He Reigns

"Then as I looked, 

I saw a door standing open in heaven,

and the same voice I had heard before

spoke to me like a trumpet blast.

The voice said,

'Come up here,

and I will show you what must happen after this.'

And instantly I was in the Spirit,

and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.

The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones--

like jasper and carnelian.

And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.

Twenty-four thrones surrounded him,

and twenty-four elders sat on them.

They were all clothed in white

and had gold crowns on their heads."

Revelation 4:1-3 NLT

"Plane crashes killing two and injuring dozens."

"40 dead, 322 wounded in latest Cairo clash."

"At least 9 dead in Chicago after weekend shootings."

"Brazil soccer referee's head displayed midfield after murderous match."

"Lady Gaga defiles national anthem by replacing 'home of the brave' with 'home of the gays.'"

These are some of the headlines from today's news.  Clearly, the world is in chaos, sin runs rampant and it seems that evil rules.  Hearts have grown cold and I can easily feel there is no hope.  If I could take a peek through an open door and catch a glimpse of heaven, however, what would I see that would fill me with optimistic expectations?

Throne

The moment I or one of my family members leaves the room, the whining begins.  It starts as a whimper that turns into a belly-growl.  Before you know it, our family dog is barking incessantly.  Coal, our 10-year-old lab mix does not like to be alone;  simply being in the presence of his family brings him comfort.  

As a result, when he and his brother are sequestered in a room each day in order to keep them out of the way during Bible study groups, visits from friends or other various activities, he often protests.  There is something about human company that brings him comfort.

In the same way, I can derive a certain amount of assurance from the fact that the throne in heaven does not sit empty.  Instead, the Lord my God, Maker of heaven and earth fills this symbol of power, authority and sovereignty.  God is in control.

Therefore, when I see the evil all around me and I'm tempted to lose hope, I can remember the presence of my Father whose company I can never escape.  His eye doesn't miss a thing and He hems me in with His loving kindness; the Lord is the consummate Shepherd, guiding me through all the trials of life. (Psalm 139)

In a world seemingly out-of-control, I can take comfort from the fact that the Lord sits on the throne.

Glory

The sheer intensity of the lighted blinded the man.  He fell to the ground in terror tinged with awe.  "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"  The voice clearly condemned his life's work, adding to the fear and trepidation building in the chosen one's heart.  In the blink of an eye, Saul suddenly knew the Truth:  All this time, he had been living according to the wrong set of standards.  Coming into contact with the Namesake of those he bullied changed his life forever. (Acts 9:1-9)

No one can imagine the perfection, holiness, and pure power present in the glory of God.  Moses caught a glimpse of the backside of the Lord and came away with a face that glowed with God's awesome brilliance; so much so that he had to cover his face with a veil to keep from freaking out the people with whom he spoke. (Exodus 34:29-35) There is nothing like a hint of God's awe-inspiring nature to put things into perspective.

Knowing how much higher God is from all created things can give me a sense of peace in a world gone mad. (Isaiah 55:8-9)  When I see children being abused and used in ways that my mind cannot fathom, I can remember the One whom all will one day confess as Lord. (Romans 14:11-12)  

I can also take heart as I see the sexual immorality tarnishing every facet of our society, knowing that a Holy God does not overlook this kind of abomination.  And when that sin stains my own heart, I can go on without shame as the blood of Jesus covers over my transgressions, making me white as snow. (1 John 1:7)

In a world marked by sin, I can take comfort from the fact that my Father is a righteous God.

His Faithfulness

His people carried an ancestry of His Name.  Those who came from the bloodline of Abraham were named as God's very own.  Simply being born into the right family made them special in the eyes of God. (Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 6:7)  The nation of Israel were considered by God to be His very own.

Under the new covenant of grace, I no longer need be born into the right family tree.  Now, I can enter into His favor through faith in Jesus Christ who took the punishment for my sins, setting me right with God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)  I am now included as one of His very own, the people of promise, and therefore part of His plan. (Romans 9:8)

God is a just God who cannot overlook sin.  When He chose His people, He expected them to stay separate from the rest of the world, keeping themselves holy.  God enacted many rules to help His people keep sanctified for His service.  Unfortunately, sin proved all too powerful and many succumbed to it's lure, highlighting their need for a Savior.

