Vessels of glory

I woke this morning to the rhythmic melody of songbirds. At first I resisted this intrusion into my most cherished time of sleep, fighting the awakening of my senses. It’s still dark and why must they wake so early? But, there was just something compelling about their need to express themselves so emphatically. It was as though they wanted to tell the world some important news. What are they saying in their beautiful language of song? Do they have some knowledge that cannot help but pour forth at the break of a new day? Perhaps it is the simplicity of their lives that gives them the ability to start afresh each morning with the recognition of the beauty that surrounds them. They have slept in peace beneath the stars, perched among the trees under the watchful eye of the Father of heavenly lights. They herald the dawn and their eyes catch the first trace of pink as the sun begins its journey across the day’s sky. They welcome in this new day with expectation and joy in a simple understanding of the rhythms of life‘s design. They seem to know instinctively what John Calvin wrote about, “there is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.“

It’s easy to miss the simple glory truth. We wake to violent headlines of evil intrusions, darkness that is trying to overtake the light before it even cracks the horizon. Wicked thieves spent on stealing our joy and peace are on the move pounding their path of destruction.

But there is much to be learned from the song birds of the morning. Their sleep is sweet and their joy is new each day. They were created to know their place and they live joyfully within those boundaries. They are vessels of glory singing out the praises of the One who taught them to sing. And this whole world is filled with glory vessels from one end to the other. All of creation sings its own unique melody to the glory of the Creator. Each bears its own voice of beauty. Some display such majesty that a heart is brought to tears without a sound being uttered. Can the eye behold the sunset or the fullness of the moon or the tender beginnings of a child crowning into existence and take its first breath, without a sense of awe, without seeing glory? Each one of us is meant to be vessels of glory, the crowning jewels of creation made in the image of God himself.

Yes, it’s true, the shroud of darkness threatens this world daily but its scope is limited and it’s boundaries are certain. If we each do as we were meant to — how bright would we shine? How much beauty would fill the earth?

“The word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John1:4-5

Breathe

The Word of God…when I hear this phrase, when I really ponder it, I am struck by the magnitude of its meaning. If you believe in a Creator of all things seen and unseen, wouldn’t you want to know what he has to say about this world we walk around in everyday? Of course, if you don’t believe then it will be irrelevant to you. However, for those of us who do, it should be of paramount importance. You would think there would be a driving-force pushing us ever deeper in our search for some functional guidance for the dynamics of life. After all, this is why the Word of God exists. He has made known some of his wisdom for our walk-about, as the Aussies say.

However, how hard is it at times to ponder this wisdom with all these competing talking-heads shouting out their endless opinions? There’s a tribe and camp for everything under the sun. The noise can be deafening. How desperately do we need some quiet away from the maddening crowd? This crowd breeds distrust, discontent, division and disgrace.

Close that door behind you and step out into the wide open space of the breath of God. Here in this space, his spoken word breathes out life-giving nourishment for the worn-out hearts and minds battered by the angry invasive mobs. His words are not shouted with a pointing finger of accusation but rather those that say, “come along, walk with me. I have so much to tell you, so much to show you. “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt.11:29) It’s so refreshing to breathe in deeply from this sacred breath of his. So calming. So reorienting. So needed.

These tribes, camps, mobs—they just leave us breathless. Yes, we must mingle in with them at times on our walk-about. There are issues we all deem important and its good and right to address them. Yet, lets remember where the purest air is found, that oxygen of the soul that sustains us and keeps us from suffocating. The Word of God…the breath of life…breathe in as deep as you can. It will give you strength along the way.

