PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

You see this beautiful little tree was our neighborhood Christmas Tree.  Neighbor Karen started with red bows.  Neighbor Robert added some lights.  The LeMasters came along with a Star.  All unplanned.  Without coordination, each adding their touch to bring this little tree to life for the folks traveling Poor House Road.  That little tree became a seasonal landmark in our neighborhood.  It was used as a point of reference – up, over, to the left, to the right, behind, beside, around the Christmas Tree.

After the season, the tree was stripped and the decorations carefully put away and each neighbor looking forward to pulling them out next year.  There’s only one small problem…the tree is gone!  Our sweet little Christmas Tree that brought us Kumbaya and joy was hacked down.  Yes, I know hacked sounds rather violent, but if you saw the equipment being used by the tree “trimmers” aka tree “hackers,” you’d think that term was mild.  I can only imagine how she must have felt.

You see, our little three foot tree just happened to be growing under the power lines beside the road.  It was the tree “hackers” job to clear everything growing under the 30 foot power lines.  It wasn’t their job to determine what type of tree it was, whether it would ever grow 27 more feet, how round it would be, how sturdy a base it would have, or even if it was a threat to the powerlines.  They were to just hack it down and not ask questions.  The first thought that came to my mind when I saw she was gone was that the “hackers” had committed such an indiscriminate act.  They had thoughtlessly, haphazardly, carelessly removed her without one iota of consideration.  So sad.

My immediate next thought was how many times a day do I indiscriminately hack down something or someone?  Thoughtlessly, haphazardly, carelessly, without one iota of consideration? When I really put my mind on it, I guess I’m not so different than the “hackers” I’ve been complaining about.  Whoa, that smarted!

My next thought turned to our word of the year at Church – intentional.  Are we intentional people?  Are we thoughtful, are we conscience, are we careful people?  I suggest that the opposite of intentional can be indiscriminate.  If we are not intentional, we are indiscriminate.  If we are not thoughtful, we can be thoughtless.  If we are not conscience, we can be unconscious.  If we are not careful, we can be careless.  If we do not guard our hearts, we can be heartless.  So, now we get to the point.

You know, the Bible has much to say about guarding and it gives instructions that are exceedingly clear, another term that keeps popping up in Church. 

Above all guard your hearts for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23

As the face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person.

Proverbs 27:19

Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects every you do.

Proverbs 4:23

Ah…the wisdom of Solomon.  Everything flows from our hearts, it reflects who we are as people, and our hearts affect absolutely everything we do in life.

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.

Matthew 15:18

Ah…Matthew, who in old life was known as a master “hacker,”  lays it out and doesn’t mince words.  His words are exceedingly clear.  If we fail to intentionally guard our hearts, our lips are sure to speak indiscriminately – indiscriminate words, indiscriminate tone, indiscriminate intentions, indiscriminate timing, indiscriminate conversation – all have the same tree “hacker” result – something or someone is cut down.  As God people, we don’t want to be responsible for such acts.  We don’t want to be governed by our lips, but by our hearts.  We must intentionally guard our hearts to protect from being indiscriminate!

Sometimes I think of the weirdest things…

Last week’s blog was about the attack of the Amaleks and Moses’ efforts to thwart them.  Remember,  pray when you’re attacked, and don’t stop until the battle is done and won?

Here’s my weirdness…

How did Moses keep on praying?  Did anyone else out there wonder what Moses prayed?  I mean, this battle went on for some long  period of time and I just wondered if Moses ever ran out of words?  Like did he pray the same things over and over, did he simply call out God’s name, did he mix praise in with it, did he stumble over his words, did he doze, was he ever not able to find the right words?

I don’t know about you, but I often feel so woefully inadequate at prayer.  I know folks say it’s just like having a conversation with a friend, or just speaking your heart, but sometimes when my mind is whirling and my heart is breaking, I struggle to put two words together let alone stand before the God of the Universe with my offerings.

One thing that helps me a lot is a Prayer Starter.  What’s a Prayer Starter?  Prayers written by Godly people that somehow have the words that I can’t seem to find.  Prayers that were written out of someone’s experience.  Prayers that were offered in His Name by others.  Somehow those prayers nail exactly what I want to say but somehow even in my over wordiness, just can’t find.

YOUR NAME ON MY HEART AND HOME

Precious Jesus, you have been a strength to my poor soul, and you will be my portion forever.  Help me to see my daily need of you, and to feel my poverty and weakness.

