A Rescue Story

Do you want to run as far away as you can from God? Do you want God to leave you alone? Did God ask you to do something or to speak a message that is contrary to your beliefs? Would you rather die than obey? You may be able to answer “yes” to all of the questions just like a man in the Bible could. Our enemy, Satan, convinces us we are completely alone in our feelings and thoughts because he knows if we feel alone we will fall into the trap of isolation. Trapped, we end up doing something we regret or doing something that alters the rest of our lives. 

There is help in God’s Word. No matter how we feel at the moment or have been feeling for years, we really are not alone. The man in the Bible who ran from God, wanted God to leave him alone, didn’t agree with God, and would rather die than obey God was Jonah. You can find his story in the book conveniently titled “Jonah.”  The whole, short book is a very interesting read, but I am going to jump to the part where we find Jonah as his lowest. 

Jonah was on the run from God. He wanted to hide from God and get as far away as possible. Jonah questioned the validity of what God had asked of him. In his running, he found himself first in the belly of a large ship that found itself contending against a deadly storm. Into the fatal storm on the waters, Jonah longed to go. He would rather drown than face the people who needed to hear the message God wanted Jonah to give. He got his wish by talking the men on board, who wanted to survive the storm, into throwing him into the antagonistic waves. Not even a hint of fighting the force down, he quickly plummeted deep below the surface with no resolve to survive. 

Somewhere between breaking through the turbulent waves and the endless bottom, he “remembered”  the Lord (2:7). Somewhere between the splash and the soaking he “remembered” the Lord. Somewhere between breathing and drowning he “remembered” the Lord. Somewhere between life and death he “remembered” the Lord. Somewhere in between, he cried out to be rescued. Rescued he indeed was. Rescued not by coming to the surface of the waters, not by a ship, and not by a human. Jonah was rescued by being swallowed by a very large fish. Seriously God? That was the option You decided on for Jonah? Who would have ever thought?

I think we tend to plan our own rescues. We plan them in the natural realm, huh? As his life flashed before him, Jonah probably imagined a person on a ship to pull him out of the waters or having the strength to swim to the surface and then make it to dry land. It is probably safe to say Jonah wasn’t navigating the waters searching for the largest fish to eat him.

Have you asked God to rescue you and then found yourself somewhere unexpected?

Don’t miss the rescue because it doesn’t look like you imagined. Don’t miss the rescue because you are more isolated than you imagined. Don’t miss the rescue because the environment is not what you imagined. Don’t miss the rescue because it is more uncomfortable than you imagined. Don’t miss the rescue because it isn’t to your liking. Don’t miss the rescue because you haven’t gotten what you asked for. Don’t miss being rescued by the One who knows you better than you know yourself. Don’t miss the rescue! 

In the literal and spiritual darkest time of Jonah’s life, he could have stayed there and remained lost. Instead, he made a decision for life and could spot a Light at the end of an utterly dark and scary stomach. In Jonah’s “spiritual ICU” the truth of God’s glorious riches became his truth. Right there in the depths of the ocean, in the depth of a belly of a fish, in the depth of his being, he knew, “those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” (Jonah 2:8, NIV 2002). Truth illuminated and broke through a stronghold attempting to keep him bound from proclaiming the good news of God’s salvation to a people in desperate need of His great mercy. He saw clearly with his spiritual eyes and understood that to truly live could only be by living a life being found in God, not in something made with man’s hands.

Removed from ordinary life and normal routines of the day, Jonah had a revelation of the vanity of overvaluing anything other than the unearned and undeserved grace our Lord freely gives. This revelation gave new meaning to his life and in turn to the Ninevites who knew nothing of the life-giving news.

It is worthless to trust in an idol. It is worthless to pursue an idol. It is worthless to spend money trying to attain a better idol. It is worthless to spend time bowing down to an idol. It is worthless; it won’t get anyone anywhere where we think it could. To forfeit the grace that could be ours would be ludicrous. After all He has done for us, how could we want something outside of God’s will? 

Jonah also knew he had a choice. Like others, he could have not chosen to want to be rescued. He could have chosen the worthless route and continued to sink to the bottom of the sea. But, he did know His God. In his remembrance of his God, he knew that his God is a God of grace and love. God came for him, and he was able to be obedient by doing the thing God had initially asked of him. 

Jonah had a calling directly from His God who in his own words is, “the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (Jonah 1:10). He knew exactly who he had run from. I have a calling in my life. You have a calling in your life. Your destiny, my destiny is not in the clinging of something made merely by human hands. Just like Jonah didn’t get to pick his calling, neither do we.

I am one who almost chose to “forfeit the grace” that was mine in Christ Jesus. I almost traded treasure for trash. Almost traded dignity for disgrace. Almost traded abundance for ashes. Almost traded mercy for misery.

The thing about it is that God doesn’t need me. He can choose to use someone else to do His work. We get to be used by God.

In a season of my life, I ran like Jonah. My running was more emotional in nature as I was still going through the motions as a Christian. Trying to hide in the crowd of teenagers at a Christian camp where I was a group leader, the Lord spotted me and confronted me. We were gathered as a large group in a conference-type meeting room participating in a time of worship and teaching before we broke into smaller groups. I was standing there minding my own business when the Lord asked me to do something. He told me to look around the room and see all those faces of the boys and girls eager to make their vocation in full-time ministry. I slowly looked around the room at the students sitting on couches, sitting in chairs, and sitting on the floor. He then told me, “I can choose anyone here to do what I have asked you to do.” I knew distinctly what He was referring to. I was in the beginning stages of writing my first Bible study. His words actually made me feel special. Made me feel special because I knew I had been chosen to do something. It also made me feel humble. Made me feel humble because I believed Him. He could choose someone else, but oh how I wanted it to be me.  

You may be on the run like Jonah. You may be emotionally running like me. May you choose today to “remember” God and allow Him to rescue you from you.

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal; the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:10-12

Those Words

The Lord had been putting a teacher friend on my heart. She was battling breast cancer. She and I had taught the same subject and grade and our classrooms were next to one another for three years before I switched to a different grade. When she wasn’t teaching, she would always be going places – traveling around the U.S. during breaks and weekends. She would come back all tanned and refreshed. I would be jealous.

When I heard she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I immediately started praying and believing for her healing. She was so good with the students. She was so easy to talk to. She was so caring. She was so smart. She was so talented. She was so full of life.

