Focus on all new content.
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He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.
– John 8:7
The man, a new believer in Christ, sat in the Sunday morning service fairly brimming over.
He couldn’t wait until the time in the Sunday service when the pastor asked for people to share what God had done for them. The minister finally opened the floor to the congregation. The new Christian enthusiastically shared his good news.
“I have smoked all of my adult life. I recently asked God to take away my desire to smoke, and He has. I’ve not had a cigarette since that moment.”
As the man spoke, the pastor’s face twisted in distaste. He thrust a pudgy finger at the man and said, “You took up that disgusting habit by yourself, and you can get rid of it by yourself!”
Whack. The verbal stone struck the man dead on. He sat in embarrassed silence through the rest of the service.
The new believer was my father. In the decades since the incident, he never did smoke another cigarette, and to this day he gives the glory to God. But he never knew why his words irritated the minister so much.
I wonder, too. I shouldn’t, because I find myself throwing large and small stones at people many times for no better reason than that they have beliefs contrary to mine or because they just generally irritate me. I catch myself casually criticizing others who dress differently, act differently, or engage in behavior I find unappealing. In some cases, I’m the one who has been wronged.
None of it, however, justifies a stoning. Just because my “stones” are words and attitudes instead of basalt doesn’t mitigate the damage I inflict on others.
When the scribes and Pharisees brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they weren’t interested in justice.
They wanted to use the Law to justify themselves and entrap Jesus. The One who had the right to accuse both her and them did neither. Instead, without a word, he allowed the Holy Spirit convict them of their sins. Then He let them walk away, adulteress and Pharisee alike, from the death they both deserved.
It’s so easy to see the faults of others. It’s more convenient than ever to notice and point out the failings of those around us. We’ve become a nation of busybodies and judges. Scribes and Pharisees in jeans. Lobbing stones in self-righteous fervor and entering our houses justified.
It escapes our notice that Jesus is nowhere to be found at the nearest stoning coming to you. He’s busy elsewhere, dispensing grace to a needy world. He already knows it’s an undeserving planet. No one has to tell Him that.
Especially us.
Freely you received, freely give.
– Matthew 10:8
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Our real songs begin with our sacrifices.
– Corrie Ten Boom
King Hezekiah’s father greatly angered God during his reign in Judah.
Before his death, he raided the house of God, closed its doors, and worshiped the gods of the land. God’s house remained closed and desecrated until his death.
Hezekiah became king after him. In the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened the doors of the temple, gathered its ministers together, and decreed that the temple be restored. When the temple and its priests were purified, Hezekiah ordered temple worship to begin again.
Then Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be offered on the altar.
When the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD also began…
While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded;
all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
– 2 Chronicles 29:27
The movement back to God spread throughout the land. Soon Passover was reinstituted, as well. Their sacrifices to God were accompanied with praise and “loud instruments to the LORD.”
So there was great joy in Jerusalem….
– 2 Chronicles 29:26
Thousands of years later, two men sat in the inner bowels of a prison in the city of Philippi.
Their “crime” was the deliverance of a slave girl. Their feet were fastened in stocks to ensure they couldn’t escape.
They spent a miserable, sleepless night. Around midnight, Paul and Silas began to sing and pray. The other prisoners listened to them, a captive audience of sorts. They must have been used to hearing the sounds of cursing in that place, but not the sweet sound of a song.
Paul and Silas had every reason to complain. No one would have faulted them for feeling sorry for themselves, for giving in to their fears. Maybe they felt this way. All we know is that as they offered their lives to God, they praised Him, and they sang.
Suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken;
and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.
– Acts 16:26
Are you feeling burned today?
Have the trials of life singed you and imprisoned you and caused you sleepless nights? If you have cleansed your house and offered your life as a sacrifice to Him, He is here. In the night, when the pain is great, He is here. In the deepest, darkest place you dwell, give Him your worship. It will shake your world, unfasten your chains, and fill you with joy. When your life is on the altar, resist the temptation to watch the fire. Instead, raise your eyes to heaven. Believe, trust, and obey.
Especially, sing.
