PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Do we stand outside the ark and not go in? Not walk the ramp to salvation, to eternity. Are we on the outside looking in? Just maybe we think we don’t need to get in the boat. Maybe we’re afraid to walk the ramp.

Do we stand behind on the shore by the sea, the chariots approaching, but we’re afraid to step onto dry land that was once wet. Maybe we’re afraid to take the step.

Do we stand before the altar and refuse to give in? Are we willing, if asked, to give up our ways, our wants, our desires? We are asked, you know, to sacrifice our ways for the only Way. Maybe we’re afraid to offer the sacrifice.

Do we stand in the desert afraid to unpeg our tent in this world and drive our pegs into eternity? Maybe we’re afraid of the Promised Land.

Do we stand at the manger, afraid of becoming part of the nativity? Afraid to admit that the baby laying there is the Savior of the World. Afraid to acknowledge that we need saving? Maybe we’re afraid to believe.

Do we stand outside the Temple unable to hear the boy-King? So many worldly voices calling our names that it’s hard to distinguish the voice of God. Not giving credence to His teachings. Not wanting to hear. Maybe we’re afraid of knowledge.

Do we stand in the tomb of the dead, afraid to come out on that fourth day when called by our weeping Savior? Maybe we’re afraid to be raised from the dead.

Do we stand in back of the crowd and watch as He heals every kind of sickness and disease from within and yet not seek healing? Maybe we’re afraid of The Cure.

Do we stand in the back of the line hiding so we’re not seen? Afraid of being called His child. Afraid of leaving the old life behind. Maybe we’re afraid of being chosen.

Do we stand in the room watching as the supper is passed? All of our brothers around. Not fully understanding. Asking the wrong questions? Maybe we’re afraid of what we don’t understand.

Do we stand in the crowd as He is handed over, afraid to speak? Afraid of being related, connected to Him. Are we afraid of what others will say – do? Maybe we’re afraid of rejection.

Do we stand before the cross as Jesus dies, and not see the life? Afraid the cost is too high. Afraid of our unworthiness. Maybe we’re afraid of commitment.

Do we stand before the tomb? Afraid of what we’ll see. Afraid of the death inside, and our dying outside. Maybe we’re afraid of death.

Do we stand before the Risen Lord? Speechless. Afraid of His love. Afraid of our lowliness. Maybe we’re afraid of life – eternal life.

Maybe we’re afraid …
…to get in the boat?
…to step foot onto dry land?
…to offer the sacrifice?
…to enter the Promised Land?
…to believe?
…to know who He is?
…to be raised from the dead?
…of The Cure?
…of being chosen?
…of what we don’t understand?
…of rejection?
…of commitment?
…of death?
…of life – eternal life?
…of Jesus?

Maybe.

Where do you stand? What are you afraid of? Jesus requires an answer. We cannot just stand. We cannot remain immobile. Not answering is an answer. Maybe, instead of standing, we need to bow. Bow at the foot of the cross, looking to the Only One who can help us stand, to take a stand. Today is Resurrection Wednesday. What will it take for us to stand beside all those things that we’re afraid of? To stand as resurrected people beside the resurrected One so that every day is Resurrection Day?

I’ve been reading the Easter story. It’s that time of year you know. That sounds a funny thing to say, doesn’t it? Maybe I shouldn’t be thinking of it that way. We tend to holiday-ize some Bible events, don’t we? Christmas and Easter are the easiest to secularize and as humans we’ve done an outstanding job of it. Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Not a criticism, just an observation. I’m speaking for myself, I’m currently all bunnied up and have gotten supplies for the egg hunt too. But the down and dirt about it is that the birth of Jesus and the death and resurrection of Jesus are not secular events. I must never forget. The Easter story begins with death and ends with life. We have to understand the death in order to understand the life.

Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.
Matthew 27:36

Crucified. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Does that cause you to tremble, tremble, tremble? Me too. Maybe the world has turned Easter into a parade because it’s too awful to think about the real acts of Easter, a man hung on a cross. Give me the bunny. It shocks the senses to think about folks hanging out just waiting for Him to die. Let’s hide some eggs. Secularizing Christian events does soften them for our minds, makes them more bearable, more palatable. It is easier to think of Peter Cottontail then a man dying on a cross for me.

