Day and Night Speak!

The Bible tells me in Psalm 19:7-11 that the heavens declare the glory of God! The skies proclaim God’s handiwork; both day and night speak and display His knowledge. There is no speech, no language where their voice is not heard; it goes out into all the earth to the end of the world.  And what might the brightness of the day tell us? What might the intricate placement of the stars at night reveal?

They demonstrate that the Law of the Lord is perfect; it revives my soul!

They make known the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy; making me wise, though I am simple!

They teach the precepts of the Lord are right; which gives abounding joy to my heart!

They prove the commands of the Lord are radiant; giving light to my eyes, so I can see clearly!

They express the fear of the Lord is pure; it will endure forever, He will never let me down!

They exhibit the ordinances of the Lord are sure; they are righteous and I can follow them unswervingly!

The heavens and everything in them declare His glory and their declarations are more precious than the purest of gold. They are sweeter than honey straight from the comb. By them I am given warning, help, solace, peace, direction, hope and in keeping them, there is great reward!!

I Wanna Know What Love Is . . .

I rely on ol’ Webster a great deal when I want to get down to the exact definition of a word but I must say . . . the word love, in my opinion, defies definition. I open up the dictionary and find a thorough description of love that covers a broad spectrum. Synonyms for the word love range from a liking, to a worship of, to a weakness for another. That sounds about right, doesn’t it? I personally cannot remember a person I’ve loved that I haven’t liked, unfortunately sometimes idolized and most often had extreme weakness for. . . I love my parents, I love my siblings, I love my spouse, I love my children, I adore my grandchildren, I love my friends and many others in my life. But, honestly, there are days I don’t even like myself so I have to ask . . . do I really get love at all?

Webster could not possibly include all the filters we sift our feelings through that encompass how each of us defines love. Our definition of love can be so easily distorted due to everything from smothering affection to horrific abuse. For some love is about hanging in there at all costs and for others it winds up being about letting go no matter how much it hurts. For some love is completely nurturing, while for others it becomes about taking a difficult tough love stance.

Some hang on to one basic hope to get through and that is that God loves them, while others go through things that cause them to doubt God ever loved them at all. Different experiences, different definitions, different demonstrations shape and form, sometimes twisting and distorting what true love really is.

Ever had your love tested? I have. Some days I find myself on top of the world in love and others I find myself wondering whether I’ve ever loved or been loved at all. I’d ask if you’ve ever felt like that but assuming if you’re reading this you are human, I know you have. If you are in relationship with any human being there are issues that arise to test the depth of your feelings. It is easy to love someone when they fit the hidden checklist of our expectations. Don’t think you have that checklist? Time for a little self-examination and honesty, don’t you think? It’s also easy to love someone when they don’t act outside our invisible boundaries. When someone walks, talks and acts like we want them to, love comes easily. When they treat us the way we want to be treated, we eat them up. When they give us much and require little, love comes easily. But what happens the minute they step outside the boundary of our definition of love? What happens when we step outside the boundaries we’ve set for ourselves? We do that too and that’s where self-loathing or self-hatred sets in. It’s a crazy thing, this love and I truly believe the topic cannot be exhausted nor do I believe there are any two opinions exactly the same on the subject.

But, I will say this. As elementary a principle as it seems, I have one true belief. That pure love comes from Agape love, the love of God toward us. If we gain a true understanding and allow the truth of God’s love for us to become rooted in our hearts, the other branches of love will grow healthy and full. The heartaches we’ve experienced and the devastating pain that human love or lack of causes us will all be healed when we truly understand love from God’s perspective and from the perspective of Jesus who gave all in love toward us.

