No Walls, Know Love…
Ever been imprisoned? Me either. Can’t even imagine. This girl has to walk outside and look up at blue skies, breathe in fresh air.
Author Dee Brestin tells of ministering to ladies in prison. Sharing the Lord one on one and in groups, opening up the Word with them. Finding a shared longing we all have – whether our depths have led to prison walls or invisible ones. The longing to be loved, worthy.
As I reflected on this universal need, my hands were cold. Sun streaming through the window warmed my back and the question came: what warms my cold? The light crept over my shoulder and lit the page in front of me, again a question: what lights my way? What keeps me from going crazy in this hard and crazy world?
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?“ (Romans 8:35 NLT)
Again and again we have to remember that His love isn’t moved, changed, lessened or increased by us – our shortcomings, our doubts, our faith or faithlessness.
Love – ask ten different people to define it, get ten different takes. Ask Jesus to define it, and He settles it: God. God is love and any attempts we make at love are an imitation of the Father. Created in His image we are most like Him when we love – and most at peace when we believe His love for us. Think you are too unworthy or that your actions can make Him waver, think again:
“No power in the sky above or in the earth below–indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39 NLT)
Whether we’re behind windowless, concrete walls or invisible walls put up daily by our doubts there is freedom. Funny thing about this love we all long for: we find ourselves with more of it, the more we give it away. Oh as He drenches us in love, will we sprinkle a little here and there? Want to know God’s heart, be assured you are worthy because of Christ? Love those who are unlovely, difficult, and who don’t return it. Truth is, we’re often just like those we withhold love from.
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Go, Be…
The Sunday message has often ended with ‘Go be the church’. I knew what he meant, I knew the intention. I thought I did.
But knowing and action are different. Knowing can be acknowledging and even agreeing. Action is both of those and then being. But not in just a single action, not in some great cause, not even in good deeds. It is a lifestyle.
2018 has me reflecting – a lot. Wondering, how can I more truly glorify this God I proclaim. Again not in some act of service, though that is good. Not in some cause I give to, though that is good. But in a living moment by moment way. A way that so fills life…that end of day exhaustion…is due to overwhelming joy lived out.
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 ESV)
And there it is – the act of surrender – to listen for the voice in the noise of life that says ‘this way’. And when we listen, then those moments will add up to a day spent being His – for souls around us needing to find their way. When we spend ourselves in countless ways that live out a joy that longs to bubble out of us, we will find an endless strength to do it again. Maybe this year, you and me, maybe we can put aside agendas and lists and listen. Intentional.
“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love.” (Psalm 145:8 HCSB)
Do we believe this? If the God we serve is gracious (no matter our shortcomings), compassionate (hurts when we hurt), slow to anger (so patient with us), great in faithful love (immense love that never wavers) – then this day will we live what we believe? Love this from a Matt Redman song:
Here I am, God
Arms wide open
Pouring out my life
Gracefully broken
My heart stands in awe of Your name
Your mighty love stands strong to the end
You will fulfill Your purpose for me
You won’t forsake me, You will be with me
So our challenge this year is: Go, Be. Eyes, heart, hands – all His. Go: wherever we find ourselves, whoever we’re with. Be: the joy-filled soul in the midst of suffering and blessing. Spreading His glory, forgetting self.
The Call…
Invites are great – the call asking you over to dinner. The card asking you to attend the wedding. The text saying ‘want to get coffee’.
Many years before my mom passed away I began calling her weekly. It became our habit and it never got old – and now those calls are silenced and I miss them.
We let time slip away all too easily – the calls don’t get made, the notes never sent, the time lost. Great relationships only develop one way: t-i-m-e. Yet in our fast-paced world it is a valuable commodity that we can’t store up or earn more of. And with all good intentions we still squander precious moments. How then to not look back with regret? How to make the most of what we’re given?