Despite the desperate nature of my depravity, God is faithful to include me, a sinner tarnished and born into the wrong bloodline as one of His own.  The power of the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all unrighteousness, leaving me as one of His very own.  There is nothing that can now condemn me so secure is my place in His family.  Living for Him as one of His children sets my feet on solid ground. (Romans 8:1)

In a world where I am used to earning my keep, I can take comfort from the fact that my salvation is secure in Christ.

It is easy to lose hope in such a dark place.  Simply reading the headlines can cause me to sink into despair.  Thankfully, though, I have much good to anticipate due to the fact that the Lord is on the throne, His ways are higher than mine, and He is faithful to include me as one of His own.    This day I choose to praise my God because He reigns!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember that my God reigns.

How do I sink into despair, forgetting Who is in control?

When do I depend on my own understanding instead of letting God in His sovereignty rule over my life?

Alpha and Omega

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,'

says the Lord God,

'who is,

and who was, 

and who is to come,

the Almighty.'"

Revelation 1:8

I gotta hurry; I'm running out of time.  If these cars don't move out of my way I'll be late for my appointment!  As I sit at the light, aggravated and annoyed, my mind goes over a perpetual list of things to do.  The day is getting away from me and I don't know if I'll be able to get everything done!  Arrrgghh. . . . 

I have to admit that I am driven by time.  I wake up at a certain time, have a goal to finish writing by a specific time, set a time for discipleship appointments, dinner is planned for the time my husband gets home and I should be in bed by a certain time in order to get enough sleep.  Time threatens to be my god.

But the Lord my God transcends all things including time.  He is greater than my schedule and can never be early or late.  He is the Creator of time and thus is not bound by it.  In fact, time bows to His Sovereignty. 

Present

It's hard to live in the here and now.  Usually I am preparing for the future, fearing what may happen, or I'm grieving over the past, overwhelmed with shame and regret over what has already happened.

This is when I need to remember that God is.  He is here now with me and there is nowhere I can go where I will be apart from Him.  When I am standing at my highest point, feeling invincible and on top of the world, He is right beside me.  When I sink to the depths of despair, weighed down with the cares of this world, He is there. (Psalm 139:7-12)  

If I can remember that my God is not a far away God who cares not for my circumstances, troubles or hurts, then I can take comfort in His constant, loving presence.  (2 Corinthians 1:3)

He is my Father who is never too busy to listen to my fears, strengthen my weak knees, and give me a word of encouragement.

The Lord my God is always with me so I can walk in peace with Him.

Past

Many of us define ourselves by our past.  I'm a drug addict.  I'm promiscuous.  I'm a failure.  I'm divorced.  I'm an abuser.  I'm a victim.  When I describe myself based on my past, I am forgetting that my God was.  He was there.  He is the God of the past.

The Lord my God is the healer of my hurts, the mender of my broken heart and the forgiver of my sins.  He is the lover of my soul.  As His child through faith in Jesus Christ, He sees not my transgressions. (Isaiah 1:18)  In fact, the blood of Jesus has so purified me from my sins that I can stand blameless before Him.  (Jude 24)  Who I was in the past as been far removed from my new identity in Christ.  (Psalm 103:12)

Consequently, I can move forward as the new creation Christ has made it possible for me to be.  I can step into this new identity as a forgiven, cherished, daughter of a loving Father.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  I can let go of the old me, who I used to be before I knew Christ and accepted this gift of reconciliation with God.  I can stop identifying with my sinful past and start embracing my redeemed present.

The Lord my God has freed me from my past so I can walk with Him in liberty.

Future

I sat in the seat getting ready to experience a ride at an amusement park, wondering what I had gotten myself into.  I'm not a big fan of going upside down and drop-offs terrify me, but I wanted to challenge myself to push past my physical fears by going onto this roller coaster-type ride.  The trouble was, I didn't know what was about to come.  I could see the riders before me blast off and shoot through the doorway into the darkness, but I had no idea what came after that.  My near future was uncertain.

This is similar to life where I have no idea what the next moment may hold.  I may convince myself that I am in control of my life, but the reality is that it is filled with the unexpected.  Just as that roller coaster took me upside down straight out of the chute, my greatest fear could be right around the corner.

Thankfully, my God is to come.  He is the God of tomorrow and as Casting Crowns sings in Already There,  "To You my future is a memory 'cause You're already there."  He's sees all things as if they exist together.  Time does not constrain God like it does me; He can move freely through my future, presence and past.  To Him, tomorrow is already here and He knows how it will all turn out.  And more importantly, He is waiting there for me.