”For the Word of the Lord will never fail.” Luke 1:37

”But even more blessed are all who hear the word and put it into practice.” Luke 11:28

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12

Faaamily

Our granddaughter was adopted. She was longed for and prayed for, long before she existed. She wasn’t chosen for her good looks or her wit, though she possesses both in abundance. There was nothing known about her when she became the very love of her parents’ hearts. They waited with ever-increasing excitement for the day they would bring her into their home and call her by her name: Eloise! I’ll never forget that day. It brings tears of joy and thanksgiving to my heart even now. It’s so amusing to watch her now as she seeks to emulate everything about them. She observes them with such a deep concentration. She watches their expressions and mimics their gestures. She puts on their shoes and tromps around the house in great dramatic fashion. I wish I could crawl inside her mind for a peek at what she thinks and feels. It’s so obvious how much she admires them, how much she truly loves them. She wants to become the likeness of them. She’ll draw them both close to her simultaneously to have a family hug. She says, as she is doing this, “faaamily”. She is as much bone of bone and flesh of flesh as any natural-born child could be. The natural DNA is of minor importance under the shadow of the DNA of love. This adorable two-year old is their daughter. She is our granddaughter. And although adoption is a beautiful gift, we never think of her this way. She is our family.

I love this relatable image God gives us through adoption—of how we come to be a part of his family. The Bible says he chose us before the very foundations of the world. That means before there was even any human need for God—before any of the typical struggles of life may cause us to look to God for help or answers or relief. It says he chose us in love to be adopted as his children into his family. This choosing wasn’t based on our looks or our abilities or our potential for goodness, but rather, because it gave him pleasure to choose us. This speaks of the warm and tender emotions of a Father’s love and the joy his children bring him. The Bible says that Jesus was his only natural-born son, born of a virgin, divinely Fathered. We, those he chooses to call into his family, are adopted through Christ and for Christ. We are given as gifts to his Son, to be his brothers and sisters. These are deep mysteries of faith, hard to comprehend. But, with that calling comes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and it is by this divine power we can believe even in the mystery. Faith is a gift from God and nothing we can muster up for ourselves. (Eph.2:8)

When I consider this adoption language God uses in the Scriptures I have to ask myself if, like my granddaughter, I am observing him with great interest and desire to be like my amazing and interesting Father. In other words, in the likeness of him. The Scriptures say that “Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.” (Col. 1:15) Do I resemble him in any way? When I look in the mirror of Scripture what image is looking back at me? Do I seek to emulate his life, his actions, his love for others? Of course, I am fully aware that my efforts will always fall short of his perfection because unlike Jesus, I am born in sin and carry the tell-tale signs in me. But, his blessing of adoption shows me that his spiritual DNA has overshadowed my nature and born me anew into a life where all things are possible with God (Matt. 19:26). I can put on his gigantic shoes and make my way, one step at a time, down that long road of obedience in the same direction. I can simultaneously draw in close to him for a hug with my brothers and sisters of faith and say “faaamily”.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure .So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his Son”. Ephesians 1:3-6 NLT

Divine intrusions

Mothers have a very special role. The connection that exists between mother and child is deeply profound. It is the way God has designed the order of things. Of course, there are exceptions to this — there are damaged women who lack the natural bond—but I think most women have the innate ability to observe and ponder the nuances of their child’s developing personality.

This isn’t to say that fathers don’t experience these deep bonds but I think their observations tend to focus on different things. Mothers tend to be nurturers, comforters, the ones who soften the various aches of life. As a result, their emotional intimacy has its own framework.

Reading in the Gospel of Luke this morning, there was something that really struck me. In several passages Luke points out certain key moments in Jesus’ life that were profound and divine moments. His mother Mary, when observing these moments, “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart“ (Luke 2:19,51). I couldn’t help but notice how these moments seemed like “reminders“ for her—divine intrusions, if you will. She was told before her pregnancy that she was to bear the son of God, the coming Messiah, yet every day life was just that —normal and routine. He was a kid growing up in a family. He was fully human. And then there were these moments, these divine intrusions reminding her that he was the Son of God. It’s hard to comprehend being in that singular, unique role of such great import. The responsibility, the privilege, the seminal weight of it all. Yet, she was an ordinary woman in the every day ordinary world.

