PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

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

GLORIOUS DAY

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

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

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

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

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

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

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

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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

The problem with preachers today is that

no one wants to kill them!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is anyone else out there struggling with focus?  Focusing on Jesus, focusing on His message, focusing on His Word, focusing on His promises, focusing on His plan, focusing on the positive, focusing on His guidance, focusing on His direction, focusing on His still small voice?  Well, I am, big time!  The world we’re living in right now really is not ideal for an ADHDer like myself.  There are just way too many things going on – COVID, confirmation, election, work, life in general.  Can anyone else relate?

I tell you what, I’ve been a bear (my family and friends can attest to that).  I feel like my world, which is probably the same as your world is spinning so fast that my mind is boggled, and I struggle to focus.  There are so many things going on, all at the same time, that with the speed of my thoughts I’m getting whipped into a good ole focusless frenzy.  Picture me (or yourself if you’ve got the same thing happening) standing there with a duh look on my (your) face and the words of my (your) thoughts just swirling around above my head (or your head) so fast they are just a blur.  If I’ve looked at you lately and my eyes didn’t look like there was anyone home, there probably wasn’t.  I’m having trouble focusing.  You too?  So, as believers, what do we do?  We Fight for Focus – F³.  How do we do that?

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.  Hebrews 12:2

Just like Jesus…  Jesus fixed his eyes on God, His Father, on whom He depended from beginning to end.  What a prime example He gave us.  If anyone had a right to be distracted, it would have been Jesus.  Distracted by unbelievers, distracted because of fish, distracted because of waves, distracted because of Pilate, distracted because He was being betrayed, distracted because all of His followers left Him, distracted because He was tortured, distracted because He was crucified.  But, here’s the thing – Jesus never lost focus.  He didn’t say “I just can’t think about that right now.” or “There’s too many things going on to be crucified.”  He didn’t give up because of what was going to happen.  He persevered because of what was going to happen to Him and what was going to happen for all of us.  How did He do that?  Well, honestly, He was Jesus.  But, He stayed connected to God.  He was obedient to God.  He did what God told Him to do.  Throughout His entire life He called on the name of His Father.  That’s our answer.

You see, if He knows the number of hairs on our head (or not), don’t you think He knows the number of thoughts swirling in our minds?  He understands.  Remember, Jesus walked this earth, and though He did not sin, He was human.  He knows what we’re going through. So, how do we Fight for Focus?

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears. 2 Samuel 22:7

He says it quite simply.  Call on Him.  When we call on Jesus focus is possible.  When we are mired in the relentless thoughts swirling through our minds, we call on the name of the Lord.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. 2 Samuel 22:17

And He answers.  Always. He will reach down from on high and take a hold of us and pull us out of the deep waters of our mind chaos.  He brings peace, discernment, and organization to our thoughts.  If we have to call on the name of Jesus a million times a day to maintain focus, that’s what we do.  When we can’t quite formulate our call to Him, when we just don’t have words, simply say His name – Jesus.  I can’t help but think He smiles every time He hears one of His children call His name.  Every time we call on His name we can smile too – we know whence our help comes from to focus.  It comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth.

Did you see that moon?  Wow!  I have a thing about the moon.  I mean I love the sun, it’s a magnificent creation, our daylight and our dayheat.  But, there’s just something about the fall moon.  The other morning, I was sitting on my front porch mooning.  Not the kind of mooning you’re thinking about.  The kind of mooning in the pitch blackness of early morning, very early morning.  The blackness made by turning off all the outside lights.  It is unbelievable what you can see when you turn out the lights!  Another day…Follow me to the front porch, in the silence of the early morning, in the darkness, to a chair.