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Upon this rock I will build My church;
And the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
– Matthew 16:18
Across the battlefields of Europe, nations fell to a brutal assault led by a maniacal killer.
As World War II raged under the boots of Nazi soldiers, a different war was being waged in the hills, cities, and fiords of occupied countries. Resistance groups formed and grew as citizens took up the battle and created an intricate underground network of individuals determined to fight their oppressors.
Whenever possible, they spread disinformation, refused to cooperate with occupation forces, sabotaged enemy installations, hid opposing soldiers, and engaged in armed warfare. At the risk of their own lives, they contributed greatly toward an eventual Allied victory.
Lesser known were the resistance movements against the Allied forces.
These groups ranged from Italian guerillas and the “Forest Brothers” of the Baltic States to a largely non-effective resistance group of German Nazis called “Werwolf.”
Resistance against the good guys is the specialty of another enemy. Although mankind turned the keys to God’s kingdom over to a rebellious angel named Satan, Jesus Christ bought them back at the cross. Since then, Satan has waged a deadly earnest insurrection against the King of Kings.
He knows he can’t win. He’s trying to inflict maximum damage as he retreats. He wants us to forget that God’s won. He doesn’t want us to know that we’re no longer in enemy hands unless we choose to stay in captivity. The door to freedom is open. We decide whether we leave or stay.
Satan is a sore loser who wages a vicious resistance campaign in an effort to keep the victors on the run. He uses every tool at his disposal: propaganda, disinformation, intimidation, sabotage, seduction, torture, and outright armed warfare. Those Satan cannot deceive or intimidate, he tries to discourage.
He can only win if we surrender. The battle is won, but we have to occupy the territory. We need to listen to the Commander and actively resist the enemy’s strategies.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
– Ephesians 6:11
It’s unthinkable to yield blood-bought ground by default. When the barrage begins, we stand firm, take up God’s armor, and crush The Resistance. Let’s fight for what’s ours, beginning today.
Submit therefore to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
– James 4:7
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Even a fool, when he keeps silent,
Is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Proverbs 17:28
I lightheartedly threw out an offhand comment in the middle of a meeting between friends.
It sounded hard and even a bit rude, and I instantly regretted saying it. The person to whom it was directed graciously deflected the blow, but I felt like an utter fool.
I hate it when I do that.
Today’s multimedia takes socializing to a new and manic level. Oddly enough, communication seems to have fallen victim to the party. Being behind a keyboard gives us a sense of safety and emboldens us to just spit out what we’re thinking. Before we have time to self-edit, our words are launched into cyberspace for all to see and hear.
This tendency to split-second responses spills over into real time. Flippancy is the new attitude. We love to get those zingers in and score a “like.” We don’t think about who we may be hurting in the process.
I’ve often wondered why the Book of Revelation describes a moment of silence in heaven before God issues judgment on His wayward planet. I always thought it was a mark of God’s sadness in the injustice that has ruled under man’s stewardship. Or perhaps it was a sign of His reluctance to lower His hand.
But with the mayhem created by Earth’s inhabitants, maybe He’s just tired of the noise.
Silence is a beautiful sound.
That quiet hour before the household awakens to another morning; the peaceful sleep of a tired child; the muffled stillness of a forest glade – these are precious moments. One other that must be lovely to the ears of God is the hallowed space inhabited by the words we refrain from saying: the biting reply, the angry rebuke, the thoughtless comment, the dirty joke.
Thankfully, God knows we’re human. We make mistakes and say things we shouldn’t. The pain of those moments should be a constant reminder to keep our words few and gentle and full of grace. Sometimes, as it turns out, silence really is golden.
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
– Proverbs 10:19
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Breathe your life into me
I still need you
I’m falling, falling
Breathe into me
“Breathe into Me”
– Red
In the beginning, all creation sprang to life at the word of God.
All creation, that is, except Man.
Man was different; he lay cold as clay until God breathed into him. Down through the ages, this one thing has not changed: we are lifeless without His Spirit.
