Hope Restored

As I read 2 Kings, the drama continues to unfold concerning the nation of Israel. Over and over again, they have been warned by God to keep his commandments and to follow His ways; to worship Him only and to not follow after other gods. However, they rejected God’s decrees and the covenant He made with their forefathers. They followed worthless idols and they became worthless themselves. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them to not do as they do and they did the things God had forbidden them to do. The people of Israel, including their kings, forsook all of the commands of the Lord and they continued to cast idols. They bowed down to all of the starry hosts and they worshiped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and sorcery. They sold themselves to evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking Him to anger. So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They were taken captive by Assyria and were exiled there. Things were not looking so good for the nation of Israel—not even Judah.
During this hopeless time, a young man named Hezekiah became King of Judah. This twenty-five year old man was a non-conformist. Rather than practicing the evil and rebellion of the kings before him, he chose to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed high places of idol worship, smashed down sacred stones and altars for idol worship, cut down Asherah poles and broke the bronze snake that the people were bowing down to worship. Hezekiah was serious about CHANGE! He trusted in the Lord and did not cease to follow Him. The result: the Lord was with him and he was successful in whatever he did.
During Hezekiah’s reign in Judah, they were attacked and captured by the Assyrian army. The Assyrian supreme commander mocked Hezekiah and blasphemed against the Lord, attempting to make Hezekiah look like a fool. He even tried to convince others that Hezekiah was a liar who was not to be trusted. But the word of the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah: “Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with a sword.” (2 Kings 19:6-7) Hezekiah’s response to the threats and blasphemy was to encourage people to pray for a remnant to survive. He eloquently expressed his worship to the Lord during this time of anguish: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord and hear; open your eyes, O Lord and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. …now oh Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.” (2 Kings 19:14-19)

The Word of the Lord came once again to the prophet Isaiah who foretold the fall of the Assyrian army. This stiff-necked, arrogant nation was going to not survive the wrath of God. Concerning Assyria, Isaiah spoke these words: “I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth and I will make you return by the way you came.” (2 Kings 19:28) And concerning Judah: “Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above—for out of Jerusalem will come a remnant and out of Mt. Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (2 Kings 19:30-31)
That night the angel of the Lord put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. This story is so inspiring to me, because it once again demonstrates the absolute power of Almighty God when all seems hopeless and futile. God, fueled by His infinite love for His people, was mighty to save and brought great deliverance. He sought vengeance upon a stubborn and arrogant nation who was mocking Him. God was faithful to honor Hezekiah’s obedience and Hezekiah was faithful to honor God’s decrees. If God is for us, who can be against us? Our God is a God of restoration and hope. He continually works to restore His glory in us on a daily basis. What a great and mighty God we serve!

A Little Jug of Oil

In today’s Bible readings, I was impressed with how all of the Scripture passages flowed together with consistency even though they were written at different time periods, and were penned by different authors. Of course, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Word of God is consistent because the Spirit of God is the One who inspired the writers of the Holy Scriptures. It is the Spirit of God who speaks to us today, and breathes life into His Word as we take time to read it. I witnessed God’s Spirit at work today as I read 1 Kings 17, 1 Peter 4 and Psalm 52.
I have always been touched by the story of the widow of Zarephath. She was a poor woman, barely able to care for herself and her son. However, the Lord commanded the woman to be hospitable to Elijah; to feed him and take care of him. The story goes like this: “So Elijah went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, ‘Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?’ As she was gong to get it, he called, ‘And bring me, please, a piece of bread.’ ‘As surely as the Lord your God lives’, she replied, ‘I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.’ Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’ (1 Kings 17:10-14)
This story demonstrates the abundant resources of our God when we are spent and have nothing else to give. Many times in ministry and with my family, I have been tired and worn out, feeling like I had nothing left to give. My resources had run dry, and yet the needs of those around me continued to demand more of me than I felt like I could give. But God has always provided ways for me to give out of my emptiness and He took my “little jug of oil” and multiplied it supernaturally. He wants us to depend on Him so that He can provide us with strength that we do not have. This principle is confirmed in1 Peter 4: 9:11: “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”
In Psalm 52, David presents a stark contrast to those who are dependent on the Lord for his provision. He is disillusioned by the fact that the wicked prosper and gain power by destroying others. He speaks of them harshly: “Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold, but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” (Ps. 42:5-7) David knew that their strength was temporary because it was not provided by God, but rather by their own power. Unlike the wicked men, David endured many days of anguish and called upon the name of the Lord out of his own emptiness and desperation. Yet, as the widow of Zarephath experienced, he also witnessed the faithfulness of God to give out of his vast resources when he only had a “little jug of oil.” He concluded Psalm 52 with this glorious truth: “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” (Ps. 52:8-9) God took David’s little jug of oil and caused him to be like an olive tree, the very source of the oil. What a beautiful picture of God’s ability to provide! Let us not forget to place our hope in God’s strength to do mighty works in our midst!

Jesus What a Friend for Sinners

As I read through the book of 1Timothy 1 this past week, I was particularly impressed with verses 13, 14 and 16. These verses reminded me of the vast mercy and infinite patience of our Lord as He continues to pour out His love out on those still walking in darkness. Paul admitted his own frailty and painful past as he reflected upon his own life in his letter to Timothy: “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1Tim. 1:13) Not only does God pour out his grace, but He also throws in a couple of bonus gifts: His faith and love! The faith that He supplies will allow us to grasp how high and wide and deep His love is for us, then we will be able to further understand His abundant grace. He knew that we needed help “wrapping our minds” around this concept so He offered some assistance! Paul continues in his letter to Timothy by saying, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” It occurred to me this week that we, who are followers of Christ, are living examples of the patience of God in order that others might believe Him. His work in our lives is a manifestation of His unlimited patience and others will see it and believe! This is truly miraculous. It is no wonder that Paul ended this particular discourse with an incredible benediction: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever Amen.” (1 Tim. 1:17)
Jesus came to free the captives, to redeem and restore all that has been stolen from us, and to bind our wounds when we were helpless in our own sinful, ignorant unbelief. He came to seek and to save those who were lost. Jesus was and still is a friend to sinners; and now He is saving, helping, keeping, and loving us. He also promises his loving presence with us until the end of our days on earth. Hallelujah what a Savior!

Jesus What a Friend for Sinners
Jesus What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior makes me whole.
Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end!

God You Are!

