Thirsty?

Jeremiah 2:13  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. 

The first sin was forsaking God. The second sin was trying to get for themselves what God gives freely, abundantly, and continuously. The image of a fountain of living water compared to a broken cistern incapable of holding any water is a striking one. It's like comparing Niagara Falls to a mud puddle. It's amazing to me how easy it is for human beings to reject their creator, to turn from his abundance and try so hard to replace the very thing we leave behind. Consider all the ways mankind tries to fulfill the needs that can only be fulfilled by God: false notions of love, truth, beauty, service, worship, relationships and so many others. Consider the movies, television shows, even commercials, that bombard our senses. I wonder if we even realize the degree that we're affected and shaped by these things. It's so subtle. 

I grew up in the fifties with the TV shows of that era. In the span of my lifetime, I'm astounded by the changes in what we see and bring into our homes through various media. How is it that we have allowed these things to shape our understanding of beauty and love, truth and justice? They are such a pitiful replacement for all that God offers us and blesses us with. I'm not trying to single out television as the source of all negativity but it's a good example of how we have turned from the things of God to the things that are man-made and allowed those things to become our standard. We have replaced a fountain of living waters for a broken, leaky, useless cistern. We're thirsty and wandering in dry places looking for water.

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I am astounded by his love and his provision - his intimate, attentive involvement in every aspect of my life. I've learned to trust him more and more, to lean on him for the strength I can't find anywhere else. I've experienced what the transforming power of his love can do in my own life and how I see myself and others in my world. I've seen that love reach people who had given up on themselves and on God; watched him turn their lives upside down and fill them with the knowledge of his love and forgiveness - his very presence and nearness. 

What a mighty God we serve! What an injustice we do in limiting and diminishing his love and power and how much we miss out on because of those limits. I have seen how much God loves to bless us - to pour on us his living water, to allow us to splash in that fountain and receive his blessings, his healings, his love. When we turn away from God or try to fit him in some convenient mold that diminishes him, we are removing ourselves from the place of blessing. We are turning away from unlimited, unconditional love that is that fountain of living water and, instead, finding ourselves settling for so very much less - a pitiful substitute than can't begin to fill the holes in our souls, the thirst for all God has for us. We are trying to find water in a leaky, empty well.

No wonder God calls that a sin. We put ourselves in place of God. We rely on our supposed know-how and ability, turning our backs on God. If sin is anything that separates us from God, certainly our self-sufficiency and pridefulness separate us more than anything else. 

“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.” This well-known quote from St. Augustine states the point of this posting so beautifully. God created us, loves us and is always calling us to return to his fountain of living waters, to know what it means to find true rest. He invites us to cease striving, to come to him and receive his love and peace.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water....Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
(John 4:9-16, 39-42 ESV)

Peace in the Storm

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33 ESV)

As I’ve been praying for two special people who are going through a lot of difficult struggles right now, the Lord led me to this story in Matthew. The part that seemed to be grabbing my attention was when Jesus called to Peter to come to him on the water. What did that have to do with my prayers? So I re-read the passage and waited for the Spirit to open my mind to what he was trying to tell me.

Jesus calls Peter to come, he gets out of the boat and walks on the water until he lets his fear of the wind take over. The text says the he didn’t see the wind while he was looking at Jesus. How did Peter not see the wind? Why mention he didn’t see the wind, anyway? You can’t see wind, only the effects of it and the waves were fierce! How could he not notice that? He must have been so completely focused on Jesus that he didn’t even notice that storm. It was still raging when he climbed out of that boat because Jesus didn’t calm the storm until later. (He had already demonstrated his authority over creation by walking on the water; calming the storm was secondary.) The men were afraid – terrified – of the storm. They’d battled it for 9 long hours with all their strength. In an instant Jesus did what they were incapable of doing. While the storm was raging, Peter looked on Jesus and wasn’t afraid. He “mastered” the storm by focusing completely – single-mindedly – on Peace in the person of Jesus.