Last year (20-21) she took a leave of absence from work for treatments. As I followed her journey, mainly through Facebook, I prayed diligently for God to heal, comfort, and restore. Within a year, she declined increasingly and steadily. Her husband had to update friends via Facebook as she was too weak.

The Lord continued to prompt me to not only pray for her but to talk to her about her spiritual life. That is an area we had never talked about before, but I wanted to heed God’s promptings. I thought about messaging her several times but never did.

One Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church, the Lord unmistakable put my friend on my heart. I then texted my other teacher friend and asked her if she wanted to go visit our friend sometime that day. She replied quickly with “Let’s go this morning.” We decided on a time and met up.

As I got ready for the day, I was rehearsing what I should say to my friend. I needed to know if she knew Jesus. I planned my words out with grace as the filter. I also planned in a way that the gospel was directly presented. I was ready to see her face to face and to see God work. At this point, I also prayed for the gift of healing (I Cor. 12:9). I was praying that God would grant me this gift from the Holy Spirit temporarily so that she could be healed and live to see her grandchildren grow up.

My friend and I arrived at her house to find her sitting on the couch sipping water but also reliant on the oxygen attached to her. We had some sweet small talk, then I turned to her and looked her in the eyes and said that I would like to talk about Jesus. She expressed, “Okay” as a tear welled up in her eye. Her countenance softened and her body relaxed as I spoke about how much Jesus loves her. Her next words were, “I try to be good.” It was then that I shared about the goodness of God and how He alone is good and that it is because of Him that any of us are justified before Him. She nodded her head and unashamedly said, “I know.” Seeing her verbal and nonverbal responses to my words let me know that she did know our wonderful Savior.

I asked her if I could pray for her. She responded affirmatively, so I then moved to the ottoman to sit directly in front of her. She immediately grabbed my hand and held it with both her hands, then I placed my other hand on top of hers. Both of her eyes were welling up with tears. Tears of delight. She enjoyed talking about Jesus. I enjoyed talking about Jesus with her.

Then words came out of my mouth that hadn’t been rehearsed. Words came out of my mouth that even took me by surprise. The words that unexpectantly came out of my mouth were: “The Lord is preparing a place for you.” As I said those words, a part of my heart sank. It sank because I came to pray for the complete healing of her body on earth. But at the same time, I knew those words came from our Heavenly Father who really was preparing a place for her in heaven (John 14:2).

Those unexpected, unplanned, unapologetic words that came out of my mouth brought comfort to both of us because they are true. From there, I prayed for her. I prayed for her healing. I prayed for her family. I thanked God for preparing a place for her. I prayed that if others in her family do not know where they would go after they died, that they would trust in their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those words may not have been what I had planned. Those words may not have been what was desired. Those words may not have been why I came. One thing for sure though, is that those words brought about an unexplained peace; one that passes all understanding. A peace because my friend was a daughter of the King. A peace because my friend was going to heaven. A peace because I had obeyed the prompting of the Holy Spirit. A peace because we both could rest knowing Whose arms she would eternally rest in.

My friend died five days later.

My friend departed from her earthly home and into her heavenly home.

My friend once again got to go somewhere of which I am jealous.

I may not get the opportunities to travel the United States like she did, but I know for a fact, that I will get to walk the streets of heaven, partake of the divine foods, and embrace my Heavenly Father like her. One day, I too, will take a trip to heaven where those words: “God is preparing a place for you” will be a reality.

Are those words true for you?

If not, you are one prayer away from them being true for you. Surrender your life to Jesus today.

A Fit for a King

Maturity simply cannot be determined by age. We hope that after adolescence, we could expect a particular level of common sense, capabilities, and understanding from ourselves and especially from others. Even when there is a lack of experience, moving toward adulthood should promote the means for decent maturity. One of my pet peeves about children in movies is when their character plays a role or has lines that are clearly not age appropriate; for example, when a child speaks to an adult like an adult. I get it that some children really are perceptive and have an extensive vocabulary, but most of the time, children are incapable of producing adult-like thoughts. On the other side, there is something very odd and just plain repugnant when an adult behaves like a child. Witnessing an adult say or do something childish is a huge turn-off; one of those moments when we are embarrassed for the adult and thankful it wasn’t us who behaved inappropriately publicly. Unfortunately though, most of us 21 years and older have most likely acted younger than our numerical age more times than we would like to count.

It isn’t just with family or friends or even strangers that provokes the immature side of us. We can also be guilty of immaturity in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. In our lack of parental emotional nurturing, in our lack of spiritual maturity, in our lack of wisdom and understanding, and in our lack of selflessness we come to God wanting Him to do something for us. We want what we think we need: someone’s attention, a particular job, money, gadgets…usually something temporal and external. Then, when God doesn’t give us what we think we have to have, we throw a fit, albeit an adult version of a tantrum, and exclaim that He doesn’t care, that He doesn’t listen, that He doesn’t understand, that God is a bad God.

Moses, who was given the title as the “most humble” by God himself (Numbers. 12:3), threw a child-like tantrum not once but twice in the same chapter. The Israelites had once again come to Moses complaining of not having food like they did in Egypt. It is recorded that, “Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents” (Numbers 11:10). Can you picture all these families – grandparents, moms, dads, children all standing outside their little tents crying puppy dog tears and exclaiming how starving they are??!! It is almost comical…until we read the very next line: “The LORD became exceedingly angry….” Moses is the one who has to be the mediator between these grippy people and irate God. So lets just say his leadership skills and maturity flew out the window (or tent door) that day. Moses immediately goes to give God a piece of his mind…in all humility I’m sure…. Anyway, kicking and screaming Moses points his finger at God, and wails, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me” (11:14). Then, the humblest man ever to walk the earth accuses God: “If this is how your are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me – if I have found favor in your eyes – and do not let me face my own ruin” (15). Oh the drama!! Next, God answers Moses and tells him that he has heard the wailing and that he will supply the people with meat. Well, Moses still in his child-like state, throws another tantrum. He heard God say that meat was coming and proceeds to mock God by telling God how inconceivable it is to expect meat for 600,000 men!! Again – kind of funny – how Moses has been through all he has with God up to this point, but now he has somehow found the one thing God cannot do! He continues by scoffing at God attempting to guess how God is going to supply the meat when he asks, “‘Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?'” (22). Gotta love God’s reply: “‘Is the LORD’s arm too short?'”(23). Moses shuts-up.