I wish right now I was going to write the answer. Ideas come to mind – prioritize, work harder at it, set goals. All human efforts – been falling short since the fall of man. Perhaps the answer is to first listen to the call: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)
Jesus calls to us through His word, by His Spirit in us – and in the noise we miss it. If He could sit with you and me right this instant, I think He would tell us ‘Spend time with Me – get to know Me. Know Me so well that you feel My hand in yours all the time.’ It is in knowing Jesus that we find He redeems all things and quiets our souls.
“When Jesus says ‘Follow Me,’ He is saying, ‘Come out of the world and into the kingdom of God.’ ‘Come out of danger and into safety.’ ‘Come out of darkness and into the light.’ ‘Come out of stress and into peace.'” (Stormie Omartian)
The call is ‘Come’, He will do the rest. It’s always simple with Christ – not easy necessarily, but simple. “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4:8 NIV) It is in the nearness, that we find our answers. Trust is built. Faith deepens. What we consider loss, He can redeem. When there are not enough hours, He can make a way. When our soul feels His rest, we will want to extend His invitation. Timeless.
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Returns…
Christmas is behind, boxes of decorations will soon be put away, and store music is already back to usual. Is life?
We mark time because we are currently captive to it. The difference between December 31st and January 1st is really a calendar year. But we look with great anticipation to putting behind things that saddened or wearied us. Look forward hoping that only good is in store. We wake up December 26th looking to five days later.
“The shepherds returned,” (Luke 2:20a NIV) They were visited, they went to see, they told everyone – and then they went back to the fields. I’m thinking those particular shepherds were never quite the same. Us?
“glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,” (Luke 2:20b NIV) Maybe it’s about how we return to daily life. We’ve been told the good news, maybe even looked into it, perhaps shared with a few people. But do we return to the ordinary of life glorifying and praising God?
Having a word for the year has become a trend. At first I ignored the idea. Then the last two I had the word grace. I wanted it to be my practice – to give more grace and to rest in God’s grace. This year I think it will be glorify. To attempt to live on purpose in a way that doesn’t glorify self, but points to glory in the highest.
“which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20c NIV) The message of the angels was just what those shepherds saw. We may think the shepherds were lucky, they got to see with their own eyes. We have to see with our hearts – faith. But I think we’re the more fortunate. Jesus said “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:19b NIV) To us He gives the Holy Spirit to see more clearly than eyes ever can. Someday time will no longer hold us, for eternity has no ticking clock.
So as we mark another Christmas celebrated and watch a clock countdown the seconds to midnight, may we awake each new morning praising and glorifying for the gift and the promise.
Treasure…
Wish I could freeze time – little feet that toddle, bright eyes seeing all as new – a grandson. I wanted to freeze time with all my children, but it marched on. And here I am, Maam Maam to a little one who finds everything amazing.
I snap picture after picture. I rock a little longer once he falls asleep. Willing time to just slow, for a few more precious moments. And so a young woman must have been bewildered as she held her baby a couple thousand years ago. She knew, like no one else ever would, that this baby was no ordinary child. She did not know all He would do, she wasn’t even sure what all she was to do with Him.
No cameras to capture precious moments, nor a way to stop the clock long enough to take it all in. “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19 NIV)
Things moved fast for Mary and Joseph – not long after His birth Jesus was brought to the temple in the Jewish tradition to be ‘consecrated to the Lord’. First old Simeon comes over and takes Jesus in his arms proclaiming salvation has come for both Israel and the Gentiles. “The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Him.” (Luke 2:33 NIV)
At that moment gray-haired Anna shuffles over giving thanks to God and telling all who were looking forward to redemption that it had arrived. No rolling cameras, no Instagram, no Facebook to post to. Just two parents and those in earshot – hearing confirmation that God had fulfilled all prophecy – and forever was being offered to all who would believe.
I wonder if Mary held a little tighter with each revelation. Pondering would He be welcomed, royalty, powerful? She could not know the opposite would be true. Selfish man would do all they could to discredit God in the flesh – even try to kill Him.
Mary’s heart must have gone back to treasured heart pictures of baby, child, teen as she witnessed His sacrifice for her and all mankind on the cross. This Christmas will we rush through the decorations, parties, wrapping going every which direction and miss the Gift? Starry nights call us to pause, to slow, to look up and ponder. Snow falls and blue skies beg a moment to show the brilliance of creation. Perhaps it’s time to stop and treasure all these things in our hearts.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned….For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:2, 6 NIV)
Surprise…
When was the last time you were surprised? Excited?