Psalms 46:10 tells us to “Be still and know that He is God.” Part of that process involves consciously thinking about the different aspects and characters of God. I am amazed at how quickly I can forget what I read in my Bible if I don’t continually keep it before me. In the first chapter in the book of James, we are instructed to “look intently” into the Word of God so that we are not like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and forgets what he looks like. “Looking intently” means that we need to focus on the Word of God in such a way that it makes an unforgettable impression in our hearts and minds. Years ago, a friend encouraged me to read through the Bible and look for different aspects of God’s character. I began to make a list of all of the wonderful qualities of God that I had found in His Word, and before I knew it, my stress level went down significantly and my faith was increased. It makes perfect sense for us to focus intently on the Word of God and praise Him for his incredible characteristics. As I made a list of the characteristics of God, I would recall back to Him those attributes and say, “God, You are faithful” or “God ,You are my Redeemer.” We can also simply say, “God, You Are” because He is the Great I Am! This past week, I focused on God as my Deliverer. Here are some wonderful verses that proclaim God as our Deliverer. May He bless you today with these Scripture passages:
Psalm 34:4-7
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him, he saved him out of all of his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him. And he delivers him…
Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he loves me”, says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. “
Isaiah 46:4-5
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. To whom will you compare me or count me as equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
2 Cor. 1:8-10
We do not want you to be uninformed brothers about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. In- deed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.
2 Sam. 22:17-20
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Thank you Lord, for being our Great Deliverer!

Continue

My daughter, Haley was struggling with her math homework last week and I discovered that I could not help her at all because I had completely forgotten everything I learned in high school math. In fact, I was overjoyed on the day I finally finished my last math exam in college. Math was not one of my favorite subjects, but I do remember vaguely that all of the information was cumulative; one step led to another and many of the formulas were somehow related to each other. The reason that I didn’t remember any of my high school math is because I didn’t continue with it. The same is true with piano lessons. So many people have approached me and have said, “I wish I hadn’t quit my piano lessons when I was growing up.” Many students begin piano lessons at about age 9 and quit somewhere between the ages of 12 and 15. There are just too many distractions and many more attractive options available for teen-agers who find themselves in the drudgery of practicing the piano. However, I was one of those unusual students who loved to practice the piano and I continued lessons all through college and even in my graduate years. Even now, I play regularly each week to keep my skills sharp because I know if I quit playing, I will begin to lose the accuracy and technique that I have worked to develop all of these years.
As I read 2 Timothy this week, I was reminded of the importance of continuing in what we have learned about the Lord and His Word. Like many of you, I grew up in the Baptist church, and was exposed to so many sermons, Bible stories, memory verses, hymns, praise songs, etc. It is amazing to think that all of the truths contained in those songs, Bible verses and sermons are still somewhere in the recesses of my mind. I still remember Bible verses that I learned in the 4th grade. I still remember some of the great songs that I learned as a child and as a teen-ager. I remember my Sunday school teachers and pastors from my childhood. All through my life, God has been building a foundation of truth for me so that I may be able to stand upon it during times when my faith may be tested.
It is evident that as Paul and Timothy shared ministry together, they encountered some difficult situations and great times of testing. Paul was in the process of “passing the torch” to Timothy so that he could carry on the work of preaching the Gospel. It was also at this time that Timothy needed some encouragement. Paul, the ever resilient and tenacious ambassador of the Lord, admonished Timothy to continue in what he knew to be true, just as he himself had done. In his tender letter to Timothy he wrote, “You, however know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:10-17)
By continuing in what we have learned, we have the opportunity to become convinced of the truths that we have heard repeatedly and have witnessed in others. Through our knowledge of the Scriptures we allow the Lord to equip us for every good work because all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. May we follow Paul’s example as he said in 2 Timothy 1:12: “…for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

No Confidence in the Flesh

A couple of weeks ago at the Adult Bible Conference, Dr. Wiles mentioned that our society has become a very narcissistic society. We now have You Tube, the i-phone, My Space, etc., all of which display pictures and videos of ourselves and those we know. Many of the advertising campaigns have adopted the slogan “My__________________”, as in “My McDonalds”, My Albertsons”, etc. Advertisers are tapping into our “I, me mine” philosophy and we are rapidly being persuaded to focus inward to what belongs to us, much like two-year old children do with their favorite toys.
Many of our reality T.V. shows also emphasize narcissism such as America’s Top Model, American Idol, The Bachelor, etc. These shows reveal by process of elimination the most talented, the most beautiful, and the most desirable. Each contestant on these shows has one goal in mind: to win the prize; the coveted American Idol or Top Model title, as well all of the benefits that go along with that particular title.
When I read Philippians 3, I am reminded of how far we have drifted as a society from what Paul addressed in his letter concerning confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3 is the antithesis to narcissism.
“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh…” (Phil. 3:3)
As we read further in Philippians 3, we find that Paul did not lack in self-confidence. In verse 4 he states: “…though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else things he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more…” In other words, as a Jew, he had it all: circumcised on the eighth day, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, zealous toward the law, righteous in his legalism and faultless in his ability to follow the law. He had pedigree, education and flawless behavior according to Jewish heritage. However, in the midst of all of his accomplishments and impressive heritage and education, he developed a shift in his thinking regarding all of these things. He had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. That one encounter changed everything about what he once thought for he wrote: “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil. 3:7-11)
I am so impressed with Paul because he could have easily become self-sufficient in his own confidence, pedigree and heritage. Instead, he found something greater; a relationship with the Lord Jesus which added more depth and meaning than any earthly accomplishment or accolade. These words of Paul continue to remind me that Jesus is worth it; He is worth the loss of all things great and small. When we have experienced great loss in our lives, we gain the blessing of knowing Jesus in a more powerful and intimate way. When this happens, all that we once had diminishes in comparison to what lies ahead. That is why Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. What a wonderful promise awaits us as we persevere and lay aside those earthly hindrances which so often entangle us. There is a prize more wonderful than we can imagine, and we can rejoice because Jesus is our prize. As Paul says, “Let us live up to what we have already attained” as we eagerly wait for Jesus to bring everything under His control and He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like him in glory. Halleluiah, what a Savior!

Green Pastures and Still Waters

This week, we read through Psalm 23. This short Psalm is packed with so many spiritual metaphors revealing necessary truths for us to embrace. For many years, I have heard this Psalm recited at funerals because of its comforting words, but its message is very much about life as well as death. Every time I read the 23rd Psalm, I am reminded of the things that God desires and intends for us; particularly verse 2 which says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. “ In Phillip Keller’s book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, he sheds some insight on this passage.
He says, “Generally speaking, water for the sheep came from three main sources: dew on the grass, deep wells, or springs and streams. Most people are not aware that sheep can go for months on end, especially if the weather is not too hot, without actually drinking, if there is heavy dew on the grass each morning. Sheep, by habit, rise just before dawn and start to feed. Or if there is bright moonlight they will graze at night. The early hours are when the vegetation is drenched with dew, and sheep can keep fit on the amount of water taken in with their forage when they graze just before and after dawn.
Of course, dew is a clear, clean, pure source of water. And there is no more resplendent picture of still waters than the silver droplets of dew hanging heavy on leaves and grass at break of day. The good shepherd, the diligent manager, makes sure that his sheep can be out and grazing on this dew-drenched vegetation. If necessary, it will mean he himself has to rise early to be out with his flock. ‘”
In the Christian life it is or more than passing significance to observe that those who are often the most serene, most confident, and able to cope with life’s complexities are those who rise early each day to feed on God’s Word. It is in the quiet, early hours of the morning that they are led beside the quiet, still waters where they imbibe the very life of Christ for the day. There alone, still, waiting for the Master’s voice, one is led gently to the place where, as the old hymn puts it, ‘The still dews of His Spirit can be dropped into my life and soul.’”
Our Good Shepherd loves to see us contented, quiet, at rest and relaxed. He delights to know that our souls have been refreshed and satisfied. Unfortunately, we as Christians try to satisfy our thirst by many other substitutes. We try to appease the cravings of our souls while we pursue careers, intellect, money, relationships, etc. only to find dissatisfaction. We do as Jeremiah once declared, “My people…have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jer. 2:13)

Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:34-35 Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, He must deny Himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life with lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Take Up Your Cross
Deep in the heart of the Sawatch mountain range near Vail, Colorado is the Mount of the Holy Cross. It is one of the highest peaks in Colorado and it is famous for its East facing facade which fills with snow and forms a well-defined cross within the mountain. The vertical cross beam stands approximately 1100 feet tall and the horizontal cross beam is around 750 long. First discovered in 1869, it was described to be a sign from God and His promise; a beacon upon the very center and height of the continent to all people and all generations. Samuel Bowles referred to this phenomenon when he said, “Here is a supply store and workshop of creation, the fountain of the Earth.” For many years, people saw the Mount of the Holy Cross as a place of healing. One pastor once took 2000 handkerchiefs from his congregation and prayed for healing for each of the members who gave him handkerchiefs symbolizing their particular needs. Near the foot of the cross structure in the mountain is a lake known as the Lake of Tears.

Colorado is known for its 14ers; the mountains with at least 14,000 feet to the summit. Advanced hikers come from all over the world to hike the trails to the top of the 14ers. The Mount of the Holy Cross is a 14er and a very difficult hike. Many 14ers take at least 8-10 hours to hike to the summit. Before hikers can see the cross in this particular mountain, they must take Half Moon Pass and descend into the Holy Cross valley across East Cross Creek. The trail will then head to the Ridge of the Holy Cross and will follow the rest of the way to the summit. As I read about the Mount of the Holy Cross and its particular trail, I saw the incredible parallelism between this mountain trail and the Christian life of someone who “takes up his cross” and follows Jesus. Following the Jesus Way, often involves descending into the valley and walking through treacherous, rocky paths. However, after putting one foot in front of the other, after much toil and sweat and prayer, we eventually reach the summit—the exaltation, the glorious inheritance that is ours for eternity.

I love how God demonstrates Himself through His creation and tells the very story of the Christian life as a follower of Jesus through a rocky mountain trail. Last week, my family hiked a difficult trail in Colorado. It was not the Mount of the Holy Cross trail, but it was certainly rocky and steep. I had to carefully watch where I took each step so I wouldn’t trip and fall. I became short of breath in the thin mountain air, and even had bouts of altitude sickness. My legs were burning from climbing miles of rocky stairs, but eventually I reached the summit and it was absolutely gorgeous. At the summit there was an incredible waterfall that flowed into a turquoise blue pool of water. As difficult as the hike was, there were also beautiful sights along the way; other waterfalls, rushing rivers and beautiful trees to encourage me to keep going. As we “take up our cross” and follow Jesus, there will be steep inclines, rocky paths and we may run out of breath and have to stop and rest, but He will give us joy in the journey by granting us His presence and He will encourage us as we make our way to the summit. We know that as we follow Jesus, there is no path that He will take us that He hasn’t been before, and we know that our ultimate destination is an eternal summit filled with the glory of God. I am thankful that He does not leave us to walk our life’s journey alone, but He guides us every step of the way.

Take up your cross and follow me
I heard my master say
I gave my life to ransom Thee
Surrender your all today
Wherever He leads I’ll go
Wherever He leads I’ll go
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so
Wherever He leads I’ll go

Our Great God

Psalm 145 is known as an acrostic of praise written by David. Each verse corresponds with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I love this Psalm because it gives us accurate descriptions of God’s character and His active interest in our lives. In the English language, we can see this Psalm partially divided into two categories: God is_____________ and God does__________________.
The list begins with these descriptions of God. Each of these phrases appears in pairs and most of them are connected by the word “and”, almost as if to imply a continued explanation.
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.” (v. 3)
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” (v. 8)
“The Lord is good to all and has compassion on all He has made.” (v.9)
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and your dominion endures through all generations.” (v.13)
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made.” (v. 17)
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” (v.18)

The next group of phrases describes the activity of the Lord in our lives. Sometimes David talks about the Lord and sometimes he is actually directs His praise to the Lord Himself. This list begins with the statement:
“The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.” (v.13) The list continues with how the Lord demonstrates His faithfulness to us:

“The Lord upholds all those fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” (v.14)
“You give Your people food at the proper time.” (v.15)
“You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (v.16)
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth.” (v.18)
“He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” (v.19)
“The Lord watches over all who love Him…” (v.20)

Our Lord is an active God who continually works to fulfill His promises to us. He does it in so many ways; upholding us, lifting us up, providing for us, staying near to us, fulfilling our desires and watching over us. I am so thankful that we serve a Great God! “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom!” (v. 3)

The Concept of Freedom

2 Cor. 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom…”

This verse is comforting to me because it means that we can actually achieve freedom in our souls through the power of the Holy Spirit. Freedom means that things are as they should be. Bondage has been eliminated and restoration has occurred. This past week, I did some graduate work at the McClosky Vocal Institute in Georgia, and we discussed at great length how to achieve “freedom of tone” in the voice. As singers, there are so many elements that prohibit freedom of tone: tension in the face, jaw, tongue, neck and shoulders, incorrect posture and breath support. When all of the tension is eliminated, and there is proper posture and breath support, the vocal tone will be free and resonant. This week, I heard phrases such as “Let the breath be in control…” and “Let the sound happen, don’t force it to happen!” Everything should come easily and naturally, and yet we get in the way of our own freedom of sound by all of the bad habits that we develop in singing.

As I thought about 2 Cor. 3:17, I saw a distinct correlation between “freedom of tone” in the voice and “freedom” as it relates to the Christian life. The key to singing freely is to let the breath control the sound. The Spirit of the Lord is often referred to as the “breath of God”. As His Spirit fills us and controls us, our lives will function more productively and we will experience His leadership and peace. Singing with freedom of tone also involves a great amount of relaxation. It is essential to work out as much tension as possible before uttering a single sound. The more tense we become, the more our vocal sound will be “tight and pinched”. Over and over again, God reminds us in Scripture to rest or “relax” in Him. We need to roll our troubles onto Him and rest in His almighty power to handle our problems and situations. This is much easier said than done, and it is difficult for all of us to do! It is equally difficult to keep our neck muscles, tongue and jaw relaxed when singing and may often take years of practice to achieve relaxation in just one of those areas. But I know for a fact that as those muscles begin to relax, a beautiful and free tone emerges. In the same way, we must trust that as we rest in the Lord, we will have a more peaceful state of mind. The Lord promises to restore us and give us freedom in Him.

