Lame at the pool? God's story resurrects us to move!

Have you heard the story that begins in John 5? Read it again, to refresh you mind: 

“Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which … called Bethesda … surrounded by five … colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.”

Perhaps, today we fit in some dis-abled body, blind in not knowing what direction to go, or which way is right. Lame, with brokenness that often brings fear and lonely nights. Or paralyzed, unable to make a move at all. Where fear makes the decisions, and faith has no call. Sheep we are, needing help at the gate. We believe we are victims, while the world whirls on.

Are our minds always doubting – is there no fear of God? Is there One who can make our crooked ways, straight? Read the story through – John 5 verse 8.

“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.”

(Thirty-eight years? This thought in John 5 verse 4, can bring us to tears.)

 “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition … a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’

“Of course he does,” we say to ourselves, but then the next thought pierces through to our hearts: “Do you want to get well?”

 “Did Jesus just learn of our miserable plight? Have we not talked to Him, the One who is able? The One with All-Might?  Can we learn anything from this man’s excuse:

“‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool …  While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down …

ahead of me.’

Yes, I have to confess, that I look out for help, and not up so much of the time.

I am guilty  …

of going it alone, doing it ‘my way’. Fear makes the call, and I let Doubt speaks his mind.

 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’  At once the man was cured; …”
At once, the man was cured. Not in a day or a weak, but immediately! This is the Word of God in John 5 verse 8. Do we let the words sink in and believe? What did the man who met Jesus do?
Today, can I see that Jesus is talking to me, and possibly … you?
So much for ‘meek and mild.’ Jesus’ Words are power!
So what was the choice of the man at the pool near the gate, after Jesus met him and exhorted, “Get up and walk?”
” … he picked up his mat and walked.” This man couldn’t do that – but he did! He obeyed.
“Do you want to be well?”  was the question from God. “Then ‘get up’ right now, and make no provision for failure. Move forward, away from this place.”
Jesus is here, Jesus is speaking. He is the One able and willing. “Today, today,  Lord Jesus I choose, to ‘go down’ in surrender – on my knees, yes today,…
to give up my fight. My fight against You. You’re the One who is able to forgive me and heal me and make me to stand. You give me sight, and strength to my soul. Jesus, I’m willing to turn to You and follow, with mat in my hand,
Faith-full, instead of Doubt-full – will You help me?
I believe,  Lord Jesus, You’ve got my tomorrow.
 
 

The evergreen, in the midst of night …

The evergreen is brought in, this time again. Adorned with lights, and gifts, and angels of white, baubles of red and garlands of thread. With my thoughts ringing, “Do not be afraid, …”  remembering what the angel said.
“So much has changed.” as I hang a nativity up on the tree. “Dear God, I need You to speak in such a time as this. Please don’t be silent. I’m tempted to doubt that I can get through this …
So I open up the story, told over and again, and I read the words of the angel to Mary, from a long, lost time, from way back when: “… for you have found grace with God … you will give birth to a Son and  you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the most High … and of his reign there will be no end.”
Luke Chapter 1 verse 33, Amplified. And, then You hear my heart cry, “Oh God, what does all this mean for me? In the midst of the night, let me hear, let me rest. Let me simply sit in this uncomfortable – ness!
So, I sit. In the night. But I marvel at the sight. Amidst anxious thoughts, wrestling to overthrow my rest and peace, I look upon the evergreen.
“For with God nothing is ever impossible, and no word from God shall be without power …” the Amplified version of Luke 1:37 speaks. I read them, and I wonder, “Do I believe?
Do I really believe the Word of God? Or only on sunflower days, and when the sod is soft and green. do I believe God when all seems against all my understanding?”
So as I look at the evergreen in the room. Adorned with lights, and gifts, and angels of white, I see the baubles of red, and remember the blood that was shed. I see the garland of thread, and think of the Good Word I have read:
Mary’s response to the news of the angel: “My soul glorifies the Lord
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, …”
Somehow I forgot Luke 1:47. How could I miss the response that was given.
“Oh dear Lord, may I choose to rejoice as well, and worship You, for, …
 “…for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant …
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.”
This is the story, Luke 1:48-50. These are the words breathed by God, to tell –
to tell me that today, even in the midst of night, that He is great and will extend mercy, even on me, all the same. “Give me grace, dear Lord Jesus, to magnify and give You my praise, through my heart’s tears and through the dark rain. The Son dwells in my heart forever. The Son Of God does great things,
and this Christmas, I will again, believe.
“O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

Can you, will you, brush away the tears?

