parts of our hearts undisturbed and unseen for decades. He sees our eroded lives and begins the re-nourishment project by stirring up our lives through challenges. He takes our beautiful qualities that have been forgotten and carries them through our adversity bringing them back to the surface. He uses the 'Holy Spirit pipeline' to pump beauty back to our shorelines. When our souls emerge from the dark deep night our future horizons will burst forth like a beautiful sunrise.

Everything will make more sense once we are re-nourished, restored and reshaped. We must trust the process as we are being carried through the pipeline. At the end of the the re-nourishment project you will see more than the darkness that has accompanied you...you will see the glory of the Lord and your shoreline will offer new beauties to behold.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

“Then the king prepared a large banquet…it was actually Esther’s banquet.” Esther 2:18

I just adore the story of Esther and how she rose to royalty. The interesting point about her life is that she rose to a royal position which she already possessed. She was a Jewish child, steeped in Jewish tradition no doubt. I am confident that her parents would have started out her life telling her that God adored her and that He was her God, and she was His child. But one day, a traumatic event happened, her parents died, and she forgot who she was. Being raised by her uncle, her circumstances unfolded that positioned her in the king’s castle preparing for a beauty pageant. She was being prepared and prepped to vie for the crown. I can’t help but wonder how uncomfortable this little young teen would have been trying to see herself as a queen when she had always felt like an orphan. Even with the beauty treatments they gave her, who stared back at her when she looked in the mirror?

I am wondering this morning that very same question when you look in the mirror and when I look in the mirror. Who do we see and does it match who God sees? There have been times as an adult when I saw the face of ‘not enough’ staring back at me. No matter what ‘beauty treatments’ I tried…those empty pursuits of someone’s approval…I still didn’t see myself as a God-chosen daughter of a royal King. But then God prepared a banquet for me…a party of two…where He showed me who I was. Together my mask fell, my heart received love and I remembered who I was. Who I am is the same person you are…a member of His royal family with a head worthy of His crowns…a victor of circumstances instead of a victim of circumstances. This knowledge, belief and daily pursuit is a gamechanger for me. Seeking His face daily, meditating on His words and sharing intimate time with Him helps me recall who I am in Him.

Don’t try to reclaim the position you already possess. You are not an orphan…you are not a reject…you are not a person without a country. Walk out your God-created destiny and remember who He says you are.

Just One Touch

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. Then Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.’” John 20:28

This scene…this story…this Savior. As we peer in to this group of mourners we must remember that they had previously experienced the death of their teacher…their mentor…their friend. They had imagined that He would be with them for the rest of their lives. But their self-made family now sat there without their leader…Jesus had formed this little family and now it lay in shambles. Suddenly a few of them entered with the unbelievable news that Jesus was brought back to life and still lived. Thomas couldn’t stand his heart to be ripped open again, so he marked his claim that unless he could touch the scars of the nails he wouldn’t believe. And eight days later as the group was locked behind their door Jesus appeared and opened His arms to invite Thomas to touch the scar.

Christ is still opening His arms inviting us to touch the scar. We come to Him covered with our own scars wondering if we can ever be healed. We bring our wounds to Him not fully believing that He can resurrect our own dead things in our lives. Is your scar a past decision that left you with regrets? Is your scar the death of a loved one you just can seem to accept? Is your scar a broken relationship…a prodigal child…a shattered heart? Jesus knew that with just one touch Thomas would believe. Jesus knows that with just one touch our hearts can be healed, ministries will be born, marriages can be reconciled. With just one touch we can believe that God can bring justice where injustice seems to triumph. With just one touch we can believe that the impossible is possible and what feels permanent is only temporal.

There is beautiful song that reminds me of how powerful one touch can be when our scars meet the scars of our Savior. Because of His scars we are healed and have the promise of a perfect heaven in place of our imperfect world. I pray you will include this song today as you meditate on the Lord.

