Post Christmas Let-Down

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of they salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51: 10-12).

For weeks we've been planning for Christmas. We hung lights, decked the tree with colorful ornaments, baked cookies, shopped, wrapped gifts, attended parties and excitedly awaited Christmas. The joy of sitting next to family and friends in church on Christmas Eve and singing Christmas hymns reminded us of the miracle that took place over 2000 years ago when our Savior was born.

Now, a week later, we begin cleaning up and putting away. The trash bins are stuffed with wrapping paper, boxes and ribbons. The needles on the tree are dry and dropping and soon, it will be taken down as well. School will resume again shortly, or we'll return to work and life will go back to normal. It is hard not to experience a sense of let-down after the hustle and bustle of Christmas. What now? For some of us, winter will continue its cold presence for another 4 months. What happened to all the joy and laughter that came with the Christmas season? Why can't the thrill and excitement just continue?

How do we retain the joy that we felt at Christmas when the mundane takes over once again? We can fix our eyes on Jesus by making time for Him. It will require discipline to find quiet time to read Scripture and reflect on what we read. Furthermore, we connect with our Savior when we interact with Him in prayer.

As you go about your daily tasks, think about what you are thankful for, and ask God to restore your joy.  Remember that He, through His sacrifice on the cross, created a clean heart in you and me. Jesus will renew a right Spirit in us if we submit our lives to Him. He won't cast us away but will intimately relate with us if we seek His presence. Christ can restore our joy with His Spirit:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 
Cast me not away from your presence
And take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51: 10-12)

As we enter the new year, I remind you and me to make a habit of spending time with God so that we experience joy in His presence.

Dear God,
I have so much to be thankful for. You died that I might be blameless in Your sight. Help me to make time for You in the new year. Open my heart to learn from Your Word and renew my focus on Your promises so that I find joy in Your presence. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

God's Indescribable Gift

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (John 1:1-2)

We've all had the dilemma of buying a gift for someone who seemingly has everything. One of my older sons is very particular about his clothing style which I, of course, can never figure out. Each year for Christmas, I ask him what he would like to which he rarely responds with helpful ideas for a quick, easy purchase. I usually  take the easy way out and simply give him money so that he can choose what he wants.

We receive the best gift at Christmas: God's Son came to us as a babe--a human child. He would grow up to be a man who endured the cross so that you and I might have eternal life. This little baby wrapped in rags and lying in a manger was God who took on flesh and dwelt among us. Why? Why would God send this gift to us on that first Christmas night? And why would he do this for you and me?

We are rebellious and ignore God, and we often have attitudes that don't reflect God's will for us. We deserve to be punished, not rewarded! Yet, God did not send His Son to earth to punish us for our sins. He came to earth to purify us so that we can stand before Him and His Father clean, with our stains removed. Jesus Christ "provided purification for sins" (Hebrews 1:3).

God realized that something was missing on earth, and He knew the perfect gift to give us. John tells us that "that which was from the beginning" and the "Word of life" describe the gift that came to us in the form of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are rebellious and ignore God's will.  By nature, we are sinful beings. Yet, we have been given the gift of grace. Jesus, the babe in the manger, is an indescribable gift presented to us by God out of His love and mercy so that we might have life and live it abundantly.

Prayer: Dear Father,
Because of your gift at Christmas, I stand before you purified from sin. Thank you for the amazing love you have shown to me! Thank you for your indescribable gift. Keep me always close to you that I might glorify you in my thoughts, words and deeds. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Jesus Identifies with Us

Hebrews 2: 5-18
It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet." In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (NIV)

Why would the Creator of the universe place His Son into this world? What could possibly have been the purpose? God brought His Son into the world to personally relate with us, human beings whose lives are disrupted through sin and separation from God. It is our separation from God that leads us to yearn for a relationship with our Creator, and the birth of our Savior made this possible: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

God allowed His Son to have lower standing than the angels when He sent Him to earth as a human. In Hebrews 2, we read: "we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone' (verse 9). In sending Jesus to live among humans, Jesus became like one of us, like a brother. In verse 11, we are told, 'Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.'