When I think about those who “sat around,” I wonder what they were thinking. Crucifixions were not uncommon so they may not have been too affected by it. Maybe they thought nothing – just another criminal, just another crucifixion. Maybe the violence of their day had become so commonplace they were desensitized to it. Maybe people didn’t even notice as they walked by Calvary. We can’t really blame them, after all, isn’t that the world we live in too, deadened? Do we even think of the crucifixion for what it was? Harsh, cruel, horrific.

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit.
Matthew 27:50

Dead. The sinless One. Died because we are the sin-full ones. Do we think of it that way? In my stead. In my place, the Spotless lamb. If you know Jesus, not just the name, death is not the end, actually, it’s just the beginning. We must understand the death before we can appreciate the life.

“I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised form the dead, just as he said he would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
Matthew 28:5-6

Resurrected! The real Easter story. The beginning of a life of eternity. The key to all things Jesus. Just as He promised – I will come again. Just as He promised, we will be resurrected to eternal life with Him.

I want to remember that Easter is not just a celebration of the spring season, but a celebration of my new life, your new life! I want to remember that His death led to my life. I want to remember that His death took the place of my death – here on earth and for all eternity. That is the Good News!

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Easter with bunnies, eggs, and bonnets. But, we must remember the most important part about Easter is what happened at the cross – the crucifixion, His death; and we must remember what happened at the tomb, His resurrection, He Arose! Jesus is the reason for the season. Jesus made Resurrection Day possible for all of us. As children of God, we should live as if every day of our life was Resurrection Day because it is! We must daily celebrate the life that led to death, that led to life. Yours, mine and all those who will receive Him.

But how will they receive Him if they do not know Him? How will they know Him if no one tells them about Him? If we do not proclaim the Good News to those who don’t know Jesus, are we much different than the guards, just hanging around waiting for death? Let us not be numb, complacent, inert to a world that is hurting and broken and needs Good News. Who will you tell about Jesus today?

Hello!?!?!?!

Look out the kitchen door and what do I see? Two beautiful creatures staring at me! They are amazing creatures and they are trying to get our attention. They will look at the house then look at the field, longingly, kind of like hey (haha) look out there…You see, it’s springtime. The birds chirping, the trees blooming and most importantly to them, the grass is growing. We keep them in the front field during winter so that they don’t destroy the good fields. We feed them hay over the winter, and when the grass starts coming in, they start getting antsy. They go around their field covering every square inch snatching up any little blade that pops through. They hunch down on their two front legs as low to the ground as they can go, and crane their necks under the fence trying to get any morsel they can. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, right?

We can always tell spring is a comin’. When we turn them out on those crisp mornings, they no longer run for the hay, they run to the gate. What’s behind that gate? Fields of grass. Beautiful, sweet, succulent grass. Who wouldn’t long for that? You can always tell a grass fed horse by the size of their girth. They usually start running to the gate about the first week of March. They’re usually not out fully on grass until the first week of May. That’s a whole lotta yearnin’ goin’ on.

Because horses have sensitive tummies, yes, the gigantic oafs do, we have to wean them onto grass. The new grass is a little too rich on their stomachs and a horse with a belly ache is dangerous and expensive. So, when Farmer T says that the grass looks good, we start turning them out a little at a time. Our habit has been to put them out for a few hours each evening for about a week. Believe it or not, their bellies have timers. About evening time they go to the gate, look at the house with those beautiful, pleading eyes, then look at the field, the house, the field, the house, the field. They will do this for hours. They get a little uptight, a little impatient. They push on the gate, trying to get to the other side, trying to make something happen.

