Please The Father

Something that the younger-me loved to do was to be on a float on the lake and just ... float. Bill would be on the dock fishing, watching his line and me, making sure neither drifted away! Jesus was focused in His purpose; He said, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42). I suggest many Believers have spent much of their Christian life spiritually wondering and wandering, unsure of their God-given purpose. God has made clear, however, His will (purpose) for each of His children: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3a ESV). Those who belong to Jesus are to sanctified - that is, to be made holy, growing and maturing day by day into the same holiness as is His nature. Jesus said to His disciples in John 6:38, "I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me." Jesus' heart was set on one thing: please The Father, which He did all the way to an agonizingly cruel Roman cross. The age-old question of "why am I here" does not go unanswered! Like Jesus, we are here to please The Father in all our ways. "Now may the God of peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV). How wonderful we do not have to flounder and float - every child of God has been called and equipped for this purpose: please The Father.

His Way - His Time

It is believed that the idiom "bull in a china shop" most likely originated from events in 17th century London when cattle roamed freely and into local shops. It appeared first, however, in an 1834 novel contrasting a bull's brutish strength and the delicate fragility of fine china. This phrase came to mind recently as I read Proverbs 21:5 (AMP), "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage, but everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty." The first part of this verse is encouraging and promising; one's stead and constant efforts bring reward! The latter part of the verse, however, cannot be ignored as it clearly says "everyone" - even those who are diligent. The warning is that even in our diligence we must never act hastily or carelessness. I fear in our Godly pursuits we get ahead of God; instead of seeking His face and being invited into God's plans, we ... invite Him into our plans. I'm a planner, a firm believer in "fail to plan - plan to fail." All the more, however, to not be that bull in the china shop - brutishly plowing ahead in the delicate matters of God's plans. God promises, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." (Psalm 32:8 ESV). Let us be wise - not in our own eyes, but rather in moving forward in ... His Way - His time.

Don't Delay - Obey

Do you have a "want-to" problem? Well, I certainly do! The first project of my morning was to wash a sink-load of dishes. Mister Bill even commented we might need to hire some help; I noted his sarcasm but did not hear an offer from him to wash them. God says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us." (Hebrews 12:1a NET). How foolish of God's children to forget the weight of sinfulness! It is weighty and cumbersome, greatly influencing our good intention of obedience to Christ. You want to know why my sink was full of dirty dishes? The answer is ... when the dishes should have been washed, I simply didn't want to wash them. Isn't that the problem with spiritual endurance? We "say" we love Jesus and want to be obedient to Him and walk in a pleasing way before Him yet we do not because we become fixated on something else. The rest of Verse 1 counsels us how to persevere in Godly obedience: "keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." Dishes are washed and the sink is empty and clean - I love it. It is good for the child of God to keep his eyes on Christ and live in obedience to Him ... do not allow sin to gather in your heart nor put-off obedience. Don't delay .. obey.

Restore Me

There's more than a few things here that have been restored: hardwood floors, a fireplace, walls, bathrooms ... such is this old house in which we live. The psalmist prayed, "Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your indignation toward us to cease." (Psalm 85:4 NASB). We don't use that word "indignation" too much these days but I suggest we all act in indignation more than we think ... in extreme anger mixed with disgust. Just watch the news these days and you'll feel ... indignation! Oh, how I forget it is my sinfulness that cause God's "indignation" towards me. The psalmist continues, "Will You be angry with us forever? ... Will you not Yourself revive us again that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your loving kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation." (V5-7). When I look at the beauty of these old hardwood floors, I'm reminded of their poor and neglected condition before they were refinished ... restored. Oh, the beauty of the soul that has acknowledged its sin and presented it to The Father for forgiveness and cleansing - such beauty is beyond compare. That is the soul that has experienced the steadfast love of God's salvation. The heart of man is in need of such soul-cleansing daily. Oh yes, such beauty and rejoicing is the longing of my soul. Dear Lord ... restore me.