Those of us who have faith in the saving power of Jesus are adopted children of God and are family with Him and His Son. Jesus came to earth as a baby and identified with us as a human. Now, we as his children can also identify with Him. As verse 14 says, 'Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity.'

Jesus was born in Bethlehem as a baby. It was a human birth including the pain Jesus brought to his mother during her labor. As Jesus grew up, he got scratches and bruises, just as human boys do. I have mentioned that my teenage son suffered a bad knee injury 15 months ago. He had his second surgery two days ago and is presently in great pain. I know that Christ understands Gabe's pain, and so I pray to God, who can identify with Gabe, that He who had nails hammered through His hands and feet and suffered muscle pain just as we do, will be a comfort to my son. Just as my son has suffered emotionally due to his inability to play sports for the past year and the year to come, Jesus too suffered emotionally. His own people betrayed and rejected Him. He suffered the humiliating death of a criminal when He was nailed to the cross: 'He had to be made like [us], fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2: 17-18).

Not only did Jesus suffer as we do, He was tempted like we are. He understands what it is like to be tempted to lie or to want what we don't have, yet He did not give in to temptation.

Jesus, who is crowned with glory and honor with His father, suffered death so that 'he might taste death for everyone' (v. 9). Jesus, the Son of God, became human to identify with us and in so doing, also had to die like we must someday die. Yet Jesus 'tasted death for everyone.' What does this mean? Jesus death was not an accident--it was planned by His father for a purpose--to overcome the evil of the devil (14-15). He died so that we, through His suffering are redeemed. However, we continue to struggle with pain and temptation; yet through Christ's sacrifice, we can eagerly await the day when we will live a life with no pain and suffering with our Savior in eternity. Because of Christ' sacrifice, we will have eternal life with Him. He was born and died so that our sins would be forgiven. We are free from the curse of sin and the law and are no longer in bondage to sin, because His blood made us righteous. As believers, we are adopted sons and daughters in God's family, and His Holy Spirit resides in us. As redeemed humans, we are forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted and restored in our relationship with God. Praise be to Christ for His amazing blessings! Amen

Choose Peace over Hectic

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed -- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

As Christmas approaches, many of us run in circles, trying to decorate, plan dinners, buy presents, attend gatherings, and then merely function in the day-to-day hectic that already exists. We may also be busy at work or school or caring for small children, and the preoccupation brought on by the frenetic pace of Christmas makes us wonder if we'll get it all accomplished in time.

My mind is in a whirl as I endeavor to get my school assignments completed, take care of my children and get food on the table. I feel as if I'm in the circus juggling colorful balls that threaten at any time to tumble to the floor. When I finally pause and contemplate what Advent means, I realize how our hurried culture interferes with a true preparation for the birth of the Savior.  In my attempt to conform to the "patterns of this world," I don't allow the Holy Spirit to transform me "by the renewing" of my mind. Paul reminds us:

          Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
          Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect
          will. (Romans 2:12)

The story of Mary and Martha provides us a good example of the value of time spent with Jesus amidst the hectic of the holiday season. Jesus stops to visit with Mary and Martha. Notice that it is Martha who invites Jesus, not Mary. Yet, rather than spend time with her guest, Martha frantically rushes around to prepare the dinner party. Mary, on the other hand, is aware of the significance of her Lord's presence and sits at His feet listening to His wisdom. Piqued by her sister's lack of helpfulness, Martha approaches Jesus asking, "'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed -- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'"

When reading this story, I can better empathize with Martha than with Mary. I rush around doing what I think must get accomplished, and I miss out on the significance of Christmas. I need to purposely stop running in circles and be like Mary who chooses to slow down and listen to her Savior. In Isaiah 55:6, we read, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near." Will you choose, like Mary, to seek the Lord this Christmas, or be anxiously consumed with planning, decorating, cooking and buying?

