Category: Articles

A Garden Story…

 It is a rough bit of ground, very hard with clay soil, with weed seeds planted everywhere in great variety. But it is time ‘to break up this fallow ground’-and deep down, I know, my own heart is as this dry ground.

My thoughts are overcome with weeds of lies and projections of non-truths about the future and other people. But, we think it’s only ‘me’, that the other guy has it ‘all together’ and ‘gets it right’ and everything always works out great for ‘him’. This garden seems hopeless, and yes, the soil of my heart will remain unfruitful, unless…
this ‘fallow ground’ is broken.
This is not easy work. There will be a scent of perspiration. Great amounts of energy will be expended – thoughts ,”I do not have time for this great expedition,” in effort to get me to ‘stop’ –  there is pain as the thorns of the nasty weeds, cut!
It sometimes seems like an impossible job – wondering, “how in the world can all these weeds grow so violently when the soil is only clay and rock? Nothing should grow in this soil!”
Breaking up the ‘fallow ground’ in this garden and turning it around to be fruitful just seems like a mountain too high to climb,so to speak. Maybe it just shouldn’t be done -forget about it, it’s just too hard a job. There’s no way all these weeds can be pulled out, there is no way this soil can go from rocky to soft. No, forget  it- this is an impossible job.
But there is a messenger with the words, “Don’t you know? Surely you have heard. Hasn’t someone told you from the beginning?”(paraphrased, Is. 40:21).“Didn’t you believe the report you heard? Didn’t someone tell you of the hand of God?” (paraphrased, Is. 53:1).
“He’s the Master Gardener, you know. All things are possible with Him. Didn’t you know that ‘He grew up like a small plant before the LORD and that He was like a root growing in dry ground’?(Is. 53:2). There was nothing strikingly beautiful about His appearance that made Him desirable. Yes, He was ‘a root growing in dry ground.’
“Surely, you know this, that He was hated and rejected by people. He had much pain and suffering. People would not even look on Him. He was hated, and we didn’t even notice Him. But He took our suffering on Himself and felt our pain for us.” (Is. 53:2,3.)
Did we see His suffering in the garden? Did we see Him as He prayed for us? Did we see Him with the crown of thorns on His head? No, we didn’t know. None of us did. ‘We all have wandered away like sheep. Each of us has gone his own way.’ (Is. 53:6). “There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God…” (Romans 3:10,11). Our hearts are like stoney and weed infested gardens. There’s no hope for fruit.
But something has happened. The work has been done: “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44). “Surely our griefs he Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried…He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well being…” (Is. 53:5).
The Master Gardener was faithful in a ‘faithless’ land of stones and weeds. The Master Gardener was willing to face the task at hand, the sweat, the thorns, the pain and toil…breaking up of the fallow ground came upon Him; ‘He was  wounded for the wrong things we did. He was crushed for the evil things we did, (Is. 53:5, Int. Children’s Version)…that we might be healed.
Something happened,  He said, “I am willing.” Something happened, He said, “I believe in you.” ‘He willingly gave His life, He was treated like a criminal. But He carried away the sins of many people. And He asked forgiveness for those who sinned.”
Something happened, He said, “It is finished.”(John 19:30). 
The soil is made new, that it might bear fruit. Life will come from each desolate heart ‘ for God so loves ‘His garden, His garden is you and me, without Him we are nothing! “Who has believed His report?”(Is. 53:1). Will you?
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. for you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up…” (Is. 56:10-13).
“God made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21). And ‘in Him’ He speaks as a Master Gardener to His own, “No longer do  I call you servants, but I have called you friends. For all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit ..that whatever you ask the Father in my name,…He may give you.”(John 15:15).
You  and I, shall be like a garden …
 
 

"Tune my heart"…over and over again!

