Even now, though it's been over fifty years, I can close my eyes and my memory will transport me back in time. The afternoon is hot ;the room is darkened to keep the bright Sun from baking us any more than it already is. But even though it's hot I'm sitting as close to my grandmother as is physically possible and she doesn't push me away, instead she places her arm around my shoulder and invites me to rest my head on her bosom. In this place of deep comfort we begin to talk about our favorite subject, the picture of the sailor.
The picture is hanging on the wall across from us. I think the sailor is the most handsome man in the world. I ask my grandmother again to tell me the stories that she has so often repeated. A smile crosses her face she closes her eyes and begins to see the sailor through the eyes of a mother. My eyes are wide open taking in every detail of the sailor in the picture yet my heart now beats in cadence with that of my grandmother.
My grandmother's memory has taken her to the year 1925. Times are turbulent and she worries that the baby she holds in her arms will not thrive. She does what she can, she gives all that she has, she watches him grow. She remembers with a tear the first he walked away from her. She stood watching at the door it was his first day of school. He walked away with the other children but then turned and ran back to give her one last hug.
Many years have pasted the sailor in the picture is now defined not only by the tender memories of his mother or even the admiration of his daughter but by the life he has lives. When I look at my father I see a man who taught me what grace means. A man who not only thrived but became a blessing to all who know him.
Heavenly Father, You have filled my life with so many blessings and so much grace. Thank You for giving me the privilege of being the daughter of the sailor in the picture.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
How to Escape the Vortex
Sometimes I can get sucked into the vortex of negative thoughts. They begin to swirl round and round drawing me in, pulling me downward. The whirling of negative thoughts can feel so powerful that nothing but them seems to occupy my mind. I could easily be lost forever in the whirlwind except for this; I know the way to escape.
I chose to listen to a different voice. I focused my mind on the Word that was with God in the beginning of time. I find in him life. The negative swirl of thoughts brings death to my soul. But the life that I find in his words bring light. The light shines in the darkness of my thoughts, but the darkness cannot overcome it.
The power of hurtful, negative thoughts is great and they bring with them death but there is a something greater still. A thought that became a word. A word that became flesh. An invitation to receive and believe and escape the whirlwind of deadly thought.
But the voice that I hear calling is offering more than simply an escape. The voice offers life and in the life there is light. In the darkness all I can see is the darkness , however, in the light every thing is made visible.
Lord Jesus, You are the word that became flesh and brought life and lihgt, grace and truth. In You alone I find the way to escape the vortex of negative thoughts.
I chose to listen to a different voice. I focused my mind on the Word that was with God in the beginning of time. I find in him life. The negative swirl of thoughts brings death to my soul. But the life that I find in his words bring light. The light shines in the darkness of my thoughts, but the darkness cannot overcome it.
The power of hurtful, negative thoughts is great and they bring with them death but there is a something greater still. A thought that became a word. A word that became flesh. An invitation to receive and believe and escape the whirlwind of deadly thought.
But the voice that I hear calling is offering more than simply an escape. The voice offers life and in the life there is light. In the darkness all I can see is the darkness , however, in the light every thing is made visible.
Lord Jesus, You are the word that became flesh and brought life and lihgt, grace and truth. In You alone I find the way to escape the vortex of negative thoughts.
Monday, May 19, 2014
I Have Come to Worship
I step over the threshold into the coolness of a new day dawning. The stars are still shining and all around there is the quiet hush of anticipated. I lift my eyes to the expansive heavens and in the stillness I drink in both the beauty and the order that surrounds me. I have come to worship.
I let the truth of His words wash over me, that the one who spoke the world into being has lavished His love on me and invites me to be His child. I gaze at the stars and my spirit reflects on the contrast of the frailness of my soul and the God enthroned in the heavens who teaches me to call Him Father. These first moments of the morning contemplating my relationship with the Creator give me perspective for the day.
My eyes are open to the beauty around me. As I take my seat facing the Sunrise I am reminded of two passages in the Scripture about worship. The first is in the wilderness when Bezalel whose name means "in the shadow of God" is appointed build the tabernacle. God filled Bezalel with His Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood in every kind of artistic craft. The place where a holy God meets with His people is to be a place that is set apart, it is to be a place of beauty.
