Do You Have Room?

I love the Christmas Story! I love the season and the time of year! I never grow tired of the Story and never grow weary of hearing it over & over again! So many parts to this story that intrigue me or get me to thinking!

# 1 - Mary
I am always amazed by Mary's obedience despite what it would cost her. She knew some of the cost but I wonder often if she had a complete understanding & comprehension of what awaited her.

She knew she was carrying the Son of God-Messiah. The Angel told her so! She tried to get Jesus to "do something" at the Canaan wedding so she had to know He was capable of something! Right? But did she really understand the 'bigness' of the task ahead of her - raising the Son of God?

#2 - Joseph.
Nice, quiet, semi obscure man. Yet, What a task! Out of obedience he took pregnant Mary as his wife. It wasn't his! Yet, he raised the baby as his own. He was father to the Son of God! No pressure right?!!

Not only did he put up with people looking down on him for having a pregnant wife BEFORE they married he couldn't say "it's mine"!? Or did he? We don't know but I wanna know! I can't wait to spend time with Joseph when I get to heaven-So much I wanna know!

#3 - The Shepherds
Shepherds? Lowly, smelly, dirty, possibly the outcasts of society; filled a need for society; yet was it every parents dream for their child to become a shepherd?? It was a normal night for them - tending to the flock as they did every night. All they had was the light from the night sky and possibly a fire going for warmth.

So why shepherds? Why go out in the middle of nowhere and tell these shepherds the good news? Surely there were 'believers' in town who would want to know! Why shepherds? AND what happened to them? I mean here they are on the greatest night of history - the event God's people had been waiting for:

They have an encounter with heavenly visitors.
They are a part of a handful of people that witnessed Jesus on His first night in human form.
They are apparently were excited by all they had witnessed.
They even left the manger praising and glorifying God.
Yet, it states next they went back to tend to the sheep.
They went back?! I realize the sheep were important but they went back?! AND seemingly never heard of again.

What is that?
Greatest encounter in their lives and that's it?
Nothing more than a blip on their life time line? I wanna talk to them! I wanna know what happened after - Did their lives change? Did it stay with them or did they simply look back at it as a nice memory?

#4 - The Magi
I have always been intrigued by these wise guys. They live in a different country. By assumption they were considered very wise at this point in history. We don't know anything about them other then what you see in the biblical account.

Why was it so important that they make the journey they did?
What did they know what God's people missed?
Why where they watching for this Kings star? Why??

They make a very long journey to find a baby King; they bring gifts fit for a King; warned in a dream they ditch king Herod and return to their own country. Then... that's it! Seemingly never heard from again. Did they realize WHO they worshiped? Why did they know Jewish history? How did they know to be watching for the "sign"? WHY did they travel such a long distance for THIS King?? Why??

And again I have to ask - this one blip on their life timeline - did it change them? Did their encounter mean anything? Anything at all?

#5 - King Herod
Don't even wanna mention this guy but he was apart of the story. He of all people - God's people - should have genuinely recognized the arrival of THE Messiah. But it was impossible for that to happen - when one is seeking their own agenda one can't see anything else. If only he had been in a right relationship - man what a difference that would've made!

My only question would be - did he regret? Did he ever feel remorseful for what he did? A sad statement on a sad life. AND most likely one person in this story I won't have the chance to ask...

#6 - The Inn Keeper
Not much information on this one. Only that apparently they offered a manger to Joseph & Mary. What was he thinking? Did he just show them the way to the stable? Did he notice the Star overhead? Did he notice the shepherds? Did he notice. Period.

Here he was involved with the greatest unfolding of historical events - yet - we don't know - we don't know if he came out to see the baby King or if he was oblivious to all that was taking place. Another conversation I want to have - to know what he was thinking - what did he know! Was there anything about this night that changed him?

So many parts and so many questions. I have often wondered why God's people seemingly missed the event they had waited for! The "appearance" is given that everyone was going about their day/lives and what they had hoped for came but they missed it. It is often stated that the Inn Keeper had no room. Yet it appears no one had room. No one was anticipating or waiting for this Messiah. No one was looking for the signs - well except for the Magi from another country.

No one was watching.
No one was waiting.
No one!