Another important aspect of singing with a free tone, is to have proper posture. If the body is not aligned properly, the entire sound can be affected. Even the slightest alteration in posture can greatly inhibit the freedom and ease of the vocal tone. This reminded me of how important it is for us to keep a proper posture before the Lord. As we spend time with Him, He gives us a proper perspective of Himself and how we relate to Him. For God’s Spirit to flow freely through us, we must remain yielded and humble before Him. When His Spirit is in control and flowing through us, we will begin to produce fruit that looks like Him; the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.

We all love to hear a beautiful, free singing voice. It is pleasant and soothing to us. It thrills me to work with a voice student who is learning to break away from tension to create a beautiful, resonant sound. The Lord wants to work with us as well to achieve freedom in our lives. My prayer is that my life will be pleasing to the Lord and will reflect the freedom that He gives me as I rest in Him and yield to Him. A life of freedom is what He desires for us. It is His ultimate goal for our lives. In fact, it was so important to God for us to have freedom, that Christ died to set us free from Satan’s bondage. Since we have already been set free, let us learn to live and walk in the freedom that is ours!

Less is More

The story of Gideon demonstrates a beautiful picture of God’s heart and motives. We need to pay careful attention to the words of the Lord mentioned in this story. As humans, we tend to look at numbers as a gauge of success and power. In our society, significance is determined by how much money we make, how many employees we have working for us, how well we are known in the public eye, etc. We validate one another by the things that we have and achieve.
I was in London this past week at the time of the Royal Ascot horse races. It was an event for those in high society. Only the most elite people of England were able to attend this event and it was a mark of status to be seen at the Royal Ascot races. The men were required to wear tuxedos with tails and top hats, while the women wore formal dresses with fancy hats. There was entire day devoted to the fashions that were worn, as the men and women paraded around having their pictures taken, much like we do for the Academy awards here in the United States. Of course, the most beautiful dresses and hats were recognized and there was much attention given to those with the highest status. As I watched this event on T.V., I was reminded that the Lord is not impressed at all with the things that we humans think are important.
One of my favorite children’s books is called “You are Special” by Max Lucado. In the book, there was a town full of wooden puppets called the Wemmicks. Each Wemmick had a box of golden stars and a box of gray dot stickers. All day long, the Wemmicks gave stickers of stars and dots to each other. The pretty ones with smooth wood and fine paint received stars, but if the wood was rough and the paint was chipped, the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars too. Others, who could do little received dots. Some Wemmicks had stars all over them. Punchinello was a Wemmick who did not have stars, but dots all over him. He was neither the prettiest nor the most talented Wemmick. He had scratches and bumps all over him. After a while, he had received so many dots that he was afraid to go outside. The Wemmicks with stars made Punchinello feel badly about himself, until one day he met Lucia. She had no stars or dots on her body. She told Punchinello that they fell off of her whenever anyone put a star or sticker on her. She did not want anyone’s marks. Punchinello wanted to know her secret and she told him that her stickers didn’t stick because she spent time with Eli, the Woodcarver. Punchinello went to visit Eli and Eli told him how special he was; that stars and dots didn’t matter. What mattered was what Eli thought of Punchinello, because Eli created Punchinello and in Eli’s eyes, Punchinello was special and beautiful to him. Eli told Punchinello that the stickers stuck only if they mattered to him. Eli said, “The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers.” Eli reminded Punchinello to come spend time with him every day so that he could let Punchinello know just how much he cared. He said, “You are special because I made you, and I don’t make mistakes.” Punchinello began to believe Eli, and as he did, a dot fell to the ground. Punchinello discovered that the less stars and dots he had on his body, the more he had grown to believe his creator.

God continues to use the story of Gideon to teach us that man’s strength and status mean nothing to Him, but only His power and might will be everlasting. The Midianite army was so huge, the men could not be counted, but the Lord used Gideon’s army of 300 men to defeat them. Gideon spent time with his Creator, as Punchinello had done, and he knew and discerned the truth about the battle he was about to face. When Gideon had twenty-two thousand men, the Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’.” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. (Judges 7: 2-3) According to the Lord, ten thousand men were still too many. Gideon was left with 300 men. Rather than looking at the Midianite army and all of their “stars”, Gideon focused on the words of the Lord, “I will deliver them into your hands.” Miraculously, Gideon’s army, probably covered with “dots” defeated the Midianites. It was the word of the Lord that prevailed. Let us not forget, in our society of “stickers of stars and dots”, that less is often “more” when God is involved. May we not boast about our own strength, but boast in the power of the Lord Almighty.

The Fall of Jericho

There is an old spiritual called “Joshua Fit the Battle at Jericho.” I remember playing a piano arrangement of that particular song when I was in elementary school. However, I really wasn’t aware at that time what the song was about. I just knew it was fun to play and it had a catchy tune. The story of the Fall of Jericho is one of my favorites, especially now that I understand how it relates to our every day lives on the spiritual battlefield. Joshua was fit for the battle at Jericho because he had come face to face with the commander of the Lord’ s army and he was faithful to fight the battle as the Lord commanded him to do. In Joshua 5, we find that Joshua had a personal encounter with the Lord Himself. Joshua 5:13-15 recalls this encounter: Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ”Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither”, he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

The city of Jericho was a closed community and no one could come in or leave from its borders. It may have possibly been the center of worship of the moon-god. God Almighty not only wanted to destroy this Canaanite city but also its pagan religion, so He was going to help Joshua accomplish this. In Joshua 6:2, the Lord promised Joshua that He would deliver Jericho into his hands, along with its king and all of its fighting men. The method that the Lord chose to destroy Jericho was unconventional and probably did not make sense to Joshua, but he did it anyway. The battle plan was for Joshua and his men to march around the city once with armed men and they would do this for six days. Seven priests were to carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times with the priests blowing the trumpets. When the trumpet gave a long blast, the people were to give a loud shout and the wall of the city would collapse so that Joshua’s army could attack Jericho and destroy it.

This type of battle wasn’t initially fought with swords and stones, but with perseverance and endurance. I think I would be exhausted after marching around the city just once, but Joshua’s army was to march around the city without stopping for six days. After six days of marching around the city without stopping, I think I would barely have any life left in me. However, Joshua’s army was commanded on the seventh day to march around the city seven times! Surely these men were beyond exhausted and yet somehow, they were going to have the strength to march around the city seven times and then destroy the people of Jericho. It is interesting to me that the wall of Jericho, which was possibly a very strong, double wall did not fall because it was blasted by large boulders, but it fell because the people of God were obedient, and faithful to do what God asked them to do. All they had to do was to shout and the wall fell down. I would have loved to have been there to see that avalanche!