In the New Testament a woman of Samaria trys to engage Jesus in a debate about the correct place to worship. Jesus responded by saying, "But an hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23,24)
Lord Jesus, I like the woman at the well have received Your invitation to drink living water and I have come to worship You today in spirit and in truth.
I let the truth of His words wash over me, that the one who spoke the world into being has lavished His love on me and invites me to be His child. I gaze at the stars and my spirit reflects on the contrast of the frailness of my soul and the God enthroned in the heavens who teaches me to call Him Father. These first moments of the morning contemplating my relationship with the Creator give me perspective for the day.
My eyes are open to the beauty around me. As I take my seat facing the Sunrise I am reminded of two passages in the Scripture about worship. The first is in the wilderness when Bezalel whose name means "in the shadow of God" is appointed build the tabernacle. God filled Bezalel with His Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood in every kind of artistic craft. The place where a holy God meets with His people is to be a place that is set apart, it is to be a place of beauty.
In the New Testament a woman of Samaria trys to engage Jesus in a debate about the correct place to worship. Jesus responded by saying, "But an hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23,24)
Lord Jesus, I like the woman at the well have received Your invitation to drink living water and I have come to worship You today in spirit and in truth.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
"Will You Remind Me of the Truth?"
The color of her eyes has faded perhaps because of how often they have been bathed in tears. She walks slowly needing the assistance of a cane. Some might be tempted to think this is a sign of weakness but those who know her understand she walks because she is an overcomer. Her life has given her much practice in overcoming.
Yesterday, my friend called and asked if I could come to see her. Recently she has experienced another layer of grief, the kind of grief that can break the heart and cripple the soul. Her request was simple, "Sarah, will you come and remind me of the truth and pray with me?" I came and we sat for a while in silence feeling together the weight of sorrow.
For a while we simply sat together and wept. We wept without denying the pain or the promise of hope. We wept before the throne of the Almighty. Together we cried for wisdom to the Sovereign God who according to His great mercy and lavish love has adopted us into His family. We begged for justice from Judge who will judge all judges. We praised God because we have an advocate who pleads our cause before the Throne of Grace.
Together we worshiped in the beauty of God's holiness. She had asked that come and remind her of the truth. It's not that my friend doesn't know what she believes but sometimes when we are being violently beaten by the tempestuous storms that come into our life we need someone remind us. And so I spoke to her the truth about the Kingdom of God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us part of a Your family. Thank You for hearing us when we call. Thank You that when we come together to pray before the Throne of Grace we find mercy and grace to help in time of need.
Yesterday, my friend called and asked if I could come to see her. Recently she has experienced another layer of grief, the kind of grief that can break the heart and cripple the soul. Her request was simple, "Sarah, will you come and remind me of the truth and pray with me?" I came and we sat for a while in silence feeling together the weight of sorrow.
For a while we simply sat together and wept. We wept without denying the pain or the promise of hope. We wept before the throne of the Almighty. Together we cried for wisdom to the Sovereign God who according to His great mercy and lavish love has adopted us into His family. We begged for justice from Judge who will judge all judges. We praised God because we have an advocate who pleads our cause before the Throne of Grace.
Together we worshiped in the beauty of God's holiness. She had asked that come and remind her of the truth. It's not that my friend doesn't know what she believes but sometimes when we are being violently beaten by the tempestuous storms that come into our life we need someone remind us. And so I spoke to her the truth about the Kingdom of God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us part of a Your family. Thank You for hearing us when we call. Thank You that when we come together to pray before the Throne of Grace we find mercy and grace to help in time of need.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Safe Within the Whirlwind
Some people called it the perfect storm, some people called it Euroclydon. Regardless of it's name it caught them by surprise because the voyage began with a south wind gently blowing. Their intention was to use that wind to take them to their desired destination. They had planned to stay close to the shore but the gentle wind was replaced suddenly by a tempestuous wind.
The wind fell upon them and they gave way to it. They were driven by the storm far from the safety of the shore. The Typhonic wind ploughed the sea, and lifted up its waves. Caught in the whirlwind of this violent storm they had nothing stable beneath their feet. For fourteen long days and fourteen in-less nights they saw neither Sun nor stars. They were violently storm tossed and all hope that they would be saved was at last abandoned.
I have not been able to get this picture out of my mind. It's found at the end of the book of Acts. This tempestuous wind was what Paul encountered on his way to Rome. He was not outside God's will, in fact he was doing just what the Holy Spirit had instructed him to do. God did not remove Paul from the path of the storm but instead He gave him peace in the storm and in His sovereignty God used the tempestuous wind to take Paul to his destination.