“Here at the end of me
You are my victory
I'm trading my scars
For all that You are
For just one touch” Just One Touch, Kim Walker-Smith

https://youtu.be/jnhV7w5S2pk

Breaking Bread Together

“You prepare a table before me” Psalm 23:5a

One of my fondest memories of being a little girl was waking up on Sunday mornings. Looking back, I realize that God had the sweetest table prepared for me on Sundays. I would get ready for church with the beautiful piano music echoing through the house, compliments of Daddy. In retrospect there was a precious chaos those mornings as 4 little girls were hurried into the car and disbursed to the different Sunday School classrooms. But my favorite part of the day was when I would burst through the front door after church and run into a wall of the aroma of a roast cooking. Sometimes Mother would prepare the table, setting each plate down carefully; other times we would be recruited. I can close my eyes and still hear the opening and closing of the corner hutch where the plates resided. I can hear the clatter of the silverware being plucked from its tray, and the ice being dropped down in the glassware. And as I open my eyes to my memory, I am reminded that back then all the chairs were full.

As an adult God has prepared some amazing tables for me. They’ve included tables of celebration and laughter… tables of conversation with friends…tables of babies growing into toddlers and toddlers into young adults. But there have also been tables of heartbreak such as the 2008 Christmas when I hosted the Miller clan. Sadness mixed with sweet fellowship as I watched my younger sister Beth celebrate what would most likely be her last year of life. There are memories of our breakfast room table when Bruce’s dad lived with us his last year of Alzheimer’s…I can still hear the clanking of his spoon against his cereal bowl in the mornings. Although these were sad tables, they were important and precious tables. They were tables where God allowed beautiful preparation for their journey home. They were tables that would hold memories that no death can take away. Around those tables sat opportunities to love, laugh and live to the fullest degree. I am so grateful that in every gathering we broke bread together no matter what was going on.

We all have tables that God has prepared for each of us…different seasons where every item has been perfectly placed there for our spiritual consumption. No matter what you are going through at this present time God has already gone ahead of you, set the perfect provisions for you and will fellowship with you until the end of the meal. He is our Bread and our portion in all times…in all ways…in all circumstances.

“Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness…and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” 2 Samuel 7

My Joyful Noise

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out and sing praises!” Psalm 98:4

Since Bruce and I are empty nesters we have a choice of extra bathrooms to use, giving each other extra room. His bathroom is off our bedroom and my bathroom is on the other side of the house upstairs. As I was getting ready for the day I felt an extra boost of worship, so I cranked up the music and blasted out my songs…my joyful noise…my cries ringing out…my praises in full volume. When I came downstairs I noticed the French doors to Bruce’s office/den were closed. I opened the door to tell him goodbye and jokingly accused him of trying to keep me out. With loving eyes but a nervous smile he said, ‘I just couldn’t take that music anymore!’ I couldn’t believe he could hear me from the other side of the house. I guess only the Lord took joy in my singing!

Worship music and singing along is one thing that helps me pull God close to my heart, especially during those times when I was in the dark valleys. Jennifer Rothschild describes it best in her Bible study, Psalm 23 – The Shepherd with Me, p. 125. ‘God gets personal when the valley gets dark. We need to remember that faith isn’t based on feelings. Faith is grounded in the truth of God’s Word and the integrity of His character. Although you may not feel God’s presence, you can absolutely know and trust that He is there.’ We invite God to join us in our messy circumstances and we listen for His voice to bring order to the chaos. He will replace feelings with faith, and hopelessness with joyful praise. Stillness is the way to become aware of His presence and worship is the way you draw near to God.

‘Sometimes we have to get through the valley to understand what we got from it. So, if you are in the dark middle of your valley, don’t press to find the grand lesson or insight if one is not clear. Just rest in your Shepherd. Let Him carry you through. Receive His comfort and care.’ Psalm 23 – The Shepherd with Me, Jennifer Rothchild, p. 126.

Trusting the Play

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Yesterday I was watching the news and heard an interview that blew my mind. “Adonis Watt, a freshman running back for the Brophy Broncos in Phoenix, is 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 140 pounds — and blind. He has a rare form of glaucoma which took his sight when he was 5. But it couldn't temper his passion for the game. This past week he scored two touchdowns in the football game.” CBS News, by Tony Dokoupil. When it was Adonis’ time to explain the touchdown, his explanation was simple in words, powerful in action. He stated that his strategy is simple: ‘Trust the coach, trust the linemen and trust the play.’