Prayer: Dear Lord, You remind us to "not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present our requests to [You] (Philippians 4:6). And so, we ask You to be with us as we prepare to celebrate Your birth. Help us to slow down and spend time with You. Remind us that peace ensues when we abide in You ("And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7)). In Jesus' Name. Amen

God is not Santa Claus

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and hear, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you; God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1: 1-5, NIV)

I've written about my 17-year-old's failed knee surgery. He will soon have a second surgery and possibly a third in three months. The heartache I experience as I watch my son struggle with his anger at God and the world has led to my own doubts and anger. As I was venting my woes to my sister, she replied, "Meta, God is not Santa Claus." I've heard this phrase used regarding the market driven Christmas tradition that focuses on presents and material goods rather than the true source of joy we find in our Savior; but I had not applied it to my own complaints.

Our world is full of suffering, broken relationships, crime, abuse, injuries and disappointment. You might ask as do I, "Why my child? Why me?" Jesus told us we would have suffering in this world (John 16:33). We don't understand its purpose but must trust that God knows: "now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Corinthian 12:13). I may never in my lifetime know the reason or purpose for my son's injury, but God sees the whole picture, and I choose to trust in His wisdom.

It is now Advent, the time before Christmas in which we prepare for the coming of the Messiah. The
word, Advent, means "coming" or "arrival." This is a season in which we reflect in hopeful expectation as we wait for the arrival of Jesus. As in Charles' Dickens' novel, Great Expectations, and my adoption story, Great Expectations: An Adoption Story and Devotional, life often falls short of our expectations. Unfulfilled expectations may lead us to keep yearning for something with which to fill the sorrow left by reality. We may expect God to be like Santa Claus and ask Him to give us what we think we need. But our hearts will not rest until they rest in Christ (St. Augustine). As we prepare for the coming of the Lord, let's live in hopeful expectancy for the Messiah who will carry our burdens and give us rest. Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11: 28-30).

Prayer: Hymn, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, by Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2: 13-14)

Happy Thanksgiving! As I write this message, I ponder my own lack of thankfulness over the past year. I tend to focus on what is not going well rather than choose to see God's presence in my life each day. Yesterday, I complained about the geese that leave messes on our lawn and keep us awake at night with their quacking. This morning, as I ran, I saw a huge flock of birds undulating in unbelievably artistic formations. They moved in and out of bizarre patterns, and I stared in awe. I felt as if God was reminding me that He works even through the birds that leave messes on my lawn. 

Reading 2 Thessalonians, I am reminded that we have much to be thankful for. We were chosen by God to be saved through His Spirit by our faith in Him, not because we are good, smart, or well-known, but because of God's grace. Notice the repetition of the word "through" - through the sanctifying work of the Spirit...through belief in the truth...through our gospel; through Christ, we are saved. Christ took on our sin and sanctified us. We are saved from sin and death. We are saved for eternal life in which we were called to share in Jesus' glory.

Even when life is tough and presents us with disappointments, we are blessed, because our Savior loves us unconditionally. Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4: 4-8:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Dear God: Thank You that You have chosen me to be saved. Not only that, but You call me Your own and allow me to share in Your glory. I give thanks to You for the blessings You continue to bestow on me. Help me to have a thankful heart and to rejoice always in You. Please guard my heart and give me Your peace. I choose today to concentrate on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable. I choose to abide in You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Negative Self-talk or God's Voice?

Do you ever think to yourself, "I can't do this! I'm not good enough! I'm not smart enough! I am worthless!" Often, these sorts of thoughts fill my mind when I'm in bed and can't sleep or while I'm driving in my car or sitting at the computer.

Negative self-talk can bring us down and fill our minds with doubts and fears. How easy it is to surrender to these thoughts and lose heart thinking that we are destined to fail and that our lives lack meaning and purpose.

But wait! Another voice tells us this is wrong! We do have purpose! We aren't in this struggle alone. We read in Philippians 2:13, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

God is walking with us. Yes, we can and do have free will to make choices, but we can either listen to our own negative self-talk or abide in Christ and listen to His voice.

God can use us even when we are weak, for He is strong despite our weakness. God tells us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 9, NIV). When we place our trust in God and rely on Him, He gives us strength to do what may seem impossible. " I can do all things through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13, ESV).