The question that comes to mind for me is, as a believer in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, what weight and privilege do I bear in my every day ordinary life? As I go about my daily routine, is the life of the Son of God noticeably evident? Far too often, I need these divine intrusions to remind me who he is, that this life is not just about me and the mundane temporal moments of my days. There is a far greater picture here. Beyond what the eye can see, there is a world that bears the weight of eternal glory. The reality is rather that these every day ordinary moments are the intrusions that interfere with our intended purpose here. And yet the beauty of this mystery is how God chooses to use the every day ordinary moments to bring his life-changing power into individual lives.

Mary and Joseph were common people in a common city. And yet they were chosen to raise the Son of God, the Savior of the world. His message was and is, “Come, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God…I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the spirit. Humans could reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.“ (Matt. 11:5-6)

It’s an open invitation, an out-reaching Hand from the timeless eternal unseen world into the every day world which we see.

Have you ever experienced a divine intrusion from God? Have you pondered it in your heart? Are you watching to see the glory of God displayed in the everyday? If your answer is yes —be prepared for joy!

The key

It’s easy to look over the course of a life and wonder what it would look like if different choices had been made. Life is full of choices. We make them everyday. Some are minor and of no consequence but some are major and affect not only us but those we love. There have been times that I’d wished I could go back and redo some of those choices; the ones where I disregarded the Words of my Lord. I didn’t cherish them in my heart. They’d been written there but I didn’t regard them with honor for their life-giving power. I was foolish. I thought I could circle back around later on, when I had more time for God—when it didn’t interfere with my plans. I didn’t see the harm seeping in through the cracks. I didn’t see the wounds that would cause disability. I wasn’t aware that a kind of disfigurement was beginning to form; the damage was already taking shape.

And yet, here I am, full of hope. I have been washed in the river of forgiveness and I have been given the key to the throne room of God— a place of prayer. I enter in freely. My steps are certain and confident. The key has given me this privilege. But, as I cross the threshold, my eyes behold the massive space and I become self-conscious, bashful—simple. The quality of the air in here is different. I can almost touch it. It’s full of the sweet breath of the prayers of all the others who have entered in here before me. The fragrance is pleasing and I breathe in deeply. My lungs fill up on the sweetness and I am reminded why I’ve come.

I have come to see his face. The Ancient of Days has seen a lot and his face is etched with the burdens. These are not worry lines but rather the marks of his sorrow. He sees the brokenness of his children. All day long he hears their pleas as they drift up to his throne. Echoing their need for restoration, they cry out, “How long, oh Lord? How long must we wait until evil is no more? How long, oh Lord, until all sickness is eradicated? How long must we wait until the lion sleeps with the lamb? How long, Oh Lord, until we see the fullness of our salvation?”

He grieves their suffering and exhales the sweetest of breath. I suddenly realize why the air is almost tangible. It’s the grace. The grace of his breath as his words pour forth soothes our ache like an emollient balm. Etched in his face is the infinite wisdom of the Creator, Father, Savior and sovereign Lord. He alone knows how long—but I have the key until then. I take another deep breath of grace as I look up at his face. I feel no need for pleas right now. I only bow and whisper, “Oh, Lord!”

”You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8

”For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But, you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there; create in me a clean heart, Oh God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Ps. 51:5,6,10 NLT

I Remember

When I consider all the things in this life that invade my thoughts with relentless concerns for the present and the future – – it’s enough to make my head spin. What if? Why? Where? How? When? The list can coil around me like a spinning top about to unfurl itself into a whorl of vertigo. It’s easy to lose your balance when these thoughts take you captive.

But then, I remember my God. I flip back through the pages of my life and re-read the stories that I have walked through. I see with my mind’s eyes the various circumstances that sent me reeling. Every time, my God was there. Every time, He heard my plea—for help, for strength, for faith to endure what has come my way. His presence and his grace were always sufficient even though I couldn’t always see that in the moment. He has never let me down.