“Tune my heart to sing Thy grace…” Over and over again, this is my prayer.
The words of a familiar hymn speak renewal and refreshment to me. They never get old, NEVER: “Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace…”

Sometimes I pick up my guitar and notice, it’s not quite right. So I immediately start to put it in ‘tune’.  My own life gets out of tune- my thought life and  my attitudes  begin to smell… I mean sound bad, and then I am desperately in need of ‘The Master Player’ to intervene.
This kind of tuning, that I so desperately need is found in a most special place. It’s found at the cross, it’s found where the blood of the Lamb was poured out and the Living Bread was broken. Can I go to the communion table, even now? Perhaps the answer is “Yes”, as I simply worship  wherever I am, in whatever state I am in, even empty or full.
In order to ‘tune an instrument’ one must STOP and do the mechanics! When my life feels ‘out of tune’, I pray, “God, make me STOP, make me STILL – for a moment- to acknowledge YOU. With all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, may I bring a HALT to the ‘clamor’ and bring into focus: ‘the fount’ that covers me, that has washed away my sin. “Come Thou fount of every blessing…”
” tune my heart to sing Thy grace.”Yes,  that’s the song I need. The song that remembers the words of my Lord:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for power if perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I need to put my eyes on His word, to straighten up my thoughts and mind and calm my emotions, I need to remember Him and His words to me, personally: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that you can confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” (HEBREWS 13:5,6).
If my eyes weren’t on the words, I would never have known that the words are actually written in ALL CAPS in the NASB!… “Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.”
What a blessing to come and take the bread and know that the ‘Bread of Life’ willingly became broken for me so that I could be whole. The tuning has been perfected in me when I see how gracious my Lord has been toward me, ‘in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly,’ (Romans 5:8). What a gracious God He is. It is unearned favor He lavishes on me, just because He loves me so completely.
This makes me think of Noah, who lived in a godless time. And he had a hard job to do, accomplishing all that God had asked and with specific directions, with only his family ‘on board’ to help, so to speak! No converts, people doing what was right in their own eyes, truly an evil day – but it is recorded for all the world to see, what was different about Noah,
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Gen.6:8.
And that is what God does in this hymn for me, as I ask God,
“Come Lord, help me to remember that ‘fount of every blessing’ that covers and even washes away all the places in the deep recesses of my heart and mind that are out of tune, and remind me of Your gracious love for me. O, how You love me Lord. You don’t see all that ‘stuff’ that I see. All that ‘stuff’ was put on Jesus on that tree of Calvary.
Just as in the Song of Solomon when the Shulamite spoke to her love, (or in other words, how we often speak to the Lord,) “Do not look upon me, because I am dark,” Song of Solomon 1:6. (dark with sin), “because the sun has tanned me,” (this world of tribulations and trouble)…” But we have to remember, He doesn’t see the sin because of the ‘fount of every blessing’ shed for us – this is the response of the Beloved:
“Behold you are fair, my love! Behold you are fair!”
It is at His table where He tunes my heart to sing His grace and once again I find myself singing because ‘streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!’ And the words to my praise as I leave the table of meditation in my heart, an old children’s song,
“I am my Beloved’s and He is mine, His banner over me is love!”
So now I’m all tuned; renewed and restored, miraculously refreshed -all because God spoke to me today in a hymn. So my prayer for today?
“Lord, just keep us in tune for a song this moment! Keep us in tune for Your song tonight, Keep me in tune Lord, when my heart is tired and weary, may I raise my Ebeniezer with my weakness and acknowledge Your Grace is all I need. I love you Jesus, You are my Rock and my Song – keep me in tune Lord, keep me in tune- and when I am ‘way out’, make me ‘Be Still and Know, YOU are God!  in Jesus name, AMEN!”

No one likes the word, "suffer…"