I John 3:16 says, “By THIS we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” It is simple – by this we know it and by this we should show it. The Word goes on to explain that if we have the goods of this world, see someone in need and shut up our hearts from them, we don’t get it. That means our material goods AND our ability to love another. If we do that, love, the God kind of love or Agape is not in us. I John 3:18-19 says, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”

I know I’ve rambled on today. I didn’t mean to. Maybe it will make up for all the posting I haven’t done lately but I really just wanted to share with you for a moment. I know you’re hurting. I know that while on one hand you are loving and being loved, on yet another you are finding it hard to love and feeling extremely unloved and forgotten. That’s just how it is when you are human. God knew that. That is why he so carefully gave us His Word. He knew we’d need it along the way and we should refer to it often. It’s a little like refreshing yourself on game plays or taking a refresher course to boost your skills. Sometimes we just need to be reminded and set straight again.

Today, with all the many definitions of love and with all the loving and not loving that is going on in the world, I just want to remind you . . . By this we know love . . He laid down His life for us and He says we should do the same for others. If you are doing that today, you cannot go wrong. If in the process you get hurt, remember it hurt him but look at the joy it brings Him every time we share His love with another! And if you’re feeling unloved today or wondering if God loves you, remember this. . He laid down His life for you . . laid it down, voluntarily, gave it up . . .for you . . .I’m jus’ sayin’

Standing In The Gap

Sometimes we feel as though we, as Christians do not belong – that is because we DON’T. John 15:18-20 says “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20—Remember the words that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (NIV)

Jesus understands what it is like to be rejected by the world. He knew what His disciples would face that is why he prayed so earnestly for them. He also interceded for those who were responsible for placing Him on the cross. Jesus, felt our pain. He also DID something about it. He not only went away to send the comforter – the Holy Spirit to us, but while he was here, he prayed for and interceded for others.

Are WE doing that? Are we so caught up in our own drama that we don’t think to pray for the needs of others? Or do we even realize that others have needs? Maybe we say a little prayer for others, but stop short of really “standing in the gap” or interceding for them before God.

As it is, yes in Hebrews 13:3 . . . (NIV) “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Yes, the Word tells us to “put ourselves in their shoes”. Most of us are so busy being pious that we would not dare place ourselves in that position – even mentally or emotionally – but the Bible says to do exactly that. If we do as instructed – “put ourselves in the shoes” of those in bondage – then our perspective changes, and our prayer changes as well.

We always cry out louder to God when we are the ones in trouble, but God wants us to cry out to Him for others just as loudly. Why? Because sometimes they lose the strength and even the desire to cry out for themselves. There are many times in my life when I was carried through by the prayer of intercessors (those standing in the gap spiritually on my behalf and for my situation).

Who calls 911 when someone is injured? The injured party or another? Usually- someone standing close by . . . Do not fail to call 911 to God for another . . . you may need someone to call for you someday.

Come boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help! (Heb. 4:16) Do not hesitate to go to God on behalf of one in bondage. Whether in an actual brick and mortar prison or a prison of sin of any kind, we must be willing to cry out for our “Abba” Father to come and help . . . no matter who it is or what the circumstance.

Something Troubling You?

Got a little trouble in your life?

I bet you do . . . and so do I. As a matter of fact. If you asked me that question, I would have to ask you to be more specific. What kind of trouble do you mean? Which area of life are you referring to? Define trouble for me. . .

Webster’s take on trouble? A state or condition of distress, annoyance or difficulty. Yes, that sounds like the trouble I’m talking about. Though actually, I think Webster downplayed trouble a bit, don’t you?

When I mention someone with trouble, which biblical personality comes to mind? For me it is David. David had trouble and continued to have trouble throughout his life. But, did he quit because of that trouble? Did he blame God for that trouble? No. David recognized it could have been worse.

Psalm 138 says in verses 7 and 8: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.

I think all too often it doesn’t occur to us the trouble we are experiencing is allowed by God. It doesn’t go unnoticed by our Heavenly Father. In fact, He knows exactly how much trouble it takes to fulfill His purpose in us. There are many things He fends off that we never even know about.