I’m pretty hard to surprise. Drives my hubby crazy. Top it off with being very practical, so I don’t get too excited about things either. But there have been those occasions – when I was eight and pulled the cover off the present and it was a typewriter – took my breath away. When my hubby hid my engagement ring inside the cap of a bottle of perfume – wasn’t expecting it. The amazing love that saturated me with each birth of my children – overcome by it.
Just a couple thousand years ago a bunch of scruffy, smelly shepherds were trying to keep warm and sleep out in the fields. Usually the only excitement was a wild animal trying to get dinner from their flock. But this time “An Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were terrified.” (Luke 2:9 NIV)
Yep, that would have astonished me too. In fact, I don’t think anything could top that one.
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV) The thing is we usually tell everyone about our surprise moments. How excited we are. The shepherds did, when the angels (yes, more appeared with the first one) had left them, they hurried off to see the Savior. “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed” (Luke 2:17-18a NIV)
What about us? Maybe we haven’t had an angel visit, but we’ve heard the same great news they did. Who are we telling about it? Have we let it become ho-hum and fa la la la la? Ann Voskamp said that she would take “Holy days over hyped up holidays.” That’s when the awe is lost and we look more forward to the after sales than the actual celebration. If we can live these days leading up to the event as Holy Days, the awe returns.
How? Don’t just read the Christmas story or just hear it – wonder at it. Put yourself there among the sheep, look at the shepherds’ faces. Gaze up and imagine the brilliance of the angels. Let God stir up your wonder as you remember why He came: so He could have you forever with Him – and just wait til you see the surprises He has in store in forever.
A Little Less Glitter…
What a noisy world. Constantly bombarding us with the latest scandal – and then there’s news of volcanoes erupting, submarines lost, hurt after hurt.
Weary ears yearn for quiet, for all this to just stop, even for a moment. But it doesn’t. So can there be peace in the commotion? I’ve tried quiet walks, many try meditation, others pop in their earbuds. Still the noise, the bombardment returns. Only one source I know of.
Quiet descends as God’s Book is opened, in those moments there’s only one Voice. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV) Oh how we all need to know it won’t always be this way, but there will be an always where tragedy won’t even be a memory.
Here comes Christmas – to be celebrated for Who came not what’s under the tree. Celebrated for why He came, not for another party excuse. Celebrated because Jesus is the guarantee of what is to come. He is the peace in the midst of all that we witness around us or find ourselves swept up in.
So I’m thinking this year maybe a little less glitter, and a lot more glory? Merry Christmas answered to ‘Happy Holidays’ – a warm meal and some money to the homeless man – paying for the purchase of the one in line behind us? A tired waitress not only given her tip but a copy of the Word? What ways can glory be what we give this year?
We can wait on the world through politics, ecology, psychology, etc. to fix itself. But it will be a long wait. If you don’t know Jesus, let Him be your gift. If you do, then give Him glory and find the peace you so long for. His glory renews the wonder in our hearts so His peace can reign in another’s exhausted soul.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14 NIV)
Already Blessed…
Read any Dr. Seuss lately? Interesting truth in some of those writings.
There’s a Dr. Seuss called Oh, The Places You Will Go. A section mid-way through is about the ‘waiting time’ – “waiting for…the phone to ring…or for a Yes or No…just waiting.” The point was we are all making our way through life and at times it seems we are not making progress – but it’s what we do with the in between time.
The world will always lead us to believe that having the next best thing will get us to our ultimate destination. Drowning our cares in pleasures will make the journey shorter. Eat, drink, and be merry – get your fair share.
What if we lived like we’re blessed already – all that would truly make us sigh with contentment was already ours?
There’s a funny paradox in life – best said by pastor Doug McIntosh “Lots of people have learned contentment in poverty. Learning it in abundance is far less common.” Jesus taught this in Matthew 5 in a section called the beatitudes. He said blessed are those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, and who long for justice. How is any of that a blessing?