Heart Matters

Both of us now retired, one thing that helps us stay on-track and and what's happening from day-to-day is my online calendar. I suppose we all know what it's like to begin the day with thoughts of what we anticipate our goings and doings, even to consider the priorities of the day.  Here's a first-thing given to us by God in His Word: "Keep the heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23). I suspect and fear heart-diligence doesn't top many lists! Since the heart cannot be disengaged from what we speak and how we behave, Believers should take care and caution. "Behold, [Lord], You delight in Truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart." (Psalm 51:6). There's lots of continuous noise that comes our way from the world, and we're easily distracted and led away from this priority of carefully guarding our hearts according to Godly Truth. So it goes for Mister Bill and I - we tend to take care of the most important matters of each day, and so it should be with every child of God. At the top of the list - every day and in every way - make heart matters a priority because the ... heart matters. 

Oh Heart, Rejoice

What causes your heart to rejoice? Most commonly it's some exciting news or event, something very noteworthy. Last year, for Mister Bill and I, it was a fiftieth anniversary; while we anticipate more, there will never be another fiftieth. The psalmist writes, "Let the heart of the them rejoice that seek the Lord" (Psalm 105:3 KJV). Seeking (pursuing) The Lord may not seem as something that qualifies one to ... rejoice - an experience of joy and gladness in a high degree. Yet, God says to go in search of Him is a joyous thing! Do you suppose our hearts have become hardened by the progressive thrill of the wrong things?  Read these words of an 18th Century woman: "I do not know when I have had happier times in my soul, than when I have been sitting at work, with nothing before me but a candle and a white cloth, and hearing no sound but that of my own breath, with God in my soul and heaven in my eye ... I rejoice in being exactly what I am - a creature capable of loving God, and who, as long as God lives, must be happy. I get up and look for a while out of the window, and gaze at the moon, and stars, the work of an Almighty hand. I think of the grandeur of the universe, and then sit down, and think myself one of the happiest beings in it." (Daily Strength for Daily Needs). Nehemiah 8:10 says "the joy of the Lord is your strength" ... can there be anything more simple yet sustaining to God's children than knowing The Lord's abiding Presence in the daily moments of life: preparing a meal, driving to work, doing laundry, caring for children or an elderly parent, sweeping the floor? Gephard Tersteegen wrote: "Be Thou my Sun, my selfishness destroy - Thy atmosphere of Love be all my joy - Thy Presence be my sunshine ever bright - My soul the little mote that lives but in Thy light." I have need to ask myself on what my heart finds its center - in my little selfish joys or in The Presence of The One Whose joy brings strength and joy to my soul? In Christ alone ... oh heart, rejoice!

That Kind of Faithful

How long does it take to be described as one who is faithful? You may as well ask "how long is a piece of rope?" Faithfulness is an adhering to or holding firmly to a duty; it's defined by consistent allegiance or loyalty to something. We must conclude, therefore, one does not wake-up one day as suddenly ... faithful. No, it is to be achieved and gained over a period of time, a perseverance to consistency of doing-and-doing, over-and-over. Yes, the quality of faithfulness comes with time. I propose Daniel as a Bible hero who remained faithful to his God ... unruffled by whims and demands of earthly authority. Even when men maliciously tried to cause him to stumble, Daniel gave a faithful response: instead of praying to the king [as decreed], Daniel continued to do as he always had done and prayed to his God three times a day (Daniel 6:13). Lack of perseverance and endurance is the greatest enemy to achieving "faithful" status; it demands boldness and courage but [spiritually speaking] it mostly requires a heart that is undivided between God and other things. Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37 ESV). Let's be clear: that's a special kind of love! Loving God in that produces results that are unwavering and unyielding, the faithfulness we see in Daniel's life - a faithfulness that made the pages of God's Word. Oh yeah, I want to be ... that kind of faithful.

Never Miss a Call

A spotty or unreliable cell signal is problematic. For example, there have been times when Mister Bill was hunting, he was “off the grid.”  Sadly, there are times in our spiritual lives when we [too] miss God’s voice. Be assured: the missed word from Him has nothing to do with The One speaking!  The lack of signal most always can be traced to a struggling relationship with or broken fellowship with Christ.  Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4). The Greek word “abide” refers to a continual tarrying and tarrying ... with purpose. If I'm expecting a call, my phone is constantly with me; my intention is not to miss its ring. This is how we are to abide in Christ – being diligent and attentive to His voice, faithfully keeping ourselves in spiritual range so when God speaks, we hear Him. The psalmist said, “But for me it is good to be near God.” (Psalm 73:28). There are days my phone is silent and that’s okay; it’s never a good thing, however, to miss God’s voice. Are you listening for Him? Remain in Him and ... never miss a call.

