Adventure
I have a best friend – thirty-four years of best. We don’t see each other often but long ago she started saying she couldn’t wait for our next adventure.
I wonder if Jesus’ disciples thought the same way. With Jesus, life was anything but dull. Always the unexpected: one day sight restored, another a small lunch multiplied, but nothing like the day each first encountered Him.
That moment is forever life-changing, intimately personal. For each of us there’s the similarity of ‘I was going about my business and then I was no longer the same person’. “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” (Colossians 3:10 NLT)
As we head into the few weeks before the celebration of Jesus’ birth and the miraculous gift He is to the world, it occurred to me the word Advent and adventure have a lot in common. Advent is the anticipation of the Savior’s arrival on earth. Two thousand years ago it was the fulfillment of prophecy, to bring about a way for mankind to be set free from evil.
Now we anticipate once again Christ coming to earth. This time His coming will be different. He will not come in the form of a servant; He will not be coming to redeem lost man. He’s done that, completely, once for all. No, this time He will be coming in power. Removing from the world all who have chosen Him – and destroying all that is left. “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14:3 NLT)
This time of year if our focus is about a babe in a manger or gifts under a tree, we lose sight of what He came to show us. The Light of the world came to dispel darkness, to make clear the way to eternal life, to begin the believer’s eternity.
We can’t ever live the same again. But there’s a whole hurting world out there in desperate need of Jesus. Not to cure them of ills, or provide food in the famine, or restore bank accounts. Those are all temporary. Yes, to the extent we can ease another’s suffering, we should. But without the sharing of the Light, they remain in darkness, forever lost.
Maybe our Christmas ADVENTure is to bravely share Jesus – anticipating all that He will do if we will step into the greatest adventure ever: God with us! Emmanuel! “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2 NIV)
Every Day
I love that, here in America, we set aside a day to be thankful for all we have and be grateful for our nation.
Parents love to hear ‘thank you’ from their children. Cultivating a heart of gratefulness has to begin young – teaching that everything we’re given is worthy of thanks. Otherwise we’re like spoiled children who never utter thank you and carry that attitude throughout life.
I think, perhaps, there are a lot of ‘spoiled children’ in adult bodies these days. They ignore how blessed they are and only criticize. Never knowing, or at least not acknowledging, that everything they have or can have is not a product of their efforts, but from the hand of God who gives and gives. “And this is what Christ himself promised to give us–eternal life.” (1John 2:25 GNT)
Maybe that’s the reset we need. Time out for us all. To evaluate where we are – from the most impoverished to the super wealthy. Reset our brains to be thankful for what is and not continually lust for more.
Well that may be grandiose and not likely achievable. But what if we examine ourselves: how often do I find myself delighting in the online order, the cart of groceries, the freedom here in America – yet not daily taking time to delight more in the Giver than in the gift?
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1 NLT)
As we celebrate Thanksgiving in just a couple of days here’s our challenge – will we daily lift up thanks for even the things we take most for granted? What if we just start with thanks for a new day? thanks for fresh air? thanks for this moment?
I’m thinking that if we concentrated on heartfelt gratefulness – we might just change our little part of the world. Maybe an army of us living grateful might begin to have a broader impact.
It all starts with three small words: Thank You Jesus. Every day is Thanksgiving.
“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
(Revelation 7:12 BSB)
I See You
Hide and seek with three- and four-year-olds takes a little patience – they want to play endlessly. Half the time they tell me where to hide or where they are going to hide. I walk around pretending to look, then out they pop saying “You found me!”
The first ‘hiders’ were Adam and Eve. Suddenly fear had entered into life – not knowing God’s reaction to what had taken place made them scamper behind a tree. As usual for that time of day, God came to be with them. He called to them as if He didn’t know where they were.
So began a generational instinct to hide when we know we’ve done wrong. Whether we hide literally or behind excuses.
Yet, God did not abandon them in their time of need. Yes, consequences were realized – still are today. When we hide from the Finder of our soul, He still calls out. Plays our game. So that we can call out to Him. For when we are most lost, He is most present – we just have to come out.