As a high school English teacher, I get the privilege of meeting and teaching all levels of maturity! Some sophomores have the manners and responsibility of a college student. Some…make me feel as if I am a middle school teacher. Well, one particular day, I got to play the “God” role ;). It was first hour. Unbeknownst to me, a young lady had come to class with an agenda. She had recently joined my class mid-semester coming from virtual school with a failing transfer grade. She basically had done virtually (pun intended) nothing in her online English class. In order to transfer her grade to my class, I had to put zero’s and low percentages into the gradebook. However, she did participate in class activities and assignments, but with a very low transfer grade, it can take weeks before a student brings the grade to passing. Just by the first few days of her coming to class, I could easily tell she had some emotional issues. My assumptions were right when that morning she blurted out from her desk with an accusing tone and questioned me about her grade in my class. I gently walked over to her desk and calmly explained to her how her very low transfer grade affected her overall grade in my English class. I also nicely informed her that past assignments (which were on Canvas in her Chromebook) could all be completed by her should she choose. At this point this young lady is clearly frustrated with me. She seems to want to continue to blame me for her failing grade. Keep in mind, she is ostensibly showing her irritation in front of the whole class. I could have asked her to come out into the hall to continue discussing her personal matter. I didn’t though, mainly because I use those moments to teach the whole class. I need the other students to know I am in charge, that her problem with her grade is one that is objective, and lastly that she isn’t going to upset me or make me mad; I am going to stay calm. She can throw all the fits she wants, accuse me all she wants, and be upset all she wants…. But, it isn’t going to change the situation or me; I am who I am. I am firm, confident, at rest, and justified. Eventually, I sneaked in a question for her: “Why didn’t you do any work when you were enrolled in virtual school?” Rudely and angrily she told me that she didn’t do any work because she had been in court with her family. At this point she is on the verge of being out of control. Then, she added in a hard, evil tone: “It is none of your business.” Instead of confronting her in her disrespectful tone, I just stood there calmly and kindly told her I was sorry and that I wasn’t trying to pry. Next, I informed her I had sent her a message yesterday on Canvas about her grade and that she should read it. That appeased her. She never complained again and brought her grade to passing.

God taught me something about His character that morning. I can see God in His goodness just waiting patiently for us to listen, to calm down, to breathe, to stop trying to figure things out, to stop telling God what He should do and how He should fix our problems. In our own immaturity and neediness and selfishness we come to God expecting Him to do what we say. Doesn’t work that way. HE IS GOD. He sees through our childish ways and is looking not just at the moment, but long term. He sees through our ego and pride and actually can’t stand it – repulses Him. He isn’t going to reward our tantrums just as a parent would not reward a child’s outburst. He is the bigger one; He will always and always take the higher road. He is interested in our character, our heart, our training in righteousness, our obedience, our trust, our respect, and ultimately our love. He unconditionally loves us, and desires we put off our sin and childish behavior and walk with Him. He has lots of messages waiting for us to read that He wrote before we were even born which speaks directly to our need. His arms are longing to be filled with us – to wrap His comfort, His faithfulness, His sustaining love, and His delight over and in us. Come to Him. Come to Him. Come to Him. Relax. Take a breath. Look into His eyes. Drop your guard. Quit your defense. Stop your complaining. Trust Him. Count on in His mercy. Know His affection. Receive His unfailing love. Rest in His grace.

Paul David Tripp in his devotional New Morning Mercies insightfully writes, “God is never anxious. God never wrings his hands and wishes he made a better choice. He is not dismayed or distracted by our panic or our questions. God is never surprised or caught up short. His plan marches on because it is not based on our character but on his. It all rests on his sovereign grace.”

Isn’t the classroom an ideal place to learn? We get the opportunity to be taught from a textbook. We get the personal attention from a teacher. We get contact with like-minded classmates. We are allotted time to sit and soak in the information set before us. We get the chance with the use of technology to research and explore. We get to participate in hands-on experiments within controlled environments. Here, in America, we are even granted the privilege of sitting in a classroom with individual chairs and desks inside an air conditioned or heated well-built, lighted room. Let’s choose to learn from Moses. Let’s choose to learn from the Israelites. Let’s choose to learn from all God has generously written to us in the Bible. I have a gut feeling we could eliminate an embarrassing moment.

Throwing Aside

Will we throw aside what is comfortable? Will we throw aside what is safe? Will we throw aside the familiar? Will we throw aside our security? Will we throw aside the life we have always known? Will we throw aside our will? Will we throw aside self-protection? Will we throw aside self-righteousness? Will we throw aside our life?

Three gospels tell the story of the rich, young ruler. If you are familiar with Scripture, you know just the story. Matthew calls him a “young man” (Matt. 19:20). Luke calls him a “ruler” (Luke 18:18). Mark only calls him a “man,” but gives more details about how the man approached Jesus. Mark notes, “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him” (Mark 10:17). Picture with me a young man running as fast as he can to meet up with Jesus; he is eager to see Jesus in person and to speak to Him. The young ruler who has privileges and responsibilities stops his day to find Jesus and to get answers. Out of breath and in humility, the young man asks Jesus, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). He and Jesus then have a conversation about keeping the commandments of which the young man claims to have kept them all (Mark 10:20). So, with love in his eyes, Jesus tells the rich, young man to “sell everything” he has “and give to the poor” (Mark 10:21). This privileged, young man with the rest of his life ahead of him, who had run so ambitiously to meet Jesus face-to-face, has, after hearing what Jesus says he should do, with his face down, “went away sad” (22). The reason his anticipation and earnestness turned to disappointment and sadness?? The young man had “great wealth” (22).