As this amazing story sank into my heart I couldn’t help but to compare it to our faith. As we walk out the game of life we too better be well conditioned and well-practiced for what we are called to accomplish. When we spend time with God we give Him the appropriate attention to show us how to prepare for the upcoming season. He coaches us in knowledge and guidance, and we must trust Him to lead us into victory. He places those linemen around us, those people of faith who we can trust to have our backs as we run towards the goal. But most importantly is the courage He gives us to blindly run towards the endzone by trusting the play. Life has a big playbook, with twists and turns, blocks and fumbles. There will be seasons when we will be tackled and injured causing pain. There will be seasons when we sit on the bench watching and waiting for the signal to move. But when we trust in the coach, the linemen and the play we will have that beautiful moment when God gives us a nod and a wave for us to join Him in the play that was meant just for us. We are also short on sight when it comes to our future, but God has equipped us to have everything we need.

We can face anything that is on the field of life, when God has called us to join Him. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the blind boy who said NO to his circumstances and YES to trust. He didn't live out his life as a victim of his circumstances, but as a victor of his beliefs. May we have that same courage to run for God without sight and score that touchdown!

Grace Graffiti

“In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote…on the plaster of the wall.” Daniel 5:5

If you have never read the account of Belshazzar’s Feast in chapter 5 of Daniel it is certainly worth your reading. It is a wild account of a drunken feast that King Belshazzar threw for several thousand people. At the pinnacle of the unholy celebration it was abruptly interrupted when the words of a message began appearing on the wall being written by the fingers of a man’s hand. These fingers were the very fingers of God with a warning of future destruction for the king. The ultimate wall graffiti that could not be painted over.

This morning in Psalm 23 – The Shepherd with Me by Jennifer Rothschild I was blessed to read an example of how she fights fear with faith in her dark valleys. She said that she draws a valley and writes the many reasons she doesn’t have to fear. She calls it grace graffiti and I couldn’t wait to do mine. I am confident that God blesses each and every time we remind our hearts of His promises when suffering. I know as a mother it always warms my heart when one of my children tell me that they remember what I told them in tough times. In the same way when we apply the promises of God to our situations and cover the circumstances with these promises we will see our valley snapshot with the most beautiful grace graffiti we’ve ever seen. No man can whitewash the walls of our valleys, and no fear can paint over the promises.

Take a moment and draw on your valley walls recalling and reciting the beautiful promises of God and the reasons that we do not have to fear. There is a song by Kim Walker-Smith that is full of musical graffiti that tells us why we don’t have to be afraid. Turn up your volume, open up your heart and let faith win!

https://youtu.be/KIkSuarvyH8

Pulling Our Own Tails

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24

I absolutely love the Wizard of Oz and the characters that made the movie a blockbuster hit. The cowardly lion is probably my favorite of the group. When I read this passage today I thought of that sweet lion who was destined to be courageous but spent the entire movie terrified. One of my favorite scenes is when the foursome was walking down the corridor of the castle towards the Wizard. The lion became extremely frightened at which point the scarecrow said, ‘What happened?’ Holding his own tail, the lion emphatically stated, ‘Somebody pulled my tail.’ Of course, he was one who had pulled his own tail.

Before I judge this precious character too harshly, I must consider my own reactions to fearful seasons through which I have walked. It is tough as a Christian to reconcile fear and faith coexisting in the same heart and mind. We all have valleys to walk through where fear whispers the ‘what-if’s’ into our hopeful faith. ‘What if the chemo doesn’t work…what if I never find love…what if my marriage can’t be saved… what if I never find a job…what if God doesn’t answer my prayer.’ The what-if’s…pulling our own tails. ‘Fear is a natural reaction to our valleys, but faith is a supernatural response. Fears show up in ways we don’t realize. Being overly controlling…angry…isolating ourselves…anxiety and worry…all fear in disguise. Although, fear and faith can share a heartbeat, they don’t share the same perspective. That is why we need the faith perspective when it comes to our valleys. Fear focuses on the shadows. Faith focuses on the Shepherd.’ Psalm 23 – The Shepherd with Me, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 120.