The New King James Version term ‘suffer’ actually can be translated in today’s language as “allow.” (Allow), or “Let the little children to come unto Me,…” These words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples.(Matthew 19:14). Oh yes, they THOUGHT they knew what was best, so they began to send the children away. But Jesus was NOT happy!
“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased…” (Mark 10:13, 14).
The mothers brought their children to Jesus that He might ‘touch’ them. But the disciples sent them away: “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and  said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14).
None of us in this century, (or any century past) likes to hear the word, “suffer”! But back in the day, this word meant ‘ to allow’, ‘ to let.’
Most mamas want their children ‘touched’ by the Lord. Most mamas want their children to ‘protected from evil’ and most mamas hold their babies in their arms and ‘marvel’ and pray and dream and hope wonderful things for their children. Yes, they do.
Today I write because of the word, ‘suffer’. Many children  are ‘SUFFERING!’ Today, can we pray to do our part to ‘Allow’ and ‘let’ the little children, young and even older be part of our lives, especially those who have never been ‘brought to Jesus’, and may we be willing to ‘bring them to Jesus?’
Maybe the word ‘suffer’ is appropriate. We might need to be ‘inconvenienced’ to be about ‘letting’ and ‘allowing’ children to ‘Come to Jesus.’ Prayer was taken out the schools in this country. God was taken out of the text books in the public schools. History has been changed to be ‘politically correct’, but HIS STORY is the same.
The children are constantly drilled in ‘comprehension’. Who’s gonna help them to comprehend that:  Jesus “was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world.
We know that they don’t ‘comprehend’ because it is written: He(Jesus ) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him, (or comprehend Him). He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”(John 1:9-11).
But, we know He can ‘touch them’ and make them ‘new creations’ and adopt them into His family: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12).
Perhaps the King James Version is appropriate for today. “Lord Jesus, please help us ‘mamas and papas and granmas and gramps be willing to ‘suffer’ and bring the children we come in contact with, to Jesus, as we sit in our houses or travel in our cars, as we go off to sporting events, and we go along the way! In Jesus Name, Amen”.
Please join me in this prayer for our own hearts, (in that ‘allowing’ and ‘letting’ the little children might not be ‘easy’.Let us pray that we may do ‘hard things’ in our day. That we would love the children (young and even very old) that we come in contact with, and that we would have hearts that break as they ‘suffer’ in darkness. May we take courage in the Spirit of the Lord to bring these ‘babes’ of all ages…to the Light,to be touched (and forever changed) by Jesus: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is as new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,…” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
“Let the little children come unto Me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And the kingdom of heaven is at hand…“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”(2 Corinthians 5:20).
Children, children, children: Jesus loves you! This I know!

"IF a flower could talk to a package of seeds…"

“What do you mean, I must die before my expiration date?” asked the seed tucked carefully in it’s package.
“Well, that’s only if you don’t want to remain alone and undisturbed forever.” answered the flower. “But, you are actually a ‘promise’ a promise of beauty. If you want to live, you must die, and it all has to happen before that expiration date as I said. After that, it is too late.”
“That’s ‘poppy-cock!’ answered the poppy seed. “I just don’t believe it. Please, be quiet. You are really disturbing me!”
“Well, since you mentioned it, ‘poppies’ I mean, clearly you can see that we are both ‘poppies.’ You are a poppy and I am a poppy. But, can you see any difference in me and you? Any at all?” asked the flower to the seed.
“Hey, I’ll get there, there are many ways to flower you know. I have a plan!” answered the seed.
“O.K. I hear you. But ‘when’, … I mean, ‘if’ your plan is unsuccessful, will you just listen once, to this idea?” asked the flower.
“If it means you will leave me alone, I will listen this once. Go on and talk all about that morbid stuff and ‘dying’ and all.” The seed responded, dully.
“It’s quite simple. If you ‘deny yourself’ your own way and simply ‘fall into the ground’, you will die. Yes, but that’s not the end! That’s just the beginning, the beginning of all the Promise. But if you simply remain in that package that seams to make so much sense to you, you will always be wondering, “What is my purpose?” “Why am I even here?” But in your ‘tiny bit of nothing’ is so, so, so much more- more than meets the eye right now. But you must first, fall into the ground and die.” explained the flower.
“Ho,hum.” yawned the seed.
“But then, something amazing begins to happen,” continued the flower,”after the death of you, that is- but before that expiration date scheduled on the package – you become alive. Yes, in the darkness AND the dirt – you become alive! I’m telling you, it’s true! It’s not ‘poppy-cock’ its life for the poppy! Don’t ask me a lot of scientific questions, because I’m not a scientist, I’m a Testimony! I’m telling you, that if you die, you will rise again. Everything in that ‘deadness’ springs to Life and reaches forth into the Light and absorbs the Living Water and becomes Beauty.”
“I will consider what you said. I’m not really in a hurry now. I think I have some time…” answered the seed. Only to fall asleep and miss that planting season. Only to be forever…alone.
Jesus is speaking: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me…As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love…If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.” John 15:4,9, 7.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:24.
“I’m not a scientist, I’m just a Testimony!”

"He trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle?"

“Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle-” (Ps. 144:1)
“He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze…” (Ps. 18:34)
Is this just for the courageous men and woman in military? NO! I am convinced that this verse is for the children and the women and the men! This verse is for all of us to invest time in playing music on stringed instruments, and music with the strings of our vocal chords! I am convinced that in the willingness to worship, even in the most pitiful situations, that God renews our strength and lifts us up on wings like eagles.
I know that for the most part, we on average do not ‘feel’ like praising God, or even to spend the time to ‘train our fingers’ on the instruments we have in the house. But if we could only understand the power behind the ‘sacrifice of praise.’
So many times in the Bible we read, “To the Chief Musician with my stringed instruments.” Then there is a cry to the Lord, or a word of adoration to Him who can help.” Yes, NOW is the time to worship.
“He trains my hands for war…” . For the personal ‘wars’ that we are in, we need to take a breath and put vibration on the strings of our vocal chords, we need to train our fingers on the musical instruments. Why?
Because, then we can ‘bend a bow of bronze’. Because then we can ‘sing a new song to You, O God.'(Ps. 144:9)Through the praise we have a new attitude about the troubles that surround us.
Lord, help us to consider the song that we are singing. Maybe it is time for a ‘new song.’
May we bring a ‘sacrifice of praise’ to our Lord today, and be ye transformed by the renewing of our mind! There is power in the song.
We aren’t to drown out our worries and problems with doubt and fear and vices that destroy. We are to be ‘speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. Bring a sacrifice of praise to God even if it just a cry of help- there is so much power in this. How do I know?
because…
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vine; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food;… Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Hab.3:18

"Put my tears into Your bottle…"

“You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” Psalm 56:8.
Thinking about tears, and children, and thinking about… God. God, we are to call You, “Father. You actually want us to think of You as ‘Abba’, Daddy,…a Parent. This helps Lord, because as a parent, there is one thing that I have learned in having babies-
they cry lots of tears, they grow into to toddlers, which in turn grow into rambunctious ‘kids’ and a bit ‘feisty’ as well, which in turn grow from children to young adults,and in between all that, there are hurts and pains which bring tears, and even crisis and loss, and this brings even more tears.Then the children grow, and become smart and strong and just need to find things out for themselves, which can also mean taking a wrong turn, or going down a dark alley- this can get messy, there is no control at times,and there are tears in all of that too, but God…
We are to call you “Father” and even the first of your creation called ‘man’, Adam – even he messed things up, and to think, he even had real ‘morning walks’ with You! But God…
You met with Adam after the great fall, (that brought it all down, actually, for us all, which means we all cry tears because of our fallen nature); and You met with Eve too. But God,… even from the beginning, You let them know, that there is forgiveness with You. Even then, and there You proclaimed a future victory on the cross, even though they didn’t understand. You are the Father, they were Your children. You forgive, and not only that, You provided The Way, and took off the itchy and difficult coverings, and You clothed and covered their nakedness with ‘Lamb’s skin’.
I don’t think, that before You clothed them You said, “OK, now, say the right words.” or “Do these particular things…” No, in the account in Genesis, we are left to read and ponder that it is true, Adam and Even in their fear and their shame simply hid, but You…
You called out their name.Yes, and they did answer back; and humorous it is, that for all the world to read, we see the children of God put ‘blame’ on the other! Then You simply spoke, the Word of God in truth, right there in the beginning, if we only read to page 3, we’ve go the whole of the ‘message’ in Gen. 3:15.
(Talking to the serpent), the voice of the Lord was heard, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise and tread your head under foot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel.” And even though this verse is not understood at first glance, it’s there instead of a rebuke from the Lord, or “why did you do that?” or “what were you thinking?” Instead, dear Father, You gave us The Way.
Lord,’Father God’ as You would have it to be, it is plain to see, that your children listened to Your words,they received Your coverings. Even then, You wiped away their tears. It’s all about You, Lord, it’s all about You…You provided The Way, they simply received.
So, ‘Father God’, as a wandering child, is it really true that You ‘number and record’ all my wanderings? And You see all my tears, even though I’ve brought some of them on myself, and You not only see me cry, but You collect each tear and put them in Your bottle? Do You really have a book, that You know my whole story? Do You really care that much Lord, could it really be true? Sometimes, Your children cannot even believe such things.
Father God, it is the case! You love Your ‘messy-at-times’ children. You – love – me. I choose to receive. Cover me in Your Love.Your Love of the’Lamb’s skin’, the sweet sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus on the cross. He only is the reason I can pray: ‘Be merciful and gracious to me, O God,’ (Ps. 56:1).’By [the help of] God I will praise His word…
because, “I am my Beloved’s and He is mine. His banner over me,…”(Song of Sol.2:4), His covering over me…
is love. So Please, Dear Children, please know…the Father loves you. He has provided all you need in His Son. Believe and Receive the provision and rest He so lovingly offers. He knows your name, and yes, He’s collected all those tears.

