Led

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart." Isaiah 40:11a

"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." Isaiah 42:6-7

I love the different characteristics of our God.

He’s the Prodigal’s Father, waiting patiently for His child to return. He’s the Good Shepherd, going after His sheep.

I’ve needed Him to be both at different times in my life, but over the past few years I’ve noticed Christian's dire need for the Lord to be our Good Shepherd. Because...

We wander into dark recesses...
Stand on the edge of dangerous precipices...
Get in painful thickets.

Friends of mine shared with me their need of the Good Shepherd too. They particularly were aware of it during their first year on the mission field. Along with their belongings, they brought overseas high hopes and daring dreams. Bit by bit, they were asked by the Almighty to give up their expectations and walk in faith. “Cold blooded faith” to quote my friend. Killer faith. Faith determined to slaughter their desires. Faith persistent to slay their rights. Faith dogged to ruthlessly burn their flesh.

Faith on a conquest and do you know what? It won. And in its wake it left two people full of joy and direction. With ears bent for guidance on every decision. With hearts humbled and longing to do the Lord’s will. With desires aligned with God’s heart. Two people solely dependent on their Good Shepherd.

Because they’d wandered into some dark recesses where they were called to shine The Light.

Because they stood on a dangerous precipice, staking ground and claiming territory for the Kingdom of heaven.

Because they got in painful thickets with those who were trapped, releasing the captives and setting the prisoners free.

Isaiah 49:9, "...say to the captives, 'Come out,'and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill."

Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Prisoners

My phone seems to deliver many an Ebenezer to me! Voicemails, missed calls, and text messages have all shown me God’s glory. One such Ebenezer texted by my best friend simply read Zech. 9:12. Curiosity started knocking so I opened to this sweet passage and was utterly blessed: “Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.”

Curiosity knocked again: What is a prisoner of hope? How can we be prisoners and still have hope, much less be prisoners of hope? Rattling this question around for months, I finally did a little digging and uncovered more sweetness of the Lord. Here’s what I found:

Return: To turn one’s self anywhere; where one was not before
Sometimes I think hope has to look a certain way or it isn’t able to accomplish what I need it to. But this tells us, turn anywhere, somewhere new even, and look for hope.

Fortress: fortify, make inaccessible, enclose, secrets, mysteries
A fortified, secure stronghold, hidden from the enemy

Prisoner: Prohibition upon oneself, i.e. to bind oneself with a vow of abstinence, promising to abstain from certain things otherwise permitted. To tie, bind. To be taken in war, made captive.
Decide upon and commit to hoping in a new way, turning away from the things we’ve permitted to stand in the way of hope. The enemy wages war against us and would love to take us captive. Vow to let the Lord wage war for you, and for Him to be the only thing that takes your heart, mind, soul and strength captive.

Hope: to wait, linger for, look for, expectation, outcome; to be strong, robust (from the notion of binding fast, tying fast; is applied to strength.)
When we are weak, God is strong. I love that this definition of hope refers to the idea of a rope being twisted together with the final outcome a strong usable instrument. Waiting, lingering, expecting in hope refines our weakness and molds us into strong usable instruments for the Lord.

Now: Primary signification appears to be that of the heat of the day. Any period of time.
Interesting that rescue comes at the hottest part of the day. If you’ve mowed at the heat of the day on a southern August day you know this is when weakness and bone-tired wariness are at their peak. But notice the second part…any period of time. As we hope, we trust that God’s timing of “Now” is perfect and He knows when we can’t bear up under the heat of the day any longer.

Announce: declare, to be conspicuous, proclaim, make known, report, expound
We won’t miss the boat! Jesus will make the Father’s will clear to our hearts and minds.

Restore: to turn back, return unto, refresh, repair, to bring back to mind
I imagine if God’s heart were compared to our world, restoration would be the size of China and Russia combined. He longs to restore what’s been broken, lost and stolen.

Double: copy, second, repetition
He also longs to restore in abundance. We lack no good thing as children of God...

...or as prisoners of hope.

Know What?

"But now that you know God—or rather are known by God..." ~Galatians 4:9

...known by God.

...known by God.

Those words have tumbled around in my heart for a while now. Specifically in the secret compartment of my heart.

You see, it seems to me hearts have one undisclosed section under lock and key. Concealed from others, things inside remain unconfided. Maybe it’s because there isn’t someone to tell. Perhaps pride wiggles in before words get out. We don’t want to weigh others down, so we don’t ‘trouble’ them. Possibly fear creeps in and a struggle between vulnerability and shame ensues.

No matter the reason, the truth is, that hidden cavern isn’t so hidden afterall. Oh, from the eyes of man maybe, but thankfully not from the eyes of God. Proverbs 15:3 promises the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch. And like Galatians 4 tells us, He knows the depths of our unknown. No detail of our journey is overlooked. Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep … I know them.”