In my humanity, it can sometimes be hard to trust that a God I cannot see will oversee all my concerns. I wish I could see Him. I wish I could look into His eyes. I wish I could feel the comfort of His physical presence and hear His voice.

But then, I remember His Word. The Scriptures that tell me all He wants me to know about who He is and what I mean to Him.

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers the Prophets, but these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Hebrews 1:1-3a ESV

”For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Roman 15:4 ESV

This is my God. He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. All the pages of my life unveil this truth to me over and over again. If His past help was there then —His future help will be too. I am now in the future of my past. Therefore, my present and future are assured of His presence, His future grace.

So, I will capture these invasive thoughts and reshape them into prayers of praise because whether I see Him, feel Him or hear Him—matters not. He IS near. I take Him at His Word. With every challenge, He is reshaping me, building my faith and making it more certain of His unchangeable character and unstoppable Fatherly love.

The dizziness will soon settle down and my balance will slowly level off. He will never let that top spin off from His unbreakable cord. He has promised me that for all of my life.

” Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

The avengers

View fullsize

Most of my life I have thought of prayer as a petition that is answered with either a “yes”, “no” or “not now” outcome. But lately, I have been more inclined to see it as a process. Certainly some prayers are answered with an immediate response such as, “please protect me on the road today?“ Or “please let these test results come out OK?“. But there are those ongoing heart-deep prayers we pray for others that appear to evaporate as they leave our lips. How many years have you prayed for someone only to see no change or affect on the horizon, no dawning of a heart awakened to a fresh new understanding of the Voice who spoke them into being? Or perhaps they’ve heard that Voice but allow the other competing voices of the snake charmers to drown out the still and gentle eternal one. These hard fought prayers of love are not being ignored. They are not being evaporated as they are whispered. But rather, they are already in the process of becoming answered. The action has been set in motion from the first whispered words of your heart.

In the book of Daniel chapters 9-10 he is praying to God with a heavy-burdened heart for his people. He is interceding on their behalf out of love for them and sadness for their lack of reverence and love for God. An angel appears to him and tells him, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, the command was given…” The angel goes on to explain the way in which his prayer will be answered. Then a bit later he has another similar experience with an angel of God as he is praying once again and the angel says this, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you… For I have been sent to you… Then he said, “don’t be afraid Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble your self before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” He goes on to tell him that he was delayed because he had to battle the evil spirits that were attempting to thwart the prayers.The battle continues to rage on and he left other angels there fighting while he came to encourage Daniel in his angst. Again he told him how precious he was to God and that he wanted him to have peace and be encouraged and strengthened in the knowledge that God was at work answering his prayers.

There are unseen forces in invisible dimensions that are loyal avengers to the King of glory and his children. They are our allies, protectors and warriors for our faith. But they are at war with a fierce opponent whose time is limited in which to steal and destroy. Our prayers have not gone unanswered but rather they are the power that energizes our angelic avengers. Our prayers fan the cleansing flames as they fight for the ones we love. You are precious to God. The cries of your heart are precious to God. Be encouraged. Be strong. Battles are being won and your answers are coming around the corner.

“Regarding the angels he says, “he sends his angels like the winds, his servants like the flames of fire… Therefore, angels are servants — spirits sent to care for the people who will inherit salvation.”
Hebrews 17:14 NLT

The hope of Light

I’m thinking about all the things in this life that I so easily take for granted.  There is so much beauty that surrounds me everyday from the moment I open my eyes until I lay my head down at night. The simple beauty of the light as it casts its shadow through the window leaves an imprint of shapes and patterns that are so pleasing to look at.  Most days I barely notice them—distracted by technology driven information I descend into a digital world and miss so much of my physical surroundings. 