This morning, you have a choice. Does your heart yearn for God, do you pray, “Speak LORD, Your servant hears.” (1) or do you think you already know the words He has to say?
The thorns and thistles of life have brought temptation – to doubt and believe the LORD has left you alone on your way.
I write for myself, these words are for me. But if by chance they are speaking to you, read on as we wrestle with God together. Are we God’s ‘fair weather friends’ or are we still His – when the floods come or it’s typhoon weather?
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want . . .” Psalm 23:1. Do you hear Him call you to trust Him deeper still? Do you hear Him, are you willing to obey His will?
But, “I’m wanting Lord.” You say in your heart. “I’m needy and helpless. I don’t know how to trust.”
But, there is a willingness inside. There is, though weak, you cry out beside:
“Speak Lord, Your servant is listening,”

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs, the Book of wisdom. Chapter 3 verse 5 and 6. Do we dare submit and really believe this?

Believing God, is an Olympic feat, at best, “Make me to lie down and open my eyes that I might take notice that the pastures are green. Oh, God, I need rest.”

 Is this your prayer to the Lord in the morning? Will you be humble and yielded and give Him praise in the evening? What if nothing is going your way? Does that change God? Does that change your trust in Him?

We must remember, if ‘Jesus wept,'(2) then surely in this life, we will weep as well. “Dear Lord, don’t let my affliction grow greater than You. May I not seek sufficiency from wells, dry and broken, but may I go to You and listen to the words You have spoken.”

“Can you, will you, brush away the tears?” (I hear the Lord whisper this in my ears.)

 So will you reply, (as I ask myself this question), ‘Speak to me LORD, your servant hears.’ 

“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”(3) “I have spoken. Do not be tempted to doubt. I will fill you with My Spirit that your faith will abound. Will you choose to make me Lord and submit? This is the power of God to you. I offer it . . .”

“For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
 For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.” “This is My word from Lamentations. (4) Walk in this. Give fear no reservations.”

We can, we will, you and I together will cast all our cares upon our Shepherd today, and feed on His faithfulness and all He has to say:

in Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul . . .  and Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

We can, we will remember God is able – for now and for all time.

 “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”(5)

(1) 1 Samuel 3:9.
(2) John 11:35.
(3) Isaiah 43:1-3.
(4) Lamentations 3:31,32.
(5) Hebrews 5:7-9.

Health-ful; thoughts for this Christmas

Every human being, as early as 2, experiences an earthly proverb: No pain, no gain.
The 2 year old desiring the prize must first pick up toys that are all over the floor. The 4 year old must spend time on their letters before being able to play. The 6 year old must do their reading before going outside.
The student must write that paper before the free time. Or what about picking up that instrument, even for 5 minutes before watching the game, etc., etc. We all know this story.
There is no gain, it’s true, unless their is a dying of some sort inside. Oh, that we would keep in the front of our thoughts and our mind – All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23.

In desiring to stay ‘healthy’ during this Christmas season, healthy inside and out, in mind and body we must first Stop and consider, which things go first, which things go next, one at a time. Or else we will be scattered and anxious and good for nothin’ and restlessness will take the reigns instead of enjoying this present moment and all God has for us.
What does all this have to do with ‘not gaining without pain?’ Everything . . .
You see we must first ‘stop- drop and turn from the fiery inferno of stress and we must first seek the Lord of our righteousness.
If it is true ‘we can do nothing’ without Him – the branch is nothing apart from the Vine-
Then we must abide and take shelter under the shadow of God’s wings, and seek His face and bring Him praise.
It’s painful for some to ‘be still’.  To ‘stop’ and pray. Praying is labor. It’s hard stuff.But it’s ‘health-full’ when we remember praying is profitable.
If a ‘Martha temperament’ is taking over- but ‘health’ is on the list for Christmas this year, we must move ‘Martha over’ for a moment or two and do the 1st work of prayer.
To seek the Lord’s face.
The Great Physician who created our beings, says: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. The Book of Matthew chapter 6 verse 33, speaks so simply . . .
“Lord, teach us to pray.”
“Search me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my fears…” (Ps. 139:23).
“I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby. Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh. I need Thee, O I need Thee. Every hour I need Thee. . .
O bless me now my Saviour, I come to Thee.”
Bless me with peace, that I abide in Your presence, . . .
You are the Prince of Peace – so first- in our Christmastime hustle may we make ‘health-ful decisions and seek Jesus continually, to guide us and fill us with His love, and that it will remain flowing. That, perhaps our present to our loved ones this year, will simply to be ‘living in the present, and ‘really be there’ this year.
Now that sounds like ‘great gain’ indeed. Great gain, when take time to pray.