In our own battles, it seems that we may “march around the city” many times without seeing any results. But because we serve a victorious God who is on our side, one day the walls of the enemy will tumble down because of our faithfulness to pray and persevere. When Christ comes again, we will hear one final blast of the trumpet (1 Thess. 4:16) and all of our battles will be over. All of our walls of sorrow, discouragement, bitterness, disillusionment, etc. will come tumbling down and we will celebrate Christ’s eternal victory. Lord, give us the grace to keep walking…to keep standing….to keep praying until that final day!

Caught in the Storm

I have watched several episodes of “The Deadliest Catch” on the Discovery Channel. I am intrigued by the lives of the deep sea fishermen. They have no fear and they are consumed by one passion: to catch Alaskan king crab. These fishermen endure treacherous journeys across the Behring Sea, while they are beaten with icy, cold waves. Each voyage they take out into the mystic, violent ocean is an opportunity for survival, and a way to earn bountiful wages for their “deadliest catch.”
I have ridden some treacherous and daunting rides at Six Flags, but none can compare to the ride of a ship being tossed to and fro by a powerful storm. Not even a hefty dose of Dramamine would help with the sea-sickness and the disorientation that comes with such an experience. The Apostle Paul and his crew encountered many frightening events at sea. In the book of Acts, Luke documents one of their experiences very explicitly: “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” (Acts. 27:13-20)

The riders of this ship felt completely out of control. There was nothing more they could do except hope and pray that somehow their lives would be spared. The irony of this is that when we feel we have completely lost control in the storm, God is most at work. In the storm, we see “no results” of our prayers. When the answer is out of our reach, we are not trying to “do it” any more, but we have rolled our burdens onto the Lord. Let us take the comfort out of it and not put our hands on it again. (I‘m talking to myself too!) Oh, what a relief it brings to know that He is already working on the difficulty. If we have truly rolled it onto Jesus, then we are looking to Him to perform the task. In the storms of my own life, God has comforted me with His Word, or He has sent ministering angels to me so that I may endure the trial. God was faithful to Paul in the same way. Paul quotes in Acts 27:23-25: “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” I love Paul’s words, “The God whose I am”. He already placed his trust in the Great Deliverer, for he said, “I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me.” Even though they would eventually shipwreck, God would be with them and preserve their lives. The moral of the story is: Trust the Calmer of the Storm. Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, “The Lord will go through with His covenant engagements. Whatever He takes in hand He will accomplish; hence past mercies are guarantees for the future and admirable reasons for continuing to cry unto Him.”

Teach me, Lord to have faith
In what you’re bringing me will
Change my life and bring you glory
There on the storm I am learning to let go
Of the will that I so long to control
There may I be in your arms eternally
I thank you, Lord, you are the Calmer of the storm.
(From the song, “Calmer of the Storm” by Downhere)

Glorious Victory

As we are reading through Deuteronomy, we find that it is not easy for the Israelites to enter into their Promised Land. Though it was promised to them, God never said it would be a “walk in the park” for them to inherit their land. However, He did promise that He would go before them, and He promised that His presence would be with them. The Promised Land was inhabited by pagans and heathens who worshiped other gods. The Jews needed to go to war and capture the territory that already belonged to them. Victory was promised to them, but they still had to fight. This is what the Lord said concerning Israel’s battle against the enemy: “Hear O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deut. 20:3-4)

The Apostle Paul must have remembered these words of the Lord as He marched into enemy territory in Jerusalem. He was warned not to go to Jerusalem because of the impending danger that awaited him. But Paul’s response was, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart: I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts. 21:13) He knew there would be a battle to fight, but He knew the Lord would be with him and would fight for him. Paul was well-acquainted with warfare. He was tortured, and put in prison numerous times for proclaiming his faith. Because of this, he has written some of the most eloquent discourses concerning warfare that we will find in Scripture. Concerning Spiritual warfare he wrote these words: “be aFinally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be to stand your ground…” (Eph. 6:13)

Paul understood that as Christians, we do not wage war as the world does. He explained in 2 Cor. 10 that the weapons of our warfare are not weapons of the world. We must fight with the very words of God—our sword of the Spirit. With that sword, we are able to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Just as victory was promised to the Jews as they entered the Promised Land, victory is promised to us as well. Paul assures us in 2 Corinthians 2:14 that God will lead us into victory with the help of Christ. We must do our part to stand firm in our faith and victory will be ours. In Romans 15, Paul reminds us that everything in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom. 15:4) I believe he had Deuteronomy 20:3-4 in mind when he wrote the passage in Romans 15. We have hope in our glorious victory because God has already promised it to us, just as he promised victory to the ancient Jews. We have His presence, His protection and His mighty power to fight the battles for us. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:37) “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him!” (2 Cor. 2:14)

An Open Door

There have been so many decisions in my life that I have made even when I wasn’t quite sure which direction to go. Each one of us encounters crossroads where we must choose one way or the other. Sometimes, the answer is not always clear, but we go with what we know at the time. We trust, pray and hope that the Lord will guide us to the next step. In Acts 16, Paul received a direct word from God concerning his next decision. Acts 16:6-10 says, “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
This passage of Scripture taught me a few things about God’s guidance and direction. First of all, Paul and his companions were yielded to the Spirit of God. The Spirit “kept” them from preaching the Word of God in the province of Asia even though they may have not had all of the answers as to why they were not permitted to do so. Secondly, they kept moving. There was a closed door in the province of Asia, so they moved on to the border of Mysia. They tried to enter Bithynia, but again the Spirit of God would not allow them to. They kept moving and proceeded to enter Troas. Once Paul made it into Troas, the Spirit of God sent a vision to Paul concerning Macedonia. The other principle I learned from this passage is that once Paul received the vision from God, He concluded that God called them to preach the Gospel in Macedonia and they left immediately the next day. When making a decision, we need to stay yielded and willing to do whatever it is that God asks of us. We need to keep moving until we find an open door, and when God makes something perfectly clear, follow through immediately.

The book of Proverbs contains some very helpful passages about decision making. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” In this passage is an instruction as well as a promise. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.” And Proverbs 19:21 tell us, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Obviously, the Lord desires to be a huge factor in our decision making. He is the only One who can direct us effectively and we know that He will always direct us into the right way—the Jesus Way. As we continue to walk the Jesus Way, let us consider the example of Paul and heed the ancient Proverbs before we take our next steps. Sometimes the way is dark and uncertain, but Jesus is the Light and in Him is no darkness as we read in 1 John. Psalm 119:105 reminds us that God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. God, we thank You; for You did not leave us alone to find our way in this vast creation. You promise to never leave us nor forsake us. You promise to guide us as we seek You; and You promise that our plans will succeed as we commit them to You. We know that You will provide the open doors for us and we can walk in peace and safety with You by our side.