Prayer:
Help me, O Lord, to listen to Your voice and not to my negative self-talk. When I walk with You, I am strong. Your grace is sufficient for me. Thank you, that I can rely on Your voice and Your strength to guide me. In Jesus' Name. Amen

How to Love the Adopted Child

I recently read an article about the ugly side of adoption, written by an adoptive mother who is struggling with her adopted child. Many of us have an idealistic image of adoption before we go through the long process of paperwork, wait and wait some more, and then finally bring our child into the family. We take personal pride in the knowledge that we will be bringing hope and love to a child whose life may have otherwise been spent working in the rice paddies, eating with other orphans in an orphanage, living in an abusive home or even surviving on the streets. The picture we imagined of the perfect family, however may soon become replaced with a painful image of life with an emotionally injured child. We want to love the child and make them whole, but they have a subconscious awareness that they were abandoned, and the feelings of abandonment play out in deceptive behavior and rejection of those who want to love them.

We know that our redemption was paid for the by the sacrifice of our loving Savior, and that God chose those of us who follow Him to be blessed and whole in Him: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Gods grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ to be put into affect when the times reach their fulfillment - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ (Ephesians 1: 7-10).

Why then, if we have faith and are obedient to Christ, don't we have that "unity" in our family? Why must adoption continue in its path of pain? Should it be difficult to love? I must remember, when my child is not acting lovable that I too am blemished, but perfect in God's sight because of what Christ did for me on the cross.  I also know that my daughter was created in the image of God, and that He loves her with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). I draw strength from the Word and am comforted with the reminder that His strength is made perfect in weakness: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9). And, I am empowered as I read that He who works in me will fulfill His purpose: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6).

Dear Father, You made my child in Your image, and love him/her with an everlasting love. Give me Your strength in my weakness so that I can be the loving parent my child so desperately needs. Thank you that You are my confidence, comfort, and strength in hard times. In Jesus' Name. Amern

God's handiwork

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God  - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2: 1-10)

When looking up sites on Google, frequently, on the side of the screen,  frustrating flashing commercials are displayed that distract my attention from what I'm trying to read. I often see one commercial that displays a picture of an older woman with leathery, wrinkled skin. Next to the woman with skin damage is a picture of the same woman with a smooth, flawless complexion. The advertisement is likely promoting a beauty cream that, if I were to purchase it, would supposedly transform my skin in the same manner. First, I'm irritated, as this shows that either my age is used against me by advertisers, or some product I've purchased through the web is being leaked to advertisers. What an invasion of privacy! On the other hand, I'm irritated, because I'd like to look like the woman with the perfect skin. I waste my time wondering whether it really is possible to so transform one's face.

In reading Ephesians 2: 1-10, I see a more valuable lesson on transformation. Without Christ in our lives, we are swayed by the concerns that the world places on us. We "gratify the cravings of our flesh and follow its desires and thoughts." There is nothing wrong with wanting to look my best, and I do try out all sorts of anti-aging creams - not that they actually work! Yet, here we read about the transformation that occurs when we confess our sinfulness to God, open our hearts to Him and allow His grace to cleanse and renew us.

So often, Ephesians 2: 8-9 is emphasized to remind us that we should not take credit for any good deeds that we do. Our salvation, our forgiveness and our talents are bestowed on us by our Savior who bore the cross to give us freedom from imprisonment to sin. Recently, I took a longer look at verse 10: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We are God's handiwork - He created us to live a life of fulfillment in Him. The works we do, God knew about before we even do them. He prepared these works for us to do! What an amazing thought! Christ-in-us transforms us into one of those advertisements of perfection. It is His doing, and He wants us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, because this is the way our Creator designed us - knowing that we would do good, not because we are good, but because of who we become in Him.  He sees us as righteous, and He can work in us to do good deeds. In Philippians 2:13, Paul writes: For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
God can and does transform us when we open our lives to His good works in us.

