By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. ~Hebrews 11:3
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh, my lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don't be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ~2 Kings 6:15-17
“The Bible assumes as a self-evident fact that men can know God with at least the same degree of immediacy as they know any other person….We apprehend the physical world by exercising the faculties given us for that purpose, and we possess spiritual faculties by means of which we can know God and the spiritual world if we will obey the Spirit’s urge and begin to use them. God and the spiritual world are real. We can reckon upon them with as much assurance as we reckon upon the familiar world around us. Spiritual things are there (or rather we should say here) inviting our attention and challenging our trust.” ~A.W. Tozer
Here is one such example…
Excerpted from On Call, a missionary autobiography by Dr. David Thompson. It takes place in Cambodia in the early 1950s during the French-Indochina War.
We had been in Kratie for perhaps a year. French troops were garrisoned in the city because it was a provincial capital. One day the French commander received secret information that a large force of rebels was going to attack the French rubber plantations outside of the town of Snoul, 80 kilometers away. Confident that his information was correct, the commander loaded his troops on trucks and raced to Snoul, hoping to surprise the rebels. The purported attack never materialized. It was a rebel trick.
The actual plan was for a rebel force of about 2000 to attack Kratie where we lived. As dusk fell…Father and Mother prayed. God had not brought them to Kratie to be destroyed before they had done the work they were sent to do.
I remember having to stay under the bed with my sister while Dad and Mom knelt and prayed. As Dad told it, around 2 a.m. a white flare lit up the square. The attack started soon after.
Bullets flew everywhere. Suddenly, a red flare shot up and burned briefly in the night sky. The shooting tapered off. In the morning there was no sign of the rebels and nobody understood why the rebels had abandoned the attack. The French commander returned later that day from Snoul and was surprised to find the city intact.
In 1955 the French granted independence to Cambodia, returning power to the king of Cambodia. The king promised amnesty to all the rebels who would turn in their weapons and pledge allegiance to him-some of the rebels were communists. On the announced day, the provincial rebels came by the thousands to the town square and stacked their weapons in a great pile. There were speeches and ceremonies all day. Towards the middle of the day the retiring French commander asked Dad to translate for him while he spoke to the rebel commander. After introductions, the commander asked the rebel leader, “Why did you not take the city the night we were diverted to Snoul, leaving Kratie defenseless?”
The rebel commander seemed surprised by the question. He remembered the night very well, he said, and suggested that the French commander was mistaken, for when the rebels attacked Kratie they were confronted by thousands of French soldiers. There were troops everywhere-more than he had seen at any other time during the war! Since the rebel force numbered only 2000 men, they had decided to flee!
With Dad interpreting, the French commander and the rebel leader argued about the events of that night. Only Dad understood what had happened: the army of the Lord had saved us. God’s angels had appeared as French soldiers in such great number that the rebels withdrew. (pp 17-19)
Believe in God; believe also in me [Jesus]. ~John 14:1
March 6, 2009
February 20, 2009
In Full
“…like streams of water in the desert…” ~Isaiah 32:2
And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name. ~Isaiah 45:3
I’d like to sing a simple song of love to my Jesus, about my Savior. How He held me in His arms, even when I was unaware.
Sometime in 2008 the Lord spoke to me, “Sweetheart, you’re going to be completely debt free by the end of this year.” My eyebrows rose, along with my doubt and fear.
You see, I had gall bladder surgery and between that and a ton of pre-op procedures, my bills were excessive. So much so that I was still paying on them five years later.
I also had incurred three credit card debts. Even if I scrimped on everything, didn’t eat, and walked everywhere (not buying gas), there was not enough money left over each month to pay off my hospital and credit card bills by the end of the year.
The months went by and I chiseled away bit by bit, paying off two cards, but still having my hospital bill and one card looming over me. The end of the year was fast approaching, and thankfully my last car payment was in October. But even with that additional money for the months of November and December, I wouldn’t have enough to totally pay off my debt, unless God intervened…
And intervened He did! My car loan was through a credit union and set up to automatically withdraw from my checking account from another bank twice a month. So come November, I only had a small amount left to pay at the beginning of the month and then I’d be paid in full. Much to my surprise, the regular full payment came out, not the little bit remaining on my balance!
Disappointed, thinking I had mistaken how much I owed, I called the credit union. “Could you please tell me my balance owed on my car payment?” The credit union confirmed I was paid in full. They were baffled as to why they had withdrawn so much money from my checking account. While looking into it, the teller asked if I wanted to know my balance in my savings account. I had opened a savings account with $25 in order to get my car loan, but have never made another deposit, so I assumed with interest I may have $30.
Oh was I wrong! There was more than enough money in my savings account to pay off my massive hospital bill!! How could this be??? I had never ever deposited more than the original $25! The next day I went into the credit union to transfer my savings money to my checking account to pay my hospital bill. The teller asked how much I wanted to take out and I asked my balance once more. Y’all, it was even more than I was told the previous day!!