How often do you stop and take in the beauty of this world? I think for most of us, this past year and half, has been a bit like living in a submarine—each of us in our individual pods, glued to a device connecting us remotely to a form of life but lacking the essence of it. Preached at by the pundits and “scientists” of the horrors outside our doors, many have either lost hope and live in a place of sunless grey and doom or have taken to the streets in rage and destruction. 

But, this life is not a hopeless mess. Yes, there is disease and injustices but these are nothing new. The sun still rises and sets everyday in all its glory. The ocean ebbs and flows as it always has before. People still fall in love and babies are born and a new life begins. 

There is so much to be thankful for and a thankful heart can turn the sunless grey into a warm amber ray of hope. When I take the time to observe my surroundings, both that which God has created in nature and in the people he has placed in my life, I am overwhelmed by the goodness that I see. I wish I had the power to refocus everyone’s eyes that they might see all the goodness in their lives too. 

The world is a broken place but it is not a hopeless one. It’s time to come up out of that sunless pod and breath in the fresh air again. See the people in your life for the gifts they are and rejoice. Embrace this beautiful life again for all its worth! Turn off the pundits and the “scientists” and hug someone. All this isolation is bad for the soul and dividing our souls is its aim. Don’t listen to the lies about all that separates us as people. We have way more in common than they want us to believe. Refocus your eyes on the bigger picture. Let the light and shadows awaken your heart again.

“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” Luke 11:34-36

“I am the light of the world. If you follow me you won’t have to walk in darkness.”  John 8:12

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”  James 1:17

”For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

A black hole

We said goodbye to our nephew Cody. His life was cut so short, darkened by a harsh and oppressive world of addiction that gripped his soul like a pit bull. When those fangs latch on it can seem near impossible to break free. The darkness keeps circling in and dragging the soul toward a black hole.

I remember him as a little boy, so innocent, so happy, his face all lit up with a wide smile and a twinkle in his eye. As the years moved on that smile didn’t show up as much and the twinkle began to dull over into a kind of flatness that was hard to read. Life’s wounds and traumas etched their way down deep to places he kept locked up and hidden. Rather than bare his soul from the shame that branded his heart, he just kept painting it over with the blackness of chemical relief. The thing about that kind of relief is the deception of its lure. It’s powerful promise disguised as peace, with no need for understanding, is a temporary escape only to lure you back for more until you are bound and chained in submission.

There is so much hope in the face of a child. All that wide-eyed wonder of discovery and the innocence of ignorance, How I wish I could protect all these young ones from the harsh realities of a world where the light grows dimmer with each passing year.

But, despite this encroaching darkness, and my inability to save them all, there is still great hope amidst the loss of innocence. While life’s traumas and wounds can’t always be diverted, they don’t have to end in a black hole. A black hole happens when a star is dying, when it is falling in upon itself and collapsing. Even the light gets sucked into it. This is what shame does. It hides in the darkness, too afraid to come into the light, turning further and further inward. But, there is a light that is too great to be drawn into the blackness. On the contrary, it blasts open the black hole breaking its powerful, gravitational pull and releasing all the dark matter that formed it. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) because he wants this for us, “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:15). Because, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God..For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.(2 Corinthians 4:4,6) The god of the black hole doesn’t want freedom for the wounded souls. But the God of the universe is all about freedom.

Cody knew about the light. He even stepped into it, felt the warmth upon his face and the peace that passes understanding. He just didn’t stay there long enough to bind up those wounds and release the shame. So he suffered. He didn’t think he was worthy. But who is? Only the Son of God —and he is shining his light into the darkness with an outstretched hand that was pierced for you and me. He took all that shame so we wouldn’t have to. He makes us worthy by that act of love. Step into that light. Cody would want you to. He knows the truth,,,

A place of feral glory

This world is a wearying place. The weight of it all can buckle the knees and cloud the mind. Lord, I look to you. I lift my soul with all its weakness and need and put my trust in you. Don’t let me be put to shame for my faith in you. Rather, strengthen me in your steadfast love.