How do we get a faith perspective in our fearful hearts? How do we recognize that we are the one pulling our own tail by listening to the what-if’s in our circumstances? Paul states in Romans 10:17 ‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ We can either hear the whispers of fear or open the Bible and allow God to whisper the words of faith. Luke 17:5 also reveals an important prayer to be lifted when fearful. “And the apostle said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” We let go of our tail when we pick up the Word. We let go of our tail when we whisper to God to give us greater faith. We realize that the fear chasing us is only a ghost, and God determines the reality. Fear sees the dark of the valley, while faith sees the light of the Shepherd.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalm 27:1

Stalked by a Turtle

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23:4

This morning in my Bible study, the author asked that I look up the words above to get a clear understanding of the meaning of each word and how they communicate together. I was then instructed to write my personal version of this sentence with my own words. I wrote, ‘In spite of moving at a slow pace in this low area between high times that feel like an ending to something, I will not give in to the belief that something bad and painful will overtake me.’ Rereading it I became amused because what came to mind was Hurricane Florence that felt like forever in anticipating it. By no means am I downplaying what any person went through, but rather using it as a devotional example of our storms. We watched it develop out in the waters, we witnessed its power intensifying, we anticipated complete destruction and eventually experienced a weaker reality than what we feared. As it boasted that it would be a category 4-5 when it hit, in actuality it was a 1-2. It still did a lot of damage, but we didn’t experience the regional level of devastation it could have been. As a matter of fact, Bruce told me about a weather reporter compared the unfolding of Florence to being stalked by a turtle!

I began thinking about the season when Bruce’s father came to live with us during his last year of Alzheimer’s. It was only 11 months, but it seemed like forever in that valley with no idea of how long we would experience it. Day after day…prayer after prayer...low areas between high times…Stalked by a turtle. I’ll bet you have been in long valleys that seemed to last forever and maybe still are in a low area of a valley. Valleys certainly foster fear and and painful circumstances. Valleys always seem to threaten a Category 5 as you watch its impending landfall. But thankfully, all valleys have an entrance and an exit. Valleys were never meant to be the destination, but the passage to a new mountain. ‘When those low places come, the isolation feels so confining, heavy, and dark. So, if your valley is hard, ask God to give you grace to see your valleys through the lens of ‘temporary…momentary …a blip on the radar. It will help you know that even what is most painful is not permanent in light of eternity. Your valley has purpose and your valley is filled with God’s presence.’ Psalm 23 – The Shepherd with Me, Jennifer Rothschild, p. 116 and 117. I am blessed to know that even in our darkest shadows…our greatest threats of imminent destruction…the valleys are still temporary and God is permanent and eternal.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are no seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Co 4:17-18

Just As I Am

"Just as I am - though toss'd about, With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears within, without, -O Lamb of God, I come! Just as I am - Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, -O Lamb of God, I come!" Just As I Am, Charlotte Elliott.

"At the age of 32, Charlotte Elliott suffered from a serious illness that left her disabled for the rest of her life. Then her lifelong spiritual mentor César Malan, a Swiss minister and hymnologist, counseled her to replace her rage and inner conflict with peace, and simple faith in God; from that day on, she turned her literary talents to writing hymns. One day when everyone in her family had gone to a church bazaar to raise funds for a charity school, Elliott was left alone, confined by her sickness, depressed with feelings of uselessness and loneliness.” Irene Ting-Ting Lai, Discipleship Ministries, United Methodist Church website. Her troubles of the previous night came with such force that she felt they must be met and conquered in the grace of God. It was at that point she recalled everything she understood about God’s initiative, pardon, promises and free love apart from who she was. She penned one of the most comforting and soothing hymns which has gotten lost in the shuffle of new music.

This morning as I listen to this hymn I am reminded that even in my worst condition I can come to Christ because He came for me. Even in your worst condition, you can come to Christ because you are completely covered. Just like Charlotte Elliott, we can come as we are in our rage and inner conflict. We can come as we are in our loneliness and feelings of uselessness. We can come as we are with our medical challenges because we will be healed one day for good. We can come just as we are because man does not define our value but the Lamb sacrificed for us to show us how valuable we are.

I pray that each of us will also consider the scandalous love of the Lamb, meeting any restless and taunting emotions head-on with that truth. Just because He is our Savior, we can be loved just as we are. 