When the counselor is hidden in a devotional

So I wake. I sit with coffee and thoughts. But on the table is a devotional.
‘Beside Still Waters’ by CH Spurgeon, sits there with it wooing title, ‘Come, and sit beside still waters . . .’
So I pick it up and open it to a random page: “No Smell of Fire.” (Daniel 3:27).
I read on: “When you cherish Christ, the things of the world are of little value, and their loss is not heavily felt.”
‘Cherish?’ The word stops me in my tracks.
I think of traditional wedding vows,  to love and to cherish. Spurgeon incites me to think, “When you cherish Christ . . .”
“Do I cherish Christ?” for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer? Can I? Do I cherish Christ? as long as I live?
But then it hits me – Death will never part us, if we have received the gift that God has given us, with our personal names written on His Son’s sacrifice on the cross. Instead of a bow on the greatest gift to the world, His blood was shed that we would be washed, white as snow. This is what the Good Book says. The Lord loves me so.
“My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies.” This is the Song of all Songs, Song of Solomon 2:16.
Do I cherish Christ? This is the question. And so continues CH Spurgeon: “When you cherish Christ, the things of the world are of little value, and their loss is not heavily felt. If you feel your losses and if your trials are so ponderous that Christ’s love cannot lift you from the dust, then you have made too much of the world and too little of Him.”
“I see a pair of balances. I see on one scale the loss…, but I perceive on the other scale the great love of Christ. Now we will see which weighs the most. If Jesus lifts the light affliction, all is well, but if the trouble outweighs Jesus, then it is indeed ill for us.” (Spurgeon, beside Still Waters, pg. 161).

The devotion counsels with gentleness. Yet, kicks me hard in the midst of the world’s darkness: “If you are so depressed by your trials that you cannot rejoice, even though your name is written in heaven, then I think you do not love Jesus as you should.”
“Get delightful thoughts of Him, and you will feel as if you lost a pebble but preserved a diamond. If you have a high sense of your Master’s preciousness, you will rejoice in the deepest distress. The sweet love of Christ, when placed on the deepest wound the soul can ever know, heals at once.”
I will repeat words perhaps this sheep forgets: “The sweet love of Christ, when placed on the deepest wound the soul can ever know, heals at once.”
Beside Still Waters, has spoken to me, and even given words of the prayers we must pray: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Be within us, and we will make no choice of situations. Put us in Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace (Daniel 3:20); if Jesus walks the glowing coals as a companion, the fire will have no power, the hairs of our heads will not be singed, our garments will not be affected, and even the smell of fire will not be on them ” (Dan. 3:27).
So I pray for myself this morning as well, “Bring to remembrance, bring revival in my heart. Dear Jesus, mold me, and make into a new lump of clay and create in me a loving heart as I walk through my day. Teach me what it means to ‘cherish You, Lord.’ That I might be a blessing this Christmas. Help me spend time in Your word.” In Jesus name, Amen. and Amen again.
 

Struggling to see light this Christmas . . .

“O soul are you weary and troubled. No light in the darkness you see. There’s a light for a look at the Savior and life more abundant and free.” (1)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, a hymn quite familiar to many, speaks compassion and comfort for the brokenhearted and lonely. God says, “Speak of the hymns,” in His Book of Ephesians. So, speak we will, seeking a light for a look at the Great Physician.
Others are praying in this time of great pain. Prayers going out during this dark of night. But greater still – Jesus is praying – He, the giver and keeper of Life itself.  The King greater than all other Kings, He’s praying for us. The prayers, “Through these tears – “O Lord,Give us sight, through this  darkness and night.”
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (2)

“Behold the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him, Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. He will feed His flock like as shepherd; He will gather His lambs in His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” this is Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 10 and 11. These are words breathed out straight from heaven.

Chapter 30 verse 5 in the Book of Psalms:  “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

“Oh Lord God, give us sight. Give some relief as we wait and are tempted to wonder, ‘why.‘ Open our eyes for spiritual things. We are weak, our mouths are so dry . . .

“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” The LORD speaks, He is our Immanuel, yesterday and today. He is near, forever.

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double (forgiveness) for all her sins.” (3) This is the word that will not fail, this is the Word of our Immanuel.

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill shall be made low …” (4)

Oh, how we need to be reminded that God, the Creator of the Universe – He’s in control.