The enemies of your spoken word have multiplied and want to extinguish your name and all who love it. Don’t let them gain your holy ground!

I live within the mighty walls of your salvation. I look for you – I wait for you to show me the way —to teach me your truth. When you see me, remember your mercy from before time. Remember not my sins but remember—me. Take me by the hand and lead me on the path within your walls of covenantal love. You have pardoned me and given me a glimpse of your might. I bow in holy fear— loved yet understanding yours is an undomesticated power — a feral glory that humbles me with a submissive awe. This is a place of humble petition. You shall pluck my feet out of the net of the enemy when needed. I wait for you.

psalm 25

Looking Up

How has original sin distorted me? And how does indwelling sin manipulate me?

Original sin causes me to forget about God. The distortion of my mind and heart causes me to look first on the lateral level. I take in my immediate surroundings and strategize my navigation. It’s all self-directed. Without the distortion of original sin my first impulse would be to look up. I would seek the eyes of my Lord. I would instinctively know that in his eyes I would find wisdom. Looking into his eyes would settle me, give me perspective —set my course.

But I have indwelling sin and it daily seeks to manipulate me. No sooner do my feet hit the ground and my thoughts are way out in front of me. My sinful distortion often plays out in the form of worry. I can start out with the personal, familial ones that begin to radiate out into the cosmos. The weight of a broken world can sit on top of my shoulders.

I am so thankful that God’s grace permeated my heart —filling it with his Holy Spirit. This is my redeemed side. This is the side that takes captive those runaway thoughts and reminds me to look up. Those eyes are so comforting. They bid me to speak. They ask me to unburden my heart and they assure me that I am heard. Those eyes are strong, clear, wise and tenderly affective. They offer me peace in the midst of uncertainty, confidence that they know all things and trust that they are at the helm. Original sin’s manipulations are not working today. I am looking up!

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Living art

The mind is an astounding piece of art. It’s living art. It’s always in a state of flux being influenced by it’s experiences both past and present. It is capable of bringing complex ideas into physically engineered realities of great usefulness. It has unraveled mathematical mysteries that revealed truths about our universe. It has plunged the depths in search of meaning and purpose of life in this mystifying world.

The beauty and greatness of humanity is clearly evident —we are the crowning glory of creation. It’s easy to look around at all the accomplishments of mankind and feel noble, entitled, preeminent.

The Scripture says, ““For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29) This means that our deeply complex, ever fluid minds, are fashioned after the mind of Jesus. He is our prototype.

Looking through the historical account of the life of Jesus — entitled is not the image that burst forth. Although he was preeminent, he lived in the ordinary, the average, the every day. He walked along the dusty roads seeking out the messy ones; the ones who knew their need. The preeminent ones of society saw him as insignificant, then a fool and finally a threat. But what did this first-born crowning glory of creation do?

He lived out the simplicity of his purpose and the shame of the cross changed the world. Societal giants were clueless but one by one messy ones were becoming well-ordered. The forgiveness and grace of God unclutters the mind—freeing it up to make sense of life in a world where mysteries are still unfolding.

The key to stability and endurance is to live in the every day ordinariness of life, letting that forgiveness and grace spill over into the lives of others. And as an ordinary caterpillar becomes an ordinary butterfly, one by one, the artful mind of Jesus brings about a new life.

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:2-3 NLT

Above the Ridges

“I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?” Psalm 121:1

When you find yourself in the valley you can feel quite vulnerable. The wide open space leaves you with no cover. There’s nowhere to run to for shelter. You can suddenly feel very alone and exposed. You lift your eyes to the hilltops scanning the ridges for a fellow traveler, another soul to bolster your courage along the way. But sometimes, the valley must be navigated solo. Others are trekking on different paths— no doubt your paths will merge further along the way.

This moment in time is meant to be this way. This moment has a weightier purpose. The hills, while beautiful and imposing, are insufficient to meet your need. Their purpose today is to draw your eyes upward, high above the ridges, to the one whose great strength formed their foundation. His eyes see far and wide. They take on the whole scene. Nothing escapes your Watchman— every step, both now and forevermore.