I shake my head sometimes when I think, "How could they miss it?!"; "How could they possibly NOT be watching for their Messiah!" But then the thought occurred to me - what would I have done?
1. Would I have been the obedient Mary or Joseph - doing Gods call regardless of the cost?
2. Would I have been a Shepherd or Magi? Seeking the baby King and worshiping Him?
3. Would I have been Herod? I shudder at that thought! Yet I know being human we are all capable of it! ALL of us!
4. Maybe the Inn Keeper? Only offering a lowly stable for the King - My King??
5. OR would I have been the people - indifferent; missing the arrival of my Messiah?

Wow!
So much to ponder
So much to consider.

For me it comes down to 2 questions:
Do I have room in my life no matter the cost?
Do my encounters with Him make a difference or are they just a slight blip on my time line?

Even though I have so many questions about the different aspects of the Christmas story, there will only be one question that matters and HE will be the one to ask it - not me:
What did I do with what God gave me?
Humm something to think about.

The Past Revisited

It has been such a crazy few days - good things but crazy! Yet in the busyness I discovered (or rediscovered) another glimpse of just how good God has been to me over the years. It is one of those 'things' where you know God was watching out for you but it's like something is turned on in the very depths of your soul. Which only serves to bring up an overwhelming storm of emotions that... Well let me back up and set the stage if you will...

This time of year is always a heart tugging difficult time for me. Sunday will mark exactly 6 years since my mom passed away. There isn't a day that goes by that my heart does not ache for her. Although I know she is in a much better place I will miss her deeply until the day of our glorious reunion.

I have been learning over the last 6 years that my grief seems to go in waves - I've heard it gets easier although I don't really believe that - I think for me I have just learned how to control it (sometimes). How can it possibly - in reality - get any easier when this is the person who brought you into this world - the person who raised as mom and dad - who gave of herself sacrificially for her children (even when we couldn't see it). The person who was always - ALWAYS the constant in your life. It doesn't get any easier and I am okay with that.

I was talking with a lady last week whose mom is going through some health issues. She was very emotional as she tried to explain how sad her heart was. She said to me, "I am  not ready to let her go! I don't want to let her go! I want her here - I need her here!"

There was a whole flood of emotion and thought that swept over me as I listened and tried to encourage her. Praise God because He controlled the emotions (well for a little while anyway). Hearing her words of really deep despair and anguish over just the thought of losing the one constant in her life just made me realize just how much God had prepared me prior to Mom's passing.

I remember thinking those same things when I was younger - crying out to Him, "Oh God please don't take her now - I need her - I can't live without her - I, I, I,...." I know as a child I lived in the continual fear that something would happen to her and I would be alone. I mean why would I NOT think that way! I had a Dad who promised to be there and broke that promise many times over! So, it was easy for a child like me who felt things very deeply and could not verbalize the depth of her own thoughts, concerns, fears and sorrows - it was easy for me to think something would happen to her mom.

What I find interesting is I never thought she would just leave - I knew she would keep her promise - I was just afraid some thing would happen to her. Despite my fears and insecurities I knew that Mom's word was truth.

When it was apparent that it was time for Mom to go home to be with the Lord I had this overwhelming sense of peace - deep grief  for sure - but peace for sure. I heard God's voice tell me, "You're ready~ I am sufficient for you. I am your all encompassing Father and you need no one else."

I wish I could adequately express the depths of my heart that were touched by this realization. The comfort and peace that flooded my heart. Did it take the grief away? Absolutely not! Did it make the goodbye easier? Yes~

So yesterday as I as traveling to Orange County and listening to my rehearsal CD for singing this morning. All this came flooding into my heart and mind. Rehashing the conversation with this lady earlier in the week; reliving in my head the moments of 6 years ago; feeling the sadness knowing what this lady was going through....

And I hear, "The Fatherless they find their rest at the sound of Your Great name!" And the tears started to flow.That moment of fresh heart realization that Yes - I have found rest. Not in my own power but because of His Great Name.... It was very overwhelming. Then continuing to listen to the words of each song and remembering that it truly is because of His name - that is what has sustained me through out my whole life.