Dear God,
How exciting it is to know that You prepared me in advance to do good works for Your kingdom.  You can work in me to fulfill Your good purpose. I want to glorify You and give You praise and honor for what You have done to transform me. Thank You that I am perfect in Your sight.
In Jesus' Name. Amen

God reveals Himself to us

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, revising the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
(Psalm 19)

I love to run early in the morning when most people are still in bed and the streets are dark. I wear a headlight around my waist, so I can see the ground and carefully tread without tripping over rocks or potholes. I use my jogging time to mull over the day, deal with issues that confuse or upset me, and spend time with God. This time of quiet with God invigorates me and brings clarity to my confusion. I have viewed some of the more beautiful sunrises while running. The heavens truly do declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim the work of His hands. In the sunrise, God reveals His glory to my heart. The beautiful visage is like a champion rejoicing to run his course. The swirls of vibrant color in the heavens are like God's voice speaking to me. God can talk to us through "inaudible noise." He can speak to us through the beauty of His handiwork. In Romans 1:20, Paul writes: For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

Sometimes our concerns and the hectic of our lives keep us from seeing and hearing the beauty of God that fills the earth. As we enjoy the beautiful fall colors and cool air, we can remember what the psalmist says - The Lord and His Word revive our souls. His ways are trustworthy. He can fill our simple minds and give us His knowledge. His justice and truth will bring light to our eyes. God's ways are righteous. His law warns us and keeps us on a straight path. His Word calls us to repent and returns us to God who restores and rejuvenates us.

I ask you to find someplace quiet to enjoy the beauty that God has created and to respond to God's revelation to you. And, may the words or our mouths and the contemplation of our hearts please God who is our Rock and our Redeemer.

Blessed!

What is happiness to you? Does your happiness include God? I happen to be a grumbler who often finds things to be disappointed with. Rarely does a situation meet the expectations of what I think it should be. I wonder if God wants us to be happy, and if so, what should this happiness consist of? I recently read that another definition for the word, blessed - makarios in Greek, is happy. Scripture tells us the following will make us happy:

Happy are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2: 12)

Happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1)

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8)

Happy is the man who makes the Lord his trust. (Psalm 40:4)

May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be happy in him, all nations call him blessed! (Psalm 72:17).

We have every reason to be happy! We, as Christians, are grafted into God's family. We are adopted sons and daughters:
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:4-7)

We are made new in Christ!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! (Philippians 4:13)

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! (Romans 8: 38-39)

Why do we grumble? We are blessed indeed!

God's Plan

David, after having defeated Saul and his army, settled into the palace in Jerusalem as the new king. After having hidden in caves while Saul's men tried to capture and kill him, the Lord gave David rest from his enemies (2 Samuel 7:1). Yet David realized, as he rested in his beautiful home, that the ark of the covenant still had no home. David said to Nathan the prophet, "here I am living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent" (2 Samuel 7:2). David wanted to do something for God.

That night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling...Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed (8-10). "'The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you; When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (11 b-13).

God had not chosen David to build him a temple. This task would be given to Solomon, David's son.

Have you ever wanted to do something for God? Maybe you went to great effort to bring the plans to fruition only to encounter road blocks and detours. I know that much of my desire to have a daughter was selfish, yet God used this desire to bring my daughter home from Vietnam. However, even the process of bringing her home was filled with frustration, corruption and delays. I did not have to hide in a cave and run for my life, but like David, I had to learn to wait on God before I could rest.

God's message to David, when he wanted to build a home for the ark was a bit shocking. "Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?" God reminds David that He would appoint someone to do this job in His timing and in His way. We are repeatedly reminded by God that we need to wait on Him. Even if our plan is grand and would bring about some good work for His kingdom, He is able to make things happen and His plans are always right. As we learn to wait on the Lord, we grow in faith and are strengthened by God. Isaiah 40:31 tells us: Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

We should not stop making plans for God's kingdom. However, God may have a different means of bringing about the outcome than we, and we must pray and entrust our plan to His guidance.

Dear God, I often make plans without bringing them first to You.  Your ways are good and right. When I wait on You, I am strengthened by your supernatural strength. Help me to entrust my thoughts and fears to You.  In Christ's Name. Amen.