From persecution to my guilty conscience, to the remains of sin in a body of death, to the accusations of Satan or even the just judgments of God—I am secure in you, Lord Jesus.  And I continually cry out, as did your prophet:  “Only in the Lord…is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come.”  I will never be ashamed or confounded, world without end.

You have given grace, glory, and honor to your Israel.  I want your name, Lord, on the gates of my house, so that no one will walk by and miss the fact that a lover of the Lord lives there!

It is my highest honor to have it known whose I am, and whom I serve, in the gospel of his dear Son.  How could I be ashamed of that name before which every knee bows in heaven and earth?

And Lord Jesus, not only write your name upon the gates of my house, but engrave it in the center of my heart and my affections—on my first, and last, my earliest, and latest thoughts!

Let it be my joy to speak out of the abundance of my heart about you and your great salvation.  In all I say, in all  I do, let it be clear that I am in pursuit of the one my soul loves.

Let my every action point to your dear name.  And whether at home or abroad, in my house or family, when lying down or when rising up, let all creation witness for me, that the love, the service, the interest, the glory of my God in Christ is the only object of my soul’s desire.

Let every thing in my life say this:  “Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  Amen

Robert Hawker (1753-1827)

The Word of God is a perfect Prayer Starter.  There are literally hundreds of prayers in the Bible from cover to cover.  From Moses, to Abraham, to Jacob, to David, to Esther, right on through the prophets, up to the apostles, we see Prayer Starters.  But probably the most famous Prayer Starter was our Savior.  Jesus not only offered prayers to His Father, but He taught His followers, us, how to do the same.  There are no less than 30 prayers of Jesus recorded in the New Testament.  Jesus was the original Prayer Starter.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine in the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen

So, when your heart is in it but the words won’t come, get some help from a Prayer Starter.  You will find that although it helps you get started, you will have no trouble finishing.

To His Glory.

I’m currently reading through the Bible in a year (or two?) being guided by a Devotional I’m using for 2022.  You know, it’s one of those read parts of the Old and New Testaments each day.  I’ve always loved the New Testament for obvious reasons – Jesus – and I’m falling deeper in love with the Old Testament.  If you think the Lord can only speak in the Old or the New Testament, wise up.  He speaks so loud and clear from Genesis to Revelation, every single page, every single word – inspired by Him.  That is my passionate belief, as if you couldn’t tell.

The Word is a book from God, to teach us about God, to the glory of God.  Every printed Word is meant to draw us into communion with Him, to change our hearts, and in turn to form us into the image of His Son, our sole purpose for being created, our sole purpose on this earth.

I’m currently reading in the book of Exodus.  What an amazing book!  It is action packed, God’s power on complete display, and I recently came across one of my all time favorite stories:

While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them.  Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill.  As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.  Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.  As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.

After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”  Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”).  He said, “They have raised their fist against the LORD’s throne, so now the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”

Exodus 17:8-16

So many lessons here.  The obvious, pray when you’re attacked, and don’t stop until the battle is done.  That seems to be the long and the short of it.  I know and understand that teaching even when I oft times fail at it. But for some reason when I read it again this week, it pierced my heart.  I just don’t know how else to say it.  I’ve been thinking of little since.

One of the notes from The Pentateuch made a point I hadn’t thought of before:

…then came Amalek…

The Rabbis note:  As an immediate sequence of the murmuring on the part of the Israelites…then came Amalek.  It is the invariable lesson of Jewish history that whenever Israel begins to doubt God and itself, asking, Is the Lord among us or not? An Amalek unexpectedly assails it.

The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, Edited by J.H. Hertz

This lesson is not just for the Israelites, but for all believers, right?  When we take our eyes off of God, when we fail to spend time with Him, when we fail to remember His goodness and His mercy toward us, when we buy into the world by our grumbling and complaining, doubts will assail us and even the most devout believer may murmur “Is the Lord among us or not?”  That’s the sequence.

Next lesson…

“Never forget what the Amalekites did to you as you came from Egypt. They attacked you when you were exhausted and weary, and they struck down those who were straggling behind. They had no fear of God.  Therefore, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies in the land he is giving you as a special possession, you must destroy the Amalekites and erase their memory from under heaven. Never forget this!

Deuteronomy 25:17-19

The Rabbi notes:  “While Israel was to make justice and brotherly love its guiding rule, it was not to forget that Amalek had perpetrated a cowardly and unprovoked attach on the feeble and hindmost when the Israelites were marching from Egypt.”

Amalek waged war on the Israelites, but instead of fighting the young, the strong, those capable of fighting back, they attacked the rear, those falling behind, “the faint and weary stragglers enfeebled by the march,” the march from Egypt, through the Red Sea on their journey to the promised land.

I’ve struggled much this last week as I’m sure you have too.  I feel as if Amalek is on the move.  I won’t pretend to know all the ins and outs of war.  But, what I do know is that God loves innocent people.  He loves the weak, the faint, the weary, the stragglers, those falling behind because of life’s twists and turns.  For that matter, God loves guilty people just as much, we tend not to want to remember that.

When the Amaleks of life, internally or externally, at home or abroad leave us feeling helpless and hopeless, we must raise our staff like a banner, offer our prayers and our praises to the Lord and not stop. When the staff gets heavy and our arms grow weak, we must remember that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are on either side of us, propping us up, interceding on our behalf as we intercede on the behalf of others.

When the weary, the feeble, the downtrodden, the broken, the faint, the hurting, those at the end of the line, those left behind, the stragglers say “Is the Lord among us or not?”  We must always say God is our victorious Banner, the rod of God is in our hands.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about friendships and just how precious they are on this earth.  What a great gift God gives to us.  I had the opportunity to reconnect recently with a friend I hadn’t connected with in many years.  Even though we were close childhood friends, you know the basement roller skating type, college and life had intervened in our friendship.  As old good friendships work, we reconnected over a difficult life experience.  That’s just how the gift works. 

While speaking over the phone she said that even though we had not stayed close over the years, she had felt like we picked up where we left off and our childhood friendship “transcended time.”  That’s the phrase I’ve been chewing on since – I even made a note of it, and posted it on my desk. 

Transcend means to overcome, to go beyond ordinary limits.  What she was saying is that our friendship had withstood the test of time over the years, that regardless of our life’s physical locations, time could not diminish the friendship.  The friendship, the love, the connection, the comfort, the support were still intact, regardless of the amount of separation by time.  It’s taken me a while to grasp its meaning.  Now that I have it’s taken on a whole new context for me.

It reminded me that our relationship with God, our friendship with Him or His friendship with us (cause He’s definitely the better friend) also transcends time.  Think about that – God’s friendship with us transcends time.  This friendship surpasses time.  When I think about this, I’m completely humbled.

His friendship with me, with you, transcends all time!  Process that out.  The dictionary offers another definition of transcend “to be prior to, beyond, and above (the universe or material existence).”  The dictionary definition people must have done a little research…

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.  Jeremiah 1:5

It’s so hard to take in, but roll that around for a minute.  He “knew” us “before” we were even formed.  He yada us before we were yatsa.  He knew us, he recognized us, he cared for us, he acknowledged us before we came out, before we appeared.  I know that’s pretty deep stuff, to think that God knew us, loved us, planned a friendship with us, before we were born.  But, that’s just how big our God is!  It should make us think…

His friendship with us transcends all time.  Let alone the fact that He knew us before we were, He longs to know us for eternity.  What’s eternity?  Unending time, infinite, timelessness, forever, without end.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

You know, people will come and go, family will come and go, friends will come and go.  There is only One whose friendship is for all time, before the beginning of our time. The One who knew us before we were formed, the One who will know us for all eternity, if we believe, if we trust, if we have faith, if we surrender.    Who wouldn’t want a friend like that, that loved us so much, before our time, that they want to spend forever and ever with us and made it possible for us to do so? 

We must think it through because eternity is a very long time.  Where do we want to spend our forever?  Our friendship choice today will impact our forever. I urge you to chose the only Friend who transcends all time. One who will never leave or forsake you.

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day

Although we often think Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) was the writer of these lyrics, these beautiful words were actually written before he was even born by Eleanor Farjeon.  I think of this  song almost every morning – every morning I sit at my desk that is.

Today’s picture is a snap of the morning from my desk.  You can’t see it very well, but about mid-picture, a third of the way over from the left is a tiny white light, around 9:00.  Not the one to the right(house lights), but the faint mid-light.  The picture (or the photographer) doesn’t do this light justice.  It is a brilliant bright light.  It looks like a star to me because you can easily see five points and it actually twinkles.  I see this bright white every morning in the east about 5:00 a.m.  The fascinating thing about this bright white is that it moves so very quickly.  When this light first comes to view on the top of the ridge, no kidding, you can visually see it moving.  Believe it or not you can tell the time of day by this bright light.  It is a great reminder of how quickly our earth is rotating.

I call this light my morning star.   My practice is to pray of a morning in the dark.  Today, I hum Morning Has Broken.  I look at this star and speak to my Lord and I marvel.  Ah…the work of His hands…A little research has told me that this work is the planet Venus.  I don’t understand the rendezvousing of the lights in the Milky Way, but I do know that I can see Venus better sometimes than others.  Sometimes it is only 38,000,000 miles away, sometimes a little bit more.  Ponder that.  If we keep track of the trajectory of Venus, we can see it throughout the day sky – it’s just that bright.  The super interesting thing about Venus to me, again I know nothing about the movings of the lights in the solar system, in the evenings when I walk to the mailbox, toward the west, there it is again, bright as can be.  Venus rises with the sun and sets with the moon.  Although I know my God never sleeps, it gives me comfort to think that He rises with me in the morning and stays until I rest my eyes.  And then He stands watch.

Here’s what gets me.  I’ll be looking at Venus and blink and it’s gone, and the next minute it’s there.  Maybe a cloud moved in.  Maybe the earth’s rotation changed its rising pattern.  Maybe I wasn’t looking in the right place.  Maybe I was looking where I thought it would go and it didn’t.  Maybe I just plain closed my eyes and refused to see it.  But, just because I cannot see Venus does not mean it has fallen from the sky.  It doesn’t mean it is not still there.  It doesn’t mean that it is not shining.  It doesn’t mean that it is not standing watch.  The view may be obstructed temporarily by a cloud or so, or the whole orbit of Venus may have changed and I didn’t, won’t, or can’t change my direction to see it.  For whatever the reason, I’ve lost sight of it.

I, Jesus…I am the bright and morning star.  Revelation 22:16

As the softest light starts moving darkness, breaking morning, Venus has now moved to 12:00.  I can see it very clearly, brilliantly shining, twinkling.  I again think of the works of His hand and God’s creation of the new day.

Look up into the heavens.  Who created all the stars?  He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name.  And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away.  Isaiah 40:25-26

Lord, keep us ever in your sights today from east to west, but more importantly Lord, may we keep you ever in our sights today from morning to night.  Lord, may we be reminded by your whole constellation that there may be obstructions, courses may change, but you never ever leave us from eye open to eye close, from light to darkness to light.  We praise with elation, we praise every morning.  Amen.

Are we readable?  I am.  Whatever is in my mind is all over my face.  I can have a conversation with you without even opening my lips.  Eyebrows up.  Frowns down.  Wide eyed surprise.  Mini eyed suspicion.  Big smile.  Little grin.  Pursed lips.  Red faced.  Pale faced.  Head held high.  Head bowed.  Nose tilted up.  Mouth agape.  Tears flowing.  Stoic stare.  Mischief eyes twinkling. 

I can carry on that conversation with the rest of my body too – kind of like charades.  Rubber neck nation.  Hands on hips.  Arms folded.  Arms flailing.  Finger pointing.  High fiving.  Toe tapping.  Jazz hands.  Anxious panting.  See what I mean? 

What do you say when you say nothing at all?  What are some of your wordless communications?  Hmmm…where do those actions come from?  Our expressions reflect what’s inside.  Our moods, our thoughts, our attitudes flow out of our bodies through our minds.  Oh, I know, some of us are much better at not being readable.  Some of us are more composed.  Pokerfaced.  Not me.  You neither?  For some of us, try as we may, we cannot hide what we’re feeling inside.  Penny for your thoughts kind of people.  We’re not alone.

And Jacob began to notice a considerable cooling in Laban’s attitude toward him.  (NLT)

At the same time, Jacob noticed that Laban had changed toward him.  He wasn’t treating him the same.  (MSG)

Jacob also noticed Laban was not as friendly as he had been before.  (CEV)

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.  (KJV)

Genesis 31:2

Remember this story?  Isaac sent Jacob to Laban (his mother’s brother) to find a wife.  Jacob worked for 14 years for the woman he loved, Rachel, because of Laban’s trickery – see the tension building?  Jacob had a slew of children and as he continued to work for Laban, Laban  became a wealthy man.  Jacob says hey man I need to make a way on my own and provide for my children.  Laban says, oh, don’t leave me, I’ll pay you.  What do you want?  Jacob asked for the speckled, spotted and dark-colored sheep and goats.  Laban said ok.  But, Laban again was the trickster.  He went out and removed all those he promised from the herd.  Jacob continued to take care of Laban’s flocks. 

With a little bit of miraculousness involving some shoots and bark, Jacob’s flocks increased incredibly and he became a very rich man.  Laban’s sons were not happy with Jacob’s prosperity and accused Jacob of robbery.  Can you just imagine the looks from Laban’s sons?  Daggers.  Hands high in the air.  Finger pointing.  It is at this point that Jacob notices a change in Laban’s countenance, in his mood.  Laban wasn’t quite as friendly as he had been – his attitude, his position, his posture, his expressions, his demeanor, his disposition, had cooled considerably, and it was written all over Laban’s face.  Jacob read Laban’s face like a book.

Are we just as readable as Laban?  Chances are, we are.  When I think about that, I make the yikes – ugh face.  Why?  Because I know what’s in my mind is written on my face and in my actions and I’m not always proud of that.  Here’s the thing – it’s not about changing the look on my face or taking my hands off my hips, it’s about changing what’s inside my head – that crazy mind of mine.  You got one too.  Our brains power our whole bodies.  My brain tells me to smile, frown, cry, laugh, clap, dance, point – my brain tells me how to act, based on what’s inside.  My mind tells me how to express myself.  Does anybody besides me need a good mind renewing – yes, yes you do, I can see it!  I’m glad I’m not alone.

So, how do we go about it?  We can’t just change.  Oh sure, some things we can, but we can’t change our minds without the power of God.

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.  Galatians 5:22-26

Our minds are changed when we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives.  Oh sure, it’s a tug of war sometimes.  We want to scowl when we don’t get our way, but we cannot change our body language, our face conversations, our flailing arms, we are powerless to do it alone.  Only by remaining in Jesus can we change what we say, by changing what we think.  What we think dictates our conversations.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:4-5

If we want our conversations to change – verbal and nonverbal, we must remain in Jesus, under the control of the Holy Spirit.  Staying connected to the vine is the only way we can produce the face fruits – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.  What’s in our minds is written all over our faces.  What’s your face saying?

Piercing Heaven – Prayers of the Puritans, edited by Robert Elmer, has been my go-to prayer book lately.  It’s a great read but definitely challenging.  The Puritans were those in the 1600s and 1700s who sought to, yes, purify the Church of England.  That actually sounds a little strange to me, that the religious leadership needed purifying.

I think the Puritans sometimes get a bad rap.  They’re often thought of as a bunch of old holier than thous.  Strict, stringent, firm, judgmental, dogmatic, holy rollers, even harsh.  Their words and phrasing were definitely Puritanian, if that’s a word.  Definitely more formal.  For sure, there was no urban slang, half words, abbreviations or emojis.  They didn’t dummie down so that it would be easy.  The Puritans spoke a different language. They sought purity of the church, of worship, of scripture and of prayer and they challenged the church to do the same.

Leland Ryken says:

In Puritan thinking, the Christian life was a heroic venture, requiring a full quota of energy.  For the Puritans, the God-centered life meant making the quest for spiritual and moral holiness the great business of life.

Honestly, how could you argue with that line of thinking?  I’m thinking I could use me a little Puritan in my life.  As I read through the prayers, one saint’s prayers spoke to my heart.  It doesn’t seem to matter what he’s praying for, Philip Doddridge always seems to intertwine the theme of life.

Bring me to life, oh Lord, so that by me you may also enliven others!

Make me the happy instrument to kindle and animate the flame of divine love in others.  May the flame catch and grow from heart to heart!

Again, how can we argue with that way of thinking?  Do you see it?  He was all about life.  The word that jumped out at me was animate.  No less than three prayers written by Doddridge in this book (I’m only a quarter of the way through) use that same word – animate.  Now my thoughts of that word in a quick way went to Walt Disney – the king of animation.  At first I thought naw, that’s not what Doddridge means.  But, it is.

The definition of animate is to give life to, to make alive, to make lively, vivacious or vigorous, to fill with courage and boldness, encourage, to move or stir to action, to motivate, possessing life.  It means living, breathing, moving. 

Then the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  Genesis 2:7

We’re not talking about a cartoon flip book here.  We’re talking the God of the Universe gave life with His very own breath.  God, the great animator, the great life giver.  Isn’t He the one who gives life, makes us alive, encourages us with boldness? 

Sometimes I learn as much about what a word means by learning what it doesn’t mean.  Animate does not mean spiritless, sluggish, dull, dead, idle, defunct.  Doesn’t the true King of Animation take our spiritless and sluggish dead lives and give them life?  Hallelujah!

I was caught flatfooted by Doddridge’s use of that life instilling word in another prayer:

I am so barely animated by your love, or interested in serving you, that a stranger might talk with me for a long while and not have a clue that I knew you, or had even ever heard of you!

Oh, geez…I had to ask myself…Am I so barely animated?  What do I display?  Do my words, my actions, my thoughts, my face reflect that God has filled me with life?  That He breathed His life into me?  Do I act alive, lively, vivacious, vigorous, filled with courage and boldness, living? 

Unfortunately, after that self-reflection, I had to begrudgingly admit that at times, I completely forget, or honestly, when doing my own thing, I just don’t think about God’s love for me and my love service to Him.  I have actioned spiritless, sluggish, dull, idle and defunct. I have talked with people for a very long while and they didn’t have a clue that I knew Him.  Ouch, that’s painful.  But goodness, what a great reminder.

How could I act so dead when the King of Animation made me alive?  We need to examine that and the reflection of our lives.  But here’s the thing, the King of Life is also the Father of Forgiveness.  Hallelujah!  He can take our words, our deeds, our actions, our faces from dead to life!  That’s a beautiful thing.  He can change us to be animators from inanimates.  He can bring us to life so that we can bring life to others!  That, my friends, is our sole purpose on earth — to bring life to others which brings glory to God.

Because we live in a world that is spiritless and dead, we must pray that Holy Spirit constantly breathes new life into our souls and causes His Word – His Son – to come alive in us.  We cannot give life if we don’t have life.

May I awaken from this lethargy into which I am sinking and may Christ give me a more abundant spiritual life than ever.  Alive in him, let me recover the ground I have lost – and then gain yet more!  Bring me to life, of Lord, so that by me you may also enliven others! Philip Doddridge

One of our themes since the beginning of the New Year at church has unintentionally been being intentional in the New Year.  Intentionally seeking God. It’s so amazing how He works, different people leading, same New Year’s message.  Last week the encouraging message centered around Isaiah 41:10 and Hebrews 13:5-6 , and it laid out His commands and His promises for each of us.  You really should read it.  This led to a discussion about what we’re supposed to be doing in the new year and  someone shared a prayer that they’d come across that fell right in step with the messages.  That’s just how amazing God is!

This prayer not only spoke to our Lord, but spoke to our hearts, each of us picking up on something different.  The part that bothered, or cut me to the quick:

Keep your words of truth planted firm within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word. And when the enemy reminds us where we have been, hissing his lies and attacks our way, we trust that your voice speaks louder and stronger, as you remind us we are safe with you and your purposes and plans will not fail. We ask that you will be our defense and rear guard, keeping our way clear, removing the obstacles, and covering the pitfalls. Lord, lead us on your level ground.

 A Prayer to Keep God First This New Year, Debbie McDaniel

As my friend read “And when the enemy reminds us where we have been,” I was thinking to myself – Girl, you got me pegged!!  I don’t know this Debbie McDaniel, but I praise God for Cathy introducing us to her and I praise God for Debbie’s heartspeak.  It feels like she’s known me forever.  You too?

You see, just to be perfectly honest, I’ve always known who Jesus was but I’ve not always walked with Him.  It wasn’t that He wasn’t walking with me, but I wasn’t walking with Him.  I went before Him, I went around Him, I went above Him, and most times, I went below Him.  None of that makes me proud.  In fact, “when the enemy reminds me” I am sometimes shocked at the different person that I am and I become paralyzed, inert.

Now, I have always been a kind person, well mostly, sometimes, hmmm…?  Okay.  I’ve always been a loving person, well mostly, sometimes, hmmm…?  Okay.  I’ve always thought of others first, well mostly, sometimes, hmm…?  Okay.  I’ve always been a good person, well mostly, sometimes, hmmm…?  I’ve always been…Okay, this is just downright excruciating to think about.  When I think about who I was, what I did, what I said, how I acted, what I did to be accepted, how I did the wrong things all the while knowing they were the wrong things, you know, intentional sinning, I sometimes think – who was that person?  Thank God!!

The Lord pursued me for years.  Actually, He chased me down and didn’t give up on me. The Lord has changed my heart and my mind and I am a new person.  Honestly, it wasn’t an immediate about face because I’m a strong-willed somebody for sure, but He was relentless.  He finally got me in a headlock, more like a heartlock, and changed my life.  Thank God!!

I can say, but I wasn’t so bad, I was a good person, but when it comes right down to it, I was quite the scoundrel.  I may have done very good things and said very good things, but I was living the life of the dead.  I was living in sin.  He has shown me step-by-step how to walk away from who I was to who He wants me to be and He’s still doing that. Thank God!!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m still a sinner, but now His blood has made me righteous.  He loved me so much that He died for me.  He died for me to be a different person.  He died so that I didn’t have to and He rose so that I could live a life of the living forever.  Think about that for a hot second.

Going from dead to living has not been an easy process and the world is constantly calling, but because He has changed me, today when my thoughts my deeds, my words, my willfulness, my actions, my attitudes, my impertinence, my motives, my self, etc., don’t line up with His plan for me, I recognize it (and if I don’t, He makes sure that I do—Thank God!!). I’m repentant and then reminded that I’m redeemed.  God moves me forward and says don’t look back child!  He says I want you to live among the living, not among your old self, the dead.  This is what He wants for us all!

When the enemy is hissing and attacking our way, we must look forward and not backward. God looks forward, He doesn’t look back.  God looks at who we are, not who we were.

I love the prayer of Philip Doddridge:

I know I am not yet where I should be.  I am far from being already perfect.  But after the great example of the apostle, I forget what lies behind, and strain forward to what lies ahead.  (Philippians 3:13)

Feed my soul by your word and by your Spirit.  Then I will be born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible – even by your word, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23).  As a newborn babe, I desire the sincere milk of the word, that by it I may grow (1 Peter 2:2)

Amen.

We cannot move forward if our heads are turned backward.  We walk in the direction we are pointed.  If we’re constantly looking behind, we will surely stumble and fall flat over what’s ahead.  Let’s turn our heads and therefore our eyes and hearts upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.  He doesn’t care where we’ve been, only where we’re going.

So, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.  Philippians 3:13-14

I told you last week that in my study I’d slipped into a pretty deep rabbit hole.  It started with Genesis 25 (which led to the reposting of Birthright), looped around Romans, and then circled back to Exodus.  That’s the beauty of God’s Word, it is intertwined, beautifully woven, and the only way to get the full effect of this tapestry is to open The Book.  You have to read it and follow the trails.  Anyway…

Last week we talked about Isaac and Rebekah’s kids, the twins, Esau and Jacob.  We’ve got two very different kids – Esau, an outdoorsman, and Jacob, a homebody.  In fact, they were so different that during Rebekah’s pregnancy the two “struggled within her womb.”  And she did what every smart woman does:

So she went to ask the Lord about it.

Genesis 25:22

And what did our Great Lord do?  “And the Lord told her…”  He answered her!  He told her that her children would become rival nations, one would be stronger than the other, and that the descendants of the older would serve the descendants of the younger.  Don’t think that didn’t set up a scenario for a dysfunctional family – by the way, we all got ‘em.  Now, right here is a prime opportunity to go down another rabbit trail but I’ve got so many started already I must resist.  Anyhow, we know what happened.  There was a tremendous amount of scheming going on, which also included the parents at some point.  Esau came in from the field hungry and Jacob said sell me your birthright or – no soup for you!  So Esau gave up his birthright, the right to a double portion, the right to be the family leader (men, this includes the spiritual leader of our families),  and the Covenant Promise made to their great grandfather.

In conjunction with reading Genesis 25, I was also to read in Romans 9 and I couldn’t get over the contrast.  We know that Romans was written by the Apostle Paul to Christian believers everywhere, but specifically to those in Rome.  In Romans 9:1-15 and beyond he speaks specifically to  his Jewish brothers and sisters.  The verse that leaped to me was the second sentence in 3, but let’s look at 1-3

In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulness – I do not lie – and my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true.  My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters.  I would be willing to be forever cursed – cut off from Christ! – if that would save them.

Romans 9:4

I find the sentiment conveyed by Paul to his brothers and sisters here a little hard to grasp, don’t you?  The sheer magnitude of that statement boggles my mind.  Think about it.  Paul would be willing to abnegate, give up, relinquish, his salvation for his Jewish brothers and sisters to be saved and spend eternity with Christ.  Now let’s be perfectly clear right here, Jesus would never ask anyone to do such a thing.  Jesus is a numbers guy, He wants to gather as many willing sheep into the fold as possible, that’s why He has not yet returned.  Paul’s statement speaks to this outrageous, amazing kind of love that he had for his brothers and sisters.  It made me think, if they understood what salvation was, would they feel the passion with which he loved them —  literally, sheer abandon. 

Although Jesus would not ask or accept one’s abandonment of eternity for another,  He absolutely does ask, accept, and frankly expect that kind of sacrificial attitude from His children.  That smarts, doesn’t it?

Here’s the contrast – Esau thought only of himself, his need, his desire, his immediate moment.  Paul thought only of his brothers and sisters, their need, their salvation, their eternity.  Esau was willing to give up everything to get something for himself.  Paul was willing to give up himself to get something for others. 

It made me wonder who I resemble most?  Am I thinking only of myself, my needs, my desires, my immediate moments, or am I thinking of the salvation of my brothers and sisters?  I think of how much Paul loved.  Do I love that much?  Am I that self-sacrificing?  Would I be willing to intercede  for another’s salvation?   Do we want to be like Esau or Paul?  What are we doing to make that happen?

These probing questions, painful as they may be, are ones we all need to answer.  Our answers direct our paths.  These questions are not meant to tear us down, that’s baby talk, they are meant to build us up.  They are meant to form us and shape us into people of hope.  The people God wants us to be.  If we’re struggling with the answers, maybe we need to do what Rebekah did about her internal struggles – just ask God.  And, just like Rebekah, He will surely answer.

Remember trading as a kid?  You know, trading this pencil for this eraser in school?  Trading a friend this shirt for that shirt?  This piece of candy for a piece of gum?  Remember “trading cards?”  Pokemon cards?  In all these cases, you exchange something you don’t want for something you really want.  Trading something you value less for something you value more. 

We’ve all traded something for something.  Think about your trades.  Have you ever regretted the trade?  What you got is not what you thought it was?   When you got it, it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  What you traded was more valuable than what you traded for?

What’s she talking about you say?  I read this week in Genesis about Esau and Jacob.  This got me thinking about trading.  I’ve been thinking all week about my birthright and what I would  trade for it?

You may have heard about this famous trade.  This story about Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah.

One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home exhausted and hungry from a hunt.  Esau said to Jacob: “I’m starved!  Give me some of that red stew you’ve made.”  Jacob replied, Al right, but trade me your birthright for it.”  “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau.  “What good is my birthright to me now?”  So Jacob insisted, “Well then, swear to me right now that it is mine.”  So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the first born to his younger brother.  Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew.  Genesis 25:27-33

Aaaah…the coveted birthright.  The subject of many a family feud.   As I understand it, the value of what Esau traded was not insignificant.  As the eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah, Esau’s birthright would have been substantial.  According to law and custom, Esau would have received a double portion of all of Isaac’s possessions, and they were plentiful.  He would also have received authority as the eldest child in the family.  As part of these substantial possessions and authority, Esau would have stood to inherit the functions of the priesthood in the family, and the covenant promise of God.  Do you see what he traded for some beans and bread?  Do you see how huge this is?  Check this out:

The Lord stood saying: “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father, Isaac.  The ground you are lying on belongs to you.  I will give it to you and your descendants.  Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!  They will cover the land from east to west and from north to south.  All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants…  Genesis 28:13-14

Do you know who the Lord was talking to?  Jacob.  Do you know who the Lord should have been talking to?  Esau.  Esau blew it – big time!  Esau traded authority, possessions and most importantly the covenant promise of God.  The covenant promise first made to Abraham, then to Isaac, and then to Jacob.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob each had to establish a personal relationship with God in order to receive the covenant promise, however, for a measly bowl of soup, Esau blew the opportunity.  Do you see how huge this is?   Hold on tight and follow me:

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of King David and of Abraham:  Abraham was the father of Isaac.

Isaac was the father of Jacob.

Jacob was the father of Judah and his brother

*****

David was the father of Soloman

*****

Matthan was the father of Jacob.

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

Matthew 1:1-16

DO YOU SEE THAT?  I am so excited!!!   It’s the ultimate Treasure Hunt for the Kingdom!  Keep following:

And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne.  There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.  And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and unroll it?”  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.  Then I wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it.  But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has conquered.  He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals.  Revelations 5:1-5

The fulfillment of God’s covenant promise made to Jacob: 

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and though shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  Genesis 28:14

Esau traded his birthright and The Messiah descended from Jacob, not from Esau. I am a child of God.  Adopted by God, through Jesus Christ.  That is my birthright.  That is your birthright.  Don’t trade your birthright for anything, because then you will have nothing.  Go ahead — accept the blessing.