Be a Daniel

The word "nickname" comes from a Middle English word meaning "also-name" ... aka nickname. Not sure where it came from but my Dad would occasionally call me "Beverly Jane" ... and I cannot tell you where that also-name came from! Once in Babylonian captivity, Daniel and his three Hebrew friends - Hananiah, Mishael, MAzariah - were given new [Babylonian] names: "The commander of the officials gave them [Babylonian] names: Daniel he named Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Michael he named Meshack, and Azariah he named Abed-nego." (Daniel 1:7 AMP). Unlike today, in Bible times children were given names of significance: the name "Daniel" means "God is my Judge." What a profound statement and mandate for one who loves The Lord - to live in accordance with The One Who knows and sees all and judges in absolute perfection. To such a one, there is great promise: "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12 ESV). Throughout Daniel's life we read how he was repeatedly challenged to levels of steadfastness, choosing whether he would honor the Babylonian king of King of the universe. Let me suggest that [as a general rule] we do not always endure so well. At the first sign of heat [even smoke], we begin to re-think our positions, re-consider how firm we care to remain to what we believe. Putting our feet to the fire is rarely something we choose but those who Godly Truth will surely feel the fires of perseverance. "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trials when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's suffering, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV). The deep, irreversible and firm faith of Daniel and his friends is inspiring! Let's not be deceived to think it was so different for them as today! While circumstances may differ, the strategies of the enemy are the same. Daniel's name - God Is My Judge - testified then and now of who he held in highest regard, and we should take care in our own lives and challenges ... be a Daniel.

Our Assignment

For sure, I do not recall all my school assignments but there are a few I cannot forget! For example, I vividly remember ninth grade Physical Science light drawings and the tenth grade bug collections for Biology. These were huge assignments, not to be completed over a few days but rather projects to be worked-on and completed in addition to ongoing daily assignments. Daniel and three Hebrew friends were young Jewish teenagers who were abruptly taken from their homeland into a foreign land, receiving new [and unusual] assignments from a pagan king: "The king assigned a daily ration for them from his finest food and from the wine which he drank. They were to be educated and nourished this way for three years so that at the end of that time they were [prepared] to enter the king's service." (Daniel 1:5 AMP). As worshipers and followers of the One True God, they must have wondered how they were to continue in their faith when facing these new things! Although the king's food was concerning [because it has not been prepared according to the Law of The Lord], the real issue before Daniel and his friends wasn't the food. No, the problem was that these young men had long before devoted themselves to pleasing The Lord - not man. They found themselves indeed in quite a situation, and often so do we. Before them and before us daily is what is often referred to as the ... slippery slope. Oh, you know that tricky decline: a slope we all find ourselves on at times where we are tempted to compromise, wobble a little this way or that way; before long, we're victims of the slope and have declined far from what we know to be right and pleasing to The Lord. In the ongoing of our every day lives, how do we win over the decline? Paul writes, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." (1 16:13 ESV). This is exactly what Daniel and his friends did - they were watchful at what was presented to them, they stood firm and acted like the men of God they had devoted themselves to be, and they proved strong! "But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself ..." (Daniel 1:8 AMP). No matter how slippery that slope was, God gave Daniel (and his friends') the grace to remain true to their assignment ... that is, pleasing God alone. You see, we too must take joy and find all the resolve to stay faithful to God and what is pleasing Him - that's ... our assignment.

