It seems that every facet of life continues to be permeated by the fact that we are still fighting this horrible virus, and things have not yet returned to “normal.”  For many, though, normal will be different, because they have suffered the greatest loss during this time and will never again hear their loved one’s voice or feel the touch of their hand.  With the pandemic comes an increased focus on suffering and death.   But, if we live long enough, we all encounter great loss.  A wife loses a husband, parents lose a child, or perhaps our own bodies and minds undergo disease and stress, testing our faith.  We struggle with the question, “Where is God in all the suffering?”

And so, we come to God with our requests, begging him to intervene and turn situations around, to heal bodies, to allow people to live, believing He has the power to change things if He chooses.  I have prayed this so many times in recent days, for those suffering from Covid but also for those with cancer or other dire situations.  I have come to God with my own desires, my plan for how He could make it all better.   Maybe you have too. 

He wants us to come to him with our needs (Phil. 4:6), but I have found a change has been necessary in my thinking and praying, as I have navigated through these trying times.  The Scripture tells us God is Sovereign and that our days are known by him and are numbered (Psalm 139:16).  Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done.”  From this, we can infer that we are to submit to his plans, his will, his purposes on the earth.  I have had to ask myself, do I pray in this way, or do I in essence pray, “MY will be done”? Do I want His will to be done, His Kingdom plans to be accomplished, or do I think I know best?   

 Of course, God cares about our desires and longings, but we must be sure our desires and longings align with His, and we must ultimately submit our will to His.  The Bible tells us that He made us and has the very hairs of our heads numbered.  In the same passage we are reminded that we are much more valuable than the sparrows, and yet not even one of them falls without His notice (Matthew 10:29-31). Each and every life is precious to him.   You are precious to Him, and your loved ones are precious to Him.  He is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  That is His will, for each one to come to Him, and live for Him, until the day He calls us home. 

May we say like Paul, “Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21). 

My mother always wore lipstick. She was from the era where you put your best foot forward when you stepped out of the house, and you rarely stepped out without being dressed accordingly and having “fixed your face.” Even in retirement, when she relaxed her standards just a bit, one thing that never changed was that she always put on lipstick, at the very least, when going anywhere, even to a drive-through window! Her lipstick of choice was Revlon, and I think the color was “Classic Red.”

I love this memory of my mother, but there was something much more important that she taught me about what was on her lips. She daily showed me by her words the meaning of grace, which she seemed to pour out on everyone. She taught me by example to speak with gentleness and compassion, and to always give people the benefit of the doubt. She would see a friend in a store and might stand and talk for an hour. She was genuinely interested in and concerned for people and the things that were going on in their lives.

When we study the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, we see that “she opens her mouth in wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.” So I ask again with that in mind – What is on your lips? What are you speaking into others? Is kindness there? Is compassion? Is wisdom? Is love? Are we speaking life giving words into our children, our husbands, to those we have influence with each day? Is the Law of Kindness there, or do we adhere to some other “Law” of our own making?

Scripture, especially Proverbs, is full of references which speak to the importance of our words. Proverbs 18:4 tells us, “A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.” Proverbs 15:23 says, “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word.” In Proverbs 25:11 we learn, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Our health can even be affected by the words we speak and those that are spoken to us, as Proverbs 16:24 tells us, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

I need to be reminded of these truths every day, and strive to put on kindness with that Revlon Classic Red!

I am continually amazed at the richness of Scripture and how we can discern different meanings from it with different readings, as the Holy Spirit guides us into all Truth (John 16:13).  Within one story, there can be so many lessons and ways God might speak to us corporately or personally.  In John 2, we see the miracle at Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine, his first and perhaps most well-known miracle.  As I was reading this account recently, I noticed something I had not focused in on before – the pots he instructed the servants to put the water in, which would then become the wine.  The Bible tells us these pots were used in Old Testament times for ceremonial washing and purification, common objects associated with “The Law.” 

Jesus used those common vessels, representing the rules and regulations of the law, and he did a new thing with them.  Once filled with water, they were now filled with new wine, a wine which could even represent his Blood, foreshadowing the Passover meal and the sacrifice to come.  Jesus said he did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them (Mark 5:17).  Perhaps this miracle is the visual representation of this very fulfillment of the Law.  The pots, the Law, would be the container for what was to come.  His “new wine” represents the new covenant, the shedding of his precious blood and therefore the forgiveness of sins through his infinite grace and mercy.  The law would be the foundation on which the miracle of the redemption of man would stand. 

The clay pots might also represent you and me– common, earthen vessels made of ordinary substance, but used by Jesus in the miracle.  He takes the ordinary, and fills it with himself, so that the ordinary becomes a totally new thing, a new creation (2^nd Corinthians 5:17, If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation).  How often he uses the ordinary, the least likely, the weak, to accomplish his purposes, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2^nd Corinthians 12:8-10).  In the story of the miracle at Cana, Jesus instructs the servant to dip out some wine and take it to the master of ceremonies, who was amazed that the hosts had “kept the good wine” until now. If those old pots were filled with new wine, it was to be enjoyed, to be useful, to bless others.  If the “new wine” just sat in the pot, it would have still been new wine, but would not have fulfilled the purpose for which it was created.