What must it have been like for Peter to climb out of that boat that was being tossed around by those waves? Who in their right mind would do that? Look at the choices Peter was faced with: stay in the boat and keep on fighting the storm for another 9 hours; or, look at Jesus who wasn’t the least bit bothered by the storm. He was in complete control. Jesus was safe, the boat wasn’t.

How often we stay in our storm-tossed boat struggling with every ounce of our strength. We think we have no other choice but to put our heads down and keep fighting. All the disciples, with all their combined strength couldn’t make any headway. Do you ever feel that way? Keep striving. Keep fighting. You’re exhausted. The storm is winning. Then, you look up and there is Jesus, inviting you to “come”. Get out of that boat. Look upon your Savior.

In this instance the storm wasn’t calmed until after the men responded to Jesus. Is it because it sometimes takes a lot to get our attention? Do we have to wear ourselves out before we recognize the better way? The Way?

Sometimes Jesus calms us in the midst of a raging storm with his peace that truly passes all understanding. Other times he speaks to the storms in our lives and says, “Peace. Be still.” In his infinite and perfect wisdom, the Lord works out his purposes in our life. He teaches us what faith is, what trust is and what salvation is.

When Peter returned to his fearful place, back in that poor storm-beaten boat, Jesus was with him. With Jesus in the boat, the winds ceased.

Allow Jesus to walk with you in the dark places, the frightening, stressful places that are draining your strength. Look into the eyes of your Savior. Keep looking. Don’t look at the storm. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Hear his words: “Have courage. I AM. Fear not.”

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.  (Zechariah 4:6 ESV)

Believing and Knowing

Reading a commentary on Psalm 86, the author pointed out that David understood and experienced justification by faith even though he lived so long before Jesus' death and resurrection. He knew and experienced God's love, his mercy and forgiveness and that he was the recipient of underserved forgiveness and mercy based on his faith in God (from Nicky Gumbel's Bible in One Year commentary). 

As I thought about that this morning, I recalled the many times the Bible recounts those instances in David's life: God saved him in times of war and betrayal, forgave him when he sinned so greatly in the story of Bathsheba, blessed him as king and in the promise of the Messiah, and so many more stories. He knew God's presence in his life. He knew God's love and mercy and forgiveness. As flawed as he was, he was a man after God's own heart. His life experiences drew him closer to the Lord and gave him a deep knowing about the nature of God's mercy.

As believers on "this side" of the cross, we are taught about God's mercies - about justification by faith. We hear the words preached, we read the words in the scriptures, we study the words in Bible studies. But do we really know what they mean? Have we, like David, taken the step beyond head knowledge and allowed our life's experiences to show us the truth of the Word? 

Have we experienced forgiveness? Don't answer that question too quickly - stop and think for a moment. What does it feel like to know - really know - that the guilt you've held on to for so long is literally gone? You feel the difference, the lightness, the freedom. You know you are loved beyond all measure because you've experienced that love in a profound and life-changing way. David knew God was trustworthy because he had seen his salvation and deliverance from danger, experienced his forgiveness, and understood the mercies of God because he saw it in his own life. Can we say the same thing?

If not, don't feel that you've somehow been overlooked by God. Spend some quiet time alone with the Lord. If you have doubts or questions, offer them to the Lord. He already knows about them anyway. It's amazing how freeing this can be. Tell him your fears or sins or doubts and ask him to speak his forgiveness, his love and his promises to your heart. Ask him to open your heart to receive and know his presence. Then wait and watch. God is faithful and trustworthy. Those are not just lofty words and promises - they're the reality of who he is. I know he will answer your prayer.

Psalm 86:1-7 Amplified Bible (AMP)

A Prayer of David.

Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and distressed, needy and desiring. Preserve my life, for I am godly and dedicated; O my God, save Your servant, for I trust in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, without fear or doubt]. Be merciful and gracious to me, O Lord, for to You do I cry all the day. Make me, Your servant, to rejoice, O Lord, for to You do I lift myself up. For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and listen to the cry of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me.

