Daily Mercies

Perhaps you've heard of women having a "make-over" - yes, I agreed to such a thing ... once. I much prefer a "do-over" - another opportunity, a second-chance [so to speak]. Thankfully, the graciousness of God gives us those! The Lord said to Jonah, "Arise, go to Nineveh ... cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." (Jonah 1:2 NASB). The next two words are alarming: "But Jonah" - he did not obey; he fled from The Lord, and you may remember things did not go well for him. Then we read in Jonah 3, "The LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh' ... So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh." (V.1-2). Oh my, I see myself in Jonah - stubborn and foolish, knowing the right thing to do yet doing the opposite. Hence, finding myself in my own "belly of a fish," I've cried out as Jonah, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me ... You heard my voice" (Jonah 2:2 NASB). I'm reminded of a poem: "I wish that there were some wonderful place - Called the Land of Beginning Again - Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches - And all of our selfish grief - Could be dropped like a shabby, old coat at the door - And never be put on again." Oh, but there IS a place of beginning again! It is at the feet of The Savior where we humbly bow in confession and repentance, accept His kind forgiveness then rise to complete rest and joy as we obey Him. One "make-over" was enough for this old gal but I am eternally grateful my God allows do-overs; He welcomes me back when I stumble and fall. He assures me in Lamentations 3:22 that His steadfast love is unceasing, His mercies never end - they are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness. What a wonderful Father He is - The One of ... daily mercies. 

The Good Day

Some folks speak of the "good old days" when life was simpler and slower ... seemed better. Those days, of course, may have lacked some dearly-beloved conveniences. I suggest there's enough considerations to tantalize us into longings for other times. In Exodus, we read how God utterly exposed and crushed all of Egypt's false gods through a series of plagues; He left little doubt about His sovereignty and power! After the Hebrews left Egypt set free of slavery - as promised - God continued to care for His people; the miracles witnessed at the Red Sea and throughout their wilderness journey further proved His power, love and faithfulness. It wasn't long before the people began to grumble and complain; perhaps the height of their disgruntling they said, "Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.'" (Numbers 11:4-6 NASB). Their ingratitude had caused them to slip into a longing for the land of bondage and slavery ... the "good old days?" Perhaps one of the earliest psalms, a prayer of Israel's leader Moses, he says: "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14 NASB). Ingratitude always leads to discontent; gratitude, however, fulfills the longing heart - a satisfaction of the soul itself! "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136;1 ESV). Unless we understand and acknowledge The Lord as eternally good - knowing "good" is His nature - we too will find ourselves longing for other things. Don't fall into the enemy's trap of longing for what was or what might be. This day - today - with all that is in it is the best day to be glad "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24 ESV). Today is ... the good day!

Hope of Every Season

Bicycling was something the younger-me enjoyed! The best part was coasting downhill but every downhill coast had an uphill return - not so much fun. Life is much more pleasant when free of the struggles! Perhaps you're in a season of peace and joy right now; I suggest you enjoy it while it lasts. For the child of God, these may be times when The Father knows we may be weak or timid in our faith. While momentarily coasting, the time will come for some serious peddling uphill - a rougher season when we may struggle to see Him at work in us. During a solar eclipse when the light is hidden from view, the sun remains. So it is with God during the uphill treks, those times when we can't seem to see the light of His face upon us. Charles Spurgeon wrote, "We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Christ." (Morning by Morning). While the ease of coasting was the preferred way of biking, to get back home, there was some hard peddlin' necessary. Jeremiah reminds us, "[God] You are my hope in the day of evil" (17:17 KJV). Both the season of ease and the season of struggle are necessary to grow us in Christ. Let us find Him - the ... Hope of every season.

Sah No to Uh-Oh

As parents of twins - particularly Dustin - when we heard the words "uh-oh," we knew it was time to drop whatever we were doing and see the cause for the "uh-oh." Sometimes it was a minor infraction but ... not always. This well describes life when we choose foolishly, making choices to suit ourselves. One of the oft forgotten conversations of God is with Cain: God said, "If you ignore My instruction, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7 AMP). To "master" something requires some willful intention to choose "my way" or "God's way." Paul David Tripp gives a list of how we often alibi for what we do: "I can handle this; it will be okay" - "I'll only do it once" - "It's not really such a big deal" - "It's not like I do it all the time" - "I didn't really have much of a choice". (New Morning Mercies). It's been said an excuse is often a lie wrapped in a shell of reason. Paul wrote, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts ... as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves ... as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:12-13 ESV). I know this: I want less uh-ohs and more oh-yeses.  Let us live with more willfulness and intent as we seek righteousness - say no to uh-oh.

The Lovely One

The psalmist's song says, "How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts!" (Psalm 84:1). Our minds typically go to breath-taking sights of creation: a morning frost, sunsets, spacious skies,  painted canyons, snow-capped mountains, the soaring eagle. Oh, what shallow thoughts we have of God! "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" (Romans 11:33). Make no mistake, where God is, there is nothing lacking. He is The Lovely of any and all habitations. The psalmist continues, "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside." (V.10). Just one day! Wherever you are - Wherever you go - The Lovely One is there. Enjoy Him.