This morning I sit and gaze at the moon.  All moons are beautiful but this one’s special.  This round, yellow-white, humongous moon was placed carefully in the sky, on the Fourth Day!  With the naked eye you can see outlines and details on this moon.  Spectacular!  So, in the darkness, I moonbathe.  Ever been moonbathing?  It’s similar to sunbathing, only better.  The moon is at about 2:00 over the mountain.  From where I’m sitting, it’s behind a big old maple tree.  You know when the sun is out and there’s a tree, you try to hide your eyes with a branch so you can see?  You know what I mean, right?  Well, it’s the exact opposite with the moon.  Instead of hiding from the moon behind the branches, I find myself searching for the moon around the branches.  The light shines in the darkness – heard that before?  I close my eyes and I sit.  I feel the fall breeze, listen to the tinkling leaves trying to hold on for just one more day.  I feel the moon on my face and I bathe in its glory and in the One who created it.

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

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

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

Luke 1:78-79

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

Psalm 112:4 puts it another way:

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

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

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

Sometimes we don’t know how dark it has been until we see the Light.

There’s a tree lined development on the way to our home.  Every time I ride by it, I’m curious.  Anywhere from 8-10 trees line each side of the paved entrance to that development.  When the leaves change this time of year, they really are quite beautiful.  The thing that interests me about these trees is that even though they are all the same species, all the same age, all planted at the same time, and all are exposed  to the same growing conditions – same rain, same sunshine, same wind, they’re all very different. Check them out.  Their leaves run the spectrum from a few browns to plentiful robust green to glowing reds.  They range in appearance from lifeless to vibrant. 

It made me think – isn’t that how we people are too?  I don’t know about you, but there are times I’ve felt spiritually lifeless, spiritually robust and spiritually glowing – sometimes all in the same day, or even the same minute.  Now I’m not a treeologist, but it was so odd to me that each of these trees had the exact same growing conditions yet appear so different.  Why is that?  I’m not sure, but it would seem to me that if they all had the same water, sun, wind, if they all faced the same living conditions, it would have to be something happening, or not happening in the trunk, you know, the heart of the tree – the foundation.  How did the tree use internally the provisions of nourishment to give it life?  Could it be the outer appearance changes are a result of how the inner tree used its provisions?  It stands to reason.

And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world.  John 6:33

Why are we sometimes brown with very few leaves and at other times robust and glowing?  Could our appearance change have something to do with our trunk, our foundation, our heart?  Could it be that there’s something in our trunk that doesn’t allow us to lap up the Living Water?  Could it be that we don’t take in the nourishment of the Bread of Life?  It could be all of the above. 

But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.  John 14:26

We are reminded of where our Help comes from.  We are reminded that there is Someone who was sent by the Lord to teach us how to lap up the Living Water and feast on the Bread of Life.  We are reminded that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. 

Mom was a gift giver.  Now, I’m going to tell you right off the bat that good gift givers are terrible, terrible gift receivers.  Sorry Mom, but true. 😊  Tanya, Daddy and I always agonized over gifts for Mom.  Birthday and Christmas gifts were always challenging.  It seemed that no matter what we got for Mom, no matter how thoughtful we were being, we always got the “Oh, that’s nice.”  We’re like, what do you means that’s nice — it’s wonderful! It didn’t matter how much we spent or how personal (that was big for Mom) the gift, or how excited we were that it was just the right gift, our gifts always seemed to fall flat.  We always took that personally, you know, like we just couldn’t please her.  Maybe that was true, but in hindsight, I don’t think so.  Those folks out there who are the best gift givers are always the worst gift receivers, not because you can’t please them, I don’t think that’s it at all, but because they are completely selfless.  They would rather do the giving than the receiving and therefore, receiving makes them feel uncomfortable and all they can say is “Oh, that’s nice.”  Mom always wanted to be the gift giver never the gift receiver.

Looking back now, I realize that Mom’s greatest gifts were gifts literally from her heart.  She loved this Marine enough to quit high school in her senior year and move to Camp Lejeune, North Caroline, at the age of 17, much to my grandparents’ dismay.  She gave the gift of love to Tanya and I and although I think they’re all stories, I hear I tested that love quite often.  She loved Jeff and Tony as her own, unconditionally.  There isn’t a word to explain Mom’s love for her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.  It was simply too big. Mom’s gift of love for Aunt Sandi and Uncle Harry and all her nieces and nephews was unmeasured.  Mom adored her family.