Treasures of the Deep

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back [pile up] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and they were divided…the children…went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” Exodus 14:21-22

Last year about this time, we were in the same predicament with an impending hurricane as we are this week. Thinking back I recall several things that completely blew my mind when we returned to see the effects. The first morning back, I walked to the pier as usual, but the complete landscape had been altered. The sand dunes were gone, and the beach had been flattened where dunes once stood. Sand had been pushed back and piled up all the way to the beginning of the pier creating a mound almost as tall as the pier. I couldn’t imagine the power of the wind that had blown and battered the shore creating that mound. The other thing that amazed me was the beach itself, now adorned with unseen treasures from the ocean floor.

As I think back on those times when the harsh winds blew into my life piling up suffering I understand that I was still in God’s hands. Just as He caused the sea to divide for safe travel through the seabed He made a way for me to walk through my seasons of suffering. He revealed beautiful treasures from that journey, things I could never have seen had the waters not parted. To me it seemed that just like the waters were walled in so was I. But God determined how long it would take for me to get to the other side and He provided dry land. I could have drowned in my misery, but He wouldn’t let me. He allowed the storm to hit, but I walked through it picking up the beautiful things of the deep I would never have possessed without the storm. When I emerged from my adversity the landscape of my life had indeed changed. Bad behavior and unlovely attitudes had been shifted to a new focus...focus on a better way to live...a better way to act...a better way to believe.

Whether you are fearful of the actual hurricane this week or fearful of another type of future, you can have complete confidence in God’s protection and blessings. Don’t shield your eyes during your journey because you just might miss the treasures of the deep that are yours and God’s alone... treasures for which you didn’t even know to search. Look for the beauty in your new landscape that God has formed and established just for you.

“Thus, says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: Call to Me and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

The Storm-tracker

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you." De 31:8

If you are on the East Coast most likely you have watched a little more TV and followed a little more social media in the past 48 hours. We live in a 24/7 news world where we are awaiting the news and anticipating the worst. With mandatory evacuation instructions for today, we decided to leave Folly Beach last night, due to Hurricane Florence who is doing her intimidating dance across the waters. Last night on the way home Bruce asked me if I remember knowing about approaching hurricanes as a child. Neither of us remembered anticipating things like these. In part it was because we didn’t have the means to receive the ‘drip-drip’ news, but rather woke up to the news once it occurred. It certainly is great to have the information of an impending storm, so we can fully prepare. However, I find myself immensely grateful this morning that the storms of life hold no power measured against our God. He has been charting oncoming storms since the beginning of time. His power dismantles…His power swells and churns…His power creates, and His power can still the waters with a breath.

One of the sweetest graces that God has given me over the course of my life has been my lack of knowledge of impending disasters. I call it the providence of God on the road to preparation. He is the only one who knows what make up ours storms, in which direction they will turn and the exact timing of when they will hit. He prepares our lives and our hearts to weather the storms, and if we heed the warnings of the Holy Spirit the impact will be less and the intensity more bearable. It blows my mind to see the different storms that He is charting for every one of us. He shields us from the majority of them, and my confidence is secure knowing that our storms march to His commands. The news would have us believe that Hurricane Florence is this atrocious monster who has the power over our future, but we know that Florence yields to God’s power and His future. She is just a bag of wind in the hands of an all-sovereign God whose very breath can remove, rebuild, restore and redeem any set of circumstances.

If you are in a storm wondering if the sun will ever shine again, take heart because God does His best work in the chaos of our lives. He tells the seasons where to go and how long to stay. He has the aerial view of everything that could possibly strike our lives, and He has personally gone before us, providing a way from underneath the crashing waves. Keep your eyes on the Storm-tracker instead of the storm and you will be protected and carried through all seasons. He is the Bread and Water where the shelves are never empty.