“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8 NIV) The most popular Christian hymn ever has the line “I was once lost, but now am found”. A slave trader turned God seeker saw sin for what it was and spent the rest of his life walking in plain sight, to be seen and restored by his Finder. “Was blind, but now I see.”
I wish I could convince all those still hiding, that it’s okay to come out. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 NLT) Jesus has made a way. There will still be earth consequences for our selfish ways. But now, through a Savior who loved us enough to die, there’s a way to stand perfectly clean before the God of the universe.
Hiding is wearisome and fruitless. I want to stand in the open where God can call out ‘I see you’ – and I in return can exclaim ‘I see YOU’. Freedom is not in having our way – freedom is in finding God’s way and trusting that He knows best. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10 NLT) No more hiding, just seeking.
Time is near
Recently I went to a 90th birthday celebration. Like all of us, he wonders…where have the years gone? We are created with an eternal instinct. We know that this chasing after life isn’t quite right. Yet the world we live in sets our deadlines, whirls away our days, and demands we go all out while we still can.
The Bible is not silent on time. Throughout the pages references are made as to how we spend our days, what was happening in a particular time, what will happen in future days. During the brief period before Adam and Eve succumbed to desiring to be their own God, time wasn’t a concern. But ever since: birthdays and last breaths, work schedules and vacations, youthful bodies and old ones.
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 BSB)
A relentless ticking away of minutes and hours we can’t slow or speed up. We make “bucket lists” knowing our time is ticking away. But wait – all this is living like this is all there is. The thing is, there is eternity for every man and woman. The question is – where will it be spent? “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11b BSB)
I wish I had special insight into how to “make the most of time” – how to “make it count” – how to actually have enough hours to “do it all”. Alas, I think that’s part of the journey: realizing that this isn’t how it’s supposed to be; which makes us long for a place where time never runs out.
Seems only a few, throughout history, truly used the time allotted them wisely: Noah followed God’s instructions (and the rest of his days were spent on the other side of destruction). David spent a great deal of his time writing, singing, even dancing for the Lord (and though his days held sorrow at times, his heart was one God told us was very special). Their life lessons transcend time.
Think of the Billy Grahams, the martyrs throughout history, the missionaries. All chose to use their days in service to the Lord. We aren’t all called to make big imprints on history like these. But we are all called to use our time for Jesus. No matter our calling – businessman, politician, mother, hairdresser, teacher, inventor – all are called to use where we are in time to bring glory to God.
“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3 NIV)
Falling
During my life I have fallen down stairs, slipped and fell with my first baby in my arms, and took a dive when marching after my disobedient toddlers on the freshly mopped floor. But my recent fall has left me sore, yet grateful.
Didn’t see it coming. It hurt. Nothing quite compares though to the type of falling the Bible instructs us about. Like the first one of Adam and Eve – falling out of perfection. Some falls are memorable.
“At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame” (Genesis 3:7a NLT) Can’t imagine how that first bleak day and deserted night were for God’s breath of life creations.
Then there’s us. We may stumble and fall physically along the way, but eventually we recover and forget. Not so much when we fall into – temptation. That one can take a lifetime to recover from. Guilt, shame, fear – and yet it’s us who take the lifetime, for God stands at the ready to forgive and remove from memory all our shortcomings.
“How far has the LORD taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!” (Psalm 103:12 CEV)
Actually, it may be harder to watch our children navigate the falls of life. When they were young, we picked them up and dusted them off. We kissed the ‘boo-boos’. But then released into the world as adults we watch the stumbles and it’s literally like watching someone swoosh over a waterfall – out of our grasp.
But never out of God’s. His hold on us and on all those who know His Son, Jesus, as Savior – that’s a firm grip. We can never fall out of His reach, and He will never fall out of love with us. “Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” (Psalm 37:24 NLT)
As I recover from this latest fall, I can feel the Lord reminding me of so many things. His grace and mercy, His provision and healing, His forgiveness and love. I have a leaf covered picture I hung on the wall for this season of autumn. It says:
“Fall for Jesus, He never leaves you.” Never a truer play on words.