Compassion for the Mentally Ill

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that one in five Americans in 2010 suffered from mental illness; 5% of the illnesses were severe enough that they affected the ability of these Americans to study, work and or maintain healthy relationships.

I have friends and extended family who have suffered from various mental illnesses,and have, therefore, come to understand that it is not a quality that should bring out condemnation but rather demands compassion from the Christian community.

Parents of children who suffer from mental illness experience shame for the behavior and symptoms expressed by their children. Likewise, children whose parents suffer from mental illness carry the confusing sense that they are somehow responsible for their parents' problems. The weight of the sickness bears heavily not only on the one personally afflicted but also on friends and family of the loved one. As Solomon wrote,
A man's spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear? (Proverbs 18:14)

Whether the illness is situational or biological, God's love is not conditional. Regardless of mental state, we are loved with an everlasting love by a God who does not condemn us. Even in mental illness, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear Father,
I pray that You would watch over my friend/family member who struggles with mental illness and those close to him/her. Be with them as they attempt to understand the illness and seek treatment. Please guide him/her and those who provide council and assistance. You are our light in darkness. Through Your love, we are more than conquerors.
In Christ's Name. Amen.

Conley, M. (2012, January 19). 1 in 5 Americans Suffers From Mental Illness. Retrieved October 8, 2014 from: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/19/1-in-5-americans-suffer-from-mental-illness/

My Wisdom or God's Wisdom?

Ephesians 1:17-20
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

When we rely on our own wisdom, it is so easy to fail. We search for ways to bring about our own desires and forget to depend on the wisdom which God will provide us if we only ask. Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

When we spend time in the Word, submit to His authority and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us, we have confidence and hope. The riches and blessings that result from faith in Christ are true and lasting gifts in contrast to wealth, material possessions, notoriety, and the daily barrage of values the world tries to feed us.

We also look to others or trust in our own abilities to give us strength when things don't go our way. Yet, as believers, we have been given a strength to endure hardship through our faith in Christ. We have a wisdom that is foolishness to the world. We have a hope that the world cannot understand. And, as adopted sons and daughters of Christ, we have an eternal inheritance awaiting us, and we belong at this moment to the kingdom of God. God is good and has blessed us greatly!

Dear Lord,
 I pray that You would give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may indeed know You better. Open the eyes of my heart and fill me with Your hope. Help me to understand the riches with which I have been blessed and to experience Your strength and power through my faith in You.

 Thank you for giving me faith and for making me Your child. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Seek His Face

The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27)

Our world can be such a scary place. The news informs us of terrorist plots, war, oppression, disease.... It becomes evident that our conflict on earth is not merely against people but rather against a concealed evil: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

David - so long ago - also struggled against the darkness that surrounded him. In Psalm 27, David, so strong in faith, became paranoid and fearful in the face of his enemies. Perhaps David wrote this journal when King Saul had turned against him and sent  3000 men in pursuit to kill him.

We may not deal with such life or death issues, but each of us experiences conflict that can fill us with worry and negativity. At times, it appears that we are in battle fighting one struggle after the next. How do we deal with this? What do we do with negative emotions that color our perspective and fill us with fear? Paul wrote to the Corinthians: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). It is not easy for me to take captive every thought. In fact, when I'm upset, I tend to fixate on a situation until it so captivates my brain that I can think of nothing else. David understood that his confidence came from the Lord: Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  Later in the same psalm, David seeks, what? shelter? an army's protection? No... he seeks God!: Hear my voice when I call Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.

When a cloud of conflict or fear darkens your perspective, I ask you to read this psalm. Take your thoughts captive and seek His face!

Dear Father. You are my stronghold, my light and my salvation! Whom shall I fear! I want, O God, to spend time in your presence. Take captive my thoughts that keep me from being close to You. You give me confidence and bring light to my life. Help me to be strong, take heart and wait on You. In Christ's Name! Amen.