Standing Ovations

"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand.” Acts 7:55

Tucked in the Book of Acts is this little gem that shouldn’t be looked over when reading through Acts. One of the earliest and greatest Christian martyrs once the church was established was Stephen. His enemies didn’t want to declare the truth of Christ Jesus’ resurrection and reign. But it did become truth…and Stephen was unapologetic about sharing the good news. Stephen was stoned to death but before he closed his eyes to this world something amazing happened that was recorded in the Bible. The Holy Spirit opened Stephens eyes, the sky unfolded like a beautiful scroll and an opening appeared. Stephen gazed right into heaven and what He saw is what I am sure my loved ones and your loved ones saw. As the heavenly curtain was pulled back there was King Jesus standing up in the honorable place beside God. I can just imagine Daddy as he shielded his eyes because the glory was so bright, adjusting his eyes to the golden hue. In the Bible there is another vision given to Isaiah. ‘I saw the Lord, high and exalted...and the train of his robe filled the temple.’ Isaiah 6:1.

While walking the other day, I was thinking about Stephen, Isaiah, Daddy and others who now walk with Jesus. I was picturing how Jesus was standing when Stephen saw Him. I wonder if Jesus was standing because He was giving Stephen a standing ovation. I imagine King Jesus stood up from His throne, turned to walk towards him while the train of His golden robe tumbled down into the skies falling upon the earth. We must remember that Stephen was still fully alive when God allowed Him to see the glory. Isaiah was still walking upon this earth when the vision became His to claim. Caught up in my imagination I glanced over my shoulder and saw my own vision of heaven…the sky was filled with gold that covered the horizon. Had Jesus just stood up from His throne to welcome another member in that heavenly family?

As children of God, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us to give us vision where we can experience God’s glory on earth. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, all the tough circumstances in which we find ourselves will pale in comparison to the knowledge that the Deity walks before us, behind and beside us. I will never forget that beautiful golden sky when the train of the King’s robe fell to the earth reminding me that His glory is always surrounding us.

Letter from God

My Dearest Child, the season in which you are presently experiencing is the season that I have made just for you. (Psalm 118:24) It will be full of joy and gladness for I am delighted to bring my plan into full fruition. I have been arranging all of these things so that this day, our day, can come in full abundance. (Romans 8:28)

I thought of you even before you were formed. I chose those beautiful eyes and infectious smile just for you. With my very own hands, I created you for specific things and made you unique from every other child of mine. (Jeremiah 1:5) No one but you and I even knew you existed at first, not even your mother. I assigned how many days you would walk this earth and serve my purposes for your life. (Psalm 139:16) I still see you as that little carefree child running after butterflies before you knew what darkness looked like. I watched people on earth hurt you and fail to love you in the manner I had planned. My heart was broken for you and I put into place a plan to bring you back to Me. I was there when you surrendered the darkness. I saw your pain that day and reminded you that I am your Father and you have the eternal position of being my child. In your pain I provided a way out for you through the love and constant care of your family. In your trust and resolve, you walked that plan out and received the love I sent for you. I have shown you many things about true love between a parent and a child.

I have had you face painful and frightful circumstances to bring you freedom from dependency on another. (Isaiah 61:1) I have allowed loss and grief so you would know my comfort and compassion to pass along to others in your life. (2 Co. 1:4) I have allowed injustices against you to teach you forgiveness which is always required in my plan. (Luke 6:37) I have closed the doors that led to nowhere and have opened the doors that provide the path to the desires of your heart as my will provides. (Psalm 37:4) I have placed certain people by your side to love you in the right way, the way I love my bride, the church. I have worked all of these circumstances together for you, despite evil’s attempt to take it all away, so that we are now standing at the dawn of the day that I have made. (Gen 50:20) This day that I have made is the day that you and I together will walk out the plan that I have had for you all along. A life set apart from the usual, a life full of love and blessings for the faithful walk you have demonstrated. As you know, life on earth will not always be perfect or easy, but I promise to continue to give you the only peace that comforts, my perfect peace in all circumstances, but you must seek it. (John 14:27) Even if you were the only one on earth, I loved you enough to allow my own son Jesus to die on your behalf. (John 3:16) You are that loved by me. As if that were not enough, I have surrounded you with relationships that demonstrate my undying and unconditional love for you. There are many more things I want to teach you so remember to spend time with Me. Life is extremely busy and time must be carved out for us to plan future dreams. There is still much left to do that I have planned for you and your future. They are wonderful plans and I cannot wait to tell you about them. (Jer. 29:11)

So my beautiful and faithful child, confidently walking out this season that I have made just for you. When Satan tries to lessen or cheapen this journey, do not give him the power. This is our greatest hour…where your dreams meet my fulfillment. We are standing on the holy ground of a fulfilled plan between a child and Father.