The Greek term for the Holy Spirit is pneuma, or literally, “breath.” But He is anything but a mere stirring of air. A study of the Scriptures reveals the Spirit’s powerful and pure personality. In them we discover He is not a thing but a person. He talks, can be lied to and grieved, and is vitally involved in our lives. He feels deep pain, great joy, and intense concern for us. In His Person, the Holy Spirit is totally God. In His function and form, He is the “breath” of God. As such, He:
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convicts us of sin (John 16:8)
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frees all who call upon His name (2 Cor. 3:17)
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sanctifies and sets apart His own (1 Peter 1:1-2)
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transforms us into children of light (2 Cor. 3:18)
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intercedes for us (Romans 8:26)
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rebukes us when we sin (Acts 5:9-11)
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empowers us for His work (1 Cor. 2:3-5; Gal. 5:25)
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gives us joy in the journey (Luke 10:21)
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directs and leads us (Matt. 4:1; John 16:13; Acts 16:7)
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teaches us (1 John 2:27)
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provides for our every need (Phil. 1:190
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reveals the future when necessary (Luke 2:26; Acts 1:16)
This exquisite Being, who dwelt in eternity in the highest heaven, has consented – even yearned – to live with us in our human forms as our Protector and Lord. Only a mighty God could be powerful enough to be so gentle, or strong enough to live with such weakness.
When we are choked with the pollution of our minds, He is here. When our souls are dry as dust, He is here.
When we are afraid, He never leaves our side. In sickness and health, for better or for worse, He never forsakes us. He rejoices with us in our victories and grieves with us when we hurt. He inhabits our every breath. He is so very much alive in us: fearsome, wise, and tender.
What a God!
No wonder they call Him The Comforter.
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…but these have been written so that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing you may have life in His name.
– John 20:31
The house was dark and cold, but deliciously quiet as I finally walked in the door from an afternoon of running chores in town.
My body was weary, matching the heaviness of my soul as I entered the house and stirred up the fire in the woodstove. I pulled up a chair next to it to warm up. Too tired to go upstairs for my usual evening Bible reading, I picked up a Bible from the downstairs bookshelf.
The Bible was cheap and worn, its torn cover silent witness to the many days my mother carted it around with her when she was alive. My father gave it to me after her death, and I often liked to read from it. It always comforted me to see her careful notes in the margins, and somehow it soothed the pain of losing her. Over the years we had often enjoyed spontaneous Bible studies together, chasing down nuggets of God’s treasures and reveling in His revelation to mankind.
This night, I caressed the pages as the sweet memories flooded over me.
I ran my fingers over her graceful handwriting as the tears fell again. Her death was my first major loss. It comforted me to touch the pages she once touched. Her notes were the solid evidence of a beloved person I could no longer see, a love letter from another realm. An intense longing to hear her voice and to see her face overwhelmed me.
It was a familiar ache, the same one I have often had as I think of Jesus. Mother went to join Him in heaven. I missed her so much.
I miss Him so much.
Though I know His Spirit still is here and I’m not forsaken, I some days I just yearn to see His beautiful face, to hear His voice. The longing to be united with Him is intense.
That’s when I pick up a Bible and run my fingers over the pages. He was really here, and He’s coming back. The Lord Jesus had to return to heaven for a while, but He left tangible evidence of His presence in His Word. The Bible is the cherished love letter that He wrote to bring me comfort, teach me His ways, and give me life.
When I am lonely for Him, all I have to do is pick up Mother’s Bible and enjoy one of our treasure hunts again as He reminds me of His fierce and powerful love. He’ll be here soon, and He’s bringing Mother back with Him.
What a day that’s going to be!
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I am, I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair
“I Am…I Said”
– Neil Diamond
A television channel used to promote its series with clever edits spotlighting some of its more quirky characters.
The teaser ended with this invitation: “Characters are welcome here.”
In our society, being a character is the newest way to get attention. Talk shows, movies, and magazines love to drag out the latest fads in being different. Fashions and behavior get more and more outrageous as it gets harder to find a way to be different enough to get noticed.
It is all about getting noticed, isn’t it? Fame equals validation. Fame means we’re important to someone, however brief the time.