There are so many other things that went through my head and heart. Reliving those moments when you know God is with you, watching and loving you in a way no one else can. This is where that storm of emotions came in - There was nothing new or nothing I didn't already know. It was just one of those moments when you are reminded that revisiting the past reminds you of God's goodness and reminds you of just how much He loves you. And reminds you that His name says it all~

The Tree and the Father Part 1

I have been pondering this since Sunday.
The Cedar trees of Lebanon and the Father.
Do they go together? Thus the reason it has taken me a few days to begin the process of answering this for myself.

Two seperate stories yet can they be intertwined? Don't know for sure but I would like to give it a try.

One part of the story takes place when Jesus goes out to be baptized by John. John of course argues that he is unworthy to baptize the Son of God but Jesus reminds him that he was created for 'such a time as this'

So John does it - he baptizes Jesus, the Son of God. As Jesus comes out of the water He hears His Fathers affirmation, "...My SON in Whom I am pleased!"

I think so often we rush by that - not stopping to think about the implications of that moment. Maybe it's just because it speaks to a depth of my heart that nothing else touches. Whatever the reason this part resonates into my inner being. Jesus - who is fully man AND fully God - Who left His heavenly home and heavenly body to come and live life here on this planet so we could have salvation, redemption, forgiveness AND a High Priest Who sympathizes with us. Jesus hears His Fathers voice! He HEARS His VOICE! Think about that for a moment! For those of us who lived without a dad or whose dads have passed on - to Hear their voice!?

I can remember as a child waiting, wondering, sitting out on the edge of the driveway wondering if the car coming down the street was my dad. Being disappointed time and time again when it wasn't him. Waiting for that phone call and when it would come I knew it was HIS voice! Pure joy! Such excitement to hear the voice you had been longing for!

I want to know what Jesus was thinking! I want to know what stirred in His heart when He audibly heard His Fathers voice! That's a question I have for the future sitting around the campfire in heaven :)

Hearing His Father's voice~ The one He had been separated from by location for 30  years! I would like to think that His heart had to be so overwhelmed with peace and excitement. To hear not only His Father's voice but to hear Him say, "THIS is MY beloved SON!!" Just gives me goose bumps thinking of the implications of that moment~

A geniune love between Father and Son~ Doesn't get any better then that~

So what does a tree have to do with this story??

Well I'll tell ya tomorrow! :)

My Hope

We make plans

We have dreams of where we see our lives going. 

We strive and plan and move in a direction we feel led to go.

Yet, we experience times in our lives when it's as if the rug has been pulled out from under us. 

Times when we feel someone has knocked the wind out of us. We doubt our past decisions and walk with fear & hesitation into the future.

Wondering

Waiting

Wanting to move forward, yet so afraid we will mess it up.

So afraid we will make a mistake.

My hope for the future is only because of the God of my future. 

Whatever direction I turn I want it to be in tune with Him.

However, I know that I am human, and I make mistakes-past & present. 

I also know confidently & from experience that my decisions, good and bad, will not change Him.

His love remains! 

His faithfulness remains!

His mercy remains! 

Nothing in God's character will ever change! 

Ever!

I can't leave His presence!

I can't find an end to His faithfulness! 

I hang on to Him!

My hope!

My rock! 

And when the storm rages & the wind blows around me, I lean into Him & on Him. 

When we hold onto Him & lean into Him, we find our strength, our peace and our hope~

We make plans

We strive for the future

When the plans change it is not always because of our wrong choices or that we failed to hear His direction. 

Sometimes the plan changes because that is what He wanted. 

He has something to teach us maybe or simply because He wants us to put our hope in Him.

Whatever you are facing

Whatever the struggle is

How I pray you grab on to Him! 

That He will be your hope! 

There is nothing better! 

I promise! 

He has never failed me

(despite me).