Perhaps there’s yet another lesson here: If you have experienced the miracle, dip into the vessel, and share with others, because the world sure needs the miracle inside. 

I was reading through the Gospel of Matthew this week and was struck by something I had never noticed before.    As I read the account of the feeding of over 5,000 people in Matthew 14, I wondered why Jesus told the crowd to sit down before he multiplied the food that was given.  As I was reading today in Matthew 15 about the miracle for over 4,000, I noticed the same instruction.   Why did he tell them to sit down, and why was it important for the writer to mention it?  Then it hit me – maybe they had to be in a position to receive, in a position of readiness, in a position of expectation.  In other words, he wanted them to be ready for what they were about to receive, to be ready for the miracle.  

For those who regularly read my blog, you may remember that I have shared how I believe God has taught me or worked with me along particular themes during different seasons of my life (The Theme of Thankful – Life By The Way.)  Some of these themes have been – Create in me the Heart of a Worshipper – Sow Generously – Be a Servant.  I believe for this season, the theme is “Be Ready.”  The scripture tells us to always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us to give a reason for the hope that is in us (1^st Peter 3:15).  I believe “Be Ready” has meaning in several areas – be ready to speak with kindness and truth, be ready to serve, be ready to pray, be ready to give and to receive, and finally be ready for his return. 

Another striking thing about both stories in Matthew is that Jesus asks the disciples for what they have, which in both cases was something so very small compared to the need – 5 loaves and 2 small fish in the first case, and 7 loaves and a few small fish in the second story.  What we have may seem like nothing, or may seem like everything, but he can take what we are ready and willing to give and make something beautiful out of it.  In His hands the weak are made strong, the sick are healed and the broken are made whole.   

Lord, we are waiting with expectation.  We are ready.

Amen

Some of my best ideas seem to come when I am out in nature, walking the dog and looking at my surroundings.  Not sure if my mind is more free from distractions during those times, but I find it is a good time to think and pray.  On my walks for the last few days, I have been eyeing small pinecones on the ground from a couple of trees on our property.  I have collected one or two here or there to take inside to use when I put up the garland on the mantel during Christmas time.  Most of the pinecones I’ve found on the ground are small, and there are a lot of cores of pinecones present, where the squirrels have made a good meal of them.  For several days I have noticed a larger, fuller pinecone still attached to a branch, but the branch is no longer attached to the tree.  I reached and tugged at the pinecone a few different times, but it was not ready to come off.  This morning I tried again, but it was just as stubborn, not any looser than before.  I thought, “It’s not ready to surrender just yet.” 

Then it hit me – we are often like that – unwilling to surrender.  Unwilling to surrender to God, to God’s purpose for our lives.  How often do we “hang on” to the old, even though we’re hanging onto a dead, dry branch?  Dead things will never bring us life.  How often do we cling to the familiar, not realizing that surrender could mean being a part of something new, something even more beautiful?  That pine cone will “let go” one day soon, and it will come inside my house to be a part of something beautiful. 

Our lives are much the same.  The beauty and fullest meaning come in the surrender.  The surrender of our will to His, of our lives to His purpose, of our dreams to His imaginings for us.  He is good, His love endures forever, and we can trust him with our Surrender. 

Hello Friends, I thought I would share a few thoughts as we are still sheltering in place, learning to adjust to our “new normal.”  I have been pondering how crisis pushes some people deeper into their faith and causes others to dig in deeper in their unbelief.  Could it be that crisis magnifies our true beliefs and clarifies our priorities, exposing what was there all along? 

But even if we want to trust God, we may have had moments of questioning our current situation.  I think we all seek to understand where God is and what he is doing in these circumstances.  Maybe we have said something like, “God, GET US OUT of this!!” But maybe, we should ask, “God, what do you want me TO GET OUT of this?”  What do you want me to learn and how can I more closely align my priorities with yours during this time of being sidelined? What can I take with me from this time, so that when things return to normal, I don’t simply return to the default of busyness and noise.

There are many needs during this time, but ultimately, I wonder if our needs are really so much different than they were 2 months ago.  Is God’s ability to meet our need any different than it was before the pandemic?  Has he changed, or been caught off guard by what is happening in the world?  No, he is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  We are promised his love, his peace, his strength, his presence, his provision, his mercy.

This is a time for us to lean in to his promises…The Lord is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace (Psalm 29:11).  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). I believe the thing needed most during this time, is what we need all the time – his presence, his peace.  We can ask for the situation causing us pain to be taken away, but the real miracle is that he is with us and promises to be with us always. 

Hebrews 11:6 says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.  He says in seeking, we will find.  As we ask, it will be given.  If we knock, the Door will be opened.  He is ready and waiting, with the gift of his presence, and it is everything we need. 