The Right Treasury

One of my sisters enjoys reclaiming and repurposing old things - that is, creatively giving existing things a different or new purpose. It's fascinating what she has done with with old plates, teacups,  lamps, etc. Scripture tells of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and took "articles of the house of God ... to the house of his god, and brought the articles into the treasury of his god." (Daniel 1:2 AMP). Yes, he took what was designated as holy by God Himself, belittled them by adding them to a pile of useless things. My first thought was "how horrible" but then I considered how I do the same thing when I give my heart to worthless things of this life. In several places God tells us He wants me to love Him with all my heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:4) yet I insist on loving other things more. To put it plainly, there should be nothing more at the center of who I am than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! When that relationship is not what it should be, I'm no different than that pagan king who took what was designated as holy (my heart) and applied it to worthless things of this world. What was your first conscious thought this morning? Was it all the things you needed to get done, places you were committed to be, etc. or was it a simple "Lord, as I meet the obligations of this day and honor the commitments I have, how can I wholly devote my heart to you in it all?" I confess, my mind wanders many places ... yes, even to treasuries that hold idols of my own making. God says, "I am the Lord; that is My Name; My glory I give to no other." (Isaiah 5:8 ESV). Those who belong to Christ have one unique thing God desires most, and it is the heart. Dear Father, provide for me the grace (strength and power) to give my heart to You, The Most High God where it is safe, secure - in ... the right treasury.

Grace to Endure

There are probably certain words that bring-on a groan, and sometimes out loud: words like laundry, alarm clock, mopping, among others. I suggest something else that challenges us in many respects is ... endurance. I don't even want to think about the past goals I've set [for myself] that flopped; not because they were bad goals or even unrealistic but simply because I lacked endurance - the physical, emotional and mental stamina, the stay-with-it-ness. One Bible hero who models endurance is Daniel. One of Israel's best and brightest, he was captured and taken away to Babylon. That sounds like reason enough to feel hopeless and become discouraged - yes, to give up. That is not, however, what Daniel did! With the first test of his faith, here is Daniel's resolve: "But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's finest food or with the wine which the king drank." (Daniel 1:8). Endurance - a continuing, an unyielding to pressure ... this is why God "granted Daniel favor and compassion" (V.9). Why is it so hard for us to endure? Perhaps it's because we love God only partially and not with the whole heart; our affections for Him and His Ways are divided among others things. Joan of Arc, martyred for her faith, said, "all battles are first won or lost in the mind." How interesting that God says of Daniel that he "made up his mind," at the very seat of all his emotions, Daniel set his mind to honor God first and above all all else. Hence, he endured and not just one test of his faith but many others. Daniel is one of a few Bible heroes whose record is flawless; he is an example of how to live as a Believer in a hostile world, in and through circumstances beyond our control while remaining true to God. To finish this year and every year strong - to endure the number of our days is a worthy goal. Daniel did and so can we. Let us pray daily for ... grace to endure.

The Overflow

There's always somewhat of a debate about what gift to buy for the person who seems to have everything! As citizens of this country, we often fail to acknowledge just how very blessed we are: things we take for granted - water, shelter, food, safety - are lacking across the globe, even in our own communities. May I suggest one thing we all need is a more grateful heart. Pastor Tony used to call it an "attitude of gratitude." An attitude is a settled way of thinking or feeling about something or someone, and attitude is typically reflected in one's behavior. God says, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5 ESV). The mind of Christ - His way of thinking and seeing things, His attitude. And, what is that actually? We read in Galatians 5:16 that we are to walk according to The Holy Spirit so that we don't walk according to the selfishness and sinfulness of our own passions. The result is a quite beautiful display of spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). A positive attitude can be contagious, not to mention uplifting and inspiring. Living with an attitude of gratitude can easily spill-over into the lives of others! I love Jimmy Dean's prayerful ending to his poem "Drinking from My Saucer" ... "May I never be too busy - To help others bear their loads - I'll keep drinkin' from my saucer - 'Cause my cup has overflowed." I watched my grandfather (Daddy Bill) slightly tilt his cup of coffee and the hot brew gently spill-over into his saucer; then, he would sip from the overflow. That is more than just a memory to me: it reminds me that as God has blessed me, I am called and able to bless others. Why not tilt the cup of blessings in your life and enjoy ... the overflow!

Do or Done?

Imagine looking into a mirror and seeing someone other than yourself. I suggest this happens to many Believers everyday: we see men and women who are defeated, depressed, discouraged.  The struggle is real!  In reality, this is not who we are: "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV). Being "in Christ Jesus" changes everything! Jeremiah called Christ, "The LORD Our Righteousness." (23:6). All the striving [by works] to be of value, honorable and worthy is useless not to mention tiresome; the evangelist, Sam Cathy, described it as "plowing water." A friend once said it like this: "most of the world's religions say 'do' - Christianity says 'done'."  God's Salvation for those who believe is a finished, a completed work.  Make sure you're not living a life of "do" but rather resting in the reality of "done." Do or done?