All my love!

Beyond the Waves

“The still inside the storm, the promise of the shore…beyond the barren place, beyond the ocean waves …My God will make a way, so I am not afraid.” Jesus Culture, Not Afraid

When our children were young we owned a pontoon boat, and frequently took the kids on a boat ride in the evening. One late afternoon we packed up and headed for the lake to take the boat out armed with snacks, drinks, suntan lotion and excitement. I still remember their little faces as they took turns sitting on Bruce’s lap helping him navigate. They would run between the ‘captain’ and the ‘crew’ as their hair wrapped across their faces as the wind blew through the galley. Bruce had navigated the boat to the furthest point of the lake when a horrible storm arose. Instantly, thunder boomed as lightning appeared to be a staircase from land to sky. Bruce told me to get the kids and take refuge in the little bathroom on the pontoon. I took Michael and Kristen (Caroline hadn’t been born) and snuggled up in the floor. I couldn’t see what was going on outside those walls, but I knew that Bruce had all abilities to safely guide us back to shore. I could hear the thunder and rain pelting the roof of the boat along with its swaying movement. Between urgent prayers on that bathroom floor and singing songs with the kids nervously, the boat was finally back in our slip and we had been brought to safety.

When I feel fear seeping into my mind and heart, I remember being on that floor hugging my children tightly. I remember that I felt deep gratitude that I had someone who loved me and was willing to put his life on the line to save me and our children. Just like I couldn’t see what was up ahead, we can’t see the dangers through which God navigates. The storms hit in each of us lives and we also live in the tension between fear of our future and singing praises of our past. There are so many circumstances that we are not even aware of that could have shipwrecked us. But when we place our confidence and trust in God, He shields us from the storm and places us in the eye where things are calm.

You may currently be in a storm living life between fear and praises, but God is in total control of your raging sea. You have the One who loves you most in charge of your present season. He will not be reckless with your life, and is navigating you through the waters of obstacles guiding you back to the shore. When we surround ourselves with God’s promises and the reminders of past faithfulness we will experience the storm in the still instead of the chaos.

Waiting for Day Seven

“‘Take up the ark of the covenant…Proceed, and march around the city…’ So he had the ark of the LORD circle the city…” Joshua 6:6-7, 11.

The story of the fall of Jericho is one of the strangest stories in the Bible.  What makes it so strange is it marks one of the greatest victories with some of the fewest actions.  The Lord impressed the importance to Joshua of simply walking in circles to bring about the triumph.  The ark of the covenant was the place where God’s spirit dwelled and would lead the people in their march.  Their part was to watch…God’s part was to act.  Their part was to follow…God’s part was to lead.  Their part was to walk in circles… God’s part was to walk in certainty.  And in God’s perfect plan and precision the seventh circle on the seventh day ‘it happened…the wall fell down flat.’ Joshua 6:20.

I don’t know about you but there are some things in my life that I have been marching around for too many years to count.  That mundane march around a set of circumstances that offer no view into the victory.  Maybe you are also circling around that same desire that seems to never materialize.   The futile things we try…the empty marches…only to find out it’s still not the seventh day…the wall still stands…still no victory.  The important element of this march is to remind our hearts that the Ark is up ahead.  He is in the front of our march and His view sees our beautiful future.  There are no obstructions to God’s view of what is up ahead, so why would we give up on the march? 

‘Always remember that God is at work on the other side of our obstacles, arranging the details and bringing His plans to fruition…The stage was set for conquest, yet by that point, Joshua had done nothing.  Sometimes we think we need to be involved in the solution, but God is not limited with regard to whom or what He can use to accomplish His will.’ Charles Stanley, Seeing Obstacles through God’s Eyes.

So, as you face another day…marching around the same walls…wondering if this will be the time it falls… take heart that God spoke another seventh day into existence and it was very good.  The same breath that formed the world is the same breath that will tear down the walls preventing the victories of our lives.  So, keep marching...keep believing...keep the faith.

‘Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…And on the seventh day God ended His work…and rested.’ Ge 2:31-3:2.