Here’s the thing. We fully plan to put them out at just the right time. They don’t understand that if we put them out full time right away, it could be dangerous for them. They don’t understand the method to our madness. They don’t understand the plan. In fact, they don’t even know the plan. They know there is a plan, they just don’t know what it is. So, they look at us with those eyes, call us with their demanding neighs, go to the gate, and get a little testy, and a lot pushy, until we answer the call to open the gate, putting the plan into action.

As I was fussing with them and telling them to be patient, they had to wait until just the right time, that they shouldn’t be anxious or frustrated with our failure to respond to their pleading to open the gate, and that they shouldn’t be pushing on the gate trying to open it themselves, that they have to trust us with the plan, it hit me. I must be a horse!! Don’t you see it? I have a girth thing going on, I’m a pleader, I get anxious and frustrated, I whiny a good bit, I try to push to make things happen before their time, and sometimes I don’t wait until the plan is revealed. You too? Yes!

The Lord is probably trying to give me the same speech I give the horses. Why is that? Because I don’t listen. Because I want my own way. Because I’m afraid of His plans for me. Because I want to run headlong. Because I’m impatient. Maybe, just maybe, because I think I know best (Ugh!). But look what He says:

“The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

He says He’s got a plan for us. He says that we have to hang back for a bit, but then all His promises for good will be realized. We know that and yet we’re like the horses. Longing, anxious, impatient, pushing to make things happen, when we have no idea what His plan is. But we can know for sure that His plans are for good.

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
Romans 12:12

So, with whatever it may be in our lives, we must yield to His plan, even though we may not know what it is, we are promised it will be good many times over in His Word (see how many you can find). He will reveal His plan, sometimes in full, sometimes in part. In the meantime, be patient and prayerful. Otherwise, we may have a tummy ache that could be dangerous and expensive. Yep, I’m definitely a horse!

I’ve been working on the fence-line, it feels like all the live long day! It’s a never ending challenge of fencing, cleaning out the underbrush and keeping out trees, briars, thistles and that pesky multiflora rose. It seems like super thorny, flesh tearing things flourish best under the fence row which makes removal hazardous and labor intensive, if you let them get out of hand. Fence line brush, the majority of which is multiflora rose (which by the way is not native to the United States, eastern Asia sent it to us, thanks) is fast growing, and one plant can grow about 1-2 feet a week, and can grow 16-20 feet big, if you let it get out of hand.

Anyway, I’ve been working on it, all the live long day. One long side completed, about 12 more sides of inner and outer fence to do and then the task will be completed. The task seems never-ending and if I look at what still needs to be done versus how beautiful the done is, it crushes the spirit. But, it must be done.

One of the most important things about cleaning up the fence-line is having the right tools for the job. In one week, the truck (my brush hauler) died, my chainsaw trigger broke, my row hoe broke off the pole, my weed whacker ran out of string. Those were just a few challenges I ran into trying to clean up the brush, in addition to time and weather. But, it must be done.

And the most important reason it must be done is because the brush is destructive. Left unattended (which I did a little longer than I should have), the brush will grow making the fence invisible, popping nails and screws and displacing boards, making the fence meant to keep things in completely useless. And, it is beautiful when it is done.

Unfortunately, there really is no good approach to brush removal other than slapping on some leather gloves and body armor to protect from the thorns, and just getting to it. There is no easy way to get rid of the brush. Sure, there are herbicides, but, believe it or not, some of this brush is immune to the most lethal. The most effective removal technique is good old fashioned, backbreaking, manual labor, putting hands to tools. But, it must be done.

When I stood back and looked at this long side, as difficult as it was to complete, I thought – if only I could clean the multiflora rose out of my own life that easily. You see, I have some invasive species in my life. You may be thinking you do too. Thoughts, feelings, anxieties, confusion, fears, dependencies, busyness, relationships, habits, people, things. The list of things in my life I need to take my loppers to reminds me of my untended fence-line — full of underbrush overgrowth. Some of the things I can snip with my shears or lop with my loppers, but for most things I need heavy equipment — chainsaw, brush cutter, sawzall. But, it must be done.