“The crooked places shall be made straight, And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”(5)

These are promises given for our hearts to take hold. When there’s darkness and pain and endless oppression, we must remind ourselves, ‘the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’

“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, …but the word of our God stands forever. O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain, . . . You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities, . . . “Behold your God!” (6)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (7)
There’s a light for a look at the Savior . . . His word shall not fail you, He’s promised . . . Over us sin no more hath dominion – For more than conquerors we are!
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (8)
The light has been given, the weak hands that hang down, are strengthened to hold the sword of God’s word. Nothing has changed, save the spirit inside us, now transformed and encouraged to hope and have faith and to love – Victorious!
 There’s a light for a look at the Savior. A light, so abundant and free : God’s love never fails … For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. (9)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
 (1) Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

(2) John 10:11

(3) Isaiah 40:1,2.

(4) Isaiah 40:3,4a.

(5) Isaiah 40:4b,5.

(6) Isaiah 40:6-9.

(7) Romans 8:34.

(8) Romans 8:37-39.

(9) 1 Corinthians 13:8,12).

The People Keep a Comin,' but the Train's . . .

The people keep a comin’ and the train done gone. Do you remember an old Christmas spiritual called, Mary Had a Baby? Today, I think on this St. Helena Island Spiritual.
It has deep soul and sweet simplicity: Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes my Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes Lord,
People keep a-comin’ an’ the train done gone.
There is natural melody, even if the true melody is unknown. But, I can’t stop thinking about the phrase,  People keep a-comin’ an’ the train done gone.
There was a lot going on then.  (Which doesn’t take away from thae fact that there is a lot going on now.) 
This story isn’t only about the past, this story is about today, right now, this very moment. Mary had a baby, yes, Lord.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up . . . out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to . . . Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, Luke 2:4.
OK, now it makes sense: The people keep a comin, but what about the thought, the train done gone?
The kids sing it so simply: Mary had a baby. Yes, Lord.  The familiar Bible Story, found in Luke 2 and Matthew 1.
What did she name Him? Yes Lord?
What did she name Him, yes my Lord,
What did she name Him, Yes, Lord, …
A virgin shall be with Child and they shall call His name, Immanuel. Matthew 1:23.
 Immanuel, God with us. Mary had a Baby and He is God with us. 
The people keep-a-coming, and the train done gone. Have we missed something. Have we missed the Everything?
 
The word of God is living. It’s alive. It rings true yesterday, today, and forever: At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. Luke 2:1.
We’re traveling here and there. Days are busy. We are occupied with important things. We are “counting” on many things.
Does this song bring about an urgency? Is there a “train” we might miss?
Do we really have time to seek out this Jesus?
 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord…what did she name Him? Yes,  my Lord… ‘She named Him King Jesus, Yes Lord, …the people keep a coming but the train done gone.”
Have we put Jesus in the barn?
Let us wake up to the sounds of angels. The birth announcement is made: Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid, Luke 2:8.
And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” 
 A Savior has been born to you.
To me, to you, to everyone in the whole world: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
The Immanuel has here.
He is Savior of the world. That Babe left all His glory of heaven to be born in a barn and wrapped in a few rags for me, for you. Today, the story is true.
‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord. The glory train is here today. Let us choose to get on, right now, for Love has come.
Mary had a baby, Yes lord!
The people keep-a-coming and the train’s all mine. I see it, and I’ve boarded, will you join me this time?
 
 

Guilty. But, Jesus

Adultery? Are we all guilty? We, believers in God through the Son He has sent- we are the  Bride of Christ. We are the Church. If Jesus is the Bridegroom, then aren’t we guilty of adultery as well, putting so much attention on stuff in this world and not giving attention to the wedding at hand?
So, the story is told in the Book of John, chapter 8,  that God has come into the temple, And He, Jesus in fact,  begins to write in the dirt: “This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  John 8:6. Two thousand years before, it was the finger of God who wrote on stone tablets, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14.
The Religious Leaders came as policemen asking  about the punishment this woman, caught in adultery, should receive.  Jesus spoke: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
One by one, they slipped away, beginning with the oldest even to the last. (Yes, this is how it is written in John 8 verse 9). ‘And Jesus was left alone – with the woman standing in the midst. “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
This is the voice of the Lord.  And she answered, “No one, Lord.”
“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (These are the words of Jesus, no pointing of the finger in John chapter 8 verse 11.)
Do you think the woman lifted her head to look in His eyes?  Jesus comes today to forgive our sin.
Am I willing to hear Him and lift up my head? Am I willing to receive his forgiveness and go – and walk in the light? No more hiding in the night.
If Jesus is the Bridegroom, and we are the Bride if Christ, shall we go now giving attention to the wedding at hand?
“The marriage feast of the Lamb ” (Revelation 19:6) is coming! Is the Bride making herself ready? Our Bridegroom, Jesus – does He have first place in our heart?