Quiet

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10)

In the Reflective Teaching class I am presently taking, I was given an assignment this week to sit still and quietly observe a scene for 10 minutes. I was shocked to discover how hard it is to sit quietly without being sidetracked by diversions. As I sat and observed this view the other night, I realized how difficult it is for me to ever totally relax. My mind flits around to so many worries, thoughts, needs and distractions that I somehow think won't get accomplished or perfected without my effort. Then, I look at this serenity and realize that if I am still, and allow Christ's peace to fill me - He is God. He will be exalted despite all of my concerns and fancies. He is exalted in the beauty I presently behold. He brings the breeze that shakes the leaves and then the calm that stills the water. His paintbrush colors the hills purple and the heavens pink and then splashes their reflection onto the lake. He understands my concern, my scattered thoughts, the needs I think are essential but which I surely can do without. And, He takes my distractions, centers them to focus on Him and brings me rest and reassurance that my own worrying cannot accomplish. Only God can give me perfect peace when my mind is stayed on Him:

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

It is edifying to be still and disengage from all the hustle and bustle that I daily encounter. Quiet time with God restores my perspective and sense of balance and brings renewal.

Dear Lord: With all that I am trying to daily tackle, I get lost in the busyness. I worry about all that I need to accomplish. Time with You replenishes my spirit and renews my trust in You. Thank You that in You, I can have peace. In Christ's Name. Amen

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord."          (Isaiah 55: 8)

Has God ever stumped you with His sense of humor? God repeatedly shows me that I am not in charge, and that His plans are better than my plans. I shared recently about my 16 year old son's knee injury that has prevented him from playing soccer his senior year in high school. This has been heartbreaking for Gabe, as he was highly recruited after because of his soccer skills....until the injury. The past year, Gabe has been trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life now that his dreams of playing soccer at a military school have been dashed.

As his Mom, I just want to fix things. I've been angry with God, as I've shared in previous posts. I try to steer Gabe into various diversions so that he will concentrate less on his previous passion. Last week, God provided a great diversion for Gabe without my help! My son was driving to his first day of school for his senior year. I was happily jogging and basking in the quiet I would be able to return to at home...until...my cell phone rang. "Mom, I have a slight problem. I was stuck waiting for a train and worried about getting late to school. So, I turned the car around so that I could get to school on the highway. But - the shoulder gave way under my tires, and I'm stuck in a ditch. It's no big deal!"

No big deal was indeed a big deal. Gabe got out of the ditch, but the front car bumper had peeled off entirely leaving a car that looked as if it had been in a train wreck. One side section of the car was badly dented, and the front of the car was missing it's clothes. When we took the car to the auto body shop, we discovered that the minimum cost to repair it would run $4000.  I called the car insurance company only to find out that I had recently removed collision coverage from the car in an effort to save money. In other words - we had to either pay this large fee, or I could possibly buy Gabe antlers to place where the bumper had previously resided; perhaps this would lend the car a macho effect!

I fussed and fumed about the car for a few days. Since it still functioned, I let Gabe drive it to school but felt a slight sense of embarrassment that the neighbors would see my son driving such a wreck. I thought, however, "Gabe got himself into this mess.  He'll have to get himself out of it!"

One day last weekend, I drove home to find Gabe and his Dad working on the car in the garage. They had refitted the marred bumper, somehow pounded out some of the dents in the side panel and purchased white car paint to fix up the exterior of the car. Both my husband and Gabe were so excited about this project and their ability to figure out the details.  God had provided a diversion for Gabe through what I had thought was a terrible situation. He had turned a mess into something good. How was that possible? I am thankful  for God's sense of humor and His direction!

Dear Lord: I thank you for Your sense of humor. Thank you that Your ways are higher than my ways and Your thoughts higher than my thoughts. Help me to trust in Your ways.
In Christ's Name. Amen.

A heart after God

When the Israelites pleaded with God for a King, God gave them what they had asked for. He placed Saul to rule over them. Yet, Saul disappointed God, and God chose David to replace Saul. Samuel said to Saul:

"Now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command." (1 Samuel 13: 14)

God chose David, because He sought a man "after His own heart." What does this mean? And furthermore, how can we, like David, be men and women after God's heart?

