Author: admin

Our church is studying Revelation and I’m so struck by how this final book applies to our lives in the here and now about the then and there, Heaven. I don’t know what I ever thought, or if I even thought on the Book of Revelation, but I can tell you it’s not what I thought, if I did think on it. The Book of Revelation is about the future, but has great lessons for our present.

With so much talk these days about worship, praise, praise and worship, I’ve been examining my own worship. You know, What do I worship? Family, money, time, work, possessions, God? When do I worship? Only on Sunday, only when good things are happening, only when I need something from God and I’m trying to manipulate Him? (Who would do that?) Where do I worship? Only in a church, in His creation, in a hospital? And How do I worship? With hands lifted high, begrudgingly, with all emotion and reverence, with no emotion nor reverence?

If our worship here is practice for our worship there, it’s certainly worth a think on, right? Worship is not something anyone else can do for you and worship is not about performance. Worship is about opening our clenched hands that hold everything we desperately can’t let go of and pealing back our fingers, one by one, to surrender all that we are to all that He is. Worship is giving up of ourselves and giving into God. That’s why worship can be difficult for some folks — worship is surrender, it’s about getting over ourselves and giving way to Him.

We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world, but that’s no excuse to remain that way. We’re taught repeatedly in the New Testament that we are to grow in our faith, stop acting like babies, don’t drink just milk but move on to some meat. Giving in is growing up. Maturity increases our worship. Chew on that for a minute. Maturity in Christ increases our worship. It just makes sense. As we grow and mature in Christ, should not our worship also grow and mature? As we see Him more and more for who He really is, our hearts should be stirred to worship Him more and more.

When speaking about worship in heaven, Dr. David Jeremiah uses the musical term crescendo. He says you can “feel the movement of worship through the book of Revelation building until there is a massive crescendo of worship to the Lord.” Crescendo means gradually increasing in loudness and intensity. It means building, climbing, growing, escalating. It means getting louder, giving more, steadily increasing in force and volume.

Shouldn’t our worship be getting louder and louder, stronger and stronger, more intense and more intense. Shouldn’t it be building and increasing as we walk through life as we grow and mature in Christ?

The only way for our worship to become more and more is for us to become less and less. Get over ourselves, give over to God. Not easy, but necessary.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?  Matthew 17:24-25

I read the other day of a Pastor in a poor South African Village whose small church community had experienced devastation after devastation.  A house had been burned down, a tornado had cut through their village demolishing fifty homes and folks lost their lives.  Then a young man in their congregation had been stabbed and died.  Grief after grief.

All these tragedies are unbearable in themselves, but to happen collectively over a period of a couple of days, is absolutely heartbreaking.  What most captured my attention was the church’s response to these tragedies.  Professor Jeremy Begbie experienced the service that Sunday in this church.  The pastor began his opening prayer: 

Lord, you are the Creator and the Sovereign, but why did the wind come like a snake and tear our roofs off?  Why did a mob cut short the life of one of our own children, when he had everything to live for?  Over and over again, Lord, we are in the midst of death.

That’s the phrase that has been resonating in my mind – “Over and over again, Lord, we are in the midst of death.”  Even just pulling the curtain back a little will reveal to us exactly what that little Church saw – “we are in the midst of death.”

There is plenty of physical and emotional destruction in a day to cause one to die over and over, but what I first thought of when I read that was the spiritual state of our world, it is absolute destruction – “we are in the midst of death.”  You know, sometimes it seems completely overwhelming to think about those who are dead in spirit, those who don’t know Jesus, those who reject Him outright.  Reading the news or simply being out in public really does show us that “we are in the midst of death.”  As believers, we have been commissioned to bring life to the dead.  That sometimes feels like pushing a rope uphill, doesn’t it?  But check out what the believers in this little church did:

As he spoke, the congregation responded with a dreadful sighing and groaning.  And then once he finished his prayer, very slowly, the whole congregation began to sing, at first very quietly, then louder.  They sang and they sang, song after song of praise – praise to a God who in Jesus had plunged into the very worst to give us an ending beyond all imagination.  The singing gave that congregation a foretaste of the end.

Wow.  Surrounded by death, they chose to sing.  Sounds like some other folks we know, Paul and Silas.

Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:19-24

Paul and Silas, peaceful men, were arrested, beaten, jailed and stocked.  Prisons of that time were not unlike the prisons of our time.  Ours may not be third-world physically, but they are surely “in the midst of death.” 

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Acts 16:25

And, just like this little church in South Africa, Paul and Silas sang Life into death.  They praised God in the storm.  They praised Him in the devastation.  They praised Him in questions.  They praised Him in confusion.  They praised Him in their brokenness.  They praised Him in death.

Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!   Acts 25:26

I don’t know for sure what happened to that little church in South Africa, but I am sure they had the same result that Paul and Silas did.  They still had their physical wounds, their hearts were still broken and grieving,  but the chains of that grief and pain were broken.  That grief and pain no longer had a hold on them, those prison doors were flung open wide. So, when “we are in the midst of death” we go to the One who can release us from death’s grip.  When we see nothing but the world’s pain and suffering what are we to do?  Pray and praise.  Two things happen when we do that – first, we are renewed, the Spirit refreshes us when we bring praise to Him and second, it’s a witness to a world that is dead.  When we praise Him in the storms of life (which takes a concerted effort) we need to keep in mind that “other prisoners are listening.”

Over and over again, Lord, we are in the midst of death. Thank you for the cross Lord, that has released us from death’s grip and given us Life. We sing our praises to you, Jesus!

We are sky watchers at our house.  We are blessed to have the perfect vantage point for watching the sky.  A wide-open space.  We see sun ups, sun downs, millions of stars, the moon, planets and clouds.  You might say we have our eye trained on the sky.

I was headed to Orr’s Farm Market (a Destination place) one day last August to pick up some peaches.  The location is ripe for sky watching, it’s a wide-open space.  As I get closer to the Farm Market, I started noticing the sky.  It was one of those dog days of summer – hazy, hot, humid, and just plain stinky.  You know those kinds of days when the sky is light blue and there are lots of beautiful, fluffy, white clouds rolling by.

I started thinking about those clouds.  About how beautiful and big and bright and fluffy they looked.  I started wondering what it would be like to touch a cloud.  Can you touch a cloud?   What is it made of?    Does it have substance?  As I travel on this quest to pursue God in all things, I asked myself that question.  Do I have substance?   So, what am I really made of?

                        Genesis 1:27 says that we were created in the imagine of God. 

It says:  “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”   Did you see that?  Three times the word “created” is used in this passage.  Created comes from the Hebrew word bara meaning “to create, make.”  It is theologically significant in that when bara is used it only ever has God as its subject.  It means creation out of nothing.  The dictionary definition of create is: “to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.”  You see, we did not evolve, we were created!

Let’s look at it again.  “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”   Did you see that?   Two times the word “image” is used.  The word “image” means that we were created to resemble God.   To be like Him.  To mirror Him.  To take after Him.  To copy Him.  To mimic Him.  To imitate Him.  To embody Him.  Do we look like our Father?

Now that I know what I’m made of, I have to ask the question again – Do I have substance or am I all fluff?  I was physically formed by God to hold his Spirit, to embody Him.  Do I have body or am I like a cloud, beautiful and bright but no substance?  Am I all God-talk with no God-action?  Do I say I love but not live love?  Would I be scattered or dissipated when a strong wind blows?  Am I dense but without substance?  Am I substance over fluff?  Does my character have substance?

The only way to develop Spiritual substance is to live daily in the presence of God.  To study Him.  To seek Him.  To communicate with Him.  To be obedient to Him.  To love Him.  To live Him.

                        The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Colosse:

So we have continued praying ever since we first heard about you.  We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others.  All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need.  May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light.  For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.  God has purchased our freedom with his blood and forgiven all our sins.

Colossians 1:9-14

We develop Spiritual substance by seeking God, being obedient to God, honoring God and living love.  That’s how we learn to know God “better and better.”  Increasing in the knowledge of God’s character will cause us to mimic, mirror, to look like, to embody Him.             

Christ’s blood on the cross made us substantial.  Made us righteous. Made us worthy.  We were created in His image to be substantial, to have His substance.

We are sky watchers at our house.  We are blessed to have the perfect vantage point for watching the sky.  A wide-open space.  We see sun ups, sun downs, millions of stars, the moon, planets and clouds.  You might say we have our eye trained on the sky.

I was headed to Orr’s Farm Market (a Destination place) one day last August to pick up some peaches.  The location is ripe for sky watching, it’s a wide-open space.  As I get closer to the Farm Market, I started noticing the sky.  It was one of those dog days of summer – hazy, hot, humid, and just plain stinky.  You know those kinds of days when the sky is light blue and there are lots of beautiful, fluffy, white clouds rolling by.

I started thinking about those clouds.  About how beautiful and big and bright and fluffy they looked.  I started wondering what it would be like to touch a cloud.  Can you touch a cloud?   What is it made of?    Does it have substance?  As I travel on this quest to pursue God in all things, I asked myself that question.  Do I have substance?   So, what am I really made of?

                        Genesis 1:27 says that we were created in the imagine of God. 

It says:  “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”   Did you see that?  Three times the word “created” is used in this passage.  Created comes from the Hebrew word bara meaning “to create, make.”  It is theologically significant in that when bara is used it only ever has God as its subject.  It means creation out of nothing.  The dictionary definition of create is: “to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.”  You see, we did not evolve, we were created!

Let’s look at it again.  “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”   Did you see that?   Two times the word “image” is used.  The word “image” means that we were created to resemble God.   To be like Him.  To mirror Him.  To take after Him.  To copy Him.  To mimic Him.  To imitate Him.  To embody Him.  Do we look like our Father?

Now that I know what I’m made of, I have to ask the question again – Do I have substance or am I all fluff?  I was physically formed by God to hold his Spirit, to embody Him.  Do I have body or am I like a cloud, beautiful and bright but no substance?  Am I all God-talk with no God-action?  Do I say I love but not live love?  Would I be scattered or dissipated when a strong wind blows?  Am I dense but without substance?  Am I substance over fluff?  Does my character have substance?

The only way to develop Spiritual substance is to live daily in the presence of God.  To study Him.  To seek Him.  To communicate with Him.  To be obedient to Him.  To love Him.  To live Him.

                        The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Colosse:

So we have continued praying ever since we first heard about you.  We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others.  All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need.  May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light.  For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.  God has purchased our freedom with his blood and forgiven all our sins.

Colossians 1:9-14

We develop Spiritual substance by seeking God, being obedient to God, honoring God and living love.  That’s how we learn to know God “better and better.”  Increasing in the knowledge of God’s character will cause us to mimic, mirror, to look like, to embody Him.             

Christ’s blood on the cross made us substantial.  Made us righteous. Made us worthy.  We were created in His image to be substantial, to have His substance.

I praise you for the honor of being created in Your image.  Lord, help me to know you better and better so that I may live as you created me to be – Spiritually substantive.  Amen.

All scripture is beautiful because it is God breathed.  Some scripture is melodic and rolls right off the tongue.  Some scripture is more difficult to speak.  Some scripture is easily understood.  Some scripture is only understood with prayer and revelation by God.  But, all scripture is beautiful because it was whispered by the One.

We recite scripture in our worship services, at funerals, at weddings, at anniversaries, at special events.  We memorize scripture for times of fear, anger, comfort, strength, exaltation, hope, honor,  praise.

One of the most widely recognized scriptures is the 23^rd Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:  he leaded me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  though anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This is such a beautiful Psalm.  But to be flat out honest, usually when these verses are recited in unison, it is just downright depressing.  Could we be any less dramatic?  Any less enthusiastic?  Anyone else feel that way?  We recite it in monotone, as slow as we can possibly go.  It is just a dirge!  We certainly don’t make it sound like the breath of God whispered to His children.

If you carefully read the words, visualize the sights and sounds of David’s time, Psalm 23 is not actually a dirge, it’s a psalm of praise!  Check this out:

The Lord protects me!

He is all I need!

I find rest in him!

He is my strength!

He leads the way and when I am following His lead, He is glorified!

When I travel through tough times and my spirit is crushed,

I won’t be afraid because He is always with me!

His love, mercy and grace are constantly protecting me!

He shows my enemies how much He adores me!

He honors me, even when I’m not honorable!

His love for me is overflowing!

His mercy and love seek only

good for me every day!

And I will live with the

One True God in eternity,

forever!

I don’t know about you, but that sounds like praise to me.  That sounds like something we can call upon for comfort, for strength, for support, for blessing.  Our cup runneth over, isn’t that worth a little enthusiasm people?  What I have recently learned is that it is my attitude toward the Bible that really matters.  How I read it.  I’m learning to read the Bible the way I believe God meant for it to be read.  Reverently, respectfully, hopefully, joyfully, expectantly, instructionally. 

Are you a checkmark person?  I’m a checkmark person.  I love, love, love making checkmarks.  Any other checkmarkers out there?  Give me a list and I can go to town.  Check-Check-Check-Check-Check.  I used to be a Bible checkmarker.    When I read the Bible I would mentally make checkmarks.  Love your neighbor – check.  Be charitable – check.  Do not kill – check.  Do not steal (if that doesn’t include postits from my employer) – check.  Be patient – check(ish).  Be kind – check.  Love the Lord God with all your heart – check, check and double-check!  You too!?!

Flat out, I wasn’t reading the Bible the right way.  If I read it seeking the character of God and expecting Him to reveal his character to me, and not looking to make checkmarks of God, I will be making checkmarks like crazy. This is how it works.  If I’m mirroring His imagine, I will love God the way He loves me – check.   If I’m mirroring His image, I will love my neighbor – check.  If I’m mirroring His image, I will not kill, by hand or by heart – check.  If I’m mirroring His image, I will not steal, even scrap paper that doesn’t belong to me – check.  If I’m mirroring His image, I will be kind – check.  You get it, right?  It’s all about Him!

It is exciting to read the Word of God because all scripture reflects the character of God.  All scriptures are His whispers to us.  Yes, scripture can put us in our place, but instead of reading or reciting scripture as a dirge, we need to read and recite looking for his character.  In looking for His character, we will see His guidance, direction, encouragement, discipline, support and blessings.  The Creator of the Universe revealing himself to us!  Isn’t that worth a little enthusiasm people? 

We need to read the scriptures like they really matter, because they do.  Not like a dirge and not for the checkmarks.  Alistair Begg seems to say it best:  “The confidence of heaven is in the Word of God.  If you want to know God.  If you want to consider God.  If you want to know if God knows you, read the Bible.”

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

Thou tellest my wanderings;

put thou my tears into thy bottle;

are they not in thy book?

Psalm 56:8 (KJV)

You’ve kept track of every toss and turn through the sleepless nights,

Each tear entered in your ledger,

each ache written in your book.

Psalm 56:8 (MSG)

What beautiful words.  Words of comfort.  Words of reassurance.  Words of life.  Words of love. These words have hugs built right into them.  Arms wrapped.  Holding.

Our tears flow freely over life, trying to wash away all that would cause us pain.  They are full of hurt, fear, loss, longing, disappointment, brokenness, separation, pain, illness, and even death.  I don’t have to tell you that life is hard.  You’re living it.

Whether our tears fall in big round drops or in salty streams, every bit of moisture is collected.  The mother’s tears for a son are collected.  The wife’s tears for a husband are collected.  A child’s tears for a parent are collected.  A friend’s tears for a friend are collected.  Think about the number of tears shed in a single day on this earth.  God surely has a huge reservoir in Heaven – an ocean of tears.

“Where have you laid him?” he asked.  “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.  Jesus wept.

John 11:34-35

What a comfort to know that He who collects my tears also shed tears.  That’s right.  Jesus wept.  Jesus was sad, broken, grieved by the loss of his friend.  I marvel at that.  Jesus, the One.  Jesus, the Healer.  Jesus, God of the Universe.  The One who could dry every tear experienced pain, loss, grief.  His tears fell too.  What does that say to me?  Jesus knows exactly how I feel.  How you feel.  Exactly.

“Why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”  She glanced over her should and saw someone standing behind her.  It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.  “Why are you crying?” Jesus asked her.  “Who are you looking for?”

“Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”

“Mary!”  Jesus said.  She turned to him and exclaimed, “Teacher!”

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!”

John 20:11-18

Mary’s tears were collected too.  But guess what?  In the midst of her tears, she saw Jesus.  She was looking for Him and, He called her name.  He appeared to her.  I don’t know if He will visibly appear to us – He has the power to do that, you know.  But I do know this, that in our tears, through our tears, while they are being collected, He calls our name.

So what do we do about this thing called life that causes so much pain for so many?  We look to the One who chose to experience what we experience.  We look to the One who knows what we’re going through.  We look to the One who will guide us through the pain.  We look to the One who calls our name.

We are told there are only two things we can be sure of in life – death and taxes.  That’s not true, at all. We can only be sure of Jesus.  He has promised us his unfailing love, forever.  I can’t promise you that life will be easy, but I can promise you – He promises you – that whatever causes your tears to fall, whatever course your life is on, He knows what you’re going through.  He is collecting every tear that slides.  He’s calling out – Mary.  He’s calling out — your name, My child,  it’s Me!

There will be a day when no more tears will fall for those who know Him…

I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people!  He will live with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them.  He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”  Revelations 21:3-4

Until then…Through our tears do we turn to Him?  Do we look to Him for the answers?  Do we look to Him for the comfort?  Do we look to Him for the healing?  Do we look to Him, the only One we can be sure of?  Can we say we have seen the Lord?

I was sure by now

God you would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say “Amen,” and it’s still raining.

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

“I’m with you”

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I’ve cried

You hold In Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can’t find You

-Casting Crowns

No question they’ve got the morale, they’ve got the spirit, they’ve got the leadership. They’ve demonstrated form with great successes last year and I’ve no doubt they will prevail but we shouldn’t assume they will prevail in one go. General Richard Shirreff

General Shirreff was being interviewed on a middle of the night PBS news show. He’s the former Defense Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. As if that title was not enough, he had also been knighted so technically his title is General Sir Richard Shirreff. That’s a whole lot of title to carry around and to live up to, kind of a lot of weight to bear.

I saw this one night when I was having trouble sleeping and was vacillating between praying and planning. Ever do that? Pray and then plan? Bounce from leaving at the altar and then scooping it right back up? Trusting and doubting? Prayer – trusting God for a solution. Planning – doubting and Beth making her own plans.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Anyway…This statement by General Sir Shirreff struck me. So much so that it took about five minutes of rewinding to get it written down. Clearly, he was being interviewed about war. Specifically, the war in Ukraine. Anyway…

Regardless of the side you’re on, we have this physical war going on (many worldwide), but I kept thinking at the time, this physical war is happening because of the spiritual war being engaged in the world. Remember, it’s being fought in the heavenly places?

What I’m struggling to articulate clearly is that this statement by Sir Sherriff could easily be applied to the spiritual war being fought by God against Satan. As Christians we have the morale (If God is for us, who can be against us?). As Christians we have the spirit (Do you not know that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?). As followers of Christ, we have the leadership (Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not into your own understanding. Acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.) As Christ followers we are overcomers (He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.) And in this spiritual battle, we will ultimately prevail because God prevails (Amen).

But in the midst of the battle, you know, the here and now on earth, just like in every physical battle, in order for us to prevail we cannot do it alone. Wars are not fought alone, they are fought with armies. Wars are not fought without planning. Wars are not fought willy-nilly, they are fought strategically. God has a perfect plan for the battles we’re engaged in.

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

Notice the operative word in Romans is “always.” This is the key to winning the war and the battles of this world. You know, fear, anxiety, financial battles, relationship battles, family battles, faith battles, work battles, marriage battles, school battles, emotional battles, spiritual battles, food battles, kid battles, all battles! Good soldiers always take orders from their Commander. Who’s your commander?

“Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, by God’s…Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you! ” 2 Chronicles 20

We also can’t do it in “one go.” We must continue to move forward, to press on. This battles requires perseverance and endurance. This battle requires preparation. We will no doubt prevail because God wins.

But those who endure to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13

Franklin Graham recently said: “The world has deteriorated so quickly. We cannot be deceived and we can’t be fooled. We need to be ready and be prepared.”

So demonstrate great form. Hold on, hold tight, be patient, prepared and prayerful, there’s no doubt God will prevail.

You know a lot of people like to go to attractions where famous people have been.  Visit the Hollywood Walk of Stars.  Sleep where George Washington slept.  Follow the Chissolm Trail.  Head out on the Road to Emmaus.  Walk the Via Dolorosa.

The beach has a main attraction too, and that’s why we visit – the ocean.  An incredible roaring expanse of water that covers thousands of miles and carries water from another coast right to the tip of our toes.  It is quite a sight to see.  It was created on the third day, by the way.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.  And it was so.  God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called the “seas.”  And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:9-10

But, the waters were there from the very beginning.  Chew on that.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Genesis 1:1-2

Did you see that?  Over the waters.  What was over the waters?  The Spirit of God.  Take just a minute and process that.  The Trinity.  This is what makes the beach the main attraction.  It’s where land and water meet.  Where the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters, from the very beginning.  It’s kind of cool to think about when you look at the ocean.  The Spirit of God hovered over the ocean.  Doesn’t that alone make it a tourist attraction?   Anyway.

If you’ve ever been to the beach, you know how loud, how vast, how constant the ocean sounds.  It’s so loud you can hear it behind closed doors. In fact, it is so powerful a presence that you think you can hear it when you can’t.  Ever put a conch shell to ear?  Folks find this sound so relaxing, so calming, that they make wave machines to help put you to sleep – no kidding. 

As we were heading out one day, I remarked that it was awfully noisy at the beach and I wasn’t talking about the ocean.  Folks were yelling, music blaring, mowers were mowing, construction was happening, equipment was beeping,  leaf blowers (sand blowers) blowing, car alarms alarming, trucks were trucking, sprinkler systems sprinkling, dumpster dumping.  It just seemed so strange to me that the most calming sound, one of the reasons everyone was there, was being drowned out, kind of assaulted by the noises of life.  Yet, if you strained your ear, you could hear the whisper of waves, the steady unceasing voice of the ocean, God’s Spirit hovering.

Isn’t this just like our daily lives?  Because we are His, the Sweet Spirit of God is living in us.  It is bold, vast, loud, constant, kind of like the ocean.  But, just like the beach noises drown out the ocean, or make it harder to hear, our life noises do the same thing.  Doesn’t mean it’s not there.  The Spirit of God is always hovering.  Just means we don’t hear it. 

Just as the waves lap at the shore, God’s Spirit is moving, calling, talking, beckoning, constantly.  Can we hear him?

…and you will hear a voice say, “This is the way; turn around and walk here.”

Isaiah 30:21

I bet my bottom dollar that He has spoken those words to me so very often and because of the din of my life, I can’t hear Him.  I can hear everything, but what I need to hear.  He reminds us…

Be sure to pay attention to what you need to hear.  The more you do this, the more you will understand – and even more besides.  To those who are open to my teaching more understanding will be given.  But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.

Mark 4:24-25

Pay attention to what you need to hear.  His words always sum it up so clearly.  What do we need to hear?  His Voice.  What happens if we do.  We gain more understanding.  What happens if we don’t?  We lose what little understanding we have.  When the waves of life are making too much noise.  We need to pay closer attention.

We’re vacationing for a few days at the beach.  Of course, one of the huge draws of the beach is the sunrise.  It is a mighty thing to see.  People gather early on to claim their sand spot to watch it happen.  Even folks who don’t usually darken the sandy shore turn out for it.  Folks throw their towels east and take a seat, remove their flip flops, or stand in place in anticipation, almost at attention, reverence, awe — think holy ground.  As folks are readying, they pull their phones out and adjust them for the big moment.  Some even put their backs to east and take selfies with the pink sky in the background. 

Those who come to watch the sunrise have gone to a bit of effort to do so.  Waking early, traveling to the beach, seeking out the best view, all before 6:17 am.  It may seem like a good bit of effort for a brief moment in time. Luckily, our place at the beach has a balcony that looks out onto the ocean so I can sip my coffee and sea (get it!) the wonders of God. It is quite magnificent. 

One thing I noticed though 6:17…6:18…6:19…6:20…6:21…6:22…6:23..6:24…

By 6:22 you can slide a slip of paper between the sun and the ocean.  Bam!  In a matter of 6 minutes, the view has gone from a pink hint, to up in the sky fully reflected, to obscured by the clouds.  By 6:24 time is unfrozen, towels have been shaken, chairs folded, flip flops on, and the figures in the sand move on to the next part of their day having left no evidence of their presence .  But, part of the phenomenon of the sunrise is that if you stare at the sun, which we know what our momma’s said, but if we do, we can actually see it moving.  It happens just that fast.

It’s a great reminder of another event that will happen just that fast, the return of the King:

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him concerning the events that will happen soon.  Revelation  1:7

Soon, or which must shortly come.  The Greek word for soon is tachos and it means the speed or the pace with which something will happen.  It means a brief space of time, haste, quickly.  It’s not a length of time.  It doesn’t mean when something will happen but how something will happen.  This verse means the events that Jesus is speaking about will happen in quick succession.  In a blink of an eye. Kind of like the sunrise.  One minute you’re looking at a pink sky, a hint of things to come and the next minute the Son is here.  There’s no time to get ready, no time to spread out our towels, open our chairs, remove our shoes, or take our selfies.  When the Son arrives, it will be too late.  There will be no second chances to prepare for His arrival.

Against this beautiful picture of hope, this does sound a little like a doomsday message, doesn’t it?  Well, it is.  For those who are unprepared, those who are willful, stubborn, defiant, selfish, idolaters, evil, (which we all were before we followed Christ – remember, it’s all in or all out, no walking the fence), and if we’re honest, some of which we easily slip back into if we’re not careful, when the Son appears, there will only be darkness. Final darkness. No pink in the sky. No hint of reflection. No beautiful picture of hope. Forever darkness.

Wow, how’d we get from a most beautiful sunrise to all darkness, you say?  She’s a Debby-downer, you say?  Jesus is love, you say?  Jesus is kind, you say?  Jesus will take care of my problems, you say?  All of this is true, however, if you haven’t turned your life over to Christ, if you haven’t repented of your sins and asked for forgiveness, if you only dipped your toe in the Living Water, you are living in darkness.  Plain and simple.  Sure, we think we can go on living in this world and His world all at the same time, but we can’t.  Light and dark cannot coexist.  If we put off living in the Light, we may just be caught unprepared for the arrival of the Son.

You see, there’s no guarantee the sun will appear in the sky day after day.  But, there is a guarantee that the Son will appear again one day.  It’s a promise.  If we are not ready, it will be too late.

Look, I am coming soon!  Revelation 22:7

See, I am coming soon.  Revelation 22:12

Yes, I am coming soon.  Revelation 22:20

Those are red letters.  Straight from Jesus lips.  Look. See. Yes. He is coming again.  But, until He comes, there’s still time to prepare.  There’s still time to open your chair and pull it up to the table.  There’s still time to shake out your towels.  Remove our shoes to stand on the holy ground. There’s still time to run to the shore.  Think about it.  The Son will appear, don’t just wish you’d been ready – prepare now so you don’t miss it!

Is there oil in your lamp?

I heard this question a few weeks back.  I’ve thought about it often.  Is there oil in your lamp?  I’ve thought about what it means.  Of course, the first thing that comes to my mind is the kids chorus I learned back in felt board time.  This was considered a praise and worship song back in the day.   You may remember it too:

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning ’til the break of day

Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna, to the King

Give me fuel to make my light burn for others.  May I keep burning for all to see.  Sing hosanna.  Keep me burning ‘ til the break of day. Sing hosanna. There’s another verse asking to be made a fisher of men.  Sing hosanna.

The question also reminded me of the parable of the 10 maidens, bridesmaids, or virgins.

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.”  Matthew 25:1

In those days a wedding was a big to-do lasting every bit of a week.  The groom would go to the bride’s home for the wedding ceremony.  After the I do’s, they’d hop onto his camel, all decked out with tin cans and a Just Married sign, and he’d take her to his house.  All the wedding guests would follow the newlyweds in a great parade or procession to the groom’s house where they would party hardy for a week or so and then the lovely couple would live in great happiness forever.  Sing hosanna.

So these 10 ladies had hoped to be part of the great wedding procession, they were definitely invited.  The problem was that only 5 of them were prepared.  You see, it could sometimes be quite a while before the happy couple left the bride’s home to head to the groom’s home to live.  We’ve all been to weddings, and rarely do they start when we expect them to.  It was no different with this wedding.  Maybe the flowers hadn’t arrived.  Maybe the ring went missing.  Maybe there was a problem with the dress.  Maybe all the guests had not arrived. We don’t exactly know.  But what we do know is that the groom didn’t come when they thought he would. 

When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’  “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.

Behold He comes…at midnight!  A very unusual hour, a time when most would have been sleeping, a time when most would have been surprised, caught unawares, unprepared.

But, can you just imagine the great celebration?  The Bridegroom emerges from the bride’s house to cheers, trumpets blaring, a joyous celebration, dancing with all their might, singing, let the party begin!  Sing hosanna!

So the girls hopped up, trimmed their wicks and lit their lamps.  But there was just a small problem.  Only five of them were ready.  Only five of them had enough oil in their lamps.  Only five of them could participate in the procession, only five could attend the wedding.  Only five of them could go the distance.

Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’  “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’  “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

By the time the ladies had returned from purchasing oil, it was too late.  The feast had started and you can’t join the party after it has already started.  It’s very unfortunate for these ladies.  You see they didn’t have the excuse of being too young, too immature, not knowing the process of the wedding.  Although these ladies were not yet married, they were also not children.  They had no excuse for not being prepared.  They simply chose not to be ready for the Groom.  It is a choice you know.  We all get to decide whether we will be ready when the Groom comes, whether we will participate in the wedding feast.

The world, Satan, will lie to us.  He’ll say we have plenty of time – not so.  He’ll say you can live the way you want and still attend the wedding – not so.  He’ll say you’ve got plenty of time Jesus isn’t coming soon – not so.  He’ll say you don’t have to be prepared for the wedding, you can rely on those who are – not so.  He’ll say you only have filthy rags to wear – not so.  He’ll say your kind isn’t invited – not so.  He’ll say that you don’t have a worthy gift to take to the wedding – not so.  He’ll say that this wedding is just not a big deal – not so.  He’ll say that there will be no wedding – not so.

When Jesus comes back…Sing hosanna…we must be ready.  We can’t beg, borrow or steal to get into the feast.  We have to be ready all on our own.  We can’t rely on someone else’s relationship with Jesus or someone else’s heart to be able to attend the marriage feast. We can’t rely on attending church to be able to attend the wedding. Are you ready?  Is there oil in your lamp?  Is it burning, burning, burning?  Can others see it? Do you need to come to Jesus now and say Lord, give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, I want to be ready for the wedding?

I don’t have a mansion just over the hillside, but from the cottage below, this house intrigues me. There are tons of folks building mansions on top of North Mountain. Now that the trees are leaved, they are a little less conspicuous, but there is one that makes me curious. First of all, it looks pretty big, maybe several stories high. I can only imagine the views from atop. But the thing that really sticks out to me is that the house is sort of sideways on the mountain. It’s crookedish.

I mentioned the crookedness of the house to Tony one day and he said they built it facing south for the sunlight — solar power. Who knew? How smart is that? So, the front of this house is pointing due south. If you have a glass front house, building in the right direction to make use of the sun, to receive its warming rays and collect all that solar power just makes sense. Between the power of the sun and the great ventilation up there, that house is positioned correctly.

That led me to the thought — am I positioned correctly? Am I positioned to receive the most direct Sonlight, to absorb the solar power of the Son? Have I oriented myself to gain the most power from my Most High?

Just like these folks had to consciously decide to position their house in the most beneficial direction, we must do the same. Yes, if we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are obedient to His Word we have the same power that rose Jesus from the grave. Too, just like that mansion on the hill, we have the solar battery pack (our hearts) but if we are not pointed to the Son, being fed by the Son, absorbing His rays, positioned correctly, those power packs won’t be any use. In fact, if they are being used and fed, corrosion will cause what’s inside that battery to become hard, lifeless and useless. The Son Light gives power which converts the packs into useable energy. Another word for energy? Spirit. Hmmm. If the packs are not charged, they will be lifeless, without energy, without power. We all know that dreaded sound of a dying battery winding down.

If we are not oriented correctly, if we do not put ourselves in the right position, we will not be able to receive all the power He has to offer. Spending time with Jesus, spending time in His Word, spending time talking to Him, spending time encouraging and being encouraged by other Jesus People are all ways the Son shines His Light — all those things generate, each a ray of the Son, the power we must have in order to be energized for Him. There’s only one way to be energized by Him, to get the power directly from Him. Not in our strength but in His.

As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us t receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature. 2 Peter 1:3-4

So, are you position correctly to receive all that He has to offer His Children?