Here’s the thing, there are a few things in my life that I am capable of handling with a little discipline. There are thoughts, attitudes, and actions I can easily nip in the bud as Barney Fife would say. But most things in my life need heavy equipment. To kill the fence-line brush in my life, I need a whole lot more power and strength than I can muster on my own or that an ineffective herbicide can handle. I need Holy Spirit power!

Just like my lack of discipline in keeping up with the fence-line has led to an invasion of nonnative junk brush that will take quite some time to remove, the same thing can happen in our Spiritual lives. When we neglect our relationship with Jesus, the one with the power tools, we are going to get tangled up in the thorns of life, those vines and thorns and thistles that will surround us and destroy us. It happens very subtly. A weed here, and a poison vine there, and before we know it we’re completely surrounded and the fence-line that needs to be cleared is 16 feet tall and seems completely insurmountable and in our strength, it is. We need the Holy Spirit power!

When we open the Word of God, when we speak to Him in prayer, when we surrender our thorny lives daily (because the brush grows back quickly) to Him, to the One with the Almighty Power, if we’re willing, He will begin to clip away at the things in our lives that are destructive. He may not pull out all the brush at one time, He may take a section of fence-line at a time.

When we call upon the Holy Spirit, even when it seems there is no way out, little by little we will see brush removed, thorny branches lopped, healing balm placed on the places the briars have torn, and a beautiful fence-line will emerge.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20

We live in an anti-world don’t we?  You know a world full of resistance and opposition.  Sometimes it feels like we live in a world where if we’re for, then we’re against.  It’s hard to keep up with our antis sometimes.  But, there is one anti we must devote ourselves to.  Accepting Christ – Rejecting Sin.  This anti, opposite, is one where there is no wiggle room.  Jesus said you’re either for me or against me.  Not just a smidge.  All in or all out, opposites.

The Greek word for “opposite” is antikeimai. See that first part, anti, means opposed to, set against, resistant to. Think about that. In order to receive that cure, to be made healthy, we must do two things – accept and reject. Accept Jesus as the Son of God and reject our sin. We must be anti-sin. If we aren’t anti-sin, we are anti-Jesus. Ouch.

Galatians 5:16-17 say:

Live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit.
Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
The old sinful nature loves to do evil,
which is just the opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants.
And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other,
and your choices are never free from conflict.

The Holy Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of our sinful nature. If we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives there is life! If we allow our sinful nature to control our lives there is death!

Accept the gift of salvation from Jesus, then do the opposite, reject the sin in your life. I am a sinner. A full-blown sinner. I don’t want to be, but I am. I often feel like the Apostle Paul who also struggled with opposites.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:18-25

Do you ever feel that way? You want to do right but you do the opposite? You don’t want to, but you do. You are not alone. We can all be Paul’s or Paulette’s!

The marvelous beauty in this is found in verse 25. Jesus Christ is the answer! We are accepted because Jesus was rejected. His death gave us life. Sit with that thought a minute.

God so loved the world that he gave His only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Believing is life – perishing is death. Opposite.

The moon has been spectacular the past few early mornings. Did you see it? Wow! I have a thing about the moon. I mean I love the sun, it’s a magnificent creation, our daylight and our dayheat. But, there’s just something about the moon, the nightlight in the dark.

I’ve been looking Heavenward much more often lately, for many reasons, one being the SpaceX rescue of the astronauts from the International SpaceStation. I just can’t hardly imagine being an astronaut, being in the heavens and just that much closer to Heaven. I’m imaging if I were an astronaut (not a space cadet!), and I flew 250 miles into the heavens where all you could see were stars, planets, sky, I’d probably not get much work done (what do they do on the ISS anyway?) because I couldn’t keep my mind on my work. I think I’d be starstruck, awestruck. Even 250 miles would put me that much closer to Jesus. Anyway…

First thing each morning, after getting my coffee (of course, priorities!), I turn off all our outside lights before heading to my desk. That way, when I sit down to spend time with Jesus, all I can see before I turn on my desk light is the Heavens. It is unbelievable what you can see when you turn out the lights! Little glimpses of Heaven.