Mom’s gift giving spread to all those around her, from the words she spoke, to the cards she sent, to the love she gave.  Mom’s gifts were always lavish and generous.   Mom would spend hours searching for just the right gift and would get so frustrated, and yes, angry, when she didn’t find the perfect gift.  She hated giving cash or gift cards.  We loved it.  But, Mom didn’t think enough thought had gone into the person if that was the gift – she thought that was the easy way out.  We liked cash!

Mom’s greatest achievement in life was being a nurse.  It surpassed everything else.  It was another gift giving opportunity for her.  She started college fulltime when I did.  Mom finished, I didn’t.  Although Mom finished 3^rd in her class at Shepherd, Mom was voted by the class to be the speaker at the pinning ceremony by her classmates.  They too had been recipients of her generous gift giving — cheerleading, encouragement and love.

Mom went on to become nurse manager of OB at City Hospital where she again gave lavish gifts.  Some of those gifts are still turning up.  Over the weekend,  – – one of the nurses Olivia works with just found a note of encouragement in her locker from 1993 from Mom – it was a treasured gift.   There are nurses out there today because Mom gave the generous gift of books, classes, and most importantly, encouragement.

From the small happy day gifts she gave, a hug, a treat for your dog,  a notecard of encouragement, to books, to unconditional love, to gift cards, Mom was a generous gift giver.

Mom was one of the most generous gift givers I knew.  It wasn’t the kind of generosity you’d expect.  She did not flaunt it, she received no recognition for it.  In fact, if she knew I wrote about it I’d be getting the look – you know the one I mean – the one only Mom could give.  When I think back over her life, I see time and time again her giving, her sharing, her unselfishness, her generosity, her gifts. They are beautiful nuggets of comfort.

But, let me tell you about the greatest, most generous gift Mom ever gave us – she introduced us to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  That is the gift she gave her family and those she came into contact with — the gift of Hope.  There were times we didn’t really want to open that gift and we did our share of eye rolling at it, and that’s where Mom’s gift of unconditional love came in.  But, when we finally unwrapped that most precious gift, it was priceless – Mom introduced us to the Ultimate Gift through the Ultimate Gift Giver, Jesus Christ. The gift of Eternity.

Not only did Mom give us the gift of the Gospel, she gave us the gift of peace.  We know that we are now only separated for a time not for an eternity.  That’s the second greatest gift you can give to someone.  Only when you know where someone will spend eternity can you truly say — It is well – It is well, with my Soul, and it is.

So we celebrate a beginning, not an end.  We have all been recipients of Mom’s generous gift giving.  Mom would be honored if we lavished those gifts on everyone we met, a word of encouragement, a hug, a bone for Rover, the gift of Jesus Christ – Eternity.  Please go be gift givers.  Give the most generous greatest gift from the Ultimate Gift Giver, Jesus Christ.  Give the gift of Eternity to someone else by introducing them to Jesus so it too can be well with your Soul.

Working on Updates 0%. Don’t turn off your PC.  This will take a while.

I knew right then and there I was doomed.  Not a thing I could do about it – for two hours!   Now, I know the importance of keeping my computer updated.  It is necessary for all of us to update our computers in order to keep them running smoothly, to patch up anything that’s not working as it should, and to enhance and improve and simply make things work better.   As I’m sitting looking at the screen watching the number tick up to 100 and then start again for the next update, I’m kicking myself because I know the importance of keeping current, of updating, of the support needed to keep things running as they should.  I’m feeling slightly impatient – slightly!  Ugh!