Then, in the very same chapter of Mark, another true story of a different man is told. Jesus and his disciples were in another city where a blind man, who had heard Jesus was there, shouted at Jesus, who he could not see, to have mercy on him (Mark 10:47). He was annoying everyone around him, but kept up the shouting, not listening to those who wanted him quiet. Like the rich, young man, the blind man sought after Jesus, but not by running after him, instead with a longing and desperation met with the volume and intensity in his voice. Jesus heard the man’s bold cries and stopped where He was and told someone to call the blind man over (Mark 10:49). Word got to the blind man that Jesus was calling for him. As soon as the man heard Jesus wanted to see him: “throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus” (Mark 10:50). Like in the account of the rich, young ruler, Mark is the only gospel again to give certain details about how the blind man approached Jesus. Matthew nor Luke comment on the way the blind man came to Jesus by “throwing his cloak aside.” Can you picture this probably older man who had been begging on the same road for years, hears Jesus is calling for him, throws his cloak – his only possession, his comfort, his security blanket, his protection from the cold, heat, and rain, his one thing he can call his own – throws it aside as if it meant absolutely nothing to him, to be with Jesus. Completely in contrast to the rich, young ruler, this blind man threw aside all he had to have what only Jesus could give him: salvation.

Do we, do I, throw my cloak aside to meet daily with Jesus? Do we, do I, throw aside my pride? My possessions? My people-pleasing desire? My problems?

Both men came to Jesus in humility and earnestly. Both left conversely; one without his deepest need met, the other, “received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God” (Luke 18: 43).

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Heb. 12:1

Rehearsals

It is Christmas Eve. So many memories – childhood… to my own children’s childhood – pleasantly flood my mind. This year, we have two college daughters presently home, and late tonight we expectantly await our married daughter and her husband who live in North Carolina. I actually welcome this feeling of preparing the house for their arrival. I desire to not only enjoy the days leading up to Christmas with Skylar and Landrey as we shop and bake, but also the putting of the final touches of Christmas traditions, so that when Braelyn and Ryan come home, they find a home filled with the glory for why we celebrate. As we remember what Christmas means to each one of us, let us not be carried away by going through the motions of holiday traditions, as I have been tempted to do. You know, the way we get caught up in having equal amounts of presents for the children, what is on the menu, on the Television, and on our tree. These are all a unique aspect to our holiday cheer, but let us not allow them to preoccupy our thoughts, time, and tenue. Maybe today you feel unworthy of even turning your thoughts toward God. Maybe you feel numb towards the baby Jesus. Maybe your heart has lied to you and betrayed you by citing that “He, God, won’t listen.” Maybe you have rationalized why your absence from God has been long enough to keep Him away. Maybe you complain about God without seeking Him directly. Or, maybe you believe you have wandered far too long and far that He wouldn’t even want you anymore.

Not so! Are you able to see beyond your self-pity and self-loathing to recognize the purpose – the higher purpose – the eternal purpose – of the baby Jesus in the manger. It is God’s ultimate plan and desire to make a way for those so far removed from Him in their thoughts, words, actions, and in their contemplations to actually be so near Him that they feel His sweet, intimate embrace, hear His comforting voice, and to feel in their very depths of their soul that He, God, loves them. As prophesied in Isaiah 49: 6 hundreds of years before the birth of our Messiah, God’s plan and purpose was to have the lost found. God prophesies over His servant and declares, “Is it too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept? I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Then in the New Testament, just eight days after the birth of Jesus, his parents took baby Jesus to the temple, as according to Jewish custom, to be consecrated to the Lord. When they arrived, the Spirit of God came upon a man by the name of Simeon. He then proclaimed over baby Jesus, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32). Simeon referenced Isaiah 49:6! Jesus has been born to save! Not just the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. This is us – we are not excluded!! He desires for my salvation, for your salvation. His arms extend wide for you.

Maybe, like the prodigal son, you have been rehearsing things in your mind of what you which you could say to God but haven’t quite mustered the courage to say to Him. The prodigal rehearsed his words of feeling unworthy and inadequate before he came in the presence of his father, who is a representation of our Heavenly Father. He rehearsed his words: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men” (Luke 15:18-19). I am sure each step homeward he wrestled with whether or not he could really face his dad. Talk about humbling oneself. How long he must have thought of himself so degrading and pitiful to even consider being in the same place as his dad. The lowest of the lows. Who did he think he was going back to his Father’s house? He was covered in shame – not even able to hold his head up. And yet, he did muster the courage to take the steps back home. What he could have never imagined was his treatment when the Father reached him: “But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). In fact, you know as the prodigal rehearsed what he would speak to his father, he would anticipate and even presume to know what his father would say in return. He knew what he deserved. What had the father been rehearsing while the son was gone? Maybe the son imagined how mad his father would be. How he has shamed the family. He probably believed the father wants to curse him – his own son. How he wants to treat him like he was never born – that he will only be ignored and not allowed in his father’s presence. Or, maybe he thinks his dad will give him the lecture of a lifetime entitled: “I Told You So!”

None of that happened – not even a tiny smidgen of it. One of my very favorite words the father says to the son is the very first word (which really wasn’t even said to him, but to his servant): “Quick!” The Bible puts the exclamation point at the end! The father didn’t have a rehearsed speech of condemnation. No, immediately he had gifts for his son – even when the son thought he had “spent everything” – the Father had so much more prepared for his heir/son. Before the son could finish his rehearsed speech of shame and guilt, the father lavished him with presents by covering him in grace.

A celebration began in honor of the prodigal son: “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24).

It is time for all of us to be found by God. Praying we will make our way back to our relationship with the One who came to find us and save us.

Merry Christmas

Pep Talk of a Lifetime

The daunting task of rebuilding the wall was ostensibly before the Israelites. The audacious opposition from neighboring enemies prevailed against the Israelites. God’s people, the ones called for His Name’s sake, faced an endeavor larger than their abilities, harder than their strength, more hopeless than their possibilities, more relentless than their energy, and more despairing than their will.

Does this new year find you with a new battle, or maybe one that has been tormenting you at your heels for months or years? Can you identify with the Israelites? Does it seem as if you do not have the capabilities, resources, help, willpower, guts, or right perspective to overcome? Does your courage seem lost in the rubble and destruction of your past?

HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Nehemiah (a Jew), while still in Babylon, heard of his people trying to survive in the aftermath of a burned down, broken down city: “‘[survivors]are in great trouble and disgrace'” (Nehemiah 1:3). With a broken and heavy heart, Nehemiah requested the king’s permission to help his own people through the dark time. The pagan king miraculously granted Nehemiah permission to leave his position of cupbearer and return temporarily to his hometown. King Artaxerxes not only let Nehemiah go, but sent him out in the most elite style! This is one of my favorite parts of the story! Just so we get the picture and profoundness and punch and phenomenal of this unprecedented moment, the following are different translations for Nehemiah 2:9:

“Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.” ESV
“The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.” NIV
“The king even sent along a cavalry escort.” The Message
“Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.” NASB
“Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.” KJV

Truly surreal. We hear the word “surreal” thrown around in the media especially during interviews where the interviewee just won a game, match, reality contest, or when something out of the ordinary occurs. It is a moment in time when what just happened or is happening seems unreal or dreamlike. For me, the time that captured the meaning of the word “surreal” was at my oldest daughter’s wedding. She was engaged to the man God ordained for her, and we were blessed beyond measure for the two of them to spend the rest of their lives together. We had planned every detail of the wedding months ahead of time, but when all the guests arrived and lavished the outdoor venue with their attention onto my daughter, the radiant bride, I felt as if I were in a dream. The reality or acceptance that we had the wedding of my firstborn literally took a year for me to comprehend. Makes me wonder what Nehemiah must have felt as he was traveling with the king’s cavalry as his escort, riding in pomp and splendor with the king’s stamp of authority! He brought with him the best the world could offer to the men, women, and families who fiercely needed a rescuer – someone who could see beyond their mess and do something about it. Just a few short months before his royal ride, he was at home in Babylon weeping, fasting, and begging God on behalf of his relatives. He prayed, “let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant…” (Neh. 1: 6). When the time was right for Nehemiah to inquire of the king about leaving and helping the remnant of Jews, he was just hoping to live through it! Now he sits atop the back of one of the king’s horses with the king’s military men surrounding him! God heard and answered Nehemiah’s humble prayers in only the way He can do. Reminds me of Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Sounds like a surreal experience to me! Don’t give up praying! Keep seeking God for yourself or for a loved one or friend. God hears your prayers and is “delighted” in you (Psalm 18:19).

So…without announcing in a grand way his arrival, Nehemiah instead quietly investigates Jerusalem, specifically the destruction of the wall which was in utter ruin and useless to protect. Then, he gathers a group of men and explains why he is there and how “the good hand of [his] God was upon [him]” (Neh. 2:8). It wasn’t about him. It never was. Nehemiah didn’t risk his life for anyone’s sake except the Lord’s. He gave glory to his God and proclaimed what God had done through the king. He had worldly authority and could have taken advantage of his luxuries, but he chose to represent his heavenly Authority and glorify the King of kings.

One by one the men worked under the leadership of Nehemiah to repair and rebuild the protecting wall around Jerusalem. They were working as fast as they could, and at the same time standing guard from the onslaughts and mockery of the nearby neighbors. The Jews hadn’t worked this hard or come together as one in a long time. This was a turning point for everyone. They had a bold leader, determination in their hearts, and able bodies to accomplish what would be a defining task that would mark the Israelites as once again a separate nation. The enemy then dug deep in his bag of tricks to do anything in his little power to emotionally defeat God’s people from prospering. Called them names. Mocked their obedience. Ridiculed their efforts. Belittled their supplies. Accused their abilities. Plotted against them. It almost worked. It almost worked. Satan’s name calling against you, Satan’s mockery, ridicule, belittling, accusations, and plotting are nothing but a bunch of lies. His work is meant to destroy you and keep you from fulfilling God’s purpose and plan for your very life and life of your family. Pray mighty warrior, pray! Enlist other close warriors to pray on your behalf. This is war.

This is the moment Nehemiah gave the pep talk of a lifetime. As the Israelites were at the point of giving up, not having the last bit of strength to keep going, Nehemiah gathered the men together and charged them with these words: “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” (NLT).

Don’t be afraid!

Remember the Lord!

And fight!

Nehemiah’s testimony: “So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out” (Neh. 4:21).

May this too be your testimony, my testimony. That we will continue to do “good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do,” (Eph. 2 10) and that we will “hold out the word of life” (Phil. 2:16) knowing that God “who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:8).

Wisdom From a Friend

Currently, in my senior English classes, we are studying Shakespeare’s tragedy  Macbeth. The play is so fascinating. We will end up spending around four weeks reading it along with assignments, activities, and assessments. But, I could easily spend double that time analyzing and enjoying the structure, language, plot, allusions, and characters.

The play opens with three witches who plan to meet up with the protagonist, Macbeth, that day. The first scene ends with the witches, also referred to as “Weird Sisters”, chanting in unison: “Fair is foul and foul in fair” (12). The phrase from the witches means that whatever is considered good or of virtue is actually bad, and whatever is considered evil is actually good. The second scene is of Macbeth and his warrior friend, Banquo, who are both coming off the battlefield victorious. Macbeth proclaims, “So fair and foul a day I have not seen” (39). Shakespeare has Macbeth’s words echo the witches words to show that Macbeth senses something is not right – a gut feeling – intuition – a feeling something “in the air” so to speak is evil.

Immediately the witches make themselves known to Macbeth and Banquo as they leave the battlefield. It is interesting because even though the witches are targeting Macbeth, they approached him not alone, but alongside his buddy Banquo. The witches greet Macbeth with three titles, only one of which is his at the time, therefore “prophesying” his future. They hail him as “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of Cawdor”, and “King” (49-51). Their prophetic words planted a seed in Macbeth’s pride. The idea of him being king had never entered his mind until the witches hailed him as king. The reigning king, King Duncan, was highly respected and admired, so there had been no reason to dethrone him.

After prodding, the witches foretell that Banquo would not be king, but his sons would be kings. The two men actually joke about the witches until news was brought to Macbeth from noblemen that he has been given a new title – the title “Thane of Cawdor” which gives the appearance that what the witches had prophesied came true even though him being given that title was already in the making. Macbeth thinks what the witches have said is now no laughing matter. He begins to have inner conflict of wanting to be king at any cost  – a ruthless ambition – to be king even if it means to murder King Duncan.

Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in the early 1600’s, and yet it is quite mind-boggling how close to home it can hit in the 21st century. The characters really are timeless and universal. As we read Macbeth and see his inward struggle, we ask ourselves the same questions. The thing of it is, is that our humanity really is not different even though the times and setting is very different. Pride still is one of the greatest enemies of our souls. Shakespeare alludes to many biblical stories as well as referencing Scripture over a thousand times throughout all his writings. It is common knowledge that the Bible was a main source of education in the Elizabethan time, and Shakespeare had a knowledge and understanding of the Bible that was exemplified throughout his works. The play, Macbeth, was written for King James I – the king who commissioned The King James Bible. I would love to teach Macbeth to high school students at a Christian school!