There’s nothing worse than living our entire lives under the radar, feeling that if our lives ended tomorrow, no one would notice. There’s this deep need inside us to have our work, our struggles, and our dreams seen by someone, even if it’s only because we’re the newest characters on the block for the season.
The need to be noticed and validated is deep and real and even godly.
We all know instinctively that we were made for more than mere existence. The soul in each of us cries out to be noticed, accepted, and loved for who we are. We desperately need someone to hear us.
We may not know it, but there is someone who is listening. That person is the God who knew us before we were even born.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you.
– Jeremiah 1:5
On those days when the heavens seem closed to our most frantic prayers, He is not only listening, He is actively involved in our lives.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
– Psalm 139:17-18
Who knows us that well? Who thinks about us that much? Do we need any more evidence that He cares about us and hears us? What other love could be this deep and true?
It’s not really about capturing the attention of men. It’s about finding our God. It is in Him that we have validation, love, forgiveness, and purpose. We don’t need a spotlight when we have the eye of the King. Living in His light is more than enough.
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When I was a child, I used to speak like a child,
think like a child, reason like a child;
when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
– 1 Corinthians 13:11
She was barely a teen-ager, just stepping into that turbulent age between exerting her new-found sense of independence and realizing how little she still knew about anything.
One day I asked her to do something she really didn’t want to do. She plead her case with evangelistic fervor, stomped her foot when I wouldn’t give in, and stormed to her room in indignation. She didn’t slam the door, because she knew I would make her come back out and close it gently. But she’d made her point.
I didn’t give in to her emotional entreaties, because I knew her. I knew what was best for her, and I knew she would understand eventually.
Little did I know that same week God would call me to do something that would involve a sacrifice of my own. I got on my knees and argued fervently with God. I cried and pleaded. I stomped my foot and ran to my room. Just then, mid-tantrum, a mental picture of my teenager wrapped in her righteous indignation popped into my mind – and I was instantly ashamed of myself.
I wasn’t a child anymore. Childish things like rebellion and arguing with my heavenly Father weren’t fitting for a mature person. It was time to put them aside and grow up.
I listened to God, surrendered to His call, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. That should have been obvious, because God never makes mistakes. He knows me completely, and He knows the way ahead.
For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
– 1 Corinthians 13:12
The riddle
The literal translation of 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “We see through a mirror in a riddle.” The world we see is a mere reflection of what is really happening in this universe. Life is a riddle because God hasn’t let us in on the full picture. Our lives are a maze, and for now the path ahead is always just beyond our view. It takes maturity to realize Father knows best and trust He will guide us safely through to the other side, when we will see Him face and face and finally say, “Now I understand.”
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So, as those who have been chosen of God,
holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience;
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone;
just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
– Colossians 4:13
Racheal is a fair-skinned beauty with strawberry blonde hair.
Her husband Leo is strong, gentle, and Native American. Together they have been blessed with a many-hued quiver of children.
This week they were shopping at a local store in a larger town and passed by a couple of Caucasian teen-aged boys. The boys smiled sweetly at Racheal, but when her husband passed them, one of the boys raised his hand to his mouth in a mocking war whoop imitation of a cartoon Indian.
Racheal didn’t see what happened. Leo was shocked by the taunt but didn’t acknowledge it. As a policeman, he deals with people making bad choices every day. As a Christian, he understands that racism is a heart condition. On the way out to their car, he told Racheal what happened.
Although they were shaken at the humiliation, Leo and Racheal knew that rather than react in anger, they needed to use this moment to teach their children the importance of breaking the cycle of hate. Out in the car, they explained to the children that all white people aren’t like that. They told the children that it’s important not to judge an entire race by the actions of a few. They talked to them about celebrating the differences in people, in respecting the kaleidoscope of colors and cultures God has used in fashioning us.
What wisdom! As much as what the children heard from Leo and Racheal, they will be shaped by watching their parents respond with grace to an ugly situation. They will not soon forget the living lesson of forgiveness.
In this life, we will invariably find ourselves in situations in which we are humiliated by the unthinking actions of others.
Sometimes the offense is merely an aggravation. Other times, it cuts to the core of who we are and shatters us into little shards of pain.