AND He never will~

SONG WORDS:

My Hope

Nothing will change if all the plans I 
make go wrong Your love stays the same

Your light will guide me through it all,
I’m hangin’ - on I’m leaning in to You

Nothing can reach the end of all Your
 faithfulness Your grace is with me,

Through every shadow, every test
I’m hangin’- on I’m leaning in to You

I don’t know where you’ll take me
But I know You’re always good

My hope is built on nothing less than Your great love,
Your righteousness I will not walk another way
I trust Your heart, I trust Your name

I’m holdin’ on - I’m holdin’ on, to You

You are my rock when storms are raging all around,
You shelter me, God I’m safe with you on solid ground,
I’m hangin’ on I’m leaning in, to You I don’t know
where you’ll take me but I know You’re always goo

My hope is built on nothing less than Your great love,
Your righteousness I will not walk another way
I trust Your heart, I trust Your name

I’m holdin’ on - I’m holdin’ on, to You

5 Stones

I have heard the story so many times! I can recite it probably in my sleep! A very young man with great faith & confidence in his Great God fights the big bad bully AND Wins! Becomes the Hero! No guns! No Bombs! Just a sling & stone!

I would venture to guess that most people have heard the story - Whether you've been in church or not 'David & Goliath' is a classic! AND a good one to use for those who are the underdog. I have even heard it used in news reports, "Another David & Goliath story!" We always root for the underdog right? When the bully is winning & the one who is being ' taunted' steps out with victory in hand we stand up & cheer. Right?

There are so many parts to this story that I love:

1. David went to check on his brothers out of obedience to his father. He could have chosen NOT to go - humm - maybe I'll explore that another time.

2. There was an entire army of men w/weapons who could have fought this giant of a man yet their fear kept them from moving-kept them from everything!

3. When David arrived to check on his brothers and heard this giant of a man taunting God's people, He was shocked-Completely Shocked! Come ON! After all, these were Gods people! God could certainly have squashed that giant with the very tip of His fingernail! These people had seen ALL that God had done! Yet here they were frozen in the desert because of this bully AND David couldn't believe his eyes and ears over the blatant disregard for his God and the unbelief of God's people.

4. David did not hesitate - I'll say it again. David DID NOT hesitate! He stepped up without hesitation and said,"I will fight this big bad bully!" Was he crazy? Was it because he was so young? No fear of death? maybe? Could be however, I think, it was simply he knew his God and was not going to allow anyone to ridicule his God or God's people.

5. Even though King Saul objected he agreed to let David fight that giant which should tell us a whole bunch about Saul's character but that's for another time! King Saul insisted that David wear the king's armor if he was going to fight Goliath. Yet, when David put it on it was to big for him. So, he felt it best to use the weapons he was familiar with. David had to fight the battle with the tools God gave him - not with another persons armor.

6. David had experienced God's provision in the past - he knew God would be his provision with Goliath. It was not the size of the giant - it was the size of his God

7. He did his prep work - He got his stick, went down to the water and picked out 5 smooth stones and put them in his shepherds bag - along with his sling. He prepared himself for battle. Not as a warrior but as a shepherd. He fought as only he knew how.

8. Despite the giants obvious displeasure that Israel sent a 'dog to fight him' and his words of 'I will mop the floor with you' (my paraphrase), David came and said, "I come at you in the Name of the Lord God of Israel. Today I will take you down and cut off your head!" (another paraphrase). David knew the victory was his but only because of His God.

9. David did just as he claimed. He used one stone - it only took one - he picked out five - but he only used one. With God's power and God's given talent David used one stone in his sling shot to kill Goliath.

So many wonderful details of this great story! Great spiritual applications on all of them. Yet, this was simply a story of God enabling one young boy to accomplish what a whole army could not do - take down the giant. 

Yet, right now - the most intriging part of this story for me is WHY 5 stones? Why mention a specific number? Is there a significance to the # 5?? OR is it just a detail that was included?

As I have pondered this over the past few days a few things have come to mind. All of which might not be right or mean anything to anyone else but it has certainly caused me to think through the possiblities

One possibility is that David being a shepherd was just preparing himself. The slingshot was the only weapon he had. He used it while tending his sheep. He knew he needed to prepare himself for any scenario. So, he did what he had done probably a hundred times or more - went down and found 5 smooth stones that would fit in his shepherds bag & work perfectly in his slingshot.

One avenue I considered was - Did it show his unbelief? I mean if he really believed that God would give him victory then he would have known he only needed one stone - right? As much as that is a possibility I have to rule that one out. Reading David's words and his response shows no disbelief in anyway.  He KNEW what God could do! He knew God's love for His people! He knew God demands and deserves honor & respect.