 We’ve all failed to be faithful! We’ve all missed the mark. What are we to do? We must hear the voice of our Lord:

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord requires of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Are our ears open to hear His gentle and compassionate voice: “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
I pray for myself, I pray for you, that we lift up our chins and make this very choice.

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said  to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” This is in the Book of Revelation, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The Story is written, the invitations are going out! Revelation 19 reminds us: Let us be glad and rejoice, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come.
Let us be a Bride that makes herself ready! Yes, no? We all have the choice.
 

Where's the App? Directions? … God's word

Where’s the App that will let me know what’s ahead? Where’s the GPS to guide me through the next step?

“Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken:” Make no mistake, the prophet reveals,  this is the word of the Lord, and He bids all to hear.

This is the voice of God’s Holy Word.  He seems to call aloud to everyone. Exclamation points in place, New International Version, Isaiah, chapter 1. 

Breathed out by the breath of God, the One who made us, not we ourselves. He sees, He watches, He’s ever present and powerful. He knows our name. He has a plan, He knows what He’s doing. His thoughts are not ours. He is God Almighty, He’s the great I AM.

Do we hear? Do we remember? “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm One Hundred, eleven. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning,” found again, in Proverbs 9:10.

At this time, do we care? This is important to ask. Who’s voice do we hear?  Oh children of the world, “Wake up, fast!”

“I reared children and brought them up,
    but they have rebelled against me.
 The ox knows its master,
    the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,
    my people do not understand.”  The Lord speaks to he who has ears. Words printed in Isaiah 1.

These words came off the tongue of the Lord. His heart speaks. There are no contractions. Do we take time to see for ourselves, or do we simply think we know it all too well?

 “Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
    children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
    and turned their backs on him.” These are the words spoken by the prophet, Isaiah chapter 1. 

The Book is living water. Are we thirsty for the well?

Where have we turned our backs, is the question. Have we turned them on God? Let’s stop and have reflection.

  “Why should you be beaten anymore?

    Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured,
    your whole heart afflicted.
6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
    there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts
    and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged
    or soothed with olive oil.” Isaiah 1: 2-6.

Which direction? Is there a remedy? Where is a reliable fix? If peace is what is desired, the accuser is not the Lord. The accuser is the devil- sin is the reproach.

But God has made a way. He is the Way, you know. He sent His Son – His blood poured out. To atone us, everyone.  To make us at-one with Him. His blood was shed to redeem us. His arm is not short, His ears hear. His name is forever, to bring hope, and peace and salvation, to all the children everywhere.

“Wash and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
    stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; …” Isaiah chapter 1:16,17. But don’t think for a minute, that this is about you! The only righteousness in you, can be in be-liev-ing.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

It is time to seek the Lord.” …seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1 proclaims,  but the power behind all of this – 

is in the name of Jesus.

Remember the angel and the words proclaimed: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2 verse 10.

The Messiah is born, and a sign was given: A baby in a manger. The shepherds, the star. Have we forgotten? Are our hearts far?

Let’s turn around as John the Baptist suggested and see,  “… the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:9. 

Instead of our backs, let us turn our face – to the Lord. Acknowledge Him. Believe He came for us. Call out His name,seek His promises to guide us.

His name is Jesus, sad hearts weep no more. He has healed the broken hearted open wide the prison doors, He is able to deliver – evermore.”

If you need help with the praise part, open Psalm 111. Read aloud and watch your mind be transformed:

“Praise the Lord.

I will extol the Lord with all my heart
    in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2 Great are the works of the Lord;
    they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
    giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
    he ordained his covenant forever—
    holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 111. Amen.