Wherever He leads I’ll go
Wherever He leads I’ll go
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so
Wherever He leads I’ll go.

A Strong Tower

A Strong Tower

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe.”

God is passionate about revealing Himself to us. We have seen in our Old Testament readings in Genesis, Leviticus and Numbers, that God has revealed Himself as jealous, holy, forgiving, wrathful, loving and merciful. In the ancient Hebrew culture, the name given to someone described that particular person. Every name given to God in the Bible describes an attribute of His character.

In the Old Testament, we find many names of God that are mentioned for the first time. In Genesis 1, God is referred to as Elohim, or Creator. After Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea, the Lord made a decree to keep His people from disease if they obeyed His commandments. He referred to Himself as Jehovah Rapha—the God who heals. In Genesis 16, Hagar became pregnant with Abram’s child and Sarai, Abram’s wife, mistreated her out of her own bitterness. Hagar fled to the desert to get away from Sarai’s mistreatment but an angel of the Lord came to her while she was in the desert and told her to name her son Ishmael; for the Lord had heard of her misery. After this had happened, Hagar said, “You are the God who sees me. I give you the name, El Roi, the God who sees.” In Genesis 17:1, the Lord referred to Himself as God Almighty—El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One. In Genesis 22, when Abraham marched up Mount Moriah to offer his son, Isaac as a sacrifice, he told Isaac that the Lord would provide the burnt offering. At that moment, he identified God as Jehovah Jireh—the Lord will Provide. In Exodus 3, God established His ultimate identity to Moses as Jehovah—the self-existent One, the Beginning and the End. God uttered His holy name from a voice in a burning bush as he spoke to Moses. In Exodus 15, after Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea, the Lord made a decree to keep His people from disease if they obeyed His commandments. He referred to Himself as Jehovah Rapha—the Lord who heals. After the Israelites defeated the Amalekites at Rephidim, Moses built an altar of victory and named the Lord, Jehovah Nissi—the Lord is my Banner of victory. In Exodus 31, God instructed His people to observe the Sabbath day and declared Himself to be Jehovah Mekoddishkem—the Lord who Sanctifies or makes holy. In Psalm 23, we read that the Lord is our Shepherd—Jehovah Raah.

These are just a few of the names given to God in Scripture, but we can see the unfolding of His unfailing character throughout the generations of the Patriarchs. The Lord loves to hear His name uttered. To call the Lord by His specific names increases our faith and turns the ear of God toward us. We can praise Him according to His names and we can cry out to Him in times of distress according to His names, because His names represent who He is. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into and are safe! Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

The God Who Keeps

The word “keep” has great significance in Scripture. It denotes continual action as well as responsibility for us and for God. Our responsibility is to keep God’s commandments, to observe, obey and hold fast to His promises. God promises to keep watch over us, keep us from harm, and to keep us in perfect peace as we trust in Him.

A couple of weeks ago, the pre-K choirs came and sang for us during the evening meal. They sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” They sang some new and interesting verses such as “He’s got the dirt and the worms in His hands.” When I was growing up, we used to sing, “He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands”, or “He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands.” This simple, yet profound song reminds us that our God keeps all things in His hands with His sovereign might and power. One of the definitions of the word “keep” in Vine’s Expository Dictionary is “God’s sustaining power over His people.”

God’s sustaining power is demonstrated to us with great gentleness, however. That sustaining power guards us, protects us and watches over us, much like a shepherd does for his sheep. Many times our Gentle Shepherd must restrain us or constrain us to keep us from hurting ourselves. He also promises to keep our souls at rest, but only as we maintain our responsibility to trust in Him and keep his commandments.

Here are some verses that give us a picture of what God does for us on a continual basis: Psalm 121:4-8 “Indeed, He who watches over (or keeps) Israel (or you) slumbers not nor sleeps. The Lord watches over (or keeps) you –the Lord is your shade at your right hand…the Lord will keep you from all harm; He will watch over (or keep) your life; the Lord will watch over (keep) your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep those in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in You.”

Psalm 19:13 “Keep (restrain) your servant from willful sins so that do not rule over me.”

Let us not forget God’s ability to keep us; to save us, protect us, watch over us and restrain us. He never slumbers nor sleeps so that His continual sustaining power will keep all things together in this vast universe. Let us remember that He keeps us in perfect peace as we trust in Him and His sustaining power.

Frances Havergal, the writer of the hymn “Like a River Glorious” understood God as her keeper. The year of her death, she wrote these beautiful words:

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace
Over all victorious in its bright increase

Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way

Stayed upon Jehovah hearts are fully blessed
Finding as He promised perfect peace and rest.

A New and Living Way

In our daily readings, we have traveled through the book of Leviticus, and it was overwhelming at times to read about the unbelievable detail regarding temple sacrifice. It is obvious that God’s way of atonement was through the shedding of blood. I am thankful that we do not have to go through the ritual of finding a blemish-free ram or goat to slaughter for a burnt offering.

It was interesting to go back and read Hebrews 8, 9, 10, and 11 after reading Leviticus. Hebrews was one of the first books we read in the Word of God for the People of God daily Bible readings. As I read the commands of the Lord for the temple sacrifices, I kept wondering why God would go to such great lengths to indicate each detail regarding the temple, the sacrifices, the priestly garments, etc. I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago in an article entitled “Master Designer.” In Hebrews 8, we find the answer to why God was so particular about the design and functions of the Tabernacle that He described in Leviticus. Hebrews 8:5 says: “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in Heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the Tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

The explanation continues in Hebrews 9: When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect Tabernacle that is not man-made…He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered Heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did He enter Heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not His own. But now He has appeared once and for all to take away the since of many people. (v. 11.12, 24)

This priest offered for all time one sacrifice for sins and then sat down at the right hand of God. Therefore, according to Hebrews 10, we have a new and living way opened for us through the curtain (the body of Jesus) who is also our high priest. Our invitation is to “draw near” to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, since our hearts have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to cleanse us from a guilty conscience. (Heb. 10:20-21) Thank you Lord for Your sacrifice once and for all. We praise You for Your incredible provision! We remember Your broken body and shed blood for us and we rejoice that we can draw near to You with full assurance of faith!

Let us draw near to the throne, let us draw near
The Father welcomes His own, let us draw near
Our hearts are sprinkled with blood
Cleansing is here,
Let us draw near to the throne, let us draw near!

I Will Rise

Luke 24:1-5

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they had entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"

This is a wonderful prelude for us to reflect upon before Easter Sunday morning. Victory happened once and for all when Jesus declared “It is finished” while breathing His last breath. Jesus’ ultimate triumph over the clutches of death occurred when He rose from the grave. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Every knee will bow to the name of Jesus. Because of Jesus, we can look forward to no more pain and no more sorrow, where all will be illumined by the glory of God, and our faith will become sight.

As we live out our daily lives here on earth, we can still acknowledge the victory that we have in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We can live with the hope that God is at work even now to create new life within us. This hope develops internal peace, which is the anchor for our souls. Though we know in our hearts that victory is ours in Christ Jesus, it is sometimes hard for us to hold on to this belief when times are difficult. Jesus never promised that our lives would be without heartache and sorrow, but He did promise that He would be with us during the hard times, and He also promised us His comfort and peace through the Holy Spirit. Even during the face of trials, we can know that Christ is working to bring life to us when we feel as though we are “dying” inside.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 encourages us not to lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, we are being renewed inwardly each day. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” No matter how broken we may become, Christ will continue to prove His resurrection power in our lives as we surrender to Him. As we bow before Him in humility and reverence, and as we wait on Him, even in the midst of pain and suffering, He will lift us up and we will rise on wings like eagles, we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not be faint. (Isa. 40:31) This is true faith put into action. This is the faith that will carry us to the end of our days on earth. This is the faith which allows us to say “It is well” as we live victoriously in Christ.

I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise, I will rise

Grafted In

Reading through Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus, we see several themes developing. One theme is God’s desire for obedience among His people. God was so careful to present specific guidelines for His people to follow, and those guidelines were to protect and preserve the holiness of the Israelites in their devotion toward God. He certainly did not want to share their devotion with any other god. Over and over again, God warned the Israelites not to worship pagan idols or make sacrifices to them. If they worshipped other gods, they were put to death! God is a jealous God and will not share His glory with another!

Unfortunately, the appeal of idol worship lured the Israelites away from God’s commands. They grieved the heart of God and He burned with anger toward them. If I were God, I would be thinking, “How could you do this to me, after all I have done for you?” In Romans 10, Paul quotes Isaiah who reveals the grieved heart of God: “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Because of this, God gave them a “spirit of stupor” and blinded their eyes. (Romans 11:8) Not only had the Jews worshipped other gods, but they also manipulated the laws of God and created them to be “stumbling blocks” to the truth of the coming Messiah. Their eyes were indeed blinded! Later on, God would show mercy upon His people, but in the meantime, something wonderful happened for those of us who were not Jews. We were “grafted in” to the Living Vine!

In Romans 11, Paul used powerful imagery to demonstrate God’s love and mercy toward the Gentiles—those outside of Abraham’s Covenant to the Jewish nation. In verse 17 Paul wrote, “You, though a wild olive shoot have been grafted in among the others and now share the nourishing sap from the olive root.” Richard Foster, in his book Learning from Jesus describes the grafting process: “The graft shoots its little roots and fibers down into the stem and the stem grows up into the graft, and what has been called structural union is effected.” A graft is intentionally placed by the vinedresser into the vine. Once the graft has been placed into the vine, it then begins to draw nourishment from the vine and then becomes part of the vine.”

Because of the Jews’ disobedience and unbelief, they were branches who were “cut off”, which consequently made room for those of us who are Gentiles. Our provision to be grafted into the Vine is through our faith in Christ. All of this was part of God’s plan! He used the disobedience of the Jews to make a way for the Gentiles (you and me!) to become a part of God’s eternal kingdom. I am so thankful that God showed His mercy upon us and adopted us as His children—the “little olive shoots” that can draw nourishment from the Living Vine. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1) This is a profound mystery that only comes from the heart of One who is much greater than we are. It is only appropriate that Paul would close is discourse on the “grafting in” process in Romans 11 with this glorious doxology: “Oh the depth and the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay Him? For from Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”

The Master Designer

I have learned so much more about God since I have been doing the daily Bible readings. It is easy for me to think of God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. I have never had a hard time "wrapping my mind" around that concept. I can look up into the sky and see His wonders and I marvel at the miracle of the infinite details of a seashell. When I envision God as the Creator, I see that nothing is impossible for Him and He does everything in such a big way. However, as I read through Genesis and Exodus, I see a different aspect of our Creator God. He is a builder, an architect, a clothing designer and an interior designer. For some reason, it is more difficult for me to imagine God in these "every day" roles, but I am realizing that he is an "every day" kind of God. He is very interested in all of the details concerning our daily activity.

When God instructed Noah to build the ark, He knew exactly what the ark needed to remain afloat during the time of flooding. He was specific about the type of wood to be used--cypress. It was to be coated with pitch inside and out. The ark was to be 450 feet long, 75 fee wide, and 45 feet high. As a builder of the infamous ark, God protected Noah, his family and all of the animals, and also demonstrated His wrath upon a godless generation as the waters covered the entire earth. His instructions were accurate and fail-proof regarding the construction of the ark.

In Exodus, we read about the construction of the Tabernacle, the altar of burnt offerings and the priestly garments. These chapters contain tedious details about the construction of the Tabernacle. Surprisingly, I was very fascinated by these chapters. God was very specific about the materials to be used for the Tabernacle just as he was for the ark before the flood. He specified the length of the curtains and size of the altar of burnt offering. He was particular about the clothing for Aaron the priest, and how it was to be designed. He only chose the finest materials to be used for these things. As I was reading about all of God's specifications for the Tabernacle and the priestly garments, I began to ask "Why?" Why would God go to such great lengths to give such detail? Why was it so important to God for his instructions to be followed so accurately?

Sometimes God's instructions are for our protection as demonstrated with Noah and the ark. Other times, God's instructions show us a bigger picture of Himself, or they display symbolism of what is to come. The Tabernacle symbolized in many ways the coming of Christ, the pure and spotless Lamb who would come to atone for the sins of all people. God has also revealed to me that He is a God of great order and detail and He has expectations for His instructions to be followed completely and accurately as an act of obedience. Sometimes it doesn't matter if we know the answer "why" to all that God asks of us. What does matter is that we are obedient to do what He has asked us to do. God the architect, master planner, interior designer is reconstructing each of us on a daily basis. Will we hear Him as He gives us specific instructions about our lives? How will we respond? What I learned from reading these chapters in Genesis and Exodus, is that God has a specific design for our lives, and they will be made of the finest materials--character, endurance, perseverance, faith, etc. Ultimately, our life's purpose is to point to Christ and to demonstrate His love, mercy and faithfulness. May we all be sensitive to God's master planning in our lives so that they bring glory and honor to Him while we are here on this earth.

God's Unfailing Love

I have heard many stories over the years about people who were near death, and as they looked back on their lives, they admitted their regrets and disappointments. One of the biggest regrets mentioned is the fact that the individual didn't spend enough quality time with his/her family and friends. When I come to the end of my life, I will definitely want my friends and family to be reassured of my love for them. If we spend any time reading the Bible, we will find that God is very intentional about letting us know how much He loves us.

There are so many themes in the Bible, but none greater than that of God's unfailing love. From the very beginning, God has been about the business of redeeming and restoring His relationship with man--His beloved creation. Echoing through the pages of Scripture, we hear God's voice whispering, "I love you, and don't forget it." As I have been reading the daily Bible readings, I was struck by the absolute tenderness of God to write this love letter to us.

The term "unfailing love" is mentioned over and over again through the Scriptures. "Unfailing" means "completely dependable", "endless--as a resource or supply."

Here are a few passages from our daily Bible readings which recall God's unfailing love:

Psalm 32:10 "...but eh lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him."

Psalm 48:9 "Within Your temple, O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love..."

Exodus 15:13 (From the Song of Moses and Miriam) "In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed..."

Psalm 52:8 "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever."

God desires for His unfailing love to be active in our lives--surrounding us and leading us as we trust in Him; but we need to be convinced that He loves us so that we will trust Him completely. God's resources are limitless, and that includes His love as well. Oh Lord, let us be like the olive tree flourishing in the house of God. Shower us with Your unfailing love today. Thank You for sending this beautiful love letter to us in the form of Your Holy Word. May our lives be a reflection of the love that You have poured out on us!

Just as God Said

Word of God Speak
Reflections from the Daily Bible Readings
The Word of God for the People of God
The daily Bible readings have been refreshing as I have read passage from the Old and New Testament and the Psalms. Reading Genesis, I am reminded of the passage in Hebrews 12:1 which says "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses..." My faith has been increased as I have read and reviewed the unbelievable faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Then, in Hebrews 11:6 we read that it is impossible to please God without faith. Over and over again, we read that the faith of our forefathers was considered as righteousness before God, and each patriarch received rich blessing and reward as a result of their faith. However, all were tested. Abraham tried to take matters into his own hands many times, instead of letting God work to reveal his plan. Jacob deceived and manipulated his way to get the things he wanted. Though some of these ancient men of faith failed the "pop quizzes" of life, they ultimately passed the final exams and realized God's promised blessing.

The phrase "just as God said" is a key phrase in both the Old and New Testament. Adam and Eve experienced their punishment for eating the forbidden fruit--just as God said they would. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob received the Promised Land just as God said they would. In fact, God was faithful to confirm His covenant with them to strengthen their faith. The wise men found the baby Jesus under the star in the East, just as God said they would. Jesus came forth from the land of Judah, just as God said He would. How wonderful it is to read God's covenant to Abraham, Jacob and Isaac; to read the Psalms of the one who would live in Bethlehem, the "City of David"--the fulfillment of every prophecy concerning God's redemption. Jesus Christ--the exact representation of God's glory, the Great High Priest, the One with whom God was well pleased, was revealed to us at just the right time in history. It is evident that God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purposes very clear. We have this "hope"--the anchor for our souls, firm and secure.

My prayer is that we will all treasure the priceless gift of God's Word. Psalm 19 tells us that God's Word is more precious than gold, sweeter than honey from the comb. ..in keeping them there is great reward. The Word of God is the voice of G0d--the voice which uttered the creation of the heavens and starry hosts. The Word of God is the GREAT I AM--the beginning and the end, and the Word of God is the Good Shepherd who whispers comfort and encouragement to those who are cast down in spirit. Every day, God is "watching over His Word to perform it." (Jer. 1:12) Let us also watch to see how He performs His Word each day.

Word of God speak, would you pour down like rain, Washing my eyes to see Your Majesty... To be still and know that You're in this place Please let me stay and rest in Your holiness Word of God Speak...

A Second-Hand Violin

I've always been impressed with the Apostle Paul who said he had learned to be content in all things. He endured shipwrecks, prison and persecutions, yet none of those things seemed to affect the inner peace and joy that remained in his heart.

There was once a great violinist named Paganini who entered the stage to play before an audience, when he noticed something was wrong with his violin. As he looked at it, he realized that it was not his famous, valuable violin. In a state of panic, he turned to his audience and told them there had been some mistake and he did not have his own violin. He stepped back behind the curtain thinking that his violin was where he left it, but he discovered that someone had stolen it and left an old, second-hand violin in its place. He remained back stage for a moment and then went out to face his audience. He said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul." He played as he had never played before; and out of that second-hand instrument the music poured forth until the audience was captured with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building. Paganini was able to effectively demonstrate that the music was not in the instrument, but in the soul.

The life of Paul and the story of Paganini both encourage me to be intentional about growing my faith "from within", developing the ability to say "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13) Paul learned to trust in the faithfulness of God because God was faithful to Him. His contentment discourse goes like this: "for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether being in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:11-13) It is as if Paul wrote the favorite hymn that we sing:

Great is Thy Faithfulness
Oh God My Father
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Lord unto me

If life hands us a "second-hand violin", it is a good opportunity for us to see whether or not the "music is within our souls." May we become like Paul and learn contentment in all circumstances as we trust in the faithfulness of God.

The Weapon of Praise

I was really touched this past week by the song "This is My Destiny." It is a powerful modern hymn containing Biblical theology and truth for every believer. Dennis Jernigan, the writer of "This is My Destiny", is also the writer of other well-known worship songs such as "Who Can Satisfy" and "You are My All in All." He was once a struggling youth who did not fit in with his peers. He had numerous self-esteem issues and eventually fell into homosexuality because that was where he found acceptance. As a young adult, God delivered him from this lifestyle and called Him into music ministry. Today, he is married and has several children (9 I last heard!) He is a powerful worship leader, and his music brings healing and hope to many who are struggling. Dennis admits even today that he writes many of his songs as weapons of warfare against his old patterns of thinking. He has learned that praise to God Almighty silences the enemy (Psalm 8:2). In other words, Satan is basically "bound and gagged" when we praise the Lord. He is forced to sit and listen to it!

In the Old Testament, King Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord before going into battle against the enemy armies who were advancing toward them. Seeing the size of the enemy armies, Jehoshaphat prayed, "Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on You." (2 Chron. 20:12) The Lord spoke to Jehoshaphat saying, "Do not be discouraged because of the vast army...you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance that the Lord will give you...Do not be afraid, but go out and face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you." (2 Chron. 20:15-17) Jehoshaphat and all of his people fell to the ground and began to worship the Lord. They praised Him with a very loud voice! Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord; to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness. Then they went out ahead of the army singing "Give thanks to the Lord for His love endures forever!" As they began to sing, the Lord sent ambushes against the enemy and they turned toward each other and destroyed one another. Not one member of the enemy army was left standing. What an incredible story!

God has reminded me this week that praise is a powerful weapon against the enemy. Praise is the way se "stand firm and take up our positions." There is great victory in praise. We begin by recalling truths from God's Word. I believe the song, "This is My Destiny" is a warfare hymn that Dennis Jernigan wrote to silence the enemy. The chorus says:

He calls me child He calls me to His side eternally
He calls me once was lost, now found, was bound to sin now free
He calls me holy, calls me righteous by the blood redeemed
He calls me overcomer crowned with victory, this is my destiny!

Stand firm, take your positions--let us see the deliverance of the Lord! Praise is powerful and it is our destiny to be overcomers!