Why Jesus

Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him ... (John 12:16)

Jesus Christ. Savior of the world. Risen from the dead and alive. I don't really know how I believe this. I can see how it would all seem impossible. I can see how it all doesn't make sense. This wages of sin is death thing (Romans 6:23) and a substitute was provided (Hebrews 9:26, 28) - can't even fathom the awesomeness of that; the grandiose gift of that. No sin in heaven is a reality. Everything loving and worshipful. Hard to imagine there really was a time on earth like that. But life in the garden of Eden was closer to God than we can ever get to know until heaven itself. And those that lived with Jesus in their midst - those who were granted "knowing" - this taste of heaven. And I talk as if Jesus were no more.

 But we profess Him alive, present, but unseen. I don't want my living testimony to only be about:  He did something that made me happy, so I will praise Him. I want to love and praise Him in the storms; in the silences; in the barren; in the pleasant places; in the mundane too. Because I know Him to be faithful and true; loving, wise and powerful with complete sovereign control. I will praise Him for no reason, no answered prayer, no pleasant surprises. I will praise Him and lift His Name on high. Nothing is better than trusting, believing, knowing the goodness of Jesus Christ. Knowing. Resting in that knowing. That He can do impossible things. All things are being taken care of. Nothing escapes His eye or His tender heart. Trust and believe in His perfect timing, His wisdom, His love, His grace. Be at peace about all things. He does not overlook a thing. His glory is coming. They did not realize it until it came to be. He promises that in all things - good will be the final outcome for all who believe (Romans 8:28). A rainbow is coming. Trust and believe and leave all matters to Him. He is faithful to His Word and will not disappoint. Cast all your cares at His feet. He's going to deal with them wisely, perfectly anyway. Praise Him that you know this assuredness about Him.

Spring cleaning of the heart

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweet the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin'. (luke 15:8-9)

pring cleaning. That time of year when some people put more effort in sprucing up the place. Whether it’s vacuuming around the edges of the room with that special attachment thing, or washing windows and airing out furniture pieces - you are going a little deeper, doing a little more than you normally would do on a weekly basis. In search of freshness and satisfaction in a job thoroughly done. What a wonderful feeling when it is completed, right? (not to mention more comfortable in having people come over!)

The woman in this parable was also on a search. But not for freshness. For a treasure. Like you, she went a little deeper and more thorough than a quick look for the coin. Can you see her moving furniture, stretching and reaching into the dark corners of the room with her broom? And the parable concludes with her celebrating in joy when the coin is found and the search completed.

I started thinking about the whole cleaning business on a “heart” level. I know the Bible promises that I would have things like joy and peace in my life. And I have had the habit of continually asking God for these very things. Then it dawned on me after reading this parable that maybe joy and peace are already in my heart, and I can’t sense them because of all the “stuff” piled up on top, hiding them from view. Are there piles of worries, anxieties, sadness keeping you from tapping into the joy and peace already in your heart? Is it time to trust in the faithfulness of God and His promises to take care of all things? It’s time to lighten your load. It’s time to sweep away those cobwebs and dustbunnies of worries and fears, and bring that joy and peace out – fresh and satisfying. What a wonderful feel is awaiting you! Happy cleaning!

Miraculous signs

... and a great crowd of people followed Him because they saw the miraculous signs He had performed on the sick. (John 6:2)


I read this and I ponder ... quite a question before me. Would I still love God, follow Him if He did nothing for me?

First off, God does everything for me. My very next breath is by His command. All that I have materially, tangibly, the character of my spirit - every good and perfect thing is from the very heart and hand of God. I am given abundantly. Rich in blessings. Do I chase after His miraculous signs? Do I need to see great signs and wonders on a steady, regular basis in order to keep following Him? All I have needed, His hand has provided. Again, I sense such abundance right now. Most of us do live in rich abundance. Do I chase after Him for more - as though no more will come? Or can I rest in the fact, in the certain assurance, that God will take care again? Am I arrogant in saying that - or am I showing myself to be a precious, beloved child of God who knows and trusts her Father? A little sigh escapes my lips. I know that my Redeemer lives and reigns today and all my tomorrows. I can live in the secure knowing that He loves and takes care of me.

Join me in that restful thought today.