Joy

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25 ESV)

Reading that passage in one of my devotionals this morning, I had to stop and re-read it several times. The part that grabbed my attention was this:  present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. What a blessing to be reminded of that beautiful truth! Nothing can prepare us for the joy of being welcomed into God's presence but how often do we think about the joy our Lord has in bringing us into the presence of the Father? GREAT joy! Isn't that amazing? 

We too easily get caught up in what we need to do to earn God's favor, to be approved of, accepted - to be good enough. We have it backwards. Jesus has done all that needs to be done for us to be brought before his Father, fully approved, totally loved and accepted, without fault. There is nothing more for us to do but accept the gift he is offering and walk in the love and light of Jesus. 

As I've thought about God's love for us, I had a mental picture of my son when he was just born. My heart was so full of love for this precious gift, this sweet baby that I never expected to have. What a miracle the whole experience seemed to be. For the past 34 years, I've known a love unlike any other love for the life that came from my body. Through many trials and struggles over the course of his life - things that could have robbed me of that love - I only knew God's unconditional love flowing through me. In his hardest times, my son knew I loved him. He kept that truth as an anchor when he felt totally lost. Only God's love can accomplish that. The power of God's love for my child eventually led him to accept that love for himself - to know the saving grace, love, acceptance and freedom that is in Jesus. 

The love I felt 34 years ago and feel today is only a hint of the love our Father has for us and the joy the Lord feels for his children. We will, one day, be presented blameless and with great joy to the Father. We will know life in the presence of the one who is LOVE. 

Good Friday

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. (Luke 18:31-34 ESV)

Don't Give Up!

My thoughts this morning as I've read my Bible passages and devotionals, have been on prayer and what it means to persevere in prayer. As I was reading, I saw a note in the margin of my Bible and remembered immediately the circumstances that led to that note. It was an amazing and surprising answer to a prayer that I was too beat down to pray. My heart was worn out, I felt defeated and ready to give up. As I went to bed that night I knew my heart was reaching out to God even though I didn't know what to ask for. I woke up the next morning feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted; I was filled with joy and the immediate awareness that God had done something amazing while I slept. 

The verse that morning that prompted my note was this one from Ps. 46: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns. That was 2 years ago - February 15, 2012, to be exact. It was during a very long period of intense prayer, questioning, struggle and dogged determination to hang on and seek God's face and will for the situations. I often felt like Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord; I, too, felt like I was wrestling with God, crying out in prayer, wondering why he was taking so long to do something. That event in 2012 wasn't the complete answer to my prayers; it was a breath of fresh air that gave me rest and encouragement and new strength to continue. I wish I understood why God takes so long to answer some prayers while at other times, his answer comes immediately. I know that I am incapable of seeing the whole big picture and the way God is working things together as I continue praying so my faith has to sustain me during those times of wrestling with unanswered or not-yet-answered prayer because I do believe that God answers every prayer.

I recently heard someone comment that they disliked the term "prayer warrior" but I have to say that during that time of my life, that is what it felt like. I was battling for the ones for whom I was praying. But I was battling WITH God. Even though it didn't always feel like that, I know now who was in charge of the battle, who was leading me, strengthening me, dusting me off and equipping me to go back out on that battlefield.

After 3 intense years of prayer and intercession, God has moved miraculously in each situation for which I was praying. The miracles I've witnessed and experienced have been miracles of bringing life from death - rebirth, new beginnings, restored relationships, reconciliation, amazing testimonies to the power of God and his perfect timing in answering prayers.

I share all this because I want to encourage anyone that is struggling with a difficult situation and wondering why God hasn't done anything. Please don't give up. God is faithful. Trust in the truth that God sees and knows your heart and your struggles. He is at work even when we can't see or understand that anything is happening. I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is good. He is loving and his promises are true. Keep praying. Keep seeking his face. Don't be afraid to be completely honest with him when you have doubts or get angry. God loves you with a love that is safe, trustworthy and completely unconditional. He will answer your prayers.