This morning, like most mornings, I sit and gaze at the moon. All moons are beautiful and all moons are special. Why? Because it turns up every night since being placed carefully in the sky, on the Fourth Day! It’s never missed a day yet. Even with the naked eye you can see outlines and details on the moon, even at almost 240,000 miles away. Spectacular! So, in the darkness, I moonbathe. Ever been moonbathing? It’s similar to sunbathing, only better. The moon this morning is at about 12:00 in the south. Today’s a moonburn day. From where I’m sitting the view is completely unobstructed. Not like some days. Today, I don’t have to search for the moon behind branches and trees. Hmmm… The light shines in the darkness – heard that before? I close my eyes and I sit. I feel the moon on my face and I bathe in the glory of the One who created it. Hallelujah!

I think about how well I can see the moon in the darkness, and how incredibly bright it seems to be. So bright that it casts shadows. Then I think, would I realize how bright the moon was if it wasn’t so dark. When the sun’s out, it is always bright, there is no darkness. Do we even notice? Not much. I don’t always see the sun, because it’s always there. Does that make sense? I don’t recognize how bright the light, until I’ve seen the darkness. I would not be able to glory in the moon and the One who created it, if it were always light.

Life’s like that too, you know. We must sometimes travel in the dark to recognize the light. There are many different kinds of darkness. Physical darkness – illness. Spiritual darkness – sin. Emotional darkness – anxiety. Relationship darkness – separation, abuse. Financial darkness – there’s just not enough. We’ve all got dark. But there’s an incredible hope, a Light.

Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.
Luke 1:78-79

Do you see what that says? When we are overcome with darkness, when the night is pitch black, when the dark hole is so deep, God will break upon us. He will visit, descend, show up, make Himself known, appear, through the Light of Heaven, Jesus His only Son, because of His tender mercy.

Psalm 112:4 puts it another way:

When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. The Lord is generous, compassionate and righteous.

When we are in our darkest moments because we’ve made an ever-loving mess of things, or due to circumstances completely beyond our control because we live in a fallen world, when darkness has overtaken us – our spirits, our thoughts, our actions, our wallets, our relationships, our whatevers, the Light, not a light, but the Light will come in. It doesn’t say that Light may show up, that it will peek in, that it will be subtle, it says BURSTING in. Jesus always shows up. Not just a tiny speck of light in the darkness, but a full moon, so bright you can find your way. Oh, Jesus, BURST forth!

Here’s the thing, the Light comes, not because of who we are or what we do, but because of who He is. Remember what it said? He is merciful. He is peace-filled. He is generous. He is compassionate. He is righteous. He is Light. The light does shine in the darkness and the darkness has not extinguished it. It just can’t. What incredible Light for our darkness. The Light that gives Light to everyone. To all who receive Him. To all who call upon Him.

You know, sometimes our eyes start to adjust to the darkness, our lives do too, that’s called compromise, complacency. Even though our eyes may adjust some, until we see the Light, we are still walking around in the dark, bumping into things, not seeing things clearly. Sometimes we don’t know how dark it has really been until we turn on the Light.

No matter what your darkest night is, there is a Light just waiting to burst forth and shine Life, and illuminate your darkness. Come to the Light!

If Jesus said, come on, let’s go. If He said, follow me. If He said, drop everything. If He said, I have something for you to do. If He said, I have somewhere for you to go. If He said, I have some folks you need to talk to. What would I say? What would you say? I will follow, I will drop everything, I will do what you want me to do, I will go where you want me to go, I will talk to who (whom) you want me to talk. Those are all the right answers, right? Those are all the things we’re supposed to say if we are followers of Christ, right?

Well, let’s talk reality. For me, I’d say, with great enthusiasm…Yes, yes, yes, I will follow, I will drop everything, I will do what you want me to do, I will go where you want me to go, I will talk to who (whom) you want me to talk but, let me first finish this load of laundry – I need clothes to take; run to the store – I need snacks for a road trip; gas up the car – how else will I get there; run to the bank (yes, we still do that) – you need a little jingle in your pocket; make a call – people gotta know where I’m going; set my email autoreply – someone else has to take care of others in my absence; get a horse/chicken/dog/cat-sitter – someone needs to take care of my babies here while I’m there. I am one prepared woman!