What's glorious? Being together

What’s glorious? Huge colorful mountains, vast rippling seas?
Yes, and when people gather together, share the same space with no agenda except to be together and simply, be.
Let’s face it, being human in this broken world brings us all to a common bond, faced with daily struggle and trial. Not to diminish the fact that many are faced with crisis, recent loss of health or loved one, or other.
These words sound so dry, yet the pain is excruciating for one in crisis. Where hearts feel as if physically bleeding, and the pain becomes consuming. The clouds of darkness hover over and it’s hard to see any good.
But the Bible reminds us what is good, when we feel as if we are spinning in a whirlwind of pain and would rather be alone instead-“Oh, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Ps. 133:1). 
This is good. This is pleasant. Brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, moms, dads, grans and grants – not all at once, but brethren, with some common ground, being together …
In unity. This is the heart and mind of God.
God, the One Whom sent His Son to earth, to show us the Way, and even how to pray, in this very familiar manner: Our Father in heaven. The Bible doesn’t say, “My Father in heaven,” it says, “Our Father …”
“Oh, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
There is usually food involved in all this. And this involves hands, and so becomes need for helpers. Ice breaks, hearts beat again, by the simple warmth of togetherness.
So, somehow today, I hear words in my ear, “Just do it!”  Get together and celebrate life. Celebrate all things beautiful.
And may we remember that we are being prayed for by the One who holds our heart, even it be bruised and broken, He tenderly cares.  Jesus prayed to His Father:
“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—” The Book of John, chapter 17, verses 20-22.
Jesus has given us the glory that the Father gave the Son? Maybe we don’t experience that glory until we ‘let go’ of all we’re holding on to, and ‘let God’ bring us to a place of unity.
” … complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:2-4).
Could it be, that the One who made us, knows what will bring us happiness?  Unity, all glorious.
How can we understand God’s glory? Hear the prayer of the Son:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17 verses 1-5.

A time to gather together. This brings glory to the Father. But perhaps, so much more that we can comprehend at the moment.

Unity opens us up that we might have confidence and joy for all of eternity: “…that they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21).
Christ the center, that we might all someday see …

 

"Can we reason together?" asks the LORD

“Oh world, are you angry and troubled? Do you forget to walk careful with fear … not ‘fear’ as you listen to restless thoughts of man, but ‘the fear of the LORD’,  which is the beginning of wisdom. (1)
“Look out!” they yell and seek their own view. “Look up!” My voice speaks. I give peace, hope, and understanding to you.
“The church has caused great pain and appears to have pointing fingers.”
“Don’t you see, it’s the sin of man that brings condemnation? I have come. I AM Savior. There is no condemnation to those who are in Me.”(2)
“Come, and let us reason together. Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” (3) I was sent by My Father, and willingly died on a tree.”
But that could not hold Me. I rose from the dead.(4) Where do you set your mind? Where is your mind set?  Look to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” (5)
“I will show you great and mighty things that you know not yet. (6) I Am the LORD.”
Don’t look out toward the strife and the wars, Look Up to find wisdom to cope. “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the world…”(7)
“I didn’t leave you as orphans alone, (8) I left you with My Spirit and the Word. Receive Them. Don’t reject. “Be still and know that I Am God.” (9) Pull the Good Book from off of the shelf. Have an open heart and mind, and see …
for …
yourself.
I love you with outstretched arms forever. If I seem distant, I dwell in thankful hearts and praises.
Look up to Me. My name is Jesus.”
(1) Proverbs 9:10.
(2) Romans 8:1.
(3) Isaiah 1:18.
(4) Matthew 28:6.
(5) Matthew 11:28.
(6) Jeremiah 33:3.
(7) Colossians 3:2.
(8) John 14:18.
(9) Psalm 46:10.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Ps. 147:3.

“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3.
Sometimes, when there is nothing to hold on to, or it seems as if there is no place to go, refuge and comfort for the soul can be found in God’s Holy Word alone:
“He heals … Psalms One Hundred Forty Seven verse Three.
and maybe that’s as far as we can go somedays. But there is hope in the words, ‘He heals.’
Because, God’s Word is true. He speaks what is. Whether we can believe it or not. There is no shadow of turning with God. God is love, (1 John 4:8). 
God doesn’t get moody and irritated. He doesn’t just walk out the door. He doesn’t give up on anybody. He is Holy and righteous. God is all-together lovely. God is love – yesterday, today, and forever.
There is no One like God. Doctors can bring about healing, but ‘He heals.’
He is big enough for our unbelief. He loves in a way that’s never-ending. Can we ever fully understand all that?
He knows this broken world we live in, so His perfect word spells out in black and white letters on the page: “He heals the broken hearted.”
And maybe we can only get that far, but when we close the Book, we grope for some light in the dark tunnel. And, it shines,
so gently,
so quietly,
but it’s there:
‘He heals the broken-hearted.’
And, nothing makes sense, and the pain is unbearable, but then those words come back in a whisper, and somehow,
I’m not sure how,*
but the thoughts make the next breath possible to endure: ‘He heals the broken-hearted.’
And God, who is amazing and knows everything, knows that the Book will be opened again, just to look at what’s next.
The black and white letters on a page, that’s all they are, but Somehow so much more.
God, He breathed out the words, and whether or not, right now we can even believe they are true, God says, He not only heals, but He  binds up … their wounds.”
*Yes, we can actually Know how.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, three in One. They will never leave us. The Holy Spirit reveals what is true, and the mystery is, in our hunger and thirst, we finally seek, Truth:
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4: 7-9).
Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k]neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8:34-38)

This is a comfort to our affliction: “Thy Word has given me life.” (Psalm 119:50.

“He heals. The broken-hearted. And He binds up their wounds.”

 
 
 
 

Tune me again Lord, and again . . .

“Tune it up. It’s flat.”
When an instrument’s out of tune, it  brings about a stop. Before moving on, it’s got to be tuned.
So, with a turn of a peg, or a bit more complicated maneuver, an instrument is brought back to position, that harmony may once again be brought to the ear.
If it were only that easy for the human race.
Our hearts go out of tune. Sometimes by our own hard strums, but also by outward bumps and hits.
But who can tune a heart?
We try, and we fail. The task is too hard.
Words were penned way back in 1757. Robert Robinson wrote a familiar hymn. A turning of the head, can prove to any stubborn heart—remedy and hope for today.
Read aloud, or sung alone, there’s something supernatural when we desperately need a new tune.
Let it go, and let the sound out.  Speak with me old words, that perhaps they are our help to turn our head and tune our heart.
Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing/Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet/Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy unchanging love
A battle rages.  Our eyes haven’t been fixed upon the mount. We forgot that with God, streams of mercy never cease. Our eyes haven’t sung melodious psalms. We forgot that unlike any man, God’s has unchanging love.
 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” Luke 22:31,32 speaks clearly words that we feel are our reality.
The hymn. The hymn. Let’s remind ourselves of God’s faithful presence and peace:

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy great help I’ve come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

Our hearts can’t believe in any love like this. So we will continue to read aloud, our remedy, God’s bliss:

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let that grace now, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

God, help us!  Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.
Here is the turn that will bring back the harmony again:
“Here’s my heart Lord,
take,
and seal it,
seal it for Thy courts above.”
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” Luke 22:31,32. 

words from mom of 11: "I'm never having any kids!"

When an editor mentioned that they were looking for interesting stories of change, I thought, “Hmm, A young single always saying: “I’m never having kids,” and later became a mom of eleven.
Perhaps there’s a story that might ignite some curiosity.
It starts with my name Toni ‘stu’ Born. The middle name given to me by my mom when she was exasperated with my stubbornness, and the last name, very German, given to me by my dad, Ernst Edward Born.
Stubborn was my middle and last name. Head-strong, with more energy than 5 people could need in a day, and smart, (from my dad who had some amazing brains being a surgeon and an oncologist in his day.)
Setting off to school, being disillusioned with the University, next came an audition to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena,CA. In the middle of all that, I had an eating disorder, thinking always about food, or how to avoid it, or how to work off what had already been eaten.
Insanity, of which I touched on a bit in previous writing, in which no-one really knew, except my family. But God had a plan.
I asked to transfer for my second year of school at the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts, and the next thing I knew, was this 19 year old was moving to NYC! (I think an exclamation point is appropriate here.)
Mind you, I was now in the middle of ‘food utopia’.
But God, He had a plan.
He got me off the insanity roller-coaster  with His Word, as I, day by day thought about denying the indulgence of destroying myself, moment by moment with my thoughts, which turned into destructive actions.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34. (Hey, and this verse is  repeated three times, found also in Luke 9:23 and Matthew 16:24.) God knows we need to be chewing on this one, past, present, and future.
“What does this have to do with wanting no children to having 11?” you might ask.
“Everything,” I say. Because, I began to live in such a way that I would talk to God, “Your will, not mine be done.” 
So, yes, I married.
O.K., I fast forwarded quite a bit for the sake of word numbers, but that story will be saved for another day),
In reading God’s word daily, falling in love with Genesis, and the Book of John. Loving the Psalms and Proverbs, and the Book of Romans,(and in time, all the 66 Books), I discovered that God’s word was a treasure to me. It was my life. My salvation. My breath.
Oh, yes, I love my husband too, but Jesus was my #1 love always and forever after saving me from my insanity. (And then getting me through birth 11 times, and childhood traumas and cancer.)
Yes, Jesus is my #1 love always and forever.  Just ask my husband, he’s always played the 2nd fiddle – especially after all the kids. Sorry, Mike. Don’t get me wrong, Mike is the man. It’s just that Jesus is the Man!
(Don’t you think an exclamation point is needed after that?)
My patient, loving and persevering husband will tell you stories where he was hit head-on in an  accident, and when he finally was able to come home from the hospital, with 7 kids running around and me expecting our Grace, he had to wait a half-an-hour more for his pain meds. Mike has cried only a few times in our 30 years of marriage, and I think that was the first.
And believe me, I was crying too.
So, the change from having ‘no’ children to having ‘all’ the children can be explained in one word: God.
Why 11?  Well, that was God’s number for us. But, I will make this short: Believe it or not,  God spoke to me through a song. An old hymn.
I was playing for a woman’s retreat 20 years ago and we ended with “I Surrender All”.
“I Surrender all. All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
I felt in my heart, then and there that God was asking me, “Will you give me your womb?”
O my goodness, Nobody does THAT!
But the  Lord put this on my heart, and Mike’s through time, -to trust God with our family.
And Mike ‘waited on the Lord’ (!) to hear this for himself. Exclamation point for all who know Mike, he ‘waits’ on the Lord.
Obviously, Mike heard the calling of God as well. We didn’t want ‘more and more children’. No, we just wanted ‘all’ the children that God had for us.
You see, Mike is a man with the ‘gift’ of faith, where as I simply have faith. (And as small as a mustard seed at times.)
And we continue to seek God and His word, in ‘fear and trembling’ at times with all the pressures of this life, but we hear Jesus simply ask, just as at the start,
“Are you willing to trust Me in this?”
So,  continually Mike and I must make the choice to show up on our knees, with our eyes on Jesus asking, “Show us the way.”
And moment by moment, step by step, He does.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6.
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4.
“This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.” Psalm 119:50.
So, it all started with this, amplified: “Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”
Trusting God is always filled with excitement and blessing.
May we all walk close to Jesus and listen carefully to Him and hear Him speak gently: “Are you willing to trust Me in this?”  And each day we wake, may we make the choice and say, “Yes, Lord. I surrender all.”

From fairy tales to Freedom

 
You see, I grew up with only the fairy tales.
I grew up with the finger’s – crossed and the blown up Easter Bunnies. I grew up with Santa Clause coming to town, and the Tooth Fairy. Some of these are good and fine, and part of being a child– but fears and insecurities and dark thoughts, and … anger, rooted itself deep inside of me – I was choked from enjoying life.
All the believing I was doing, was simply in elementary things – which proved to be like vapors in a cloud.
When I reached, for what I thought had substance, it would only prove disappointing.
I moved away from my home in Arizona to NYC when I was shy of 19 years of age. As weeds in a garden, out of control, an eating disorder was silently taking over my thoughts working its way to destroy every bit of life in me.
I didn’t know what to do with temptations. Always thinking I was fat, thinking of eating or how not to eat, and work off every calorie I had eaten. My thoughts were like a circus spinning in a hundred directions in my brain, with laughing, scary clowns and music with confusion and destruction everywhere.
I had no peace.
There were goals, and ‘how to’ books, but I had no control over my life. I knew all the things I should do. But, I had no power to do them. I had no strength to untangle the knot my world was tied in.
In desperation, I walked into a room filled with people with similar struggles and I read a poster on the wall – one word, three large letters: G-O-D.
This marks the beginning of the rest of my life.
Somehow, on that day, in a basement of some church on a street in Manhattan I realized that GOD was the help I needed.
This time, I knew I didn’t need a diet or a special doctor, I needed a Savior. Not religion, but living Help from a Living God.
I had packed a Bible with me in my move from Arizona to NYC. Given to me by the Key Club boys in High School, back in 1979.
It was one verse in the Book of Matthew 16:24, that Jesus said it, “If any man come after Me, let him deny himself .”
God impressed upon my heart this thought, “Toni, you are destroying yourself with this destructive behavior. I want you to deny yourself of that – because I want to give you a life that is free and full.”
As I was learning how to eat without great panic, and ‘denying myself ‘ the destructive behavior, God had me focus on the next part of the verse: “pick up your cross…”
And even though I didn’t understand what pick up your cross meant, God started helping me understand this to mean: not my will but God’s will be done.
He wanted me to have joy. Not to destroy.
God helped me heal and grow.
“Follow Me.”  (Matthew 16:24).
Follow Jesus is what I began to do. I read His word. He unveiled Himself in His word. And through time, He healed me.
(Thank you, by the way, Key Club of Arcadia High 1979, Phoenix, Arizona. You have no idea what an impact that gift of a Bible would have on me. I never returned to my High School Reunions because I moved to the East Coast and kept having babies, but that’s a story all its own).