You are beautiful beyond description 

Too marvelous for words 

Too wonderful of comprehension 

Like nothing ever seen or heard 

Who can grasp you infinite wisdom 

Who can fathom the depth of your love 

You are beautiful beyond description 

Majesty enthroned above 

And I stand, I stand in awe of you 

I stand, I stand in awe of you 

Holy God to whom all praise is due 

I stand in awe of you

Generosity

This morning's reading from one of my daily devotionals focused on God's generosity. The first passage read in light of this theme was Psalm 36. Consider this verse: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. (Psalm 36:7-9 ESV) 

I had written a note in the margin from a previous study that expanded my understanding of the phrase, in your light do we see light. Read that same phrase as "in your light do we experience life". 

Is that true? Do I view my life through the lens of the light - the presence - of God? To follow the theme of my devotional, do I view my life and all I have as a result of the generosity of God? As I sat with that thought this morning, I reflected on all that I have been blessed with, both material things and the intangible things. We in this country have so much and what we don't have is easily accessible. If we can't get to a certain store in a matter of a few minutes, we can shop for anything and everything from the comforts of home via the internet. 

My husband and I are working towards downsizing and the cleaning-out that has to precede that eventual move. What a herculean task it seems to be! I can think of one attic and break out in a cold sweat. How is it that we have accumulated all this STUFF, so much of which will be donated to Goodwill or sold at a yard sale or on Craig's List? That really is ridiculous! How can I fully appreciate the generosity of God when I have so much that's disposable?

The past few years have resulted in a readjustment of my attitude toward this issue, the heart of which is God's presence, purpose and provision in my life. These years have been a time of refiner's fire and it has most definitely NOT been comfortable or easy. What I've come to see is the great goodness of God, the amazing and surprising ways he has answered YEARS of prayers and his sustaining hand on me as I tried to weather some horrendous storms. As a result, I've come to see God's generosity in astonishing ways. His gifts of life and salvation, the gift of those near and dear to me who were Jesus "with skin on", and the gift of new beginnings that I never expected. When I take the time to sit and reflect on all of these things, it truly feels like I've been experiencing the outpouring of God's fountain of life, drinking from the river of your delights, and feasting on the abundance of your house.  The Lord has opened my eyes wider to see and KNOW more of his nature: his love, goodness, protection, provision, steadfast love and faithfulness. These are the true THINGS that matter most in this life - not that attic full of stuff that seemed so important and necessary when they were first purchased. The true value is in the life I live as a result of having been purchased by Christ, the grace to live and experience life in the light of God's presence. Lately, in my prayer times, I've found myself carried away in praise, worshiping the holy God I serve, even reflecting on the many ways his creation brings glory to its Creator - from the tiniest seed or blade of grass to the amazing beauty of the mountains and the oceans.

How gracious and generous is our God! 

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. 

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

(Psalm 36:5-10 ESV)

Following

I invite you to read Mark 10:32-52. It begins with Jesus leading his disciples and followers on the road to Jerusalem. He is walking purposefully and determinedly towards the last week of his life. Mark describes the emotions of those walking behind him in this way: And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. (Mark 10:32 ESV)

I can imagine the scene and in my imagination I can see myself in the crowd, looking at Jesus walking ahead. I can easily translate this image into the present and my own walk with the Lord. Sometimes I'm amazed and sometimes I'm afraid. Thinking of those following Jesus on that dusty road to Jerusalem, they must have had the same questions we all have at some point in our Christian journey. "Where is he taking us?" "What will happen when we get there?" "What if....?"