Are we 'in' the game of 'hide the thimble?'

The search is on, sometimes we put ourselves in the game to understand what’s going on…
Sometimes, understanding comes in a poem:
“If our ways by thee be order’d,
And thy name by us confess’d,
Then thy presence shall go with us,
And thy peace shall give us rest.
If in all the eye be single,
Clean the hands, and pure the breast,
Then they presence shall go with us,
And thy guidance give us rest.” (CH Spurgeon,Devotional Bible pg. 315).
But are these just words? Are these just ‘nice’ words that ‘good people’ read? Who are these words for? the poem makes me think of a Psalm:
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the
LORD upholds him with His hand.” (Ps. 37:23).

But who is a ‘good man’, are there such things? “There are none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3 verse 10 tells us. The Bible tells us “there is none who understands;” (Romans 3:11). Where is understanding then?
Desperate for ‘understanding’ I read on, to another poem:
“Jesus, full of every grace, Now reveal thy smiling face;
Grant the joys of sin forgiven, Foretaste of the bliss of heaven.
All my guilt to thee is known; Thou art righteous,
thou alone,
All my help is from thy cross; All beside I count but loss.
Lord, in thee I now believe,
Wilt thou, wilt thou not forgive?…” CH Spurgeon Devotional Bible
So, in this poem, I see Jesus is ‘good’. Maybe we all feel as the one who came to Jesus in the Bible Story some of us heard when we were young: ““Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”(Matthew 19:16).
“So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? “No one is good but One, that is, God.”(Matthew 19:17).
Do you cry out for understanding? “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.” (Proverbs 1:5,6).
Yes, it feels like unraveling ‘riddles’. Searching for understanding…where does understanding come from to know God? Like finding the ‘hidden thimble’ are we ‘warm’ and ‘hot’ in our search? Or are we ‘cold’, ‘way cold’ in  our search?
“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you…” (Proverbs 2:1).
God talks about ‘words’. Yes, ‘words’: “So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;…”(Proverbs 2:2). Do you want to incline and apply? Perhaps it feels like a game of ‘hide the thimble’. Do you want to ‘play the game?’ But,
THIS IS NOT A GAME! This is LIFE itself!
“Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, (even more than ‘hidden thimbles!)…“then you will UNDERSTAND the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:3-5, emphasis mine).
Is there affliction? It is not for ‘bad’ but God uses it for good: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. (Psalm 119:67).  
God’s WORD! Life itself…Direction? Guidance? Counsel? “For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6). Searching for understanding means we’ve got to perhaps initiate, to take courage and stand up for the Lord who gave all for us. Do we understand all this? It takes courage to say, “Yes, count me in!” and go searching for treasure so you be ‘whole’ again!
They aren’t just words, oh no, they are life. Even the poems can set us right: “Jesus, the sinner’s Friend, to Thee,Lost and undone, for aid I flee; Weary of earth, myself, and sin, Open thine arms and take me in.
Pity and heal my sin-sick soul; ‘Tis thou alone canst make me whole; Fallen, till in me thine image shine, And lost I am, till thou art mine.” (CH Spurgeon, Devotional Bible, 317!)
There’s nothing like ‘doing hard things’ and saying “Yes” to the search to understanding the ‘riddles’ and discovering all along, the efforts put forward lead to peace in knowing and understanding “He calls me His own and He’s covered me in His righteousness!
Now, to reality and laundry… but thankful for that time in ‘searching’ for the …real treasures!