Back to Macbeth…So, Macbeth is starting to believe that the “supernatural solicitors” words “cannot be ill and cannot be good” (135). Banquo observes that Macbeth is beginning to be tempted by the witches words, and has some words of his own for his good buddy! This is why I decided to blog today about Macbeth.  Banquo’s words are still so fitting for us! If only we had such a good friend as he! Banquo calls it as it is! Banquo takes the opportunity as Macbeth’s friend to tell Macbeth not to let his thoughts entertain any idea the witches have planted in his mind. Banquo boldly says, “That trusted home,/ Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,/ Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange./ And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,/ The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/ Win us honest trifles, to betray ‘s/ In deepest consequences” (121-127).

In other words, Banquo is explaining to Macbeth that the witches are of the demonic realm and cannot be trusted. And, secondly, they lie to us telling us what we want to hear only to seduce us then use the very thing we trusted in the witches against us with unimaginable consequences.  Shakespeare is using Banquo’s insight to teach his audience how harmful and deceptive witches and witchcraft really are. During the time of the writing of Macbeth, there had been plots on the assassination of King James I by witches.

We all need a friend like Banquo who can be honest even in personal, possibly uncomfortable areas of our lives; someone to speak the truth to spare us of regretful decisions. Adults too make bad decisions – we are not exempt from needing advice – good, solid, biblical counsel.

Proverbs 12: 15 tells us “the wise listen to advice.” Also in Proverbs 19:20 we are told, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”

Unfortunately, Macbeth did not heed the honest and truthful words of Banquo. He decided to go against reason and truth, and instead to commit treason and murder. It didn’t end well for Macbeth or for his wife, Lady Macbeth.

When the lies of our enemy sound like something we want to believe, that is the exact moment to listen no more.

I came across a quote from Martin Luther I have been pondering. May his words serve today as coming from a friend:

“The preacher should not preach {the Messiah} as silver and gold, but as peace. This is the beautiful, magnificent sermon; that no one else but he himself has established peace between God and us – as well as all creatures! What is all the wisdom, knowledge and power on earth if we are not one with God? If this peace stands, I will not be pestered much by the devil, death, sin and hell. They can be as evil as they want; I have grasped hold of the Word and am at peace with God. But if the devil does not want to leave me in peace, what do I care? For my heart stands in the true assurance of God’s peace. The man named Jesus of Nazareth – Lord over everything – is my Lord, so you cannot devour me!” ( Martin Luther, Sermon on Easter Monday Afternoon, 1544).

 

 

Hold Your Peace

I purchase a red geranium every spring in memory of my Granny, Frances David. She would buy several pots of red geraniums every spring, set them out on the back and the front porch and water them faithfully. She was so proud of her geraniums; I can still hear her beckon for my approval of their beauty. She tended to the geraniums meticulously and wished mine would be as pretty as hers. Recently God actually spoke to my heart through my red geranium on my back porch. It was a day of soaking in some needed back porch rest from what had been a very busy season for me physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. The geranium was fairly new; I was hoping my “not so much” green thumb would give me success with this geranium. That day as I basked in the spring rain, I saw the tiniest bloom, literally just a speck of red! I marveled at the whole planting process – the seed in the dirt with the expectation of full bloom. It hit me that even the tiny speck of red at that moment didn’t even know its own potential. The patience, the process of maturing, the sun, the water, the soil, the nutrients – all work together so that at just the right moment – the glorious beauty is revealed to be marveled at and given praise to the One and Only God who is King of kings. What mystery, what surprise! I felt in my spirit God was wanting me to know that patience and pouring myself into prayer and allowing Him to work was my job, especially during this season of my life. Sometimes my job was to “Be still” as God instructs in Psalm 46:10. He desired for me to be still in my soul, to not be anxious, to not be fearful, to not be the scared to death uneasiness that I cannot even sleep.

At this time, my heart goes out to those suffering from hurricane Harvey as well as those in Florida experiencing the turbulent hurricane Irma at this exact moment. What is there to say to console those going through such mess and loss and hurt and anxiety and fear?

Those moments when we at anticipating hope is fulfilled, when we are supposed to let something run its course naturally, but we want to interfere. Those moments when things are working out in their own time, but we think we can’t wait anymore. Those moments when we honestly don’t want to be still, we want the whole world to know our mind, our situation, or our circumstance. I think that is what God says and means when He tells us to “Be still and know that He is God….” Trust that He is working; He is creating; He is orchestrating; He is intervening even when we can’t see it. The glimpses we do see of the red blossom slowly showing itself from the bud, know that there is more to come in God’s perfect timing. He is an on-time God. He knows your need before you even speak it (Ps. 139:1-6). He leads us to quiet waters (Ps. 23:2). He is patient with us (2 Peter 3:9). He never sleeps nor slumbers (Ps. 121:4).

The familiar verse “Be still, and know that I am God..” (Ps. 46:10), is not to read in a gentle, monotone voice as if it were being whispered. No, actually it is a giant, loud, authoritative command! Listen for the words in the context of Psalm 46: “refuge,” “trouble,” “help,” “fear,” “earth give way,” “mountain fall into the heart of the sea,” “waters roar and foam,” “mountains quake with their surging,” “nations are in an uproar,” “kingdoms fall,” “fortress,” “desolations,” “wars,” “bow,” “spear,” “burns,” “shields,” “fire.” When life is turbulent and scary and lonely and out of control, God ushers in the holiest “Be quiet!”

The famous prophet Samuel uses the exact same Hebrew word “raphah” when he tells King Saul to “Stop!” (1 Samuel 15:16). Saul is caught in disobedience to God by not annihilating all of the enemy’s people, possessions, cattle, and plunder. Saul took some of the best for himself. Samuel approaches him after a very unrestful night and asks in a sarcastic but can’t believe it, like he can’t believe what his ears are actually hearing, authoritative, parental tone: “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” (1 Samuel 15:14). Saul then tries to justify himself by saying that the soldiers brought these animals to sacrifice to the “LORD your God”… and “we totally destroyed the rest” (vs. 16). Samuel, amidst all of Saul’s rationalizations and lies, raises his voice (there is an exclamation point after his word) and commands “Stop!” In other words, stop talking! Stop lying to me and to yourself! Stop justifying yourself! Stop being self-righteous! Stop all this nonsense talk! Too much noise going on – the sheep are bleating, the cattle are lowing, your mouth disgusts me – just stop, would you??
This same word “Stop!” is the same Hebrew word the psalmist states God says: “Be still” which is “raphah.”