Forgiveness is the beautiful that happens when Christ gathers us up and shines His light through the bits of brokenness we have become, moving and turning us as we are shaped by His hand:
A living kaleidoscope.
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Peter said to Him,
Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.
– Matthew 14:28
No Time to Grieve
When Christ Jesus received the news his cousin John had been brutally beheaded to please Herod’s sister-in-law, He gathered his disciples and took a boat across the Sea of Galilee to a secluded place to pray.
He would have no time to grieve, however. Thousands of people were gathered at the shore when He arrived, and He spent the rest of the day healing their sick and feeding them. When He realized a mob was planning to make him king by force, He sent the crowds away and told the disciples to take the boat back to the other side. Jesus stayed behind alone.
It was nearly dawn and the disciples were about 600 feet from land when a strong wind stirred up the waves and battered the boat. It was no small storm. Matthew’s account of the event literally states that the boat was “tormented.” The men rowed furiously against the wind. They were trapped in the sea, far beyond safe shores and the hope of rescue.
They may have expected to die. They certainly didn’t expect what happened next. Deliverance walked to them right through the waves – unhindered by the wind, unfettered by the laws of nature. Not calming the storm, but conquering it.
They were terrified, thinking Jesus was a ghost. He said, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter, unconvinced, said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Jesus replied, “Come!”
You’re being tormented by a similar storm today.
The waves are threatening to sink you at any moment. Your own efforts have gotten you nowhere, and there is no way to escape impending disaster.
But wait. Who is that you see in the midst of the raging tempest? It looks like the One who healed the sick and fed a crowd with the disciples’ lunch. Who is this man?
He is the Christ, the One who conquers storms. He is not bound in the least by the laws of nature. This man walks on water. He calls you out of the besieged vessel of your circumstances. He invites you to join Him in a stroll on the waves.
Don’t be afraid. Take courage. You’re going to get to shore just fine.
He says to you, Come.
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Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
– Psalm 16:6
Their stories of faith and sacrifice are repeated around the world.
Jim and Juanita pastor a small church nestled in the heartland of Idaho. In the winter they get up early every Sunday morning to fire up the pellet stove that heats the ancient church building. He’s over eighty years old; she’s nearly sixty-five. Together they have enough health issues to complicate their lives, not counting the added challenges of keeping up with a congregation.
But the doors are open every Sunday, no matter how small the turnout is for services. As music fills the old sanctuary once again, the morning light streams through the stained glass windows and the walls resound with the praises of God’s people.
A world away, Pastor Mir and Anjali faithfully witness to their neighbors in a Muslim community in Bangladesh. Curiosity brought people to hear their message; hearts began to open to it. Eventually, a church is born.
Mir and Anjali have made enemies along the way. One night, Mir was shot in the mouth and stabbed in an effort to silence the gospel.
Amazingly, he survived his wounds and is back to preaching. His wife explains their decision to stay: they must remain to strengthen the fledging church they have begun there.
Across this weary planet and spanning millennia, generations of believers live out their faith against daunting odds.
A human chain of obedience stretches from Abel onward through time, linking them together in seamless pilgrimage from age to age. It is an inheritance from every tribe, nation, and tongue; a people of whom the world is not worthy.
Their cultures may differ, their skin may not look the same, but they all wear the blood-red cloak of a Savior’s deliverance. They endure hardship, beatings, and mocking for their message. They suffer loss and death.
They gain a kingdom.
This is my heritage. I thank God for the beautiful family into which I have been born by God’s Spirit. To my family in Jesus Christ throughout the world, I just want to say thank you today for everything you are. I stand humbled by your devotion. I bow before the Father that made us one heart.
I am proud to be your sister.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God;
for He has prepared a city for them.
– Hebrews 11:16
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For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
– Hebrews 12:3
It wasn’t a long line at the burger drive-through.
But it seemed to be moving slowly. Maybe it was just because it was New Year’s Eve. I’d had a tiring day caring for sick family members and had to hurry back to the pity party I was throwing.