It was in an art museum…

The story is told that a young count,a young nobleman born in the early 1700’s in Germany by the name of Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf went off after graduating from the university at Wittenbuerg on a grand tour of Europe. Visiting the art museum at Dusseldorf, Nikolaus Zinzendorf was forever changed by the painting entitled, Ecco Homo (“Behold the Man”).
Imagine a portrait of the ‘thorn-crowned Christ’, Who’s eyes are gazing at you, and written beneath the painting were the words, “I have done this for you, what have you done for Me?”
Zinzendorf is quoted to have said, “I have loved Him for a long time, but I have never actually done anything for Him. From now on I will do whatever He leads me to do.”
Check out the history! All because of a trip to an art museum and being personally touched by a portrait of Christ, and the words below, “I have done this for you…”Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf became a very influential leader in Christian history, living his life for Him.
Yes, again, in the very same art museum, many,many years later, a young woman ‘sat down opposite the same painting’, the story goes. The picture was studied, the words were read…and a poem was birthed: “I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thoumight’st ransomed be, And quickened from the dead; I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me? I gave, I gave My life for thee, What has thou giv’n for Me?
(I Gave My Life for Thee, Frances R. Havergal/ Phillip P. Bliss).
In this day of technology, we can view so many pictures and we have endless words streaming towards our eyes and filling our minds, but on this Sunday, this first day of the week, can we stop and take notice of our ‘thorn-crowned’ Savior and stop for a moment to take it all in – what our Jesus has done for us because He first loved us, (even when we don’t turn our eyes toward Him).
But there’s no art on this page, but we can see it so clearly, when we stop to consider our Lord on His day. Stop for a moment, and read these words, long ago that were written, but perhaps, perhaps, they were written for today – let Jesus speak and remind us what’s true, that He gave, He gave, He gave it all, He gave His life for me and for you:
“My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne, I left, for earthly night, For wand’rings sad and lone; I left, I left it all for thee, Has thou left aught for Me? I left, I left it all for thee, Has thou left aught for Me?”

“I suffered much for thee, More than thy tongue can tell, Of bitt’rest agony, To rescue thee from hell; I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me?”
Perhaps, today, we can sacrifice and give praise. Perhaps, today, we walk through the doors of a church and gaze at the pictures on the wall – God, open our eyes! May we see that You have eyes on each of us,  looking straight in our eyes… And in Your gaze, may we see grace in Your eyes! May we hear You say, “I love you,”, I am always here”,  “I will never leave you” –  “I gave my life for you.”
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).
Perhaps today, we are convicted, (but not condemned!), to make a decision to give our lives, back to HIM! and perhaps our lives will be lived like artwork on a wall! Speaking volumes and drawing others to live for Him too!

The pictures of surrendered servants…

In the midst of terror, we have pictures, pictures of surrendered servants…We can’t hear their voices, but we can…If you stop to hear, you can – you can.
You might not go to church, but you most likely are getting ‘the news’, so take time to listen, take time to hear.
Pictures of quiet amidst anger and terror, “Be Still and know I AM God,” was their pose. They called on His Name, they called on His Name, and they called Him again. They are our teachers, they knew ‘The Way’. There’s nothing ‘close-minded’ when watching a follower of ‘Truth’. The peace amidst terror proves Jesus was present, a very present help, an escape, a Door! Jesus Himself said, “I am the Way, truth and the LIFE”, life-forevermore!
It’s as if their stories are written in the hymns of old: “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! Power, all power surely is Thine! touch me and heal me, Savior divine!”
Wisdom did call out, and He’s calling today. In the voices of the martyrs we presently see everyday. You see ‘wisdom has been calling aloud in the streets'(Proverbs 1:20), but we’ve been moving so fast, most don’t stop to retreat. Wisdom cries at the head of noisy crossings and in chief gathering places, and even at the entrance of city gates, (Proverbs 1:21), but there’s no time for Jesus, not just yet, not just now…but we do enjoy the sweet voices singing God’s grace to be shed, Oh, how we enjoy the sweet voices, the sweet voices, and how…
Wisdom called, and the ones that gave ear, it seems have been treated in contempt, yet God is drawing them near, Nearer to Him, He promises to guard their path. Yes, He gives ear to their cry. His Spirit is poured out and grace abundant is given, they are watched by discretion and kept in understanding, and ultimately delivered from the evil man.(Proverbs 2:12). There is provision. Yes, those that hear Wisdom’s call, they ‘shall dwell securely'(Proverbs 1:33), and in ‘confident trust’ they shall be quiet without fear, nor dread of evil’ (Proverbs 1:33), because Wisdom has called, and Wisdom has called…you can know Him by name, the surrendered servants , they knew that great Name!
His Name is faithful,He’s conquered sin and death. Calling on Wisdom, calling on His Name,would carry them from life to LIFE. This they trusted and in stillness remained. And those ugly earthly garments that were put on their bodies would quickly in a moment, in a blinking of an eye be changed to white garments and glory and a crown.
But I don’t believe for one moment in time, that these surrendered servants held tight to their crowns – no, if we could only see them now, they are bowing before the King of all Kings, …
and they have laid their gold crowns at Jesus’ scarred feet.
Perhaps a church is not where you frequent, but God shares His mystery even in dark places. His Name was called in the darkest hour, and the lives of surrendered servants sing a song we must all know: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name I know, Fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.” The song they sing, they sing today, because in Jesus Name, they found everlasting life! May their voice be heard and you now heed the sound of Wisdom that cries out…yes, Wisdom cries…all around:
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.   Selah.
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; god will help her when the morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. the LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.     Selah.
“Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.(Psalm 46).

"I once was lost, but now I'm found"…the heart of one who finally 'sees'.

You’ve prepared a Table, and I’ve come at last, The broken bread, the poured out wine, were just memories of the past.
But today I’ve come, to the Table again, God, You know me, You’ve watched, I’ve broken Your heart, and not only Yours – Can I make a new start?
Which way am I going? Do I even know its end? It’s the end of ‘not caring’ – God help me care,  help me bend.
Revive me again, O Lord, You’re in my heart, but I’ve quenched Your great Spirit, forgive me, don’t depart.
I need you like all the old songs sing, like the flower needs the rain, refresh me again-
You forgive, You forgive,  You forgive evermore, take my hard heart and make it soft as before.
For You are the Potter, and I am the clay, mold me and break me and make me a new- that I would once more give wholehearted Praise, in simplicity, to You.
To You alone, I give You Praise, revive me O LORD and change my ways.
That my feet, that my hands, that my lips that speak, would give glory to You, Oh, God – my flesh is so weak –
So I ask from my heart at Your Table today, revive me again, make my spirit willing, time…
and time…
again.
Be my Savior, forgive all my sin, and may Your face shine upon me, yes, shine upon me, forever – forever and again.
Thank you for preparing this Table for me,  even in the presence of all my enemies, but today I come and I have come at last, what took me so long, Your love is so steadfast!
I see Your sacrifice was made just for me, I love You Lord Jesus. Thank You for First loving me.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Not just a 'same 'ol meal!'

To help us in the kitchen so we aren’t forced to prepare that ‘same ‘ol meal’, the food channel invites us in their kitchen providing instruction to prepare a fine table and delicious food, even from the ‘same ‘ol ingredients’ at times!
And of the Bible, are there not many, many wonderful locations to turn that invite satisfying rest, contentment, renewal and refreshment? Oh, how hungry we become daily for these things. How thirsty we are at times.
God’s word, even the most familiar of passages, wait to be opened and ‘chewed on’: “I’m here! “I’m here!”, He speaks in His quiet and still voice.
Beyond the dullness of the cover and what we think ‘seemingly rigid and plain content’ – when we make the choice to turn to some ‘fine’ instruction and food for the soul- oh how satisfied we become!
Oh how changed, refreshed and renewed our soul becomes! We become touched by the King, as we partake of a meal with the King of Kings.
Even perhaps a most familiar location, Psalm 23 provides a continual feast! CH Spurgeon’s heart sang this poem so rich and revealing of the King’s precious grace after writing of this ‘ol familiar place:
“He leads me to the place where heavenly pasture grows,
Where living waters gently pass, and full salvation flows.”
“If e’er I go astray, He doth my soul reclaim; and guides me in His own right way, for His most Holy Name.”(Ch Spurgeon’s devotional Bible, of Ps. 23).
This is what the Word can do! It can make wise hearts who heed to sing! Snack on this through the course of the day and discover contentment along the way. Even with ‘ingredients’ as familiar as this, when recited once, twice and even more through the day, you will discover this is not just that ‘same ‘ol’ meal. It’s new every day with great nourishment and truth,
” The Lord is my Shepherd”…yet He is a King! And not only that, He’s the King of all Kings, but add this to the flavors, add this to make it so sweet, He’s MY Shepherd, He’s MY King! Yes, this Jesus, He’s MINE!
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” This is a meal most satisfying, so refreshing! Open up the Word, even those familiar places, and discover it’s not just that ‘same ‘ol meal ‘.
The Spirit will show you, it’s ‘fine dining’ with the King in His presence, in His house with His most precious treasure, yes , that would be …you and me.