Then I’d say…Where’re we going? All that way? Am I going alone? That might be best. Who else is going? Do they have to? Will they be good traveling companions? Maybe. How long does it take to get there? That long? What route will we take? That’s a busy road you know. Who are we going to see? Why them? Do they know us? I don’t know them. What will we say? Can we write out a script? Will they like us? What’s not to like? Can we stop and eat on the way? Let’s get our priorities in line. Are we there yet? How much longer? All these thoughts would flit through my mind in a nanosecond. Jesus would probably look at me and say good grief girl! Relax! Slow down! I’d be going but, but, but…

Did the Disciples have any of those same thoughts when Jesus called them? We don’t really know what all of them were thinking when they were called. I kind of hope they had some of the same thoughts I did. I’d like to think of them as just as human as me because they were just as human as me, as you.

The Disciples were not called by chance, they were called by choice. Jesus prayed, called and instructed those He chose. Jesus prays, calls, and instructs us as well. Why? Because we are Chosen. Chosen to be His. Chosen to follow Him. Chosen to be His Disciples. Chosen to spread His Word.

Look what Jesus said to His Disciples in Matthew 10:

Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel – God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received.
Matthew 10:7-8

You know it’s the same for us, right?

Jesus Prays:

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father – that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
John 17:20-21

Jesus Chose:

You didn’t choose me, I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
John 15:16

Jesus Instructs:

Don’t take any money with you. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy man and stay in his home until you leave for the next town. When you are invited into someone’s home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it’s not take back the blessing. If a village doesn’t welcome you or listen to you, shake off the dust of that place from your feet and leave.
Matthew 10:9-14

Jesus prayed. Jesus called. Then He gave instructions. Where to go. Where not to go. Where to stay. What to say. What to do. How to do it. He prayed. He called. He instructed. Because He’s a Forever God, He’s still doing that today. He’s praying for us. He’s chosen us. He instructs us.

The question is not really “if” Jesus calls, it’s “when” Jesus calls. Is there something He’s calling you to do? Is it something too big? Is it something too scary? Is it something too uncomfortable? Is it something too difficult? If we are His, He is calling. If we are His, we go in His power. If we are His, He is right there beside us, every step of the way, praying for us and instructing us, actually going before us. When Jesus calls, how will we answer?

Jesus call us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian, follow me.”
Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, saying “Christian, love me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these.”
Jesus calls us – by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear They call;
give our hearts to Thine obedience, serve and love Thee best of all.

“Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.” Psalm 73:25

Do we desire God?

That’s the question of the day. That’s what I want us to think about. For some of us we shout with a resounding “Yes!” For others, we’re not quite sure. For others, we can say nope, never thought about it. For others, we may say, I don’t even know who He is. As Christians, it does seem like a question we should be able to answer without much thought. But the world does press in, doesn’t it?

I’m sure most of us can admit we want God’s provision and His protection, who doesn’t want a provider and a protector? But what about His presence?

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this
parched and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1

Is God our God? Do we earnestly seek Him? Does our soul thirst for Him? Do we long for God with our whole body, mind, and spirit? Everything that we are? Does our mind know God but our heart not experience God? Do our bodies, by our actions reflect that we know God? Do our hands, our feet, our hearts physically reach out to him? Do we long for the Spirit of God to bubble up from within?

“If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13-14a.

We’ve got to do the looking on our own. No one can look for us. Let’s get to it.

Rest is vitally important to our minds, bodies and Spirits.  In fact, Jesus rested and he calls us to rest as well, to go to the place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.  So, friends, after nearly seven years (crazy) and 390+ posts (crazier), I’m going to take a blog rest in the month of February.  I’m calling it FEBRUARY REFRESH.  To be honest, it really does give me a little heartburn (you know me and my structure), but I also feel like God is calling me to take a step away from the writing in February to rest, reset, refresh, renew and be refilled.  And He Rules!