Under the shadow

When life’s burdens begin to press in and encroach on our thoughts, it’s easy to feel like a lonely wanderer in a dry and barren land. The connection of body and soul is so powerful that the heaviness seems to permeate the bones and weigh us down. We can trudge along as if each step is sinking deep into the desert sands. The effort to put one foot in front of the other can be exhausting. Our whole being longs for relief.

These are those times when we must look back from where we have come. Our history, our stories are like mile markers along the way. Our memories also hold our thoughts of times past, places of oasis where deep wells of refreshment filled us with peace.

The love and presence of God is always at its fullest whether we are weary or rested. Our thoughts have no power to change that. But our thoughts have the power to change us. When we remember where our help comes from, when we acknowledge the power and glory of the living God, our bone weary hands can lift up high in worship, upheld by the strength of his presence.

His hands are strong and his might casts a deep shadow under which we can find shelter in the scorching times.

“I lie awake thinking of you in the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. “

Psalm 63:6-8

“The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬

Enjoy

I’ve been thinking about the word enjoy and what it really means to enjoy someone. Webster says it means to take pleasure or have an experience that is pleasurable and satisfying; to have a good time. I pictured how that looks in my life when I am enjoying the company of friends or family. I might be having a meal, a glass of wine perhaps, as we share our thoughts across the table. As I look and listen some of the pleasure will come from the combination of traits that make up their personality; the things that draw me to them. I’ll hear the lilt of their voice as it rises and falls with passion, the widening or squinting of their eyes as they speak from their heart and make their point. Their hands may be slicing the air like a conductor’s baton filling their story with musical accompaniment. And best of all, the resonance of their laughter that rises up from their soul spreading pure pleasure into the room and lighting it up. There is just something about laughter that is so very satisfying, so enjoyable. Have you ever noticed how unique a person’s laugh can sound? I think we all know people that we could identify just by the sound of their laughter. These things are just the outward pleasures that make them so enjoyable to be in their company. I have yet to speak of the rich depths that lie beneath all this eye candy. You know what I mean; we all have certain people in our lives that we really enjoy.

What started me down this train of thought was a familiar yet ancient passage I came across from the Westminster Shorter Catechism that was written in 1649. It poses the question, “What is the chief end of man?” (what is the purpose of man/woman, why are we here?) The answer comes with simple clarity, “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” Wow, it hit me with a jolt. Do I enjoy God? Yes, I know, you’ll say, “but we can’t see him; it’s not the same.” And yes, it’s true in the literal, physical sense, but his personality is visible everywhere. Any observer of nature can see that there is a big personality behind all this eye candy. Peruse the Rockies to the Himalayas, the tropics to the arctic, a redwood or a violet, a rhino or a ladybug; the mind of God is displayed, and I haven’t even begun to speak of the rich depths that lie beneath.

But it’s when we start the conversation with him that we really begin to take in his personality. He has invited us in and set the table for us. The food is gourmet and the wine is expensive and the candles are flickering with warm amber tones. As he tells us his stories of our beginnings, his eyes wrinkle with the smile of his pleasure. His breath is sweet in remembrance and his hands are animated in joy. Then his hands begin to slowly drop to his lap and his eyes narrow with sadness as he speaks of betrayal and loss. It’s a riveting story and his heart is on his sleeve. He looks across the table as a slight smile begins to return. He pours some wine and winks in our direction and passes some bread around. The room is warm and feels cozy and safe. He is really enjoying our company now. He can’t wait to share some more of himself with us. He has so much to tell us, so much he wants us to know. The loss has been restored. The damage has been repaired. His hands are really animated now as his resounding laughter fills the room. He has it all written down so we won’t forget; so we can take our time to understand it all. And he really wants us to have a good time, to enjoy him as much as he enjoys us. It’s so obvious; the spread on the table is over the top. He is lavishing us with pleasure.