I really have to believe that David was simply doing what he had been trained & taught to do. He lived his life as a shepherd. He had to be prepared at all times for anything while out tending the sheep. He had his shepherds staff, shepherds bag and slingshot! He was not a warrior at this point in his life. He was a shepherd! I hesitate to say it but a simple shepherd. He tended smelly, needed animals. Protected  them with his life.

He was experienced enough to know how good of a shot he was. If he knew how accurate he could throw then he knew how many stones he would need. He knew he needed five -He also knew he could do it with one. God had enabled him to do his job and God would enable him to do this task of defeating the Giant whether it was 1 or 5.

So many spiritual applications in all of this for me personally but I think the one that sticks out the most is:

God has given me abilities and talents unique to me. He enables me to use those gifts to walk this thing we call life. When gaints come it is through His power that I can defeat those gaints. The power is there and mine for the taking. He won't give me someone elses armor to do the battle - He will enable me to use what He has already given me. I can battle because of WHO HE is.

He expects me to come prepared - just like David - I must be in His Word, in prayer, having put on His armor I can then be ready for the battle. God will still do the work but preparation is key! When we are each prepared He can do great things in and through us!

Another part that for me is so important? The army that was paralyzed by fear? They had all the tools to fight yet their fear seemed to have overwhelmed them. Ever felt that way? I know I have! I know Who my God is and I know I can do all things through Him. Yet, I also know that my human nature often looks at the 'giant' & it stops me in my tracks. And sometimes God will walk me through that - just Him & I. But usually He provides a brother or sister in Christ to come alongside. Someone who is not intimidated by MY giant. They will then come in prepared & fight that giant for me & with me - reminding me Who my God is and where my strength comes from.

So, in closing - guess it really doesn't matter if David had 5 stones or 1 stone. The most important thing is He knew Who his God was and that was all that matter. He went into the battle prepared & trusted his trustworthy God to help him defeat the enemy. When those around him were frozen in fear he was able to step forward & lead them into victory.

I want to be prepared! I want to be able to come alongside and help defeat the giants. Whether my own or to come alongside someone else. I like to carry a small stone in my pocket sometimes to remind me who my Rock is. As well as, a reminder that it also only takes one stone. 

Trust Without Borders?

Every once in a while a song comes along that seems to stir something deep within. You know the ones that when you just hear the first few notes it seems to bring the emotions to the surface.

The song below does that for me. And sometimes you don’t even realize what it is that is speaking to your spirit – until you stop and look at the words to discover what the message of the song may be.

I have come to realize over the last week just how much the message touches my heart to the core & that the emotion is because it is my heart’s desire to live my life walking with my Savior & having that trust without borders.

When my heart is in tune with His it is then I will not only hear His voice calling but I will act in unquestioned obedience. I will hear Him calling me to come deeper and farther to experience His trust worthiness. And I will hear Him calling me to step out in faith so I will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what He promises He will do.

He has never literally asked me to step out and walk on water but there have been times in my life when He has asked me to step out into a new venture – asking me to trust Him with everything despite the outcome. 

I have stepped out – some times more reluctantly then others – but I did it!  Stepped out really wondering if what He said was true. Every time – EVERY TIME – I have found Him to be trustworthy.

I find myself praying the words to this song – sometimes reluctantly – But knowing Who He is and His past record - how could I NOT make the words to this song my prayer? How could I NOT want to let Him take me deeper and take me to that place where my trust is without borders!? 

This is what I want~

I want to find Him in the mystery

I want to put my feet where He leads me & hold His hand as He guides me even into the unknown.

I want to know what it means to trust Him no matter what!

I mean that is what that means right? Trust without boarders? Trust Him regardless – right?

He has not failed me yet so why would He start now??

When I keep my eyes focused on Him and call on His name no matter how the waves and water try to distract me I can find rest in HIS embrace because I am His and He is mine.

I have this assurance that the God of yesterday is the same God for today and tomorrow. His character has not change and His promises remain.

I pray for myself:

That I would make this my prayer

To rest in His promises knowing that I belong to Him

To walk on those waters of faith so my faith would be made stronger

To learn the extent of His grace

I pray for anyone reading this:

For a fresh & new realization of Who God is

For that blind faith to come out on the water

Allow Him to embrace you

Let Him lead you through the great unknown~

He is trustworthy!

He is God!

Enough said~

I will lift up my eyes . . . my help comes from the Lord

I HATE busyness! I despise it at times! It is an evil necessity at times BUT I still hate it! Life has just been so incredibly busy And there have been days when I just want the merry go round to stop so I can get off. 

It's times like this when God gives me small pictures of Himself or little reminders that come in the most unexpected places. AND Sometimes it requires more than one incident to get my attention.

 

This week started with waking up with a nasty sinus headache - the type that makes you think your head will explode & could ruin any social gathering you might be in attendance at! I know some of you are thinking "TMI" so I will move on.

Then at the end of that day I learned of the death of a lady who my Mom loved and who was always so good to my mom. My sister-in-law's Aunt passed quickly & to young. I continue to pray for the family as they now begin life without her. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows exactly what I mean. It is the most unsettling feeling in the world! And although time does help life is never the same.

The rest of the week was just filled with "Stuff" - Mostly good but a few things that were not so good. Then one incident that makes you want to do one of 2 things:
l. Throw up your hands and walk away
2. Punch someone in the nose!

Actually a 3rd thing - Do both 1 & 2 in reverse order! ;)

Then comes that still small voice that says, "Excuse me - Remember me? You know the one Who loves you Unconditionally? The One Who promised I would help you through it? Remember me? I am still here! So why don't you let me help you? I am going to do it anyway so why not come alongside and see MY Victory in & through you! "

Then He gives me the visuals - sitting in the church sanctuary waiting for a practice CD after rehearsal & looking up to see the Cross all lit up. I know it sounds weird but it did something - it stirred something inside me! Every song I have ever heard about the cross came flooding into my head!
" The Old Rugged Cross"
" Jesus keep me near the Cross "
" Oh the Wonderful Cross"
" There is a fountain"
" Jesus Paid it all"
" At the Cross"
" When I survey the wondrous Cross"
And so on...

The Cross - it always touches a very deep part of my soul! The punishment that should have been mine was endured by someone Who did not deserve it! The worst type of death mankind could inflict on any one person was done to the One person in History that was completely innocent! The deserving person should have been me. 

My heart runs through a whole list of emotions. From deep sorrow to joyful, humbling gratitude! It's then I realize that those things that press for my attention & push for my mind pale in comparison to the Cross. Those things that anger me or frustrate me are nothing - absolutely insignificant when placed up against the cross and the power it holds in my life. I have heard it said that next to the birth of Christ, the death & resurrection is the most defining moment in history. If that is true then my view of life should always be filtered through the cross. 

So what started as a rant about the horrors of busyness has turned into a reminder of not only what He has done but what He will do. That I need to spend more time praising for His provisions!  Praise Him for His goodness! Praise Him for His unconditional love that reaches me even when I don't deserve it - which is most of the time! And praise for the Cross that means more to me then I could ever even put into words!

Where ever you are in life today I pray that you will see with new vision what Christ has done for you (& me). Regardless of what you are facing in life the power of the Cross will give you ALL that you need.

And now? I have go and practice what i preach~

 "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" Always brings tears to my eyes~ Enjoy!

Just Take Me Away!

"Calgon! Take me away!!" 

I remember that commercial! Watching and wondering if it was really possible for a bubble bath to really 'take it all away'. As I get older (and some days I feel older than others) I realize that a simple bubble bath can't take away all that life throws at us (as much as I WISH it was that easy)! I have been thinking about this over the past few weeks (not Calgon) as life pressures have weighed heavy at times

In our Chapel last week with the kids we learned about Elijah. We used the passage from I Kings 19. Elijah had just had one of the most incredible mountain top experiences ever. He saw Gods power displayed like nothing he had seen before! God had done what He said He would do! The victory had been won over the 'gods' of the land. They had been defeated.

Yet within what appears to be a matter of minutes we see Elijah fleeing because of the threat from JezebeI. See she was mad because in her twisted evil mind Elijah beat her. What she completely missed was that it was God Who won and HE was the one she needed to pick on. But that is for another post.

The point being-despite how much God displayed His power - Elijah saw her as a threat and ran. It says in scripture that he went a days journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a tree and told God, "just take my life! I've had enough!" Then he laid down and slept. 

I love this story. It shows me that even the greatest prophet had times of discouragement. I particularly like how God handled it. He sent an angel down who wakes Elijah up and tells him to eat. Elijah looks around and sees hot baked bread & water ready for him. So, he eats the bread and drinks the water - then he goes back to sleep. I don't know how much time goes by but the angel comes back a second time - wakes him up & tells him to eat because he has a long journey ahead of him. So, he eats & the food strengthens him enough that he travels 40 days & 40 nights to Mount Horeb - the Mountain of God.He goes into a cave & 'lodges' there.

I wish I knew how long he 'lodged' there. How long did God let him stay in this cave? I guess I'll have to ask when I get to heaven. How ever long it was it was just enough. God gives him a place to refresh, rest, regroup. Call it what you want but God's compassion and care for Elijah in this story is so incredibly personal.  Elijah had obeyed God at all cost. He allowed God to work through him to teach the people. And when he had expereinced the spiritual high of victory the crashing defeat of fear awaited him and knocked him down.

God doesn't allow Elijah to stay in that cave forever. He does end up calling him out and sending him back into the battle. However, I don't see God scolding Elijah. I don't see God shaking His finger at Elijah saying, "shame on you! Stop it & get up off your bum!" I don't think God would ever say bum but it just fit!

God very tenderly cares for His faithful servant; provides for his physical needs; provides for his emotional needs by giving him a place to get away & provides for his spiritual needs by meeting him where he was.

I know God does that for us today. He sees the weariness - He sees when we are worn and tired - He sees when we are discouraged. When we lay down to rest He comes & provides for our physical needs,  our emotional needs and especially our spiritual needs. He even gives us places to 'get away' - a cave if you will - to hide out & get that refreshment we so desperately need. Its like He says, "Come ALL you who are weary & I WILL give you rest. Take my yoke upon you - For my yoke is easy & my burden is lite."

God loves us - period! As I tell the kiddos ALL the time - God loves you no matter what! There is nothing we could ever do that would cause Him to withdrawal His love. He knows when we are tired; He knows when we are discouraged, stressed; He knows when we are weary & worn. And for me personally this is such a great comfort & peace to my weary worn heart.

I think this song says it best - enjoy & remember there is really only One place you can find the rest your heart needs....

 

Appreciation of Clouds

I love clouds! I use to tease my mother because she would use a whole roll of film just taking pictures of clouds. I know she looks down & chuckles every time I take 1600 cloud pictures! Praise God for digital photos :) Clouds are so unique & not a single one has a twin. The clouds give texture & life to an otherwise bland blue canvas called the sky.

I am not saying that the clear blue sky is not beautiful - it is beautiful all in and of itself. But add some clouds and it's as if it comes alive in a new way! It's like the clouds reveal the splendor that was there in such vibrant majesty! Clouds come and go as nature wills them to. Sometimes they bring rain, snow, hail - sometimes they simply bring covering from the sun. Whatever their purpose may be - they have a purpose.

I move about my day sometimes on automatic pilot - not thinking to much about what comes next because life moves in a fairly regular routine. Occasionally, (sometimes more then I would like) the storm pounces. It can knock me down. It can be a nuisance and mess up the routine. Sometimes I find myself shaking my fist demanding answers - demanding the whys of this disruption. I want what I think is my right - to know the answers AND that things be put back in the right order so I can get on with the routine - the mundane.

Then the Creator so gently & graciously (firmly at times) says,

"Were you there when time began?

Did you enclose the oceans telling them to stay in their boundaries?

Have you ever told the sun to come up or tell it to go down?

Did you put the clouds in the sky?

I am God - You are not.

Do you trust me enough that even in this chaos I will still be in control?

Do YOU trust ME to make beauty out of this mess?

Sit back and watch the beauty that is hidden in these clouds

Rest in the full knowledge that there will be so much good come from this storm

Your only response will be giving Me praise & living in the freedom I so much want for you."

