PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

It’s harvest time, you all know by now, it’s my very favorite time of year. I love the sky, the smell, the sights, the colors. So, a couple of weeks ago when we were on our way to our weekly hotspot, we noticed these trees.

What do you see when you look at this tree? Of course, yummy, juicy, good ness. But think a little beyond your belly — I know, I struggle with that too! Let’s think about it a little deeper though. Take just a second and really look at that tree. Look at the apples. Look at the number of apples. Look at the color of the apples. Look at the leaves. Look at the tree structure. Look at the bounty. Imagine the smell, the crisp crunch and the sweetness.

The goal of Persisting in the Presence of God is to get us to see God in every single part of our lives. His presence is all around us, but sometimes we’re so busied-up that we don’t see Him. Hmmm. Sometimes we’re caught in the life-whirl created by the evil one whose sole goal is to keep us from seeing God.

However, if we persist in seeking and recognizing God, even in the most ordinary, mundane things — an apple tree, God will be glorified, and that’s our sole purpose for being here on this earth — to glorify God.

With that in mind, what thoughts about God do you have when you see that tree? Jot them down and reflect on them today.

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. John 1:16

So I’ve been thinking about the word “Holy.” We’ve been praising and worshiping a lot lately, and I’ve noted particularly, just how many worship songs speak to the “Holiness” of God. Well, duh, you say, but it’s not always a given that praise songs necessarily are about the character of God. Sometimes they talk more about the “I” than the “He.”

This recent opportunity for more worship has caused me to meditate on the “Holiness” of God. When I stopped to think about it, I just couldn’t put my finger on a good understanding, or definition of “Holy.” It is kind of important since God the Father and Jesus the Son say often throughout The Word – “Be holy, for I am Holy.” If God says He is it, and then calls me to be it, I’d better be checking into it.

I’m going to share some of the things I’ve learned about the Holiness of God and what that requires of me (us). For you see, in order for me to be holy, I have to understand His Holiness.

Vine’s Bible Dictionary says – Holy is defined as separation to God and Holiness is defined as the resultant state, the conduct befitting those so separated.

Think of it this way: God is Holy, He is set apart from everything that is not God. So, in order for me to be Holy, I must be set apart from everything that is not God. What is “everything that is not God?” Just that. Everything that is not good. God’s Holiness is the absolute absence of evil, wickedness — let’s just cut to the chase and call it what it is, sin. God is Holy, which means He cannot abide with or tolerate sin. And because He is Holy, He won’t. Because God is Holy, everything He does is Holy.

I love how Habakkuk 1:13 puts it: “You are perfectly just in this.” The King James Version makes it much more clear: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.”

God is Holy — this prevents Him from looking upon evil (sin) — God and evil (sin) cannot coexist. His eyes are so pure He cannot look on injustice, iniquity, wickedness, wrongdoing, sin. He doesn’t just dislike sin, He says in Zechariah 8:17 “I hate all these things…” Yikes! Hate is an extraordinarily harsh word, and that’s the word God uses to describe His feelings toward sin.

So, God’s character is Holy and that means His actions are consistent with His character. In other words, because God is Holy, everything He does is Holy. And, wild as it may sound, that is His standard for us. Because God is Holy and we are His children, everything we do should be Holy (pure, without sin).

Hmmm…but we are sinners you say — true that! There is only One who is pure and without sin, Our Pure and Spotless Lamb, but He calls us to be like Him. But, we cannot be sinless. Again, true that! In his book The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges talks about three types of Holiness: Positional Holiness – where we’re set apart to God at the time of conversion. Practical Holiness – daily growing more and more like Christ. Perfect/Complete Holiness – when in Heaven we will be forever free from sin. Hallelujah!

If Jesus Christ is our Savior, we are to pursue Practical Holiness, becoming more and more like Christ every day. Positional we already have and Perfect we will have in Heaven.

In pursuing Practical Holiness we must ask ourselves the questions – am I the same person doing the same things I was doing yesterday, last week, last year, five years ago? Same thoughts? Same attitudes? Same sin? Am I changed? Not, am I perfect, because I cannot be. But, am I growing daily to be more and more like Christ? What are my attitudes, what are my thoughts, what are my sins? If we don’t see continual changes in our lives, we must reexamine our relationship with God.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

But, if we abide with Him, abide in His Word, abide in sweet communion with Him, we will be on the journey to see God everyday in our earthly lives. If we don’t, we simply won’t.