Therefore, I need not fear.  If the God who has the power to create, forgive, love, repair, and guide,is already where I am headed, what is there for me to fear?  As He told His chosen people when they were scattered in exile, He's the One who was there at the beginning, and is present at the end so there is no need to fear what is to come.  As He has always protected, provided and preserved, so He will continue to do so.  (Isaiah 41:4, 10)

The Lord my God is already in my future so I can walk boldly ahead with confidence.

The Lord is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end who is and was and is to come.  Obviously, He is a mighty God.  To me as His child, this means He is with me in the here and now, giving me peace as I walk beside Him.  It also means He has domain over my past, giving me the freedom to walk forward with Him.  Finally, it means He is waiting for me in the dark unknown so I can walk boldly into my future, knowing He is already there.  Yes, my God transcends all time so I can rise above it as well.  Time is not my god: The Maker of heaven and earth is my God!  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with my past, presence and future.

When do I dwell in the past, or fear the future?

How am I letting my past define me?    

Arrogance of Assumption

"Now listen, you who say,

'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city,

spend a year there,

carry on business and make money.'

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life?

You are a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes.

Instead, you ought to say,

'If it is the Lord's will,

we will live and do this or that.'

As it is,

you boast in your arrogant schemes. 

All such boasting is evil.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do

and doesn't do it,

it is sin for them."

James 4:13-17

It is easy to count on that which may not happen.   Pastor and writer John Piper once challenged my arrogance of this kind of assumption when I heard him say that I shouldn't be surprised when someone dies.  Instead, I should be amazed when I am blessed with another moment to live.  

If I am to live as if my life is not my own, as disciples of Jesus are called to live, then there are some basics I must accept. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Life is a Gift

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  

You may recognize this familiar phrase as taken from the Declaration of Independence.  Americans rely on such rights as members of a free society where our liberties are vital to the welfare of the people.  This right to life extends also to the unborn, whose claims to life have been taken away in the country since 1973.  While God upholds the sanctity of life, I'm not sure that He would agree with the assertion that I have a right to live.

You see, life is a gift.  Every breathe I take is only at the mercy of the Giver of life.  He is the only One with a right:  The right to give, and the right to take. (Exodus 33:19)  He decides the length of my life, and only He knows how long I have left. (Psalm 139:16)  Life is fragile and is completely in the hands of God.

Once I comprehend and accept this truth, I will begin to live differently.  Instead of wasting the time God has given to me, I will look for ways to honor Him and glorify His name in all I do.  (Colossians 3:17)  As a replacement for taking all the good things I have for granted, I will adopt an attitude of thanksgiving.  In the place of living recklessly for myself I will begin to give my all for Him.  

Instead of assuming I'll have tomorrow, I desire to live each day as if it were a gift from God; because it is!

God is Sovereign

My plans were all laid out.  I would graduate from college and use my degree to build a fulfilling career.  After that, maybe I would get married and have children, but that wasn't high on my list of priorities.  As I look back the thirty years that has passed since I graduated from high school when my head was filled with such thoughts of the future, I realize how wrong I was about how my life would turn out.

Instead of building a fulfilling career, I became an Army wife and mom of four daughters.  I would never trade the life I've lived, but it was not the life I would have ever chosen for myself.  Thankfully, God knows better and He has a plan for my life that I could never imagine.  (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 3:20)

Once I comprehend this truth and let God be in the driver's seat of my life, a peace will flood my heart as I stop trying to find my own blueprint for the days I have left.  

Where once I would try so hard to be the person I thought God wanted me to be, I will find I can move forward onto the path He has cleared for me, free from the self-imposed pressure I place to become someone I was never destined to be.

Instead of working so hard to fulfill my own strategies, I can wait for God to reveal the way He wants me to go.  

Living like I believe that God is sovereign will mean I can stop trying to impress Him and as a replacement simply live in relationship with Him.  He loves me as I am; and He loves me more than I can imagine.

Instead of assuming I am in control, I desire to live each day out of obedience to the One who holds the blueprint for my life.

Obedience

We've all seen it:  The expert dog trainer whose own 'best friend' is out of control.  Or the exercise instructor who can't complete his own workout regime.  Or the financial planner who is going through bankruptcy.  Knowledge is all well and good, but what good is it if I can't apply it to my own life?