As I’m waiting, I start putzing around impatiently and flipping pages in several books I have sitting on my desk, including my Bible, and I’m increasingly frustrated as each time I glance up at the screen it has the same message.  I continue to putz and flip through some other things at my desk and still the same message.  So, in my most humble – not – voice I say:   “Lord, what’s going on here?  You know my day.  I’ve got work to do.  I need to finish this up so I can get on to the next thing.”  And he says:  “Really, Beth?”  God really does have a sense of humor.  So, I step out of the frustration frenzy and seek to learn from this experience.  What’s the lesson here?  And it settles on me heavily.  The words of our Savior.  Be holy because I am holy.  I know, odd thought at that time but that’s what came into my mind.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.  So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”                1 Peter 1:15-16

You see, in order to function in the way we’re meant to function as holy beings, we must be current.  We must have a current, up-to-date relationship with Jesus.  We must be fully connected to Him and His Word.  We must take in information, let it speak to our hearts and minds and then generate Godly holy living.  God says I’m working on your life.  Don’t turn Me off.  Don’t be impatient, this will take a while. 

Holiness is not just being a good person, it is being a God person, and that takes constant updating, constant rebooting, constantly checking of the connection and making sure we’re plugged in.  The holiness of the Spirit requires pursuit.  How do we pursue holiness?  How do we pursue the holiness God intended for our lives?  By constant rebooting and updating.  By consistently applying patches and rewiring our minds and our hearts to work as the Lord intended so that transformation (changed, a new version) and sanctification (proper functioning) take place.  How is that done?

As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

First, we must spend time communicating with our God.  Time spent in prayer joining ourselves to Him is vital.  He’s our motherboard (Fatherboard) – His strength, power, wisdom, guidance, love, mercy and grace must be plugged into and connected to all circuits of our life.  Not just our Sunday circuit.

Second, keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter – and by letter – the Word of the Lord.  It’s very clear.  Be in the Word of the Lord.  You can’t follow God if you don’t know who Jesus is.  We only find out who Jesus is through the Word of the Lord, then through relationship with Him. We are then sanctified (living according to God’s design and purpose) when we live who He is.  When we are in right relationship with Him and fully connected to Him, then we are made Holy.

Working on Updates 0% Don’t turn off your PC.  This will take a while.

Our Lord in His infinite wisdom and superabundant love sets such a high value upon His people’s faith that He will not protect them from those trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the precious faith that now supports you if the trial of your faith had not put you through the fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted as well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro and made you take a firm hold upon the precious truths of God’s gracious covenant.

Charles Spurgeon

Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. 1 Peter 1:7

Today is our first day of school, which means my first day of helping my children navigate a whole new era of school that I don’t think many of us expected. And one, I really feel unqualified to handle. Its only been 30 minutes.  In those 30 minutes my two oldest have argued with each other, my daughter has asked so many questions, and both seem utterly clueless where to start.  And honestly, I’m feeling the same and patience is already running for the window.

So, as my daughter’s yelling “I HATE READING” I am taking a huge breath and praying to God for patience. As my teenager is complaining once again about how things do not make sense, I am looking to the sky for Jesus to come down, finally. But what I need to do is be patient.  Be patient with my kids, they are just as confused as we are. Be patient with the schools, they are doing their best to accommodate everyone’s needs with what they have to work with. And be patient with myself, I can do this. As I type this, I also feel God is testing my patience.

Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.  Proverbs 15:18

Impatience can definitely make my temper rise. If we become more Christ like we will have the patience and peace needed in our mere human lives. And don’t we want the peace, joy, and grace that being more like Christ can give?

But if we look forward to something we don’t have, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:25-26

Even when we lose our way, and don’t know what to say or do, the Holy Spirit is there for us, praying for us. How amazing is that? When the world is too much for our minds, the Holy Spirit is there praying for us, straight to God.

But as for you, be strong and courageous, for you work will be rewarded.  2 Chronicles 15:7

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9

So don’t give up.  Keep your patience and know God has you in his arms. He has given his Son as our sacrifice and left us with the Holy Spirit to make sure we are connected with him.  He has thought of everything for us. He has made sure we have a safety net so keep walking that tight rope, slow and steady. Trust in him and patience will be easy to find.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

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.”