As I sit here taking in the scene, watching him, listening to him, I find myself so drawn to him. I find myself enjoying him, this person, Jesus. And I wonder when it was that I forgot to think of him this way --as a friend? Did I stop seeing his heart on his sleeve? Did I stop hearing his passion in his voice or the way his hands orchestrate the beat of life?

I want to spend more time at this table of grace. I want to drink this good wine and eat this satisfying bread that sustains my soul. I want to enjoy my friend. I want to hear what he wants to tell me and I want to tell him how much I appreciate his friendship, his company and his stories. His face is imprinted all over His-story and he has a beautiful face!

“I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure.” Psalm 119:162 

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” Psalm 37:4 

“For the Lord delights in his people, he crowns the humble with victory.” Psalm 149:4

When the dust begins to settle

Life seems to flow in stages. It seems no matter what stage you are in you can’t really grasp the one ahead. A teen doesn’t appreciate the wisdom of their parent’s guidance but rather sees it as an intrusion to stifle their zest for life. College kids are too busy enjoying their independence from the overseeing eye of mom and dad to think about what a responsible future will look like for them. Young parents are building careers and raising babies, shuttling kids from one activity to another and all the while wishing they had more time alone where no one needs anything from them.

It’s not until the dust begins to settle and the nest has emptied out and the years have quickly passed by that the reflective process launches into active mode.

I find myself thinking back on my mom and all the ways she showed her love and all the ways in which I failed to appreciate it. The thoughtful things she would send in the mail to encourage me on this journey of life that often went unread because I was always going to “get to it later” and didn’t. There were far too many of those moments. My intentions were good but my priorities were often faulty. It seems such a pity that the very people God has put at the core of our lives we tend to marginalize for convenience sake. Of course, there are always exceptions to everything and there are those who cherish every blessing in life but I think the majority of us don’t. I think the majority of us take for granted the gifts around us and expect we will have time to show our love when things slow down a bit. We always think we will have time later. But, that’s the precarious thing about life, later may just be too late.

I sometimes wish that life could be unplugged. That it could slow down long enough for our eyes to connect our hearts to one another and let us see the souls within, long enough for us to recognize that in fact, we have souls. These beings that reside in our depths created for communion and community but most often remain a mystery. Oh we say we know this but we really rarely see each other. There’s just not enough time.

Maybe there is something to be said about the benefits of following the Sabbath. The busyness of life recedes and the relationships come to the foreground. But, we managed to find loopholes in this practice as well to give us an excuse to keep moving. So, I have to ask myself this question; “Why do we not really want to stop?” I saw this news piece on a funeral home in the Midwest that has the first drive-by viewing. You pull up to what looks like a bank window and push a button and the curtain draws back to give a view of the deceased “friend” and a drawer opens and you can sign the guest book and off you go. This says it all. No need to console a hurting widow or mother or hug a broken hearted soul. No muss, no fuss. What is happening to us people? Have we progressed or regressed?

What are we afraid of? Why do we want to live in an Instagram world of smiles and action? Are we trying to convince ourselves that deep down we are happy people? Or are we running from the fact that we are not. And if we are not, could it be because we are so disconnected from one another that it’s the easier thing to do than to get to know each other?

Go see your mother, invite your brother over, see if your son has time for lunch, make eye contact, see who lives behind that mask and love them. Really love them. It may be messy and challenging but what richness can rise up from the depths when soul touches soul and fans the embers of a nearly lost flame. Our heavenly Father did it for the world. Can’t we do it for one another? No matter what stage of life we may find ourselves in, if we would just stop long enough to look into the eyes of another’s life, learn their story, clothe ourselves in their skin for a moment, perhaps those picture perfect smiles would begin to radiate a more natural glow of a soul that feels loved.

“Three things will last forever---faith, hope and love---and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT