Month: November 2020

Each year we pull the mats out of the stalls and let the stalls dry out to prepare for winter.  Each year in the Fall as we’re doing this chore we say, next year we’re going to do this as soon as they come out in the Spring. Each year we’re doing it in the Fall, in the nick of time.

Starting in very early Spring through very late Fall,  the horses are outside 24-7.  Of course they are, you say.  They’re animals.  Right you are.  Although we’d been working a little along, we didn’t quite have our barn ready for the cold they called for last night, 20s and windy.  So, at 8:00 p.m. we ran to the barn, finished pulling the last mats back into place, threw out some sawdust a couple flakes of hay and brought them inside.  They walked right in and looked at us with nothing less than gratitude, for real.  They love being in in the winter, who doesn’t like being brought in from the elements?

I’m looking at Paige and I said to Tony, look at her poor eye.  She has an eye thing that when the wind blows her eyes water constantly and it is uncomfortable and with the wind of the past couple of days, the tears were rolling down her face.  Tony said now it won’t be a problem.  Bringing them into their stalls provides a little bit of relief from the wind, the cold, and whatever other element might be happening.  It’s comforting to them.

As I stand there rubbing her nose and wiping her eye, I think to myself, isn’t this what God does for us?  When we’re out in the elements, doesn’t he dry our eyes, give us shelter and protect us from howling winds?

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

He is the source of all our comfort.  He comforts us because we are His children, He comforts us because He loves us, He comforts us because he is compassionate, He comforts us to teach us how to comfort others.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:4

In our troubles we learn what real comfort is – the comfort from God.  It doesn’t mean that our troubles go away, it means that He gives us the strength that we need, it means He encourages us to persevere through our trouble, and it means He will comfort us while we endure those troubles.

Then a really beautiful thing happens.  The God who gives comfort gives us opportunities to reflect Him by comforting others.  How does that happen?

When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD.  So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.  Exodus 34:29-30

Do you see what happened?  When Moses spent time with the Lord, he took on a characteristic of the One he abided with – God.  Moses experienced the glory of God.  God is light and Moses reflected that light.

Do you see what happened?  When Moses spent time with the Lord, he took on a characteristic of the One he abided with – God.  Moses experienced the glory of God.  God is light and Moses reflected that light. Moses literally reflected the light of God.

In the same way that Moses reflected the bright light of God, we can reflect the comfort of God because we have experienced His comfort.  We would not have known His comfort had we not experienced trouble.  We would not have known His comfort had we not seen His light. We would not be able to comfort others had we not been comforted by the Comforter.

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.” Isaiah 60:1

I scan my blog occasionally.  I like to look back, read over those lessons the Lord has given, evaluate where I am in my walk with Him – moving forward, moving backward?  Did a message stick?  Do I remember the message?  Do I need to hear it again and again because of my stubborn spirit?   What’s my heart condition? Glorious Day is one of those messages I feel like I need to hear often.  I need The Spirit within to remind me that I have a choice as to how I will handle those things that I can and cannot control.  Will I spend my time looking for my lost mind or praising my Savior all the day long?   I pray for His strength to do the latter.

GLORIOUS DAY

I’m out walking in the dawn’s early light.  Sun peeping.  Silent.  Cool.  Refreshing.  Observing the work of the Master Artist puts a little spring in my step, a lilt in my tilt, a be in my bop.  I walk with the worst-best dog ever, feeling whole.  The sense that all is right with the world is palpable.  I offer praises to my Maker for the glory of the moment.  I smile.  It’s simply a glorious day!

When I start thinking about my day, reality sets in.  The song stops.  The birds stop singing.  The storm clouds roll in.  The mind reels.  I think of the busyness of the day ahead.  I think of the diagnosis of a friend.  I think of the relationship hurts of another.  I think of the addictions of another.  I think of the loss of a loved one of another.  I think…I think…I think…  As I think, I pray.  As I pray, I look beyond to the scape that only minutes ago made me feel on top of the world.  Have you ever experienced that? Mountain to valley in a minute? Rising to submerged in a second?  Underwhelmed to overwhelmed in a heartbeat?  I wonder to myself, how did I get from glorious to downright gloomy in a millisecond?  I simply lost my mind – no kidding, I completely lost perspective and perspective comes from the mind.

I look out across the field and the landscape has totally changed.  So, I continue to walk, my prayers changing from praise to pleading.  Then I hear this still small voice (now you really think I’ve lost my mind) say “Nothing that happens today will change the fact that today is a glorious day.”  I understand.  In my lost mind I go to all the buts and His voice responds.  But…it’s still a glorious day.  But…it doesn’t change that this is a glorious day.  But…it will still be a glorious day.  Over and over again.  No matter what happens today…it doesn’t change the fact that today is a glorious day.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever.  Amen.  Philippians 4:19-20

Glorious – full of glory – adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving – absolute gratification.

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Sun going down, I was again walking the worst-best dog in the same spot as this morning.  I look across the fields and at the sky.  I observe again the work of the Master artist.  The clouds show the Earth’s rotation.  Thinking back on the things of the day, even the things that made me briefly lose my mind, the hard things, the scary things, I can thank Him for showing me that “It was simply a glorious day.”  Thank you, Lord.

The problem with preachers today is that

no one wants to kill them!

Well, that’s a shocking statement, isn’t it?  This statement was made by a modern day Bible teacher as he was talking about the Puritans of the past.  The statement took me a little by surprise, especially with all the violence today in our own backyards, but the more I read this statement, the more I was getting what this Bible teacher meant.  And he’s right.  What, you say?!?  Think about it.  The quote hit me squarely in the heart.  This quote is not just for preachers, or Bible teachers, it is for all of us.

I’m not a preacher hater, I love preachers, and I’m certainly not saying they should be killed, you know that.  After pondering this statement for a few days, I will say I understand the message the stater was trying to convey and it should make us stop and think.  Stephen was stoned.  Philip and Thomas were crucified.  Matthew died by the sword.  James and Matthias were stoned. John was hanged. John the Baptist was beheaded.  Why?  Because the folks they were talking to didn’t like the message.  You know, kind of like “kill the messenger” only these folks and more brought Good News, not bad news.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.  John 15:18-19

We, I mean I, have really tried to make the Good News too good news.  I’ve tried to spin the message to make it a much more palatable message, you know, only the good parts.  I’ve picked the easy parts to espouse – God is love, full of grace and mercy – and that’s so true, but that’s not all there is to the Good News.  I’ve only thrown softballs.  To tell someone only half of the Good News is not Good News for them.  That part would be the half that they easily swallow, but what about the rest of the story, the rest of the Good News. The whole Good News.  God sent His Son, His name was Jesus, to die in our place to atone for our sins.  Yes, we are sinners in need of a Redeemer.  We must be reborn.  We must be changed people.  We must repent. That’s the whole Good News.

Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.  They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.  John 15:20-21

Here’s what I’m wondering.  Does anyone want to harm me for the message I bring to the world?  Does the Good News I speak of offend others?  Does it stick in their crawl?  Does it make them think?  Is my message a warm and fuzzy message that has no hope of actually saving anyone, it just makes them feel good?  Does anyone hate me because I love the Lord?

The whole point is that Jesus told us we would be despised and rejected, just like He was, maybe even to death, just like He was.  And I find myself back at the question  — does the world love me or hate me?  That’s kind of the litmus test here.  If they love me is it because I’m speaking only half truths – half truths are lies by the way.  I look at our world and think about how desperately it/we need(s) a Savior.  Will I complain or will I proclaim?  Jesus concludes His message to His disciples as follows:

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.  And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning. John 15:26-27

Preachers should be bold, truth speakers, Word deliverers, preparing the way for the Lord.  But, they aren’t the only ones – we are too.

P.S.  Yesterday, outside our office, was a preacher – a young guy.  He carried a small amp and microphone.  He stood on the corner proclaiming the Word of the Lord.  He didn’t look like the usual suspect.  In fact, you may have passed him by on the street without as much as a hello.  He read from his Bible, reached His hands to the Heavens and simply proclaimed the Word of the Lord.  It seemed effortless.  The Spirit of the Lord was in him.  He was speaking Truth and testifying about the Lord.  He was boldly proclaiming the Word of the Lord. He was preparing the way of the Lord.   Once again, I was hit squarely in the heart.