Although God is perfect, we live in sin; so certainly God did not mean that we should be flawless. It is important to God, however, that we live in relationship with Him. If we spend time in His word and in prayer with Him and seek to please Him, to care about what God cares about, to live a life submitted to Him, we too will be men and women after God's heart.

In 2 Chronicles 16:9, we read:
The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

If you give your heart to God...if you hand over all that you think is important and lay your burdens at His feet, God will build you up and strengthen you to have a heart that can serve Him and be fortified by His love.

Dear God,
So many things fill my mind and heart. Sometimes, the clutter keeps me from seeing that You are here with me. Fill my heart with love and help me to please You in my actions and devotion to You. I want to care about what You care about. I want to submit to You and be a man/woman after Your heart. In Christ's Name. Amen.

Wait on the Lord

Wait 

To arrive at his high school, my son must drive a route that passes over train tracks. We often wait impatiently while trains inch forward and backward to change tracks at this frequently crossed intersection. One morning last week, Gabe's impatience got the best of him. He began turning around in an effort to get to school by a different route. However, the shoulder gave way under his tires, and the car careened into a ditch. Luckily, Gabe is safe, but the car is in sad condition.

We wait for trains, for healing and for direction; we frustratedly hold the phone waiting to speak with customer service representatives or change grocery story lines to get more quickly out of the store. We tap our fingers and chew our nails in our impatience. Sometimes waiting results in angry outbursts.

Scripture often reminds us to "wait on the Lord." Yet, like Gabe who was not willing to wait for the train, we opt not to wait, but rather take matters into our own hands.

Why is waiting so difficult? It requires that we stop the momentum and trust that something will take place. Similarly, waiting on the Lord entails the ability to pause, submit to a higher authority and trust with confidence in God's action.

As Gabe found out, an inability to wait may actually hinder our progress.  We can mess things up when we take matters into our hands rather than trust in God's understanding.

What are you waiting for? Perhaps you are waiting for your child to learn obedience or for your spouse to see things your way. Maybe you're waiting for just the right job to come along or to save enough money so that you can take a vacation. You could be waiting for your body to heal so that you can exercise again, or you might be waiting to see if a new medication will help you feel better. Life is full of waiting...so how do we deal with it?

We can use times of waiting to grow in our walk with God. In Psalm 130: 5-8, the psalmist wrote,
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope. 
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

When we wait with hopeful expectation that the Lord will answer, we are confident that He will make something happen when it is the right time. We anticipate His answer and rely on His guidance and His unfailing love.

Dear Lord,
Help me in my impatience to place my hope in Your Word and Your unfailing love.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Job was a fortunate man who possessed good health, wealth and a beautiful family -- until it was all taken away from him. When Job contemplated the reasons for his bad luck, his friends indicated he was somehow to blame for his misfortune. They opined that God rewards those who do good and takes away from those who don't live a righteous life. Job's wife wondered why Job did not give up, "curse God and die." Yet, despite all Job had lost, he still rejoiced in his relationship with his Savior. In the face of his many hardships, Job remained strong in his faith. He said,
"I know that my Redeemer lives, 
and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 
And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!" (Job 19: 25-27)

Contrary to the view of his friends, Job knew that his goodness did not make him successful or prosperous just his his wickedness did not lead to futility. Job was not defeated by his circumstances. He had lost so much, yet he still clung to what was most important, faith in his Lord and Savior in whose presence Job longed to reside.

God did eventually restore Job's integrity, success and fortune. But regardless of his situation and standing in life, Job had won the battle with evil, not because of his worldly significance, but because of his trust in His Redeemer. He stood strong in the Lord, and the Lord restored his faith. Jesus tells us in John 16:33,
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

We can rejoice even when we have worries and fears. We can grow closer to our Savior by spending time in His Word and in relationship with Him. When we come to God in repentance, He will restore us and lead us to strength and joy in Him. Christ has overcome the world! Alleluia!

Dear Lord, I know that You, my Redeemer live! I want to see You and spend time on this earth in Your presence. Restore my strength and faith in You so that I too can triumph over the worries that plague me. Thank You that You have overcome the world. For this I rejoice!
In Christ's Name. Amen