Free, indeed

... just as Christ was raised from the dead, through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.. (Romans 6:4)


Dear God, always, always - thank You for Your Word. For these morning quiet times with You and any thoughts You impress upon my heart and mind. I am grateful this relationship can happen. Yes, thank You, Jesus. Help me to live aright in these moments and free me from distractions that I might truly enjoy this gift and bond with You.

Thank You for Your help in getting me to give up the sin of gluttonous eating. Renew my mind that I would think about food in a good, right, healthy way and minimize its importance and use it to fuel my body and empower me to live our Your commands, as well as truly enjoy its blessing from You. Thank You for other total victories over past bad habits that were sinful. Smoking, drinking, and wild, pointless haphazard living. Thank You that way of living and sinning is past. Thank You for victory. Every good and perfect gift comes from You, God. (James 1:17)

Forgive our lack of devotion to You. Have mercy on all of us lost and confused souls. Especially those of us who have experienced Your mercy, forgiveness and grace and still panic and lack trust. Forgive us for not fearing You as we ought. Forgive us for having a more pressing concern over the praise from others over obedience to Your commands. "How long? How long must I stay with you?" (Matthew 17:17).  I'm sorry, Jesus, we have all fallen so short and have put that frustration in Your mouth. Thank You for Your compassion and patience with us, especially us who claim to be Your followers. Thank You for the tremendous gift of total and complete forgiveness. Thank You for paving the way to freedom from bondage to sin. Thank You for the certainty of being with You forever and a day. We can be alive in Christ and dead to sin. I pray we recognize sin for what it is and hate it as much as You do. I pray by Your Spirit we would be determined to do things God's way, that through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

And I say, "Amen, Lord." (Jeremiah 11:5)

Downtime

I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Correct me, Lord, but only with justice - not in Your anger, lest You reduce me to nothing. (Jeremiah 10:23-24)


I am what I am, Lord, and marveling that You would love me as intensely as You say You do. Thanks be to God! Thanks be to Jesus that by Your mercy and grace, You remove all the negative things about me and make me presentable in Your sight. Because of You, I will fit in - in the highest, most glorious of all places and among all kinds of people - heaven. I imagine that there ,I will not duck my head in shyness, fear or shame. I can't imagine such freedom. Lord, I shall be a totally different person with all the damaged goods gone.

I get lost, Lord, in trying to do the best I can and realizing at days end, maybe my meager best wasn't enough. I could have been more loving, more gentle, and certainly more productive. My heavy burden is all this self judgment. What about all the senior citizens who can't get out and about and do much.? Do they pose the same questions? Do they wonder how they live for the Lord when they are all alone in their room all day, unable to do things like write or read or make a phone call? Do? Everyday for them - a state of being instead of doing and they wrestle in their minds about their purpose. Yet You find them as acceptable as the doers. In this world we are driven to reach for excellence or at least the best you can. You must expend energy in thought, word and deed. Yet Your beckon us to Come and Be still. But for how long? Once a day? Sometimes more. Sometimes longer. I guess You, Lord, would be the decision maker on that. Probably constantly different for a variety of reasons. Who are we to judge ourselves or others on what the "best we can" really is and its hidden value.

Maybe yesterday was a Be Still downtime sort of day. Not really productive - for whatever reason. But are not my days written in Your Book? Are not my moments filtered through Your very hands before one of them came to be? Am I not securely loved and kept close to Your side as the most precious of children, whether or not I judge a day good or bad? Can I honor God by not doing? Is there a difference between doing something when my heart and attitude are not in it - and doing something I don't feel up to, but want to please God with such a gift? I think heart attitude is everything. I'm not fooling You, God, by doing good deeds just to check them off a list. Its only when my true desire is to please You with obedience - no matter what - letting nothing stop me, that the offering is pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. There is a time when I'm fit for doing and times when I need to get re-centered on my relationship with You before I continue.

Sounds like a never-ending, circling cycle way of life. So don't be distressed if you find yourselves in a state of non-doing. You may be in the re-centering phase for a season. Don't beat yourself up during this time of what you might call getting nothing done. The Lord is probably working on your insides. Allow Him to work on you and prepare you in every way for your next good work - to the glory of His precious Name.