As I was walking this morning, I took notice of a nest built in the branches of a small tree in a neighbor’s yard.  The branches were bare, and I thought at the time, it was a pretty fitting analogy for where we are right now.  The nest was still there, offering protection, but it was in the middle of the dead dry branches.  In the same way, we have our nests, our homes, that are filled with love and life, but our surroundings right now may seem bleak, bare, and “dead.”  I had to remind myself though, soon the buds will begin to show themselves on that little tree, and new life will come.  The nest will once again be surrounded growth, beauty, and purpose, as the tree comes to life again.   The same will undoubtedly happen in our lives; we will again be enveloped by the life, and the hustle and bustle that is the normal backdrop of our daily existence. 

So, what can we learn while we are secluded in our “nests” and the world seems dark, and oh-so “not normal”?  I hope we can learn that it is ok and beneficial to sometimes “be still.” Anyone who has raised a child knows how difficult it can be to get them to lie down for a nap, even though that is exactly what they need.  Maybe the world is getting a chance for a collective nap – or a “time out.”  Psalm 23 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Our Heavenly Father knows we need rest – not just physical rest but resting in Him, in his peace.  I have pondered for some time that it seems we have lost our ability to be still before the Lord, to be quiet and wait with expectation for what he might have to say to us.  We live with too much distraction, too much noise, too many screens. 

I was reading this morning in Genesis about Joseph.  Many of you know the story, that Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but ended up coming to prominence in Potiphar’s household and was eventually put in charge of the whole country of Egypt.  He was ultimately able to help his brothers in a time of famine, because of his position.  Joseph, however, had to endure a lot before he was given this level of influence – besides being sold into slavery, he at one point was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of trying to seduce her, which landed him in prison for a time.  But the Bible says, “The Lord was with Joseph in the prison, and showed him his faithful love.”  Joseph was not immune from trouble, but God kept Joseph, and worked all those things together for good, to ultimately allow Joseph to save his family.  We can’t see the end game, but God can.  He may be using events, as hard as they seem right now, to bring about a greater purpose in your life and mine.    

I want to encourage each of us to use this time to think, to dig deeper, to pray, to seek God, to study the Scriptures, and to ask God what he might say to us during this time when we are forced to take a break from our normal routines and activities.  

So breathe deep, be still, and know that He is God, that he sees you, he knows you, and your times are in his hands. 

Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 31:24

Have you ever noticed, when the power goes out, the absolute silence that immediately invades your world?  Without electricity, the absence of the constant “hum” that is in the background from electronics, is immediately noticeable.  It is amazing how the lack of noise can sometimes be as “loud” as too much noise; the quiet can become disquieting.   We are not used to being still, being quiet, being without the noise that is always with us.  In our part of the country, these power outages usually come after a storm.  Without electricity, without the “hum,” we can feel isolated, powerless, and anxious.

In these days when we are being forced into isolation, we may feel similar things.  Fear may overtake us in the quiet and in the unknown.  But we want to encourage you instead to take this time of stillness to focus on God and his promises.  Let the backdrop of those promises be a “holy hum” that is continually in the background of your mind and life.  Remaining IN HIM and his word is the key to peace in any situation, including this one.  Psalm 91 is full of promises that apply to what we are now walking through.  Pray it daily; put the names of your family members in it as you pray.  Let the “holy hum”- the knowledge that He is with you and will never forsake you – be the constant that you hear.

Psalm 91:1-6

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

 will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty

This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

He is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

nor the arrow that flies in the day.

Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,

nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

Most of the time when I undertake to write these blogs, it is from a place of having something to share when things are going well, when I feel “together,” when I feel God prompting me and teaching me things I want to pass on in some way.  However, there are times when life gets messy, when things are hard, when things don’t make sense.  It is during these times when I press deeper into God, that I understand even more of His character and cling to His promises in ways yet undiscovered. 

One of the things about God that I have marveled at for many years, is that we can search and search, and never come to the end of all He is, of all that there is to be discovered about Him and his glorious nature.  We can read certain passages, and His word seems to jump out at us, whereas we may have read the same passage many times before without this particular kind of insight.  I was reading in Romans 8 this morning, and a verse spoke to me at my core.

Romans 8:6 tells us “the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (emphasis mine). I began to ponder just how much of our own misery comes because we fail to operate, live, and think, by and through the Spirit.  When our focus is continually on our own desires, and how to have them met, there is little room for things of the Spirit – the thoughts and actions that will lead to life and peace.  There is such power in our thoughts, and the things with which we feed and fuel our minds.  Proverbs 23:7 tells us, “As a man thinks, so is he.”  Whatever we give space to in our minds, in our thoughts, soon becomes our world and our reality.  I take Jesus at his word when he says in John 10 that “the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.”  The Enemy of our souls wants to steal our  identity in God, our very purpose.  But Jesus said that He comes to give us life – life to the full.  Real life.  Real purpose.  Real peace.

 Don’t let the enemy break in and steal what is rightfully yours.   We can have peace and life– by His Spirit.