Walk in Wisdom

On our first trip to Mexico, I was so impressed by the upkeep of the resort where we stayed. Throughout each day, its white sands were swept clean - no residual seaweed, no scattering of nature's debris ... even footprints vanished! Perhaps you've heard the new year referred to as "a blank sheet of paper," every day yet unwritten and un-lived. The psalmist prayed, Lord, "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12). Of course, this is a good prayer for every day: understanding I do not know the number of my days but realizing the importance of each one is to grow in heart-wisdom toward The Lord. Contrary to beginning each day as if it were a "blank sheet of paper," as I walk with The Lord through a personal relationship with Jesus, I'm gaining wisdom day-by-day. Oh, I'm so glad I don't have to start-over each day but by and in His grace I am learning each day ... numbering each day, making the most of each day, redeeming the time of each day ... growing [more and more each day] in the grace and knowledge of The Savior. As I walked back from the beach on New Year's Day, I noticed many footprints in the sandy path - some deep, some shallow, some wide, some narrow. When I turned around to look, I could hardly tell which ones were mine among the many. I knew, of course, mine were there because I had just walked the path. It occurred to me right there that I'm leaving some footprints along the way every day. Oh, how I want those footprints to be wise and reflective of The One Who walks with me. Yes, Lord, teach me to number my days - always making them count for Christ ... walk in wisdom!

Feast on The Word

 One of my favorite memories is being at my Dad's parents' house - we called them Daddy Bill and Nanny. At nine o'clock sharp each night was "picnic" time, a time when everyone got up from their chair in the living room and went to the kitchen to fix their bedtime snack - their "picnic." There were always choices - not necessarily healthy choices but choices: ice cream, cheese toast, cake or cookies or fruit. A few minutes later, back in our respective chairs, we had ... picnic. I'm so thankful for those good memories but my thankfulness goes way beyond what happened there at nine o'clock sharp each night. My grandparents loved the Lord with all their heart, soul and strength! After picnic was over and the television was off, they read the Bible and prayed ... without fail. It wasn't just "what they did" or some element of their bedtime ritual (we all have those). No! They loved The Lord and found their greatest peace and contentment in showing Him their love through faithful obedience to honor Him [at the very least] all the days of my life. It's not surprising to me that when it came time for my Nanny to go to her heavenly home, some of her last words were those of her Lord's words: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread." (Psalm 37:25 KJV). You see, although picnic time was certainly a fun part of the day, the real picnic was feasting on The Word of God. Jesus said, “I am the Bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35 ESV). In this New Year, let me encourage you to seriously and carefully consider what you feast upon: if it is merely the fading and temporal things of this life, you will be in a constant search for real satisfaction. God's children are not of this world (John 15:19), and what satisfies us cannot be found in this world. Feast on The Word!

Consider Our Steps

The presence of tracks means something. To Mister Bill, the hunter, it means some form of wildlife has been in the area, which he readily identifies [by its tracks]. On a sandy beach, the tracks are typically those of human feet with or without shoes; occasionally, however, there will be tire tracks meaning a beach patrol has crossed the sand. The Prophet Jeremiah said, "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23 ESV). Jeremiah's knowledge of his own way is wise; this leads me to ask myself ... how wise am I? As it is indeed The Lord Who directs the steps of man, how foolish when I only casually consider the way in which I go! God kindly yet firmly says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8 ESV) yet so much of life, I just plow-ahead in my own wisdom, strength and wherewithal. What does that say about the tracks I leave behind? Jesus' steps were carefully taken: "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 ESV). Jesus' steps led Him to the cross as full-payment for every wrong step I had taken or ever will take.  Some people I know wear a smart device that tracks the number of their steps in a given period of time. How well am I counting my steps - giving careful thought to - as  I endeavor to walk in The Spirit? For sure, I'm leaving tracks but do my tracks lead others to the cross? Yes, we are wise to ... consider our steps.