Learning more about God by reading His Word is not just to grow my brain size.  Studying the Bible is not so I can retain more knowledge about God.  Rather, spending time sitting at the feet of Jesus as He teaches me His ways through the study of His Word is so that I will take what I have learned and apply it to my own life.  (James 1:22)

If I am not willing to do what I am told, can I really consider myself to be a disciple of Christ?  Instead, it is more like I am an observer, or a student.  A follower, however, is one who does as her leader does.

When God shows me about His compassion, it is so that I will realize my own lack of mercy and forgiveness toward others, seeking instead to extend grace liberally wherever I go.  When God shows me about His rest, I can either find it interesting or I can strive to enter into the rest that comes with trusting Him, putting His Word into practice.  When God shows me about His claim on my life, I can choose to continue to live my life my way, or I can surrender all to Him as my Redeemer.  

Instead of assuming that I can continue to live as I always have, I desire to live each day in obedience to what He is constantly teaching me.

It is all too easy to take things for granted and assume what I should never believe.  Instead, I can live with the understanding that life is a gift, God is in control, and that obedience is important.  In these ways I will avoid the arrogance of assumption.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will never count on that which is out of my control.

How do I assume I'll be here tomorrow in the way I make my plans?

When do I brush off the lessons God is teaching me?

Itty Bitty Faith

"Then the disciples came to Jesus

in private and asked,

'Why couldn't we drive it (the demon) out?'

He replied,

'Because you have so little faith.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,

Move from here to there

and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you.'"

Matthew 17:20

Without faith, it's impossible to please God.  Why?  Because, I must believe that He exists and know that He rewards those who wholeheartedly seek Him if I'll ever have a chance of bringing pleasure to Him.  (Paraphrase of Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is knowing without a doubt that the promises of God will come to pass.  Faith is trusting in what I cannot see despite what my eyes are telling me.  Faith is giving God a chance to work when I feel desperate for answers.  Faith is getting up when I feel like staying down on the ground where I fell.  Faith is believing that the unfeasible dream, impractical desire and hopeless mission is possible.  Faith is believing that with God, all things are possible. (Luke 1:37)

Take a moment to listen to What Faith Can Do  by Kutless and meditate on the words.  What can a little bit of faith do in my life?  

Believe

"All it takes is faith and trust. . . and a little bit of pixie dust."  Peter tells Wendy, Michael and John as he gave them their flying lesson.  Soon they were flying off to Neverland.

While the only place I can fly is in my dreams, faith does give me the ability to believe in impossible things.  

When God says He loves me even though I'm His enemy because of my sin, I can swallow that truth and take it into my being, allowing His love to transform me.  (Romans 5:8 and 10)  

When God says that He made me on purpose in His own image, giving me all my traits and characteristics, even placing me in my particular family; faith allows me to accept His Word as truth, granting me a new sense of value and worth.  (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16)

When God says He will provide for all my needs and that He knows what I require to live, I can believe that He will take care of me.  (Philippians 4:19  Matthew 6:31-34 )

While Peter Pan asked his students to "just believe,"  God does not ask us to do that.  It is hard to consider something as truth without a source of power to back it up.  In what or whom do I believe?    Thankfully, we live in a world where God rules with sovereignty, and I can count on Him to do exactly as He says He will.  God is more than able to back up what He says.

As Augustine reminds me, "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."  Believing I am now a friend of God through faith in Jesus means I no longer need to fight Him on every trial, tribulation or difficulty He brings into my life as my Refiner.  Believing I have great worth means I will guard my heart against all the temptations that surround me every moment.  Believing I have a Father who is my Provider means I am free to pursue His Kingdom work without restraint.

Faith in God enables me to believe that God is who He says He is.

Trust

Soften a heart hardened by pain and disappointment

Forgive a friend who inflicted a deep wound

Love a callous, cold neighbor

Live victoriously over sin

Kick an unhealthy habit

Honor God with my thoughts, words and actions

These are all examples of hard things.  Even though I couldn't imagine that a hard heart could be softened, I can trust God to accomplish this.  My hurt may seem beyond repair, but God can give me the strength to forgive as He forgave.  The angry, cutting words from across the fence seems to strengthen the barrier, but I can trust God to love him through me.  It may seem difficult if not impossible to live a life to please God instead of my flesh, but I can trust Him to back me up with His power when I choose His way.  

Once I believe that God is who He says He is, it's time to put that faith into action.  If I say I have faith in a chair to hold my weight but refuse to actually lower my body down to rest on it's structure, my faith is empty.  What difference do my words make if I'm unwilling to back it up with action?  