We can make this same kind of noise whether aloud or in our own thoughts. Maybe the doctor has given us a severe diagnosis and all we can replay in our minds is the bad news we heard from him and the nurse, and then the “what if” scenarios start rolling through our mind and heart. Maybe you or your spouse loses a job and the voices in your head tell you that you will lose everything, children will go without shoes, bills won’t get paid, house will be taken, reputation will be lost, and so on. Maybe it could even be a good thing like getting pregnant and yet all the voices in your head tell you that you will be a terrible parent, that you won’t be able to love the baby, and that you aren’t worthy to have a child. “Fear usually comes and goes, leaving us in flight, ready to fight, or just temporarily frightened. But anxiety hangs in there. It grips the mind, paralyzing it for all but its own purposes – an endless rehearsing of the same useless thoughts. It is the fuel that propels us into controlling behaviors of all sorts. We can think of nothing but keeping a lid on things controlling the problem, and making it go away; it is the stuff codependency is made of” (Codependent No More, Beattie, 58). Stop! Stop it already! Enough! Be still!

During a life-threatening, turbulent time for the Israelites, God gives words through Moses to His people who have escaped the Egyptians only to find them on their heels with murder weapons: “The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:14 KJV, italics mine). Another time, when the Israelites who had come home from the 70 years of captivity had found themselves in a very emotional time, was commanded by the Levites: “Hold your peace, for the day, is holy; neither be ye grieved” (Nehemiah 8:11, KJV, italics mine). This awesome phrase “hold your peace” in Hebrew means “to be quiet, rest, keep silent, be still, hold tongue, speak not a word, worker”. Love the last definition of “worker”! You are doing something when you are holding your peace by holding your tongue!
A New Testament moment when “hold your peace” is seen is in Mark 4:39 when Jesus “got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” The word “Quiet” is the word for “hold your peace.”

When anxious thoughts disturbingly rise up within your heart and mind, don’t give in to the lies. Don’t let your mind wander to the “what if” scenarios. Max Lucado in his book Fearless writes, “Destructive anxiety subtracts God from the future, faces uncertainties with no faith, tallies up the challenges of the day without entering God into the equation” (Lucado 46).

For those of you in the midst of a real live hurricane, or those who are in the midst of a personal turbulent time:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46

New Spiritual Marker

I have been co-teaching The Gospel Project on Sunday mornings during the Sunday school hour, and the subject for the past few months has been the exiles and return of the exiles. The whole time I had been preparing to help teach, I wanted to include the genealogy of Jesus recorded in Matthew 1. I never really got a chance to mention that particular genealogy, and as it turns out, it was for a good reason! We got a chance to camp out on the genealogy for a whole Sunday school class time.

It is so crazy how much this genealogy in Matthew one means to me. I am so moved by the simple inclusion of the deportation of the Israelites as they were taken captive by the Babylonians. When the exiles returned home, they were one people again. The exile is the only event recorded in the genealogy! Jeremiah predicted that the exile to Babylon would exceed/ out do/ be more significant than the deliverance of Egypt (Jeremiah 16:14; 23:7). It is a new spiritual marker.

I will never forget the moment I saw with my spiritual eyes this inclusion in Matthew. I was in the throes of writing Back From Captivity and somehow I came across it. It was one of those moments that time stopped for me. It was a moment between God and me where Scripture jumped off the page and catapulted supernaturally into the heavenlies to pierce my heart with a message of good news. I remember I stopped reading when I came to the phrase “After the exile to Babylon” (Matt. 1: 12) and looked around me as if Someone had written it just for me. It felt as if Someone was pointing at those Scriptures, highlighting them, then penetrating them in my heart and mind to reveal in my spirit that God, my Heavenly Father, knows where I have been and what I have been through. That it is all a part of my identity, but that none of it is in vain. It has served a purpose. The event – the exile – or whatever one may be experiencing – even the terribleness of it – has a divine place with divine plans and divine purposes. I suppose it validated for me that what Satan meant for harm, God meant for good (Genesis 50:20).

If you feel as if your future is wasted or lost or too messed up because of your track-record; that now your life is a mistake, a complete disaster because of what you have done, take in the words of the famous hymn Amazing Grace which so profoundly testifies, “I was lost but now I am found!” Child of God, you have a new beginning! Do you see that in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1? You have a new beginning!! You are found not to live in shame and embarrassment or humiliation, but to live nearer to the Father’s heart, to be close to Him, to look even more like Him, to be covered by His blood shed for you, to be redeemed, bought back, to be found in Him. It isn’t your story, but His story over your life. It isn’t about your mistakes. It is about you being found by God.

This is the message of the cross. This is the message from Genesis to Revelation. This is the message of salvation. This is the message of forgiveness. Jesus did not die only for the sins you committed before your time of salvation – the time before you accepted Jesus to be Lord over your life – He continues to offer His forgiveness for our sins committed overtly and covertly after salvation. This is an ongoing relationship. The Scripture, “Forgive us our sins” as recorded in the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:4 is not to be a one-time prayer but a daily prayer. The books I, II, & III John were written for the early Christians, those belonging to the family of God. Jesus admonished the believers when He wrote, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8-9).

If you are not familiar with the account of the Babylonian exiles of when God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to take captive Israelites, who were living in the Promised Land, because of their continual rebellion against God and their idolatry, but after 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God allowed King Cyrus to declare a decree issuing those captives to return home to Jerusalem to live again as one nation and people serving God together. Know that having to leave the Promised Land and being taken captive was the worst of the worst. For the Israelites it was corporately and individually the lowest time of their lives. Their identities were stripped. All that they knew of who they were as a people of God was ripped away – exposed for anyone and everyone to see their shame. It was a dark time of being isolated due to their own sins of ignoring of the prophets and believing lies. Their lives collapsed right before them as they hit rock bottom. God through Moses warned of what would happen to the Israelites if they were disobedient. This is the description of being sin-sick, of being in captivity:

“Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant dread both night and day, never sure of your life. In the morning you will say, “If only it were morning!” – because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.” Deuteronomy 28: 65-67

Michael Card in The Bible Speaks Today uses the word “nadir” to represent this point of Israel’s history. It was the all-time low.