Here’s the clincher for me. Before God formed us He knew us (Jeremiah 1:5). Did you catch that? Before. We’ve never stood a chance to hide from the Lord! No matter what might be in our heart’s screened-off area: joys, triumphs, anger, shame, grief, hurt… It has always been clearly seen by God. He knew our hearts when there was nothing in them and has known every little and big thing we’ve hidden in our hearts over our lifetimes. His inventory of our concealed area is 100% accurate!

I write this because at times it’s easy for me to believe I’m unknown. Feeling unknown opens the door to many damaging mistruths. So I want to encourage you, if your secret compartment is full to the brim and your heart aches to share those things…call out to the One who loves you and understands you (1 Chronicles 28:9). You are known.

“The man who loves God is known by God.” (I Corinthians 8:3)

Word O' the Day

This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people. … "The high places…will be destroyed.” ~Amos 7:7-9


plumb line n.
1. A line from which a weight is suspended to determine verticality or depth.
2. A line regarded as directed exactly toward the earth's center of gravity.

Do you have Word O’the Day days? You hear a random word again and again and your curiosity is peaked?

Plumb line. That was my Word O’ the Day. I got to wondering: Lord are you sharing something with me through this word? If so, please help me understand.

Doing a little legwork, I researched what a plumb line is and its history. Made from a line and weight it determines if something is perfectly vertical, or upright. Since ancient times it has been an integral tool in various trades. In fact, Jesus would’ve used one for carpentry and building.

God also uses plumb lines to build His people. In His Word they are employed to measure our righteousness in His sight. In other words, do we line up according to scripture?

As shown in our verse above, Amos 7, the Lord holds out a plumb line to establish His holy standard for all to see. God longed to build Israel according to His righteousness and purity. When they refused to be built uprightly, He tore down what contributed to them walking in unholiness.

God still has a plumb line among His people today: Jesus Christ. Our Messiah, the most skilled builder, radiating righteousness, asks if we will allow Him to build us according to His standards. This will mean knocking down walls we’ve built up. Excavating parts of our foundation. Ripping up old support beams.

But it also means the hands of God will rebuild us with beautiful things. Peace. Hope. Grace. Love. Surety.

My Word O’ the Day, plumb line, is a stone of remembrance of God’s grace. He loves us too much to leave our structures made of rotting wood, shaky foundations and leaky ceilings. So He gave us His one and only Son, with a simple request, Will you align yourself to Jesus? Will you measure you actions, deeds, thoughts, words, heart, life, to The Plumb Line? This will require some demolition, like the high places of the Israelites the Lord destroyed. However, Jesus was, and is, a better builder than we will ever be. As our Cornerstone, we can trust that as He tears down, He will rebuild. And what our Heavenly Father rebuilds will be upright and good in every way.

I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli. I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones. ~ Isaiah 54:11b-12

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Instead, it is you - my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed… ~Psalm 55:13-14

Restoring old friendships is one theme God’s been tapping on my heart. Consumed with friends around me, other friendships have slipped into near oblivion. God opened His heart and showed me the grief I’ve caused Him and others through my negligence. Despite that picture and the repeating reminders from God, I dragged my feet in reestablishing friendships.

The importance of reconnecting was so vital, that God moved beyond my slackness. Instead of me getting in touch with my friends, they contacted me!

~ A sweet friend wrote me clear out of the blue this past spring. Shocked, but so glad to hear from her, I found out she moved to the same town where I live!

~ Around the same time, another formerly close friend sent me an email. In college a group of eight girls lived, worked, slept, ate, worked out, studied, and basically performed every life function together. Though different in many ways, friendship flowed naturally between us. After graduation, we continued to stay close. However, over the years, marriage, babies, a variety of states and thousands of miles separated us. Lazily, I let these reasons be a wedge and lost contact. Years later my surprise email invited me to a baby shower for one of the girls. In essence it was a grand reunion of the Great Eight!

~ The biggest Blast from the Past to contact me goes waaaaaay back (as in almost-to-the-womb)! God hand-picked five of us girls to knit together. Several times a week each summer our moms packed us kids in the hoopdy station wagon and headed to the beach. The second the ocean air hit our noses we screamed at the top of our lungs! God bless our brave, patient moms! We girls roller-skated in her basement; climbed trees in my sister’s and my back-yard; rode Huffy’s up and down her neighborhood; and sang our hearts out to Amy Grant. As adults, four out of the five girls remained in touch, always missing our fifth link. Individually the Lord kept her close to our hearts. She was one that He asked me to be in touch with. And wouldn’t you know, she got in touch with me first! God is good and faithful.

These friendships vary in their stories. The making of each one differs from the other. The Lord’s reason for renewing them isn’t the same. What is the same is His unchanging call for us to be in community with one another. More importantly, to be in community with Him. Though the making of each of our relationships with the Lord varies, He longs to be in friendship with us. Today I pray Jesus contacts you in a surprising way, much like my old friends did. And your friendship with God will be reestablished.

God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ I Corinthians 1:9

I Found Myself

"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.” ~ Job 22:21-28

In 2002 the Lord laid this verse on my mom’s heart for me. It’s an Ebenezer for several reasons. I am so grateful to have God-fearing, listening parents who share with me the words of the Lord. And, I am so grateful to have God, a listening parent who shares with me His Word.

My relationship with this part of His Word has changed several times. I found myself in different ways each time I read it. Challenging, encouraging, convicting, inviting—the words of this passage haven’t changed, but my reflections and interactions with them has. One day I looked up the original Hebrew. Below is a paraphrase of what God has spoken to me through these verses. Just as He’s met me through His eternal, unchanging Word, I pray the Lord meets you personally, whether with Job 22 or a unique verse He gives you!

Job 22:21-28
Acquaint yourself with God, be used by him and you will be made whole, sound, restored and complete in Him; in this way good things will turn out well.

Become one, like a husband and wife, with the prophetic teaching from God’s mouth and lay up his words in your heart.

If you give yourself back to the Almighty, you will be built up and restored permanently like the exiles.

Rid yourself and your home of unholiness. Trade your treasures for the Lord’s. Toss what you hold onto so tightly into the water, letting it float away. Then the Almighty will be more than you could have dreamed.

Surely then you will be pampered and take exquisite, dainty, and delicate delight in the Most Powerful. Lift all of yourself to God.

You will be complete and sound in a covenant of peace with God. He will hear you, and help you do what you've promised: fulfill your offerings to the Lord.

Promises, commands and words you decree will be fulfilled. Instruction will shine on your course of life. Jehovah, Israel’s light, will enlighten your journey. Dawn will break and cause your moral character to shine!

One Way Out: Part Final

“Return to me with all your heart. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God.” ~ Joel 2:12-13

Not the job for you. Not the job for you. Those words rattled in my head. Here’s a breakdown of the timeline:
Four weeks out from the Event: Interview; offered nanny job; God says “Turn it down and quit your job.”
Three weeks out from the Event: Interview; offered ministry job; God says “Turn it down and quit your job.”
Two weeks out from the Event: No interview; no offer; God says “Quit your job.”

God had required me to quit all along, with or without a job. Selfishly I resisted, serving fear and mistrust as my gods. Finally, without a day to spare, I stepped off the cliff and fell right into the hands of God. Turning in my two weeks notice, the oddest thing happened. My old director offered me my job back. You got it. She asked me to stay! She’d make an offer, I’d reject it. Round and round we went. I could take personal leave the day of the Event. Or call in sick. Pretend I never gave her notice. Convinced I didn’t mean to quit, she refused to accept my letter. Leaving her office, I was confused. Did I or didn’t I quit?

Satan opened every door of opportunity and tempted me to stay. Immediately Jesus being tempted in the desert by Satan came to mind. He had one ultimate response: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only" (Matt. 10:4).

The light turned on. God wasn’t as concerned with if I hosted the Event with Pro-Choice orgs. No, He is most concerned with my obedience. It was my quitting He focused on; it was the if I would quit that mattered. Would I walk in the ways He commanded? Would I worship and serve Him alone? As 1 Samuel 15:22 encourages, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.”

My view of things shifted. This wasn’t a story of me against abortion and all the bad guys. It was a story of me against my flesh. With two main characters: the Lord and me. When that reality set it, things became clear. The Lord delights in obedience! Who am I to steal God’s delight?! After all, “He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” (Joel 2:13-14).

He may turn and leave behind a blessing. Indeed He did. The ministry contacted me again. “Things have changed ... we are totally restructuring and have a new position.” God laid it on the director’s heart to step out in faith and create a brand new job. And, a friend of the ministry felt the need to give a substantial donation that paved the way for my salary! The day after I quit my job, I interviewed with the ministry. The next week they extended an offer!

Waiting for a new job and jumping off my cliff of faith drilled me to the core. Face to face with all the dross to be burned away was heart-breaking. I never realized the layers of doubt and mistrust. Has the Lord asked a difficult thing of you? Where is He gently pressing your heart and asking you to obey? Do you trust the Creator of the universe to create a secure future for you? I know it’s difficult to rend our hearts and return all our heart to the Lord. But our hearts, our lives, are rightfully His, and we can only ever serve one god: fear and our own agenda; or the Living God. Which will you serve today?

Reflecting on this time, God’s kindness and gracious goodness stand out the most to me. I pray you sense those dear attributes of our King as well today.