No one behind the counter or in the entire loan department could figure out where this money had come from. There was no record of me making a deposit…ever. They said it just had always been there as far as they knew. Wow! The Lord tells us He has treasures in darkness. Mysteries that only He can reveal! Truly, this was one of them.
Flabbergasted, I went to work later that day only to be handed a bonus check. Do you know how much it was for? The exact amount I needed to pay off my credit card!!!
As I called the hospital to pay my bill in full, I was surprised once again! The sweet lady whom I’ve paid for the past five years told me my balance and it was much less than I had thought! I asked her if she was certain, and of course she was! She’d been deducting my payments herself all this time! And sure enough, the same was true of my credit card bill as well! I owed less than I thought! Y’all, when the lady at Visa told me I was paid in full, I burst into tears. The simple love of Jesus, His fulfilled promises, the deep streams in the desert I waded in, were all too much for my heart. I was truly overwhelmed by the goodness of God. He fulfilled His promise of me being debt-free by the end of the year. I paid off my debt in December of 2008.
One last sweet thing. Gifts is my number one love language. Wanting to be diligent paying my bills, I anticipated not being able to spend money on Christmas presents last year. However, with the Lord providing for my hospital and credit card bill, I had money to buy presents for my family and friends! What a gift to me from God Almighty!! I pray you hear the promises of the Lord for you this year and remember that He has secret storehouses reserved just for you...treasures hidden in darkness that are yours from your Good Provider.
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise… ~ Daniel 2:20-23
And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name. ~Isaiah 45:3
I’d like to sing a simple song of love to my Jesus, about my Savior. How He held me in His arms, even when I was unaware.
Sometime in 2008 the Lord spoke to me, “Sweetheart, you’re going to be completely debt free by the end of this year.” My eyebrows rose, along with my doubt and fear.
You see, I had gall bladder surgery and between that and a ton of pre-op procedures, my bills were excessive. So much so that I was still paying on them five years later.
I also had incurred three credit card debts. Even if I scrimped on everything, didn’t eat, and walked everywhere (not buying gas), there was not enough money left over each month to pay off my hospital and credit card bills by the end of the year.
The months went by and I chiseled away bit by bit, paying off two cards, but still having my hospital bill and one card looming over me. The end of the year was fast approaching, and thankfully my last car payment was in October. But even with that additional money for the months of November and December, I wouldn’t have enough to totally pay off my debt, unless God intervened…
And intervened He did! My car loan was through a credit union and set up to automatically withdraw from my checking account from another bank twice a month. So come November, I only had a small amount left to pay at the beginning of the month and then I’d be paid in full. Much to my surprise, the regular full payment came out, not the little bit remaining on my balance!
Disappointed, thinking I had mistaken how much I owed, I called the credit union. “Could you please tell me my balance owed on my car payment?” The credit union confirmed I was paid in full. They were baffled as to why they had withdrawn so much money from my checking account. While looking into it, the teller asked if I wanted to know my balance in my savings account. I had opened a savings account with $25 in order to get my car loan, but have never made another deposit, so I assumed with interest I may have $30.
Oh was I wrong! There was more than enough money in my savings account to pay off my massive hospital bill!! How could this be??? I had never ever deposited more than the original $25! The next day I went into the credit union to transfer my savings money to my checking account to pay my hospital bill. The teller asked how much I wanted to take out and I asked my balance once more. Y’all, it was even more than I was told the previous day!!
No one behind the counter or in the entire loan department could figure out where this money had come from. There was no record of me making a deposit…ever. They said it just had always been there as far as they knew. Wow! The Lord tells us He has treasures in darkness. Mysteries that only He can reveal! Truly, this was one of them.
Flabbergasted, I went to work later that day only to be handed a bonus check. Do you know how much it was for? The exact amount I needed to pay off my credit card!!!
As I called the hospital to pay my bill in full, I was surprised once again! The sweet lady whom I’ve paid for the past five years told me my balance and it was much less than I had thought! I asked her if she was certain, and of course she was! She’d been deducting my payments herself all this time! And sure enough, the same was true of my credit card bill as well! I owed less than I thought! Y’all, when the lady at Visa told me I was paid in full, I burst into tears. The simple love of Jesus, His fulfilled promises, the deep streams in the desert I waded in, were all too much for my heart. I was truly overwhelmed by the goodness of God. He fulfilled His promise of me being debt-free by the end of the year. I paid off my debt in December of 2008.
One last sweet thing. Gifts is my number one love language. Wanting to be diligent paying my bills, I anticipated not being able to spend money on Christmas presents last year. However, with the Lord providing for my hospital and credit card bill, I had money to buy presents for my family and friends! What a gift to me from God Almighty!! I pray you hear the promises of the Lord for you this year and remember that He has secret storehouses reserved just for you...treasures hidden in darkness that are yours from your Good Provider.
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise… ~ Daniel 2:20-23
December 4, 2008
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."
"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."
November 20, 2008
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.
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.
November 7, 2008
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)
...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)
July 30, 2008
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
July 29, 2008
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
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
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