Although we serve the Lord of the wind and the waves that does not mean that in the process we won't get wet and shiver from the cold. Paul himself said, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
Lord Jesus, You came to earth with the message of the kingdom of God and yet You told Your disciples that in this world they would have tribulation. Let me anchor my soul in the truth of Your kingdom and find peace in the reality that You are the Lord of the storm.
The wind fell upon them and they gave way to it. They were driven by the storm far from the safety of the shore. The Typhonic wind ploughed the sea, and lifted up its waves. Caught in the whirlwind of this violent storm they had nothing stable beneath their feet. For fourteen long days and fourteen in-less nights they saw neither Sun nor stars. They were violently storm tossed and all hope that they would be saved was at last abandoned.
I have not been able to get this picture out of my mind. It's found at the end of the book of Acts. This tempestuous wind was what Paul encountered on his way to Rome. He was not outside God's will, in fact he was doing just what the Holy Spirit had instructed him to do. God did not remove Paul from the path of the storm but instead He gave him peace in the storm and in His sovereignty God used the tempestuous wind to take Paul to his destination.
Although we serve the Lord of the wind and the waves that does not mean that in the process we won't get wet and shiver from the cold. Paul himself said, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
Lord Jesus, You came to earth with the message of the kingdom of God and yet You told Your disciples that in this world they would have tribulation. Let me anchor my soul in the truth of Your kingdom and find peace in the reality that You are the Lord of the storm.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Untethered
To be untethered is to not be confined or restricted with a tether. I think that the freedom of having a soul that is unbound or no longer restricted can be found sometimes in the things we let go of. For many years I tethered my life to the dreams of what I wanted to accomplish but then the day came when I let go. It wasn't until I could let go of the rope that bound me to shore of my understanding that I could be set free to be part of something greater than myself.
Long ago I received an invitation to be part of an eternal story. "So we fix our eyes on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) However, I found as time went on that my focus was far more on the world that I could see. My desires seemed good except for one thing, they restricted the way I viewed success. I came to realized that true success is not a temporal measure but an eternal one.
There is a since of security that can be found in being tethered. Holding on to the rope that binds you to the shore can make you feel safe. Those who fix their eyes on what is seen can feel a since of accomplishment in the world around them. But always there is the whisper that what is seen is temporary.
I have been invited to be part of a spiritual adventure. I feel the wind of the Spirit blowing and inviting me to let go of the ropes that bind me to the shore of my own story. This is an adventure of faith an adventure, where I am not the author. I close my eyes to what is seen and open the eyes of my spirit to that which is unseen and I am set free.
Long ago I received an invitation to be part of an eternal story. "So we fix our eyes on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) However, I found as time went on that my focus was far more on the world that I could see. My desires seemed good except for one thing, they restricted the way I viewed success. I came to realized that true success is not a temporal measure but an eternal one.
There is a since of security that can be found in being tethered. Holding on to the rope that binds you to the shore can make you feel safe. Those who fix their eyes on what is seen can feel a since of accomplishment in the world around them. But always there is the whisper that what is seen is temporary.
I have been invited to be part of a spiritual adventure. I feel the wind of the Spirit blowing and inviting me to let go of the ropes that bind me to the shore of my own story. This is an adventure of faith an adventure, where I am not the author. I close my eyes to what is seen and open the eyes of my spirit to that which is unseen and I am set free.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Define Wonderful
"God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." My sister as I were taught this as the first of four spiritual laws when we were teenagers. I think our interpretation of what wonderful meant was perhaps different from how it was intended. When we talked together in our mid twenty's after our first experience with life's difficulties we both questioned if what we had gone through would be considered wonderful.
I think the problem that both my sister and I had was in the way we understood what was being offered. I thought that God was like an ingredient that I could choose to add to the recipe of my life and if I choose to add Him my life would be wonderful. I looked up wonderful in the dictionary and this is what I found, "inspiring delight or admiration, extremely good, marvelous." We weren't dummies. Both of us thought this would be the perfect ingredient for a perfect life.