No You Can’t
Learning these days that all the “I can’ts” I’ve often sighed or screamed out are holy ground. The place where God reminds me, again, that I cannot but He can – and, in His time, He will.
We’ve grown up in a world of self-affirmation, of everyone gets a trophy, of failure being a hidden word. Truth is life isn’t about us, the goodies, or the losses.
Time to teach our children, grandchildren – from first breath – that life is about…the Creator. “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19 BSB)
I’m towards the end of the clock here on earth, but that doesn’t mean I don’t remember what it’s like to be near the beginning or the middle.
I’ve seen lives lived from early on for Jesus. I’ve seen lives surrendered midway. And I’ve seen in the last bits of time true life found in the Savior. Sweetest are those who get the most time living here for Him. “I have come in order that you might have life–life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10 GNT)
Perhaps earth’s clock is ticking down, perhaps it has millennia ahead. But with my time I must now encourage, speak truth, live like I’m His. No more shyness about offending with His Name. No more sugar-coating to not rock a relationship.
For time runs out for us all. And on this side of the hour hands, I want to be a light that shows this truly is where joy is found, peace surrounds, and love abounds.
How about you? Will you choose now to let Him give the gift of life? Or if you have, will you use what’s left of your time living in the “He can”. Because no you can’t – fix the losses, the hurts, the pains. Only One can: “And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5a BSB)
Revolution
Today I am watching an everchanging landscape – mountains disappear and reappear as Smoky Mountain mist twirls up from the ground and descends from the clouds. It’s peaceful. A beautiful mystery of creation that at once enshrouds and then lays bare a beautiful landscape.
It reminds me: life is all about change. Personal or political or global – this world is spinning into a chaos of change that tends to leave us unnerved.
God knows we need reassurance: ” ‘For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the LORD, who has mercy on you.” (Isaiah 54:10 NLT)
The question being asked a lot these days: how are we, as God’s people, to live? In other words, when we see the deeds of wickedness being touted as normal, blatant lies being called truth, evil called good and good called evil – what is our role?
I will not pretend to have that answer, I am pondering it along with you. However, God’s Word never changes and all this turmoil is part of our devolving due to sin. “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low…And the glory of the Lord will be revealed…All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field…The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:4a, 5a, 6b, 8 NIV)
As we look for answers in these uncertain times, we need look no further than our Bibles. The Holy Spirit will show us our way and our role. It will require diligence on our part – to search His Word, to listen for His direction, and to not be afraid of what evil can do.
Just shy of two hundred-fifty years ago, a new nation was dawning; men and women God had called to a land we now call home, faced the same dilemmas. God called them to revolution, perhaps He will call us to that as well. But it may not be in the form of battles of men against men, rather in battles of prayer – standing firm for His righteousness – and being willing to sacrifice as so many Jesus followers have before us, and still are, around the world today.
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But My salvation will last forever, My righteousness will never fail. Hear Me, you who know what is right, you people who have My law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults.” (Isaiah 51:6-7 NIV)
Delay Tactics
Greatest delay tactics I’ve ever seen are those from the under five group. Best witnessed when it’s nap time or bed time. One more story, one more drink of water, few more minutes rocking, night light on – no off – no on, and best one: one more hug and kiss.
I think they’re afraid they’ll miss something. That’s us. Most of the delays we try are because of fear. Fear we’ll make the wrong decision, fear we’ll miss out if we allow change, fear that if we admit we’re not in control things won’t turn out right, fear that…God doesn’t want the outcome we want.
Ann Voskamp recently said: “He who is driven by fears, delays the comfort of God.”