My turn finally came to order, and I saw why it was taking so long. The young man on the other side of the speaker was obviously new to the job. He was so lost in the menu that he lost me, too. We fumbled through the order while the driver behind me head banged and sang to loud music in her car. It looked like she had celebrated a little too much already.
Suddenly she erupted.
“Move it, b****!” she yelled at me out her window. Shocked, I jerked the car into gear and scurried out of her way. Embarrassment gave way to anger as I paid for the food and hit the gas. I fumed all the way home.
Before I pulled into the driveway, I grudgingly prayed for her. As I did, God reminded me that this woman was His creation. Beloved. Lost and pursued by One who has suffered many indignities; a King incognito who has endured, on behalf of the undeserving, the worst hostility mankind could unleash. He suffered because of who He is. I was simply embarrassed because I was in the way.
It’s a mean world out there.
The devil is on the loose and the blasphemies grow both in number and intensity. As we navigate the dangerous waters of faith, we are reminded by God’s Word that our goal is not safety. Our charge is to faithfully finish the journey we are given and to offer rescue to all we meet along the way. Royalty in rags, we walk the valley of the shadow and bring light to its depths.
We will suffer hostility along the way. But we follow in beautiful footsteps.
Photo 26439271 © Daniel Thornberg | Dreamstime.com
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He who testifies to these things says,
‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
– Revelation 22:20
Watch in fear,
O nations.
Tremble before His splendor.
Slink away,
you night terrors.
Your passing comes in a moment.
Wait in wonder,
all host of heaven.
Eternity falls upon you.
Can you not hear the rumble of His voice,
the singing of His sword?
How His arms have ached to finish the battle,
Eternal One awaiting the dawn!
Laugh with joy,
every faithful one.
Shine in the light of your new forever.
Fall before His majesty,
all creation.
Was ever a shepherd arrayed such as this?
No longer a manger-Child
the warrior-King rejoices,
For His day has come.
The lights are up. The gifts are mostly bought and at least partially wrapped. Children everywhere eagerly await Christmas morning, when a year’s worth of yearning sits in hope under the tree. It’s the season when miracles still happen and a weary world celebrates the mystery of the King of the universe entering time and space.
Every year we return to the manger in reverence for the holy Child.
It’s a beautiful thing to remember, though in reality, the manger is empty.
Jesus Christ grew up.
He’s no infant, and He won’t be relegated to a stable. He is the Lord. He is coming again to save His beloved Bride, cleanse the world of evil, and restore His creation. He came once clothed as a commoner. He will return as a conqueror.
This season, the yearning of the ages sits in hope under the tree. His return is imminent. He is, in the words of the apostle, “standing right at the door.”* We wait in eager anticipation of justice restored and eternity realized.
We worship in joy because He’s amazing. We rest in trust because He is totally in control. We smile at the future because He wrote the ending.
He is coming.
*James 5:9
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Come, have no fear,
God’s Son is here
“What Child Is This?”
– William Chatterton Dix
The voice on the other end of the phone cracks with emotion.
I pause to allow time for composure to come. I’m fighting to keep mine.
A person I love is in pain. There have been too many of these kinds of calls lately.
It’s intense out there. The trials are relentless. Emotions are raw. The season’s glitter seems to amplify the doubts and discouragement assaulting Christ’s body.
I see it in their eyes. I hear it in their voices.
The saints are weary.
That’s why I thank God for Christmas. Forget the presents, the tree, the expectations of season’s greetings and jingle bells. My tree still isn’t decorated, and I doubt I’ll get cards out this year. The presents aren’t wrapped either. But I still feel like celebrating.
I rejoice because God has come to save the day. I lift a halleluiah to the sky because our Deliverer is born. We are no longer orphans who cower against the darkness in fear. We are not lost, after all. This suffering is only for a short time; eternity has dawned in our hearts and a forever without death awaits us.
I celebrate Christmas because Easter is on the way.
The Bible gives us the ultimate good-versus-evil story, the one about the Prince on a white horse who comes just time to rescue His beloved. He’s the beginning and ending to every life’s drama. He’s the only real reason life is worth living. His coming split history in half and made our every loss bearable, our every day a gift, and our future secure.