Here in Matthew 1, the very first book of the New Testament, we find this genealogy, this list of men and women in the lineage of the only perfect person to ever walk this Earth – to find individuals who were far from perfect, but who also did not continue to live in sin, but at their low times, looked up to their Redeemer, Deliverer, Savior. Within this genealogy of the generations leading up to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, beginning with Abraham, tucked away among many names is the nadir of Israel’s history. It was the Lord’s will not to omit it, skip over it, ignore it, act as if it didn’t happen, choose that it didn’t happen, or replace it with a grand event. Including this event in the genealogy of Jesus Christ means something to you and me. This is quite significant. I believe we can apply this significance personally and/or corporately. Whatever it may be that is a part of your track-record that you consider to be your lowest point in life, the thing that has humbled you, and yet has also caused many grievances to the point of you coming to the end of yourself – may be or has been the very thing God uses as a testimony in your life of His goodness, grace, love, and faithfulness. Your past, your journey, even with the dark times marked with guilt, can be redeemed and used to manifest the glory of our God and Savior. Whatever you or your family has gone through or is going through – when you feel so alone and unusable – God is revealing to you that in Him there is hope. What the Israelites came through and overcame, so you too can live and survive through this time to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). Whatever your blot may be – divorce, bankruptcy, loss of job, prodigal child, infidelity, alcoholism, imprisonment – God is not finished with you; He has beautiful plans for you. Your calling is not null and void. God is great and awesome and will uphold you. Rest in Him and find your way in Him.

“You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning, my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” Psalm 18: 28-29

They Did So

From my own emptiness I sit down to write this blog. I am not empty in all areas of my life. I am quite full with the wealth of my time with my three daughters as they are all home from school for Christmas break. Their richness of life experiences as each one is in exciting times in their season of life, fills me as they retell, ask questions, and wonder over what the past semester brought them. The biggest news by far is that my eldest got engaged in September. My middle daughter finished her first semester at college, and by the way, has her first boyfriend. My youngest completed her first semester of  concurrent classes at TCC as a junior at Broken Arrow High School, wrapped up her volleyball and soccer season, and began her second year on the girls varsity tennis team.

I am also not empty in my career. My full-time job as a senior English teacher at Broken Arrow High School fills me on several levels. The students, as seniors getting ready to graduate high school, are embarking on their new life as a first time adult resembling  a new born baby entering  his new world outside the womb. They are antsy with anticipation, but also embody much anxiety as most truly cannot see themselves outside the walls of the security of mom and dad, school, church, work, and well-known friends. My career also fulfills me in the sense that as much as I have tried to run-away from my God-given talent of teaching (The teacher in me really is from God, I would never have chosen a career that puts me in front of a class – especially at the 12th grade level. I feel most comfortable as a behind-the-scenes type person), I am greatly awed at how much I absolutely love my job! Not only do I get to teach the neatest students on the planet, I get to coach girls junior varsity tennis which is a year round sport. I get to be on the tennis court everyday of the school year with players who love the sport as much as I do! The last thing I am responsible for at my job is the club Students for Christ which is getting revamped as the FISH club with help from a local youth pastor and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. The club is praying for miracles as God uses His people to do His work on the campus of Broken Arrow High School.

The Lord has given me a new place to serve at my local church, Arrow Heights Baptist Church. I am co-teaching the co-ed young singles class. We are working through the curriculum The Gospel Project. I believe the Lord is using this class to fill some empty places in me. It isn’t the class or class time that fills me; it is the studying time in preparation of the class time. The hours spent in God’s Word of reading and research take me to a place I am most intimate with my Heavenly Father, my Teacher, my Love, my Light, my Life. He alone satisfies me with the richness of His presence. His invitation is for anyone who too feels a need for more: “‘Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters; and the  you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live'”(Isaiah 55:1-3a).

The part of my life I feel empty in is in the area of writing. Maybe it is because I do not write often enough. Maybe I have been avoiding it. Maybe I haven’t made it a priority. Maybe I put other things above this time.

This is exactly what I want to address in this post – emptiness that only the Lord Jesus can fill, fulfill, sustain, enlighten, engulf, satisfy, parch, or even indulge.

Isn’t this the real-life account of the mother of Jesus in John 2: 1-11?

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother  was there, and Jesus  and his disciples had also ben invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “everyone brings out the choice wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

What Jesus did her in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

What comes to me through this quiet, secret miracle is the faith of Jesus’ mother and the servants. The wine was gone, the jars were empty, then Jesus tells them to fill the jars with ordinary water, and yet, nothing ordinary happened – Jesus’ first miracle took place with only a handful knowing what happened (verse 9).

What sits to be filled in your life?

What has Jesus told you to do?

I am reminded of other biblical miracles. For starters, creation itself: “The earth was formless and empty…And God said, ‘Let their be light,’ and there was light (Genesis 1: 2,3).

Another time is when Abraham by faith went to a mountain God instructed him to sacrifice his son. “…As the two of them went on together, “Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father? ‘ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘The fire and the wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together” (Genesis 22: 6b-8).

A New Testament account is when a few of the disciples fished through the night with nothing to prove for it. John 21 reveals the miracle of nothing to indulgent. “‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said,’ We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

One of my all-time favorite evidences of faith is in Mark 16. Jesus’ body had been laid in a tomb secured by a large tomb after His crucifixion. Three ladies who probably didn’t sleep a wink the night before, left early for the tomb in order to anoint His body. As they were walking to the tomb, the Bible records a portion of their conversation: “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” they asked one another (Mark 16:3). Even though they knew beyond a shadow of doubt they could not, even all three of them, begin to roll that stone away in order to anoint Jesus’ body – they went anyway! They did not have the strength to supply the duty, but by faith they did what was ceremonially required of them to do. “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away” (Mark 16:4).

What I believe God is calling you and I to do today is…to do something! Do something! Fill the pots with water, speak God’s Word, go where He has instructed, try again, or go in your little strength. What do you need, not want? What can you do to fill your emptiness with water as an act of faith? As God leads and guides you – do!

Even as I sat down this morning with really very little creativity or desire to write, I prayed as James directs us to do: I prayed for wisdom to the One who gives generously  (James 1:5).

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…” (James 1:6).