If that is true, then we have a good reason to not let fear be a motivator. No more what ifs, then whats, or let’s wait. Fear tells us to worry about how things will be, when God wants us to live in what is and trust that He’s bigger – and what He gives is better. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,” (2Corinthians 1:3 BSB)
A man named Jonah learned long ago that delaying God’s plans is a lot more dreadful than walking in those plans. He ran one way, but even a sea voyage couldn’t change his ultimate destination. We, like Jonah, could save a lot of drama and trauma, if we wouldn’t run from His plan.
Our delay tactics in making a move, changing jobs, reprimanding a child, asking forgiveness of our spouse, doing the work it takes to get healthy, accepting the challenge of what is instead of wishing for what was, and mourning the past while missing the present – rob us of what God wants to show us as He shows up over and over in the moments of now.
Like a three year old fighting drowsy eyelids, we often think of all the reasons our way will work out best instead of accepting the unfolding plan of God.
Here’s the ultimate reward of God’s comfort: “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2Corinthians 1:4 BSB) So that we can comfort others…we live in a world in much need of comfort.
Power
Taking a hard look at the world around us, we see that the lust right now is for power. Not that this is something new, it’s just that before it was a combination of lust for wealth, or fame, or addictions, etc. Those “in power” in governments worldwide seem bent on only one thing. And it’s not what’s best for their citizens, but the desire to confiscate money and property and control the movement of and even the health of the people.
It’s an illusion. Greeks and Romans, Russians and Chinese, and the endless list through the centuries, all thought they were the power. But look at the outcomes to this day. If intimidation and fear is power, then that is indeed sad.
Christ said this two thousand years ago “But Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.’ “ (Matthew 20:24 NLT)
How about a comparison? Power by intimidation, fear, taxation vs the power to raise the dead to life. Power that monitors human movement and speech vs power to give eternal life.
Hmmm, that’s why since the beginning of time people have sought God. Oh, there are those who deny Him and His power; those that say there is no God. But in crisis, whom do they call on – how readily do they accept prayer from those who do believe?
“Who, then, is the liar? It is those who say that Jesus is not the Messiah. Such people are the Enemy of Christ–they reject both the Father and the Son.” (1John 2:22 GNT)
Someday mankind will run out of time and all the grasping for control and power will cease. Someday people will be free – truly free. Someday a world ruled by this dictator or that king or president will be done.
Someday, for those who know Jesus, there will be a forever where people live in harmony and truly do love one another. But it can’t happen here in this world. This is where we learn what comes of wanting to be “god”.
There is power, and that power is in the Name of Jesus. Someday all will know: “that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11 NASB)
How Many Tears
Kitty got old; his heart gave out – at least the pumping of it. His heart for us was true to the end, purring and loving me like he had from the time we got him from the “homeless shelter”.
The day was spent in tears, saying goodbye, but not really letting go. Unconditional love never leaves us. And Opi, as we called him, loved us when we forgot to freshen his water or didn’t have time to sit and pet him. And he loved us well through good and bad years. Sixteen years.
Perhaps that is the message from God to us through our pets. That unconditional love does not find fault, ebb and flow based on shortcomings, or leave us ever. “Love is patient…kind. It does not envy…boast…is not proud. It is not rude…self-seeking…not easily angered…keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. It always protects…trusts…hopes…perseveres. Love never fails.” (1Corinthians 13:4-8b my paraphrase)
It’s lonely once a loved one isn’t here on earth – and yes, people, more than pets – but still loneliness. The kind that nothing takes the place of – and oceans of tears don’t stop the next flood when a memory comes.
I think that’s why Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit after His death and resurrection. Before we accept Him as Savior there’s a void in us that we try to fill with all kinds of things – nothing satisfies for long. But that moment we say ‘yes’ – a companion like no other is ours forever. “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.” (John 14:16,18, 26 ESV)
So how many tears does a soul hold? They can’t be counted by us, but not one falls without the Father’s notice. How many did our Savior shed while He was on earth? No doubt still does as He sees our brokenness.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT)
How many tears…does a soul hold? Enough to get us through this life. Then in eternity there will be no more tears. And the One who knows their number will fill us with unending joy forevermore.
parisrenae 