I plan to start back up in March 2025 with renewed vigor and vim, so hold tight.  I also want to take this time to revamp the blog email list.  Email lists can sometimes take on a life of their own and now is the perfect time to clean mine up.  I don’t have an “unsubscribe” button even though you may have wished long ago that I did 🙂  So, this is what we’ll do — if you DO want to continue to receive email notifications from me, just reply to this email and we’ll get a new, manageable blog email list started.  If you DO NOT, you need do nothing.  Please don’t feel like you have to “resubscribe.” We all get tons of emails we cannot keep up with, many with good stuff, but we still just can’t keep up with them.  I completely get that.

So, if you DO want to continue to receive emails, reply to this email.  If you DO NOT, do nothing.  If you’d prefer that I use a different email address, please let me know that too.

Reminder – If you need a refresh, a reset, a renewal, to be revived, some rest, to be refilled, Family Bible Church meets every Sunday, at 10:00 am (coffee is perked by 9:15), at 1400 Echo Street, Martinsburg.  Come as you are.

May the Lord Watch Between Me and Thee While We Are Absent, One from Another, Amen!

With So Much Love,

Beth

Remember that song by The Go-Go’s? Vacation all I ever wanted, vacation had to get away… Well, that’s what we’re planning. Yep. Selling seashells by the seashore, well, not really but you know what I mean. We’re planning a respite, a rest time, a break, a little peace. I bet a lot of folks are doing that this time of year.

Planning a getaway gives me a little heartburn. You see, I’m a very structured person. I’m sure you never would have guessed, I do hide it well, right? In case you didn’t know, I’m slightly ADHD, (yes, I have the papers to prove it), but only slightly. My mind is constantly moving at this frenetic pace, and in order to keep up with it, or manage it, I need structure. Most folks love vacations because they are anything but structure. A break from the grind. A time to do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want. No alarm clocks, no bedtimes. A time to see new sights, hear new sounds, do new things. Nevertheless, a vacation, a getaway is a time to rest. Rest from the pressures of work. Rest from the chores of home. Rest from the running. Although sometimes we need a vacation to recuperate from our vacation, don’t we?

The Bible talks about rest, you know. Remember what God did after creating creation? He rested. No, he didn’t plan a trip to rest, he rested because His work was complete, done.

On the seventh day, having finished his task, God rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy,
because it was the day when he rested from his work of creation.
Genesis 2:2-3

Then there’s the Promised Land. The land of rest. The ultimate vacation, right? The land flowing with milk and honey.

Today you are doing whatever you please, but that is not how it will be when you arrive in the place of rest the Lord your God is giving you. You will soon cross the Jordan River and live in the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession. When he gives you rest and security from all your enemies, you must bring everything I command you – your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your special gifts, and your offerings to fulfill a vow – to the place the Lord your God will choose for his name to be honored.
Deuteronomy 12:8-11

After 40 years of wandering on an 11 day journey, I can see why a rest was in store. The Promised Land was meant to be a place of rest. Remember, milk and honey? How’d that turn out for them?

Ah, but there’s another rest described by the writer of Hebrews:

For this Good News…only we who believe can enter his place of rest.
Hebrews 4:2-3

We can go to the beach, on a cruise, to the mountains, to Europe, wherever, but our rest can only be found in Him. If we want rest, if we want peace, we don’t need to go on vacation. That rest and peace is ours right here on earth.

This new place of rest was not the land of Canaan, where Joshua led them. If it had been, God would not have spoken later about another day of rest. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world.
Hebrews 4:8-11

A special rest. Who doesn’t want that? In fact, Jesus made it possible for all of us to have that special rest. In fact, Jesus is planning the vacation, only it’s not for just a week or so. It is eternal. It is not just a vacation to rest, it’s a rest for life!

There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

A rest where we will find true rejuvenation, relaxation, refreshment, rest, for all eternity. The ultimate, never ending vacation. A rest with the most spectacular heavenly views.