Along the way, two interesting events are recounted. First, James and John say to Jesus, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (Mark 10:35, ESV) Pause for a minute and remember their purpose on this journey and the feelings Mark describes. Isn't it interesting that James and John have shifted the focus to their own needs? Can you, like me, see yourself in this situation? How many times have I taken my eyes off Jesus' direction for my life and looked at my own narrow view and wanted the Lord to do whatever I ask of him. It's so hard to see the big picture when we feel that we're watching Jesus' back lead us to who-knows-where. Trusting in his ultimate purposes and plans is an act of faith and will. Standing firm on the promises of God when our eyes can't see is what faith looks like; which leads me to the second event in this passage - the encounter with the blind beggar, Bartimaeus.

What I love about this story is Bartimaeus' determination to get the attention of Jesus in spite of those around him. He keeps crying out and interestingly, Mark tells us that Jesus' response is to tell the people to "call him". The one who was calling out is answered with a call and the ones who were rebuking him and telling him to be silent are the ones who are now saying, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” The blind man's response is immediate. And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 

Can you see yourself in this story? How would you answer Jesus when he asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" The answer seems obvious but perhaps there's more to the question that we know. When we cry out to the Lord from our own need, is there more to our request than even we realize? Jesus said that the faith of Bartimaeus healed him. When we exercise our faith by persevering in our prayers, is that in itself a healing act? How are we transformed during the periods of crying out to the Lord no matter what other people say we should do? How is our sight recovered when we seek the presence of Jesus? The result of Bartimaeus' healing was that he followed Jesus. We end up where we started - following Jesus on that dusty road as he walks out his divine purposes. Isn't that the best place to be?

Do. Love. Walk.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  (Micah 6:8)

God has told us
   what he requires of us
      do justice
         love kindness
            walk humbly with our God

Look at a similar commandment from a New Testament perspective:  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34) 

Doing justice, loving kindness, walking out our faith in humility - all are actions based on and lived out of love. This is how Jesus is made known to the world - through the lives of his disciples, his followers. He gave us his own life as an example and as the image of the perfect love of our Father; he gives us his Spirit, the gift that is God's love living within us so that these commandments can be carried out, not in our own feeble power but in the power of God himself. 

Just as the Father loves the Son, the Son loves us and empowers us to love the world. God has told us what is good; he has commanded us to love; he has called us to DO, to LOVE and to WALK. 

Psalm 3

Reading Psalm 3 this morning, I paused when I got to one of my favorite Bible verses:  “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”  Once again I found myself reading a very familiar passage in a new light.  At the beginning of the psalm, David writes of his fears for his life.  Adding to his distress was the fact that his enemy was his own son.  We probably can’t begin to grasp what this was like. How horrid to be a king on the run from his own son!  Hopefully none of us are dealing with such life and death issues. 

In reading this psalm is seems that David was writing these words after a period of fear-filled sleeplessness.  We, too, certainly know sleepless nights when our worries of the day are magnified, causing us to toss and turn.  That’s when I read “my” verse differently.  In the midst of our tossing and turning, worries and anxieties, can we, like David, turn to God with that level of confidence, that deep knowing that God really is a shield for us, our protector? 

After David’s proclamation of God’s sovereign protection, he writes:  “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.”  Fear for his life was replaced by the awareness of God’s protection and presence and he slept.  And woke again!  He wasn’t attacked while he slept.  He didn’t have to stay awake and alert, keeping watch because he KNEW his God was watching over him.  He lay down and slept. 

On this third day of this new year, God alone knows our future.  He alone knows the trials and struggles, the joys and celebrations, the sorrows and fears that are ahead. We should resolve to keep this verse close at hand and close to our hearts for the days – and nights – ahead.  Pray and meditate on the words until it becomes as true for us as it was for David so that in the days to come, we can know that God is our shield, our protector; we can lay down and sleep in peace knowing we are in his care. 

At the same time, it’s important to remember that this God is also the one who delights in his children, who exults over us with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17).  Let’s resolve to get to know God as not only our help in trouble but the God who loves us, delights over us and longs to be in relationship with us. Let’s walk out the days of 2014 (and beyond) growing in our knowledge and understanding of God’s presence, his peace, and his love for us.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)