Come. Sit. Stay.

Love ...  is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love ... (Matthew 22: 37-39)

A friend of mine challenged me to write a blog on the three words: Come. Sit. Stay. So here we go!

We recognize these words as commands that dogs learn at obedience school. It takes repetition, practice and consistency - at school, at home, at the doggie park - wherever the dog goes, lives and has its being. Without repetition, practice and consistency, the commands Come, Sit, and Stay - no matter how loudly or how sternly they are said - still fall on deaf ears that aren't really deaf to the sound, or to the knowledge of their meaning, but rather to the willingness to "obey". The obedience of the command is generally followed by a treat, a reward ... a "blessing". Do we ever think of that when we are considering whether to obey a command of God or not? A positive reinforcement like the promise in Deuteronomy 12:28: Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God.

Come. Sit. Stay. Comforting, calling to you, not be alone kind of words. Similar to Jesus' own words, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31) Not: run yourself ragged, or work yourself to death. 

And the greatest command: LOVE. Like Come, Sit and Stay, this command of love is easy on the senses. Its a warm, fuzzy command. Rooted and grown from the repetition, practice and consistency of the heart - for obedience. 

I encourage you all - to practice the command of love this day. And may all go well with you.

(how's that, PR?)

Like Mary

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered … (Luke 1:29)

O dear God, the beginnings of such a major event. It was foretold. Probably foretold so much that people believed but just couldn’t imagine it coming. As it is now, with Christ’s second coming, I believe but probably not happening in my lifetime here on earth. But someday, that day, actually comes. As it finally did for God’s people way back then. That long-expected Jesus. God does not change His plans. For Mary. For Jesus – all your days written in His Book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16). Christ has come and will come again. Thanks be to God, it will happen!

I’m okay with the confusing, un-understandable stuff if it is of God. God is so big!  Nice to know Mary was greatly troubled and wondered about stuff too. I know later she surrenders to the unknown details. Living that surrender out was probably a constant battle, don’t you think? Even if the spiritual side is willing, the human nature side would continually question. With God stuff, you need to stop all the questioning and just go with the God-flow. Stick with the truths God has given you. Write them on your forehead (Deuteronomy 6:8). One thing I know is that there are two or three core lessons from God that would stabilize my life in the difficult questioning times. A couple things I should probably write down. Phrases from God that anchor me. Make me counter the questions with, “Yes, there is that …”  What comes to my mind – right now:

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them … (Exodus 3:7-8)

All the days ordained for me were written in Your Book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. (Luke 10:41 – 42)

For Mary. For Jesus. For me.

The next big thing

… she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit … (Matthew 1:18)

How much do we really believe this passage? Makes me think not very much. It’s pretty “out there” if you know what I mean. The Bible is full of miraculous accounts of God’s doings. I am reminded that Jesus could not do much in His own hometown because of their unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). Am I like that? Do I feebly, weakly (and with some doubt) ask for some small healing when the God of everything is my loving Father? Doesn’t the Bible say He does not treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10)? And - what great love the Father has lavished on us (I John 3:1).

Can God still create whole universes? Can He still stop of the flow of the sea? Healings with just a touch? So many more … is it our unbelief, our doubt, or our unseeing eyes? Will He do these kinds of huge miracles again? What would the Bible say about God if it were written in today’s world, instead of “bible times”? Would we even notice His presence? Would the miracles be as grandiose? Do we have people bravely obeying the Lord and His angel messengers – as Joseph was faced with to do? Just how glorious would the Lord appear to others through our testimonies?

 … she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit … Do you really think people back then were better believers? Do you think God was somehow more powerful then than now? Was it somehow easier to believe in God’s miraculous ways?

God is unchanging. So, does God still do big things? Could it be that people of all generations are just like the people of bible times? Belief. Obedience. Despite some questioning thoughts.

Are we truly celebrating this miracle from a loving Father God? The Savior of the world is coming! Hallelujah He is coming! Hallelujah He is here!  I don’t want to feel guilty about disbelief or unseeing eyes. I want to be changed. Come, Holy Spirit, come … as in the days of old.

In humbled awe

You know when I rise ... You are familiar with all my ways ... You have laid Your hand upon me ... Your hand will guide me ... Your right hand will hold me fast ... Your eyes saw my unformed body ... all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be ... when I awake I am still with You ... lead me in the way everlasting ... (excerpts from Psalm 139)

Thank You, dear God, for drawing me into Your Word. That there is no right or wrong way, but various ways to dive in. Just do it. There is a time and season for every way. Just do it. So much in this psalm to take in. All about me, me, me. I guess we have to take care of ourselves to a certain extent. Take care of our spiritual selves. Take care of our relationship with You. You, O God, formed me, knitted me, saw my unformed body. Ordained all my days. Wrote them in Your book way back when. Knew all the fits and starts this Christian walker would have. You have always known me from the very beginning. You have been with me. You laid Your hand upon me. When I wake up, Your hand is still there. Your right hand will hold me fast, even on the days when things seem so harried, haphazard and spontaneous, You are not surprised but use everything for good. A Master Weaver of black threads and gold. A brilliant coat of colors. The contrasts are breathtakingly beautiful. When I step back and perceive the expertise that was required ... But we're not talking about a masterful piece of art of a coat. But of a life, lived. I only remember bits and pieces. You, Lord, see it all. Thanks be to Jesus, and to Your Spirit for all they have done in and through me. Your hand guiding me, leading me in the way everlasting. Unformed still in many ways yet You are with me. Wherever life takes me - physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, financially ... You are with me still. You have laid Your hand upon me, leading me in the way everlasting. Constantly leading. Constantly right there.

From "Dear God' to "Amen"

Be still and know, that I am God …” (Psalm 46:10)

Life has its hard times, no matter what stage of life you are in. That’s why it’s so important to stick with God; to seek Him; be with Him. Revel in all that God is. It’s important to firmly establish this relationship with God. So you are comfortable in turning to Him when the storms hit.

How do you get to know God? You keep looking into His Word for one thing. Every time, a snippet of God’s character is revealed. So you begin to know the kind of Person He is. It becomes ingrained because the same qualities are repeated throughout history. Second is prayer. Prayer is a little harder to address because my first thought is about asking and receiving. For that is surely a natural first step. And some thanks as well. But prayer has to be more. Prayer beyond asking is like floating on the salty sea. Buoyant. You are there … and the sea is there. You may think you are alone, aware only of yourself. But the salty sea is holding you up, the sun is warm and the breeze is cool and refreshing. The sounds on land are muffled. So there is this Presence, this being held up, supported, and a sense of not going forward or back, but just being. You are there … and He is there. And it’s enough. I wonder how all my worries and cares seem to drift away when I am here in this gently rocking of waves, blue skies, puffy white clouds, bright sunshiny “place”. They seem to recede into the horizon. Muffled. I think that’s what prayer beyond asking is like. Being held up. Being warm. Being refreshed. Being.

I invite you to enter into His peace where the only pressure you feel is His arms around you … and His Word … Be still and know that I am GOD.