It is through the trials that we realize here and now is not all there is. Troubles often free our hearts to chase after eternal wealth, not worldly stuff.
Jesus continued on to say that we are blessed when we are merciful, pure in heart, when we are peacemakers, and when we are persecuted because we seek righteousness. Um, those also would not be what this world tells us will make us feel blessed. But it is those very things that will draw others to us – because we are different and sincerity is easily discerned by a world starving for it.
The key is: ‘blessed’ is past tense. Already blessed. When we accept the outstretched hand of Jesus all the promises of no death, no sickness, no sorrow, no want or need – are ours. Contrast those with the world’s stuff — I choose His promises. The Mercedes, the huge diamond, the mansion – when we take our last breath somebody else gets those. But when we trust God that we don’t have to grab it all now, we can rest in the enough of today.
Hear them saying grab our deal while it’s hot? The angel said “I bring you good news of great joy…a Savior is born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV)
The Table…
We’re invited. We’ll be satisfied. We’ll have the perfect seat. We won’t ever want to leave.
Banquets or parties can be awkward – what to wear, where to sit, who to talk to and about what.
The there’s this: I have a hard time just relaxing and letting go when it comes to having people over. I obsess over getting everything clean, everything just so. Once everyone is there I’m good, but the lead-up causes me to often not want to invite people in the first place. And then I remember, Jesus took me just the way I was – lots of cleaning up needing to be done. People don’t come for clean floors, they come for sincere friendship.
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:13 NIV) God’s people who are in need – that’s all of us, right? In need of walking this life with more and more of Jesus. In need of knowing we aren’t the only ones who mess up. In need of practicing what we believe.
So about that table. Picture it. Full of people you know, whose hearts are transparent and pure. Covered in serving after serving of endless grace and peace. We won’t go away hungry: “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” (Luke 6:21a NIV) This is the table we long to gather around – in just a little while.
For now – if you’re in America – this week you have a chance to gather round a table. Whether it’s at a homeless shelter or in a mansion – maybe in the break room at work cause you took that shift — just gather. Because Who we give thanks to is all that matters. “My mouth is filled with Your praise, declaring Your splendor all day long.” (Psalm 71:8 NIV)
Is your table missing someone this year? Is your table empty? Is your table full of strife? Maybe your table is just the way you want it. There is One who can fill the empty spot, calm the hurts, make it better than the perfect place settings. Invite Him and share so that all may “…know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19 NIV) No one will want to leave.
To the Brim…
Say there were no consequences for overeating your favorite thing – what would it be? This time of year it would be pecan pie for me, but ask me another day and I would choose fries and a Coke.
We fill up on all kinds of things everyday – not just our tummies. Our minds.
When our children were growing up we used to find all kinds of ways to help them see that what they allow into their thoughts will eventually come out in their actions. They, like us, push those boundaries. Ever think about all the mess in the world around us and where it comes from? Minds filled with selfish ways, minds so far led astray they are filled with evil intentions.
A bit closer to home – ever think about why our troubles loom large? Just like food for our bodies, our souls need us to fill up on God’s Word. To acknowledge we are filled with the Holy Spirit and be full of all that is of God. It is then fears will fade.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV) The thief – not only the enemy of our soul, but the selfishness of a world bent on filling up with that which is temporary. Jesus didn’t come to give us a temporary high, a momentary rest – no, Jesus did all He did that we could have life – forever! A life so full it spills over to those who are hungry – and so full it carries us through all these temporary troubles straight into eternity.
We go around like we’re waiting on God to fix everything – what if we went around knowing He already has? Didn’t Jesus do away with death – with our every wrong? YES, and so much more. There is this time between when He went back to the Father and when He will return for us – the filling up time. Oh Father help us not to waste now on worry. “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8 NLT)
Taste, just try it – a bit of His Word, a bit of prayer. Oh, it is good. Fill us up, Holy Spirit, to the brim – let us be so full of all that God has for us we will never settle for temporary fixes.
parisrenae 