When winter comes,…(In honor of my friends that held on for spring!)

Has ‘winter’ hit? “For the times, they are a changing” sings a song from years gone by, but the words ‘ring’ true today with great clarity. Change often comes like a ‘blast of winter!’ Has life suddenly been hit with ‘winter’… a time of darkness and cold? A time of silence and question? A time of challenge and hardship? Seasons change however! They come, and we must remember, seasons go. Winter does turns to spring. God does that. But first, we have to ‘get through the winter!’
Job was afflicted with winter, and his thoughts are recorded: “So I have been allotted months of futility, And wearisome nights have been appointed to me…” (Job 7:3). How do we get through the ‘winter?’ When ‘your soul clings to the dust’, God breathes in His word: “Revive me according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:25).

Stories revive us. God’s stories revive us. The stories declaring God’s work in other’s lives revive us! When winter comes and the motion and color of the world have been ‘knocked out of us’, God help us to ‘Fret Not,'( Psalm 37:1!) and help us to Be Still and read not just ‘a’ good book, but THE GOOD BOOK, and speak to one another Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs that we might be revived even before the revival.
C.H. Spurgeon writes in his devotional, “Beside Still Waters”: The Battle is God’s – Receive a fresh assurance of God’s goodness, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15).May the Holy Spirit bear witness to this sweet promise. May He strengthen and comfort you, and may you be delivered even before deliverance comes.”
I share a picture story – imagine 1887, a young woman who survived the Civil War as a teenager, who kept up her studies in school amidst great trial, who loved the Lord and made choices to please Him. This young woman was hired to teach in a school by the name of “the Northern Home for Friendless Children”(…what thoughts come to mind after reading a name like that?!)
So, one day, in this Northern Home for Friendless Children, Eliza E. Hewitt, age 35 at the time, was struck by an unruly student. A slate was slammed across her, severely injuring her back. In 1887, if you found yourself with a severe injury to the back, you were placed in a heavy cast for 6 months! Eliza was only 35 years old, yet she probably , in her long term immobility began to doubt she would even walk again! Can we say that Eliza was ‘hit’ with winter!
How do we get through WINTER? Well, needless to say, Eliza had no where to go. But instead of ‘fret’, it is evident that she devoted some of that time to Bible reading. How do I know? The story goes that after the cast was finally removed in early 1887, she was encouraged to take a short walk in the park. That very day, a hymn was penned by Eliza E. Hewitt called “Sunshine in My Soul”. Her winter had turned to spring:
“There is sunshine in my soul today, More glorious and bright Than glows in any earthly sky, for Jesus is my light.”
“Other’s sunshine, blessed sunshine, When the peaceful happy moments roll. When Jesus shows His smiling face, There is sunshine in my soul.”
“There is music in my soul today, A carol to my King; And Jesus, listening can hear The songs I cannot sing.”
“Other’s sunshine, blessed sunshine, When the peaceful happy moments roll. When Jesus shows his smiling face, There is sunshine in my soul.”
“There is springtime in my soul today, for when the Lord is near The dove of peace sings in my heart, The flow’rs of grace appear.”
“Other’s sunshine, blessed sunshine, When the peaceful happy moments roll. When Jesus shows his smiling face, There is sunshine in my soul.”
“There is gladness in my soul today, And hope and praise and love, for blessings which He gives me now, For joys ‘laid up’ above!”
I honor again, some friends who are no longer with us, but are an evident part of our lives even today. Changes came upon them suddenly, winter arrived in their lives like a harsh-cold blast. But ‘Fret not’ they heeded, as best they could trusting and waiting and hoping in God. Committing their way to the LORD, they did. And believing God’s word saying, “And He shall bring it to pass.”(Ps. 37:5).
Yes, I honor my friends for this is their witness: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5).
I write to give honor to God and to make mention of these friends, because God called their names, personally, and they answered His call. And a tough winter came, but God was faithful to bring spring: God called and said, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away.””Fo lo, the winter is past,…”
“The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come…” (Song of Solomon 2:10-12).

I honor my friends by sharing Eliza’s hymn and story, because they lived lives that sang: “Other’s sunshine, blessed sunshine, When the peaceful happy moments roll. When Jesus shows His smiling face, There is sunshine in my soul.”