It's the same with my faith in God;  I can say I believe in Him but if I act like the rich man who went away sad because Jesus instructed him to go and sell all he had, then my faith means nothing.  (Mark 10:21-22)  As early 20th Century American Quaker author Elton Trueblood said, "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation."

If I trust God, I'll act on the promises He has declared, knowing that He will enable me to do hard things.

Wait

"Hurry up and wait" is the unofficial motto of the U.S. Army.  My husband spent many-an-hour on a hot tarmac waiting to fulfill a mission.  As an Airborne soldier, he learned that an early call time didn't necessarily mean the assignment would actually be carried out early.  Rather, in order to make sure everyone and everything was in order before beginning an exercise, soldiers were expected to be ready.

I would not do well with this scenario because it's hard for me to wait when I don't know what the hold-up is.  I'd rather see action;  tasks being accomplished, headway being made and progress being detected.  Hanging around and killing time until everything is ready to proceed is difficult.

Even though God does want us to wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31-32), it is not so much that I need to sit around waiting for action, as it is that I continue in what He has called me to do while I let Him do the work of preaching, teaching and changing hearts.  

Oswald Chambers described the idea of waiting on God in this way.  He said, "If when God said 'Go,' you stayed because you were so concerned about your people at home, you robbed them of the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach; as long as you would not obey, you were in the way.  To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told."

Where am I in the way of God's work because I refuse to wait on Him?  In my need to see action, results and fruit, I am blocking God's voice from being heard.  I am becoming a stumbling block because I am too concerned with my mission instead of God's.  Anything done apart from Jesus means nothing; even if I do it in His name. (John 15:5)

Faith allows me to wait on God, even if I don't see the purpose or understand the reason.

Jesus said it only takes a little bit of faith to move mountains.  That itty-bitty faith allows me to believe that God is who He says He is, to put that faith into action by trusting Him to do hard things through me, and to wait on Him to do the real work.   It's not the size of my faith that matters, but the magnitude of the One in whom I place my faith that makes all the difference!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take my little faith and place it in God's mighty hands.

How do I fail to trust God to do what I consider to be impossible?

When do I put my plan into action instead of waiting on God to initiate His?

I Can Run, But I Can't Hide

"Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?"

Psalm 139:7

My heart raced as I drove to the neighboring town and randomly stopped at a phone booth.  How did I get into this predicament?  This can't be happening to me. . . I can't be pregnant.  I'll just take care of it.    

I grabbed the dangling phone book and opened it up to the "A" section, hoping God would understand.  I can't be a mother!  I'm not even married.  Things weren't supposed to turn out this way!  My mother will be so disappointed and I'll never be able to face my family and friends.   As my finger traced a line down the list of businesses, my eyes settled on one name.  "Crisis Pregnancy Center"  Yeah, that's me all right.  

My palms grew damp as I dialed the number. Don't cry. . . hold it together. . . just ask for the test.  I could hear the friendly voice say, "Sure, we can give you a pregnancy test.  Come on in and we'll talk about it," but my mind was focused on my solution.  Even though I had always been against abortion, I didn't know any other way out of my situation.  I couldn't go through with the pregnancy. 

I was running that day back in 1988; running away from the truth.  I knew in my heart that all life was valuable to God and that it was wrong for me to kill an innocent child, but I didn't want to face the consequences of my actions.  I was scared and ashamed.  So I made up my mind: I decided to go against my beliefs and take the life; the life of my firstborn.

It's funny how God has a way of turning us back to where He wants us.  Even though my stubborn mind was set, He knew how to get to me.  He knew what it would take to soften my heart and quiet my fears.  He knew that child must live.

Looking back at my 23-year-old daughter's uncertain beginning, I can clearly see God's hand in sending me to a facility where He is honored and where I would hear the truth.  Before the staff at the center would administer the free test, they required that I watch a film about abortion.  The first few graphic minutes hit me hard and that was all it took.  My mind was changed and I came back to where God wanted me.  

I'm not the only one who has run away from God.  Many others have fled.  Maybe you're taking flight right now.  Do not fear.  God is with you and He has a better plan for you.  

Utter Evasion

The command couldn't have been more clear: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because it's wickedness has come up before me." (Jonah 1:2)  Jonah, however, was scared.  This was no ordinary city.  This was a huge city spanning no less than 30 miles from one end to the other and at least 10 miles wide at any one point.  It took days to walk across this metropolis.  

But it wasn't just the size that was overwhelming; it was the brutality and cold hearts of it's people that struck terror into the heart of this prophet of God.  So he ran, in the opposite direction to the port city of Joppa where he hopped aboard a ship sailing to Tarshish.  Not to worry, though, because God knew just what kind of wake-up call Jonah needed.  

The Lord sent a mighty storm, endangering the lives of the crew and driving them to throw Jonah overboard where he was swallowed by a great fish.  It was there, in the belly of the whale, that Jonah came to his senses.  His mind was changed and his heart was softened.  Soon, Jonah was headed back to Nineveh to deliver that message to a wicked people, saving them from the destruction their evil ways deserved.

There are times when I outright disobey.  I pretend like I don't know any better and do the exact opposite of what God has called me to do.  The good news is that when the consequences of my actions catch up to me, I find that God hasn't written me off.  He still is willing to give me another chance.

Even when I completely avoid God's calling, He has a way of taking me back to where He wants me.

Flight of Fear

He was a Hebrew raised as an Egyptian prince.  His heart was with his people as they toiled under brutal treatment, but he lived in the palace receiving royal care. He was placed there by God for a specific purpose.  One day he snapped.  He killed one of the Egyptian overseers who was viciously beating his people.  Hoping that no one saw his deed, he hid the body in the sand.

No feat performed in the darkness ever stays there, and this one was no different.  Soon it came to the Pharaoh's attention and he put out the warrant for the death of Moses; so the young man fled to a far off land.  Moses ended up staying there in Midian for 40 years, getting married and raising a family as he worked as a common shepherd.

God used this period of time to humble Moses and prepare him for his life of service when he would lead his people out of slavery and toward the promised land.  There are times when I run away in fear, thinking I have messed up my life only to find that God uses that time in exile to humble and prepare me for something bigger.

God is the God of second-chances.  He doesn't write me off when I blow it.  Instead, He takes my broken life and creates a beautiful work of art that can be admired by all who see it.  When others are inspired and moved by what they see in my life, I can point to the Creator and His handiwork as the One responsible for the beauty. 

Even when I mess up big time, God has a way of turning my ugliness into beauty and using my life anyway.

Trip of Terror

The evil queen wanted him dead.  He had just killed all of her prophets of Baal, and she would not let that go unpunished.  He was dead meat.  He didn't know what to do, so he ran.  He went off by himself and sat down under a tree, dejected and all alone.  No one understood.  No one else had stood against the evil Jezebel.  No one else cared about God and His law. It was over.  Why should one man continue to fight against such evil?

But he was not alone.  Even though it seemed all was lost, there were 7000 who stayed faithful to the one true God.  Things are never as bad as they seem.

I admit it; I can be a drama queen.  When on thing goes wrong, it does feel like everything is going wrong.  But my feelings are deceptive.  Just because it seems like no one cares, or that my efforts make no difference or that all hope is lost doesn't make it true. 

Elijah had just been on the mountain top.  He showed God's power to 450 prophets of Baal, killing them all.   He knew there was nothing God couldn't do.  Then came the threat, and all his bravado went out the window.  He felt dejected.

It is easy for me to get discouraged, especially after a monumental, life-changing experience.  It seems I think the rest of my life should take place up on that mountain.  But life is lived in the valleys, and this is where my faith is tested.  A crisis or trial does not mean the end of my life.  Instead, its a time to look to God for encouragement, just as He sent a ministering angel to meet Elijah's needs and to lift his spirits.  

Difficulties are not the end, they are simply the means God uses to touch me.  Once I'm paying attention, then He tells me what I need to hear.  "I am with you always."  "I have a great plan for your life." "I love you enough to die for you."   "I know you completely, but I love you anyway."

Even when I think I'm all alone, God is always with me.

I'm an expert at running, whether it be away from God's calling, toward a place of refuge or because of discouragement.  Whatever the reason, the result is the same: through it all I learn that God can still use me, can transform a mess into splendor and is always with me, even when I feel alone.   I can run, but I can't hide from God and considering all He does for me, why would I want to?  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can trust God to do what's best for me.

When do I run away in fear only to find what I was afraid of me waiting at my destination?

How do I run out of habit?

Green Leaves

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water 

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8

I remember travelling across this great country of mine and being amazed at the varying variety of landscapes.  Majestic mountains gave way to prairies filled with waving wheat that surrendered to breathtaking canyons and rock formations.  There is no doubt that this land is filled with differing scenery.

One of the most curious sights, however, was found while driving through an arid region seemingly devoid of life.  Miles upon miles of travel revealed nothing more than dry, dusty terrain.  Suddenly, I spotted a crowd of cattle crammed into the shade of a single luscious tree.  Upon closer inspection, I discovered this lone tree was growing on the banks of a small stream.  Where no other plants seemed to have survived, the placement of this tree beside a life-giving source of water had assured it's survival.

I can be like that tree.  Even in the darkest of times, when nothing seems to be going right I can stand tall and serene, confident that my God will supply all my needs.

God is Trustworthy

I know no man who is worthy of my confidence 100% of the time.   I can place my trust in others, but at some point, they will let me down.  I, in turn, can do my best to diligently strive for excellence in the area of dependability and responsibility but I, too, will fail at some point.  We all are hopelessly flawed.

God, however does not have this problem.   David wrote in Psalm 18:30, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."  God will never let me down.  It goes against His character to collapse under the weight of my trust. 

Another reason I cannot trust another human to fulfill all my needs is because there is a lack of understanding.  God knows me better than I know my self.  No human can know another as intimately as God knows me.  This concept is beautifully recounted in Psalm 139:2-5.  David said, "You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.  You go before me and follow me." (NLT)

As 20th Century writer Eugenia Price wrote, "With God our trust can be abandoned, utterly free.  In Him are no limitations, no flaws, no weaknesses.  His judgment is perfect, His knowledge of us is perfect, His love is perfect.  God alone is trustworthy."

Trusting God means I will never have to worry about whether He will let me down or misunderstand me.  

God Ordains my Position

I remember when we first moved to Germany under orders of the U.S. Army.  My husband had served several years by that time and was due for an overseas tour.  Our family of 6 arrived exhausted from a ten-hour flight and were immediately loaded onto a bus where we were driven to the local Army Kaserne or Post.

I was dismayed to see the vastness of the city, discouraged by the smell of pollution in the air and turned-off by the mass of humanity swarming everywhere.  How could I, a country girl, live in this large metropolis?

Well, God had placed me there in Frankfurt for a reason, and I soon grew to love the many parks, the amazing transportation system and the friendly people.  This country girl learned to live in the city.

God placed me exactly where He wanted me and it was up to me as to whether I would fight against His choice, or accept it.  

As St Francis de Sales, the 16th Century Bishop of Geneva said, "Truly charity has no limit; for the love of God has been poured into our hearts by His Spirit dwelling in each one of us, calling us to a life of devotion and inviting us to bloom in the garden where He was planted and directing us to radiate the beauty and spread the fragrance of His providence."

Trusting God means I will choose to bloom where I am planted.

God Transcends

One of the things I love about flying in an airplane is looking out the window at the landscape below. It gives me a different perspective as I watch the tiny cars driving along teeny ribbons of highway through miniature neighborhoods filled with thousands of microscopic people.  I enjoy observing others' lives from such an elevated position, wondering where everyone is going, what they are thinking, and what struggles with which they are wrestling.  

In an even greater way, God can see all that is happening and knows how it will all play out.  He knows the struggles with which I am wrestling.  He allowed the difficulties with which I now battle.  He ordained the position in which I now find myself.

God transcends all things; all circumstances, all trouble, all hopeless situations. This is why the angel Gabriel could say to Mary as recorded in Luke 1:37 that, ". . .nothing is impossible with God."

The transcendent nature of God is hard for my ordinary mind to comprehend.  This is because, as God said through the prophet Isaiah, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts. . .And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT)

Since God is above all things and therefore not affected by the turmoil that is going on in this world, I can trust Him with it all.  He has a perspective that gives Him the advantage, and his position above all things means He won't be swayed, changed or influenced by circumstances.  He is above it all.

Trusting God is possible because He is above all things and will not change.

I can be like that tree planted beside the live-giving streams of water.  I can enjoy healthy green leaves and luscious fruit no matter the circumstances.  But the only way this will happen is if I trust in God.  I can because He is trustworthy, He is sovereign, and he is above all things.  

God makes it possible for me to trust Him.  All it takes is a little faith.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will learn to trust God no matter the situation.  

How do I fail to bloom where God has planted me?

In what areas can I better trust God as I remember He is above all things?