Because He came, every day is Christmas.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body;
and be thankful.
– Colossians 3:15
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True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.
– C.S. Lewis
Two of our sons love to hike together in the wilderness of Washington and Idaho at least once a year.
Our eldest son Erik is an avid photographer and takes breathtaking pictures of the scenery surrounding them on their hikes.
This summer they trekked into the wilderness area known as the Seven Devils, named for the series of jagged crags that jut against the skyline. The main trail loops the mountains, but it’s possible to take a side trip down into one of the alpine lakes in the area.
Erik took some pictures of one of the lakes and showed them to me recently. The lake’s surface was smooth and glassy. It reflected the foliage and rocks so perfectly the picture looked nearly identical when turned upside down.
It occurred to me later that I hadn’t really noticed the lake itself, because the view was dominated by the mirror image it reflected. No turmoil roiled the water; no waves disturbed the image it was projecting.
Perfection.
It’s just the image we want to give others. We want to keep it smooth on the surface. So we don’t cause any waves; we hide the rocks and muck on the bottom where no one can see them.
Just keep projecting Jesus.
Except for one thing: water doesn’t project; it reflects.
What we are can’t be hidden. Peace can’t be conjured up. It has to come from a deep work of the Holy Spirit. It begins with honesty and openness before God, surrendering to His lordship. Brokenness is the storm that roils the water and allows Him to still the waves by His power.
He knows us. He understands our sincere desire to give Him glory. The more we can learn to keep our eyes on Him, the less we will be thinking about ourselves. The less we think about ourselves, the calmer our hearts will be. The more we live in that stillness, the more others will see of Him.
Perfect reflection.
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And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?
– Esther 4:14
A Jewish orphan raised by her older cousin appeared to be destined to a life in obscurity.
Then the king of the land became unhappy with his queen. He decreed that all the beautiful young virgins of the provinces be gathered together to be brought to the king. From them he would pick a new queen.
He chose Esther.
The kingdom stood at a crucial juncture at the time; political intrigue reached as far as the Persian throne. There was a plot afoot to assassinate the king, which was foiled by Esther’s cousin Mordecai. Meanwhile, Haman, a descendent of a long-standing enemy of Israel, was promoted over all the princes of the land by King Ahasuerus.
But Mordecai refused to pay homage to Haman. For this slight, Haman plotted revenge not only on Mordecai, but on every Jew in the land. He decreed a day of genocide by his new authority and even built a special gallows for Mordecai.
But God saw the evil planned against His people. He called upon Esther.
And with that, Esther stepped out of obscurity and into a drama that would touch all humanity. Because she was willing to lay her life on the line to intercede for the Jewish nation before the king, the lineage from which came the Savior was preserved.
Once again, the kingdoms of the world stand at a turning point.
The footsteps of an unseen enemy reverberate through the nations as he grows bolder in his genocide against the humanity. He defies anyone to stand in his way.
But God sees the evil planned against His creation. He calls upon us.
Will you step out of a life of obscurity to reach out on behalf of those who are perishing without a Savior? Are you willing to commit to prayerful intercession for others? Are you prepared for the messy business of helping a dying planet find its Deliverer?
It may require some sacrifice.
But who knows whether you, a child of the King, have not attained royalty for such a time as this?
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It is good to give thanks to the LORD
And to sing praises to Your name,
O Most High.
– Psalm 92:1
Dear God,
I’ve been thinking lately
about those in the Old Testament who complained
and became the Ungrateful Dead,
while I wallow in my complaints,
Unscathed.
I’ve been wondering about me who is so blessed
and just as undeserving
and thankful maybe once a year,
the ungrateful living,
and how it must hurt Your heart.
Renew me.
Restore me.
Remind me
of all I have been given.
Teach me to live as if “amazing grace”
were not a cliché,
on my face every day
in worship of such a forgiving God.
Amen.
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Are not five sparrows sold for two cents?
Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
The very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
– Luke 12:6-7
It was not a sparrow but a junco huddled on the concrete.
Juncos are one of the little winter bird species that populate our area. Nondescript in color, their cheerful banter around the bird feeder nevertheless enlivens the gray days until spring arrives once again.