If I could look at life's 'storms' with the same depth of appreciation and awe as I look at the clouds in the sky maybe - just maybe the storms wouldn't be so bad. And I could remember the importance isn't so much in the clouds but the Creator.

Go & Sin No More??

I have so much enjoyed the study we have been doing on the 10 commandments at church. Everyone knows the 10 commandments! Most of us have heard them at some point in our lives. I am sure I am not the only one who - after reading through them - find myself saying, "Well at least I haven't broken THAT one!"

What I am realizing through this study is that we are ALL guilty of falling short of ALL of them! Maybe not in action but certainly in attitude or spirit. For some reason this has reminded me of the story in John 8 when Jesus is confronted with the Adulterous woman. Here is the passage in the New Living Translation: 

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning He was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and He sat down and taught them. As He was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery.They put her in front of the crowd 

"Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The Law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap Him into saying something they could use against Him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with His finger. They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then He stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

So many things about this story has always intrigued me! One of the things that catches my attention is "Where is the Man!?" Jewish law stated that anyone caught in adultery meant immediate stoning to death - for the woman AND the man. So where was He? Why was only the woman brought? One of those questions for when I am sitting around heaven with Jesus;)

The other thing that has always peeked my curiosity has been - what was He writing? Have you ever wondered what it was?? Maybe He was writing down their names & what sins they had committed? Maybe He was writing down the 10 commandments? THIS question is always at the top of my list!  

And one last thing - I had not realized until recently that the accusers had left but the crowd was still there - watching all of this unfold. They stood and watched everything that had transpired. Some of them might have even picked up stones - ready to pass 'judgement' when given the word. Yet, we don't know what they were thinking or what their opinion was of the scene taking place in front of them. But I'd like to know~

Yet, putting all of that aside - the thing that has always struck me about this is that Jesus - being fully man & fully God had every right to condemn this woman. The unholy stood naked & dirty in front of the Holy. I can't even imagine the emotions going through this womans head. Anger? Frustration? Fear? 

We don't know but we can probably all sympathize  - we have all been caught doing things we shouldn't. We feel angry we got caught. We are frustrated we got caught. We are fearful of the consequences. We stand and wait (or cower & wait) for the shoe to drop. 

We await the punishment that is ours!

It's deserved! 

We wait. . . . 

And wait. . . . .

The accuser then looks you in the eye & opens His mouth, 

"All is forgiven! Your debt is paid in full! I took care of it so you don't have to worry about it!

Now go & live in the freedom I have given you, BUT don't sin anymore! 

I have so much more for you then to stay in your sin. 

My love for you will never change. My love will always be sufficient. 

I know you will fall & stumble because I know you inside & out

Remember Me! Remember that My grace will ALWAYS be sufficient

And come spend time with Me - it's one of the highlights of My day!

But go now - Sin No More. And remember I love you~"

We don't know what happened to this woman - Did she go and sin no more? Did she ever realize that she had stood in the presence of the Holy & survived? She was given a second chance~ Did she realize salvation stared her in the face?

Just like me - just like you. Because of Christs finished work on the cross our unholiness is now covered by His holiness~ What ever our sin (and we ALL sin) He stands ready to pardon, ready to love us! When we take His pardon, His cleansing - He cleans us up & tells us to sin no more.

I think the reason this intrigues me is that in our world today we are told to accept people the way they are. That people can choose to live life anyway they want. They know God loves them and that Jesus died for them yet they pull out the grace card & say, "I don't have to change because God loves me the way I am."

I believe this with all my heart - God does love us just as we are. Doesn't matter what we do or what we will do in the future His love does not change. But because He is holy and His character demands holiness.  He never intends for ANY OF US to stay where we are. He never intends for us to continue to live in our sin. Continuing to stay in the sin when He has given us the victory OVER the sin is like a person who falls into a deep pit & someone comes along to help them out. They accept the help and climbs out but then jump right back in. That is NOT how He ever intended for us to live.

Take the hand that is extended - grab hold and get out! He will not only help you out but He will fill in the pit for you so you can live life the way He intended. Then He will not only tell you to go & sin no more but He will give you His Spirit Who will then help you live above that sin that weighed you down.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY reason we could ever "go & sin no more". Praise the One Who Paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!Jesus paid it ALL~