When the Lord appeared to Ananias giving him a message for the beginning of Paul's ministry it was not to tell him how easy his life was about to become. Instead the message was, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." (Acts 9:15) Two things stand our to me. First, Paul was chosen to be an instrument of the Lord's. That sure takes the emphases off him and puts it on the Lord. Second, the Lord told Paul he would suffer for Him; that doesn't fit my definition of wonderful.
Study of the Scriptures has corrected my misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian. I no longer consider God to be an ingredient that I add to the recipe of my life. Now I understand that, "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world." (Ephesians 1:4) I now understand that there are good words that God has planned in advance for me to do.
Lord, I still have to remind myself that I am a Christian not because I chose You so that my life would be wonderful but that You chose me. You lavished your love on me and adopted me into Your family. Open my eyes to see the magnitude of Your plans for me.
I think the problem that both my sister and I had was in the way we understood what was being offered. I thought that God was like an ingredient that I could choose to add to the recipe of my life and if I choose to add Him my life would be wonderful. I looked up wonderful in the dictionary and this is what I found, "inspiring delight or admiration, extremely good, marvelous." We weren't dummies. Both of us thought this would be the perfect ingredient for a perfect life.
When the Lord appeared to Ananias giving him a message for the beginning of Paul's ministry it was not to tell him how easy his life was about to become. Instead the message was, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." (Acts 9:15) Two things stand our to me. First, Paul was chosen to be an instrument of the Lord's. That sure takes the emphases off him and puts it on the Lord. Second, the Lord told Paul he would suffer for Him; that doesn't fit my definition of wonderful.
Study of the Scriptures has corrected my misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian. I no longer consider God to be an ingredient that I add to the recipe of my life. Now I understand that, "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world." (Ephesians 1:4) I now understand that there are good words that God has planned in advance for me to do.
Lord, I still have to remind myself that I am a Christian not because I chose You so that my life would be wonderful but that You chose me. You lavished your love on me and adopted me into Your family. Open my eyes to see the magnitude of Your plans for me.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
When Morning Comes
"Did she say Lamentations?" she whispered incredulously. I admit it was an odd approach to the subject of joy. I had been asked to speak at a luncheon. They told me that the theme for the year was joy. The first thought that came to me was, "In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider:God has made the one as well as the other. " (Ecclesiastes 7:14) The theme of my study became how God uses sorrow and adversity to enlarge the soul for joy.
I first looked at Lamentations and how the first two verses show the deep grief over the loss that sin and rebellion had brought. "She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they become her enemies. " (Lamentations 1:2) This place of lament is not pleasant nor is it somewhere I would ever choose to be yet without without it I would remain in my sin surrounded by my false lovers.
I think only tear washed eyes can truly see the beauty of what is spoken of in the third chapter of Lamentations. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, " says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." In the middle of lament comes the promise of a love that does not fail. How comforting to know that His faithfulness is great even when my doubt is strong. I can never use up His mercy. Because He is my portion I am secure.
The talk seemed to go alright except when I finished I became overwhelmed with depression! I kept thinking back to the truths I had spoken. In the darkness of my heart I began to evaluate what was going on. I sat with sorrow. I let it soften my heart and exposed my sin. I waited expectantly for the morning because I knew that though weeping abides for the night joy comes in the morning.
Lord Jesus, I rest in your unfailing love. The darkest night cannot prevent the dawn. You have redeemed my sorrow and used even it to enlarge my soul for joy.
I first looked at Lamentations and how the first two verses show the deep grief over the loss that sin and rebellion had brought. "She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they become her enemies. " (Lamentations 1:2) This place of lament is not pleasant nor is it somewhere I would ever choose to be yet without without it I would remain in my sin surrounded by my false lovers.
I think only tear washed eyes can truly see the beauty of what is spoken of in the third chapter of Lamentations. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, " says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." In the middle of lament comes the promise of a love that does not fail. How comforting to know that His faithfulness is great even when my doubt is strong. I can never use up His mercy. Because He is my portion I am secure.
The talk seemed to go alright except when I finished I became overwhelmed with depression! I kept thinking back to the truths I had spoken. In the darkness of my heart I began to evaluate what was going on. I sat with sorrow. I let it soften my heart and exposed my sin. I waited expectantly for the morning because I knew that though weeping abides for the night joy comes in the morning.
Lord Jesus, I rest in your unfailing love. The darkest night cannot prevent the dawn. You have redeemed my sorrow and used even it to enlarge my soul for joy.
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