David recognized the trouble but he also acknowledged that God has preserved his life. On a number of occasions David narrowly escaped his enemies with his life. We have a birds eye view of those narrow escapes as we read about him in our Bibles. God’s hand in our own trouble is usually not nearly as obvious. How would your story read? Or mine? Though it often seems our enemies are allowed to torture us without restraint or regulation – we must wonder - how many times have we narrowly escaped something worse they had planned.

Do you feel I am exaggerating just how hard it can be? If so, then maybe you are not experiencing the trouble the rest of us are. And for you I am joyful but for the rest of us – it is a struggle to keep any kind of perspective much less walk through these difficulties gracefully. Oh, please . . . You know what I’m talking about. How many times have you complained today? How much of your conversation glorified the Father? Have you talked the problem or fasted and prayed the solution?

Can you fathom how much Satan hates you? You belong to God. You are a traitor to his dark kingdom and there is nothing he can do about it! That makes him livid! Why then does he continue to torment us if he can’t snatch us from the Father’s hands? Because he can pick and tear and torment us until we willingly walk away and find ourselves abandoning God. If he has his way, we tire of the battle and we start to give up – thereby becoming ineffective.

Verse 8 says that God will fulfill His purpose for us and His love endures forever and that He will not abandon us . . . but sometimes . . . we abandon Him. Or at least some of us try.

Are you trying to abandon God? Are you tired of battling so hard and long that you feel like you cannot stand any longer? I understand. Really I do. And most of all – So does God. . . He hasn’t abandoned you. . . But people have abandoned me! – I know, but God hasn’t abandoned you.

Read all of Psalm 138. I dare you. It says David praised the Lord with all his heart. He sang praises and bowed toward the temple. He didn’t give up on God. He continued to call to Him and God made him bold and stouthearted. Was God aware of David’s trouble? You bet he was! Did he take away his trouble? No, he did not, but He did supply what David needed to get through it.

Does He love us any less?
I’m jus’ sayin’ . . .

Looking Glass Self

Some sociologists believe we become what the most important person in our life thinks we are. Whether that is a parent, sibling, spouse or even a boss, they believe what that person thinks of us is significant in who we become. How interesting. . . .

Though, to be honest, if there is truth to that theory, I’m not sure that I feel comfortable with the thought that someone else’s opinion of me defines who I become.

There are many significant people in my life, all of which I love, most of which respect and a few of which have greatly disappointed me. I suppose that is probably true for all of us.

I have tremendous love and respect for my parents. They brought my siblings and I up the best they knew how in a loving Christian home. Some things were clear: there is a loving, yet just God, there is right and wrong complete with rewards and consequences, and lastly, life isn’t all about me--put others first. Whether they are aware of it or not, they had a profound impact on who I became. But they are, as all parents, imperfect.

I have a wonderful, godly husband who takes care of me and our children the best he knows how and fully supports the call of God on my life. He sacrifices his time and his desires to make our lives better and to see that each of us has the opportunity to accomplish all we can. But he is, as all spouses, imperfect.

Though I would have high praises for those employers whose impact on my life and my skills is enormous, they too are imperfect.

That said it is somewhat disconcerting to think that any one person with all of their idiosyncrasies, bad habits and occasional bad attitudes can think something of you and inevitably you become what they have imagined you are. I shudder at the thought! Kind of makes you wary of who you connect yourself with, doesn’t it? Precisely . . .

So, what if God were most important in your life? What if you only listened to what God says about you and only patterned yourself after Jesus? Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do anyway? Of course it is. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of us as long as God is pleased with us.

Who knows us better than our Father God?

The psalmist was well aware of God’s perspective of us in Psalm 139 when he says, “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain! Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

The psalmist goes on to praise God at the revelation of how the Lord has shaped who he has become. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Not feeling so wonderful about who others say you are? Don’t focus on their negative thoughts and attitudes until you become what they think of you. Get into the Word of God and let a loving Father tell you about yourself. Meditate on His word daily until you become all that He says you can be!

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NAS)
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.