Yesterday I happened outside to discover one of the juncos had fallen prey to our black cat, Dawn, who hunts with such relish we should have named her “Killer.” The poor little bird was badly wounded but had flopped to a corner of the basketball court in a feeble effort to escape. Killer sat nearby, enjoying the spectacle with smug satisfaction.
If I had left the bird for the cat to finish, it soon would have been mercifully over for the junco. But I couldn’t stand to watch the cat toy with it; I just had to intervene. I locked up the cat for a while to see if the bird would recover on its own. When it was obvious it couldn’t fly, I put it in a box and set it in a safe place away from the cats.
The junco died in the night, witnessed only by God.
This morning I removed the little body, struck by its tiny insignificance. Neither its life nor its passing affected the world in the least. Yet God knew and cared. If He does not forget the smallest of creatures, how much more must He care for the crown of His creation.
Even this one little bird testified to the beauty of creation and the Creator. In its death, we are reminded of the sorrow humanity’s rebellion brought upon all God’s world.
That God would speak so much through one small life should give us hope to go on.
Do not fear. You are not forgotten. You are more valuable than many juncos. You belong to a God who dresses the lilies, feeds the ravens, remembers the sparrows, names the stars, and counts every hair on your head. Not one detail of your life has escaped Him. He loves you fiercely. He has a plan for you, and He asks for your trust.
Believe.
Do not be afraid, little flock,
for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
– Luke 12:32
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I cried out to You, O LORD;
I said, ‘You are my refuge….’
Psalm 142:5
– A Maskill of David, when he was in the cave.
The young man David huddled in a cave and pondered his future.
He was so very far away from his beloved pastures, where he cared for his family’s sheep and wrote his songs of praise to God. He loved being a shepherd. It was a common life, but a satisfying one.
Then God shook up his world. The prophet Samuel anointed David as new king of Israel, and it appeared David was destined to live in the palace. A series of events propelled David toward the throne: he became a national hero with the death of Goliath; he developed a close friendship with Saul’s son Jonathan; he married Saul’s daughter Michal.
Things were looking good.
When it looked as if David might really be a threat to his kingdom, Saul decided that David had to die. Jonathan warned David just in time to flee.
Now he dwelt in darkness, feeling very much unlike royalty.
From this dark place in David’s life came many of the heartfelt and beautiful songs of Psalms. For thousands of years, believers have been encouraged through the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. Had he never suffered the indignity of this humiliation, we would not have these precious words upon which to cling when we are hurting.
His cave was a terrible place to live, but it became a place of safety from his enemies while God worked in his heart to transform him into the king he was anointed to become. The dark place you are in now serves the same purpose. Yes, it’s dark and dirty. It does feel many times like God has forsaken you. But you are not there because God has made a mistake or forgotten His promises to you.
You are there because God is preparing you to receive those promises.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper time,
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
– 1 Peter 5:6-7
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Word of God speak
Would you pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty– MercyMe
There is nothing so compelling as a person who listens.
The prophet Eli was an old man when Samuel began ministering in the house of God in Israel. In those days it was rare to hear the Lord speak, as were visions. Israel was a dead zone of sorts: Limited or no connectivity with God.
It wasn’t that God didn’t have anything to say. He was just waiting for someone who would listen.
Eli certainly wasn’t listening. When his sons profaned the holy sanctuary, Eli looked the other way instead of rebuking them. Even when God sent a man to Eli with His own rebuke, Eli took no action.
But God would not leave His tabernacle barren.
He was already at work in the heart of young Samuel. Eli was so used to turning a deaf ear to God that at first he didn’t understand what was happening when Samuel came running to him at dawn and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”
The third time it happened, it finally occurred to old Eli that God was calling.
But God was not calling Eli, the seasoned prophet. He was speaking to Samuel, the boy.
In these last days, the voices are relentless. Everybody’s talking. But God longs to find the person who is waiting in the dawn to hear His voice alone. He searches for the heart that springs to life at the call with the words He yearns to hear, “Your servant is listening.”
Speak, for Your servant is listening.
– 1 Samuel 3:10