We would see Jesus, in the early morning,
still as of old he calleth, “Follow me!”
Let us arise, all meaner service scorning;
Lord, we are thine, we give ourselves to thee.

As most of you know, I love this time of year. One of the best things about this time of year is the sky. To me, the dark seems darker, but the lighter seems lighter, all at the same time. I love looking at the sky, the clouds, and especially the stars. Even though I can’t reach them, touch them, or even fully comprehend them, there’s something about the stars that is humbling to me. Something about them puts me in my place. Something about them emphasizes to me the Magnitude of the One and the minimumtude of the me. We could all use some minimumtude at one time or another.

But as I sit in the darkness and look at the sky today, I stand amazed in His presence. Thank you God, for the reminder of Your Holy Magnitude as I gaze at the stars I can see, and all those that exist that I cannot see. Thank you Father for reminding me of Your Holy Magnitude as I gaze at my life here on earth, all those ways you’re working that I can see, and all those ways you’re working that I cannot see.

Repost – Cone Nebula – November 2022

Tony pointed out to me this week this amazing act of God. Do you see the work of His hand? Gaze at it for a minute and take it in.

What is it you ask? It’s a star making machine! Yep. The Cone Nebula is a “pillar-like cloud of cold, star-forming molecular gas and dust” according to NASA. It’s a star machine in the Heavens — it’s where stars come from! How cool is that?

Not to get into the weeds too far, this image was taken by a (VLT) a very large telescope (yes, that’s the technical name of the equipment – duh), located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The VLT is operated by the European Southern Observatory. They say this Cone Nebula is located fairly close to us, about 2,500 light-years away from earth. A light year is the distance a light travels in one year, nearly six trillion miles. So, six trillion times 2,500, who knows, you do the math. Anyway, they call that “relatively” close to our home towns. What in the world!?!? Actually, it’s out of this world…

Check out the video below from the ESO. It’s wild!

When I watch that I think of the word miracle. What is a miracle? An extraordinary event taken as a sign of the supernatural power of God. An event that requires the supernatural power of God to be accomplished. Each star made, each shining star released at the top of this nebula is a miracle. God of wonders…

As I’m star gazing that video, I find myself humming the song my 4 year old great-nephew Declan was humming this weekend, Million Little Miracles by Maverick City. Every single star produced by that Cone Nebula is a miracle. A gracious act of our Creator God. Hallelujah!

All my life, I’ve been carried by grace
Don’t ask me how ’cause I can’t explain
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here

I’ve got some blessings that I don’t deserve
I’ve got some scars, but that’s how you learn
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here

I think it over and it doesn’t add up
I know it comes from above

I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all

Just like the star machine, we are miracles on miracles, we’ve got miracles on miracles, and just like the stars in the Heavens, one, two, three, four, we can’t even count ’em all. The miracles we are, the miracles we have, the miracles we see…when we stop to think about it, it is a little hard to wrap our brains around, right?

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

The Apostle Paul knew a little about miracles, didn’t he? He was a miracle. He lived a miracle. He was even given the power from God to perform miracles. But when Paul thought on God’s mysterious plan revealed, the millions upon millions upon millions of little miracles, all he could do was fall to his knees and worship the God of Miracles. Shouldn’t we do the same?

As I was putting my chickens in last night — I’m down to two — I thought about how they’ve really not changed over the years. Even with only two left, they still fuss and squawk at each other. When I put them in last night I gave them a little talkin’ to on how they need to be nice to each other because they’re all they’ve got. I told them they shouldn’t peck at each other, they shouldn’t cackle at each other, or bump each other around. They shouldn’t steal each other’s food or edge each other out of this bug or that. I also told them, most of all, they needed to watch how they spoke to each other — it’s not always the peep that is peeped, but it’s sometimes the tone of the peep, and the loudness of the peep, and the attitude with which the peep is peeped that matters. The below log was first published in 2018. I needed another reminder in 2020 (election year…hmmm) and I need another reminder today.

WHEN DID IT GET OKAY?

You might have heard about my girls – my chicks – there are seven of them.  I love those stinkin things.  We do a lot of chicken watching at our house.  During the day they run amuck – they cover every inch of our 12, every day, and where they go, they go all together.  They’re flockers.  They stick together unless someone’s sitting anest.

During the day they wander and at night they’re cooped up – it’s one of those two story jobs.  Settling in for the night is a process, which doesn’t voluntarily begin before darkish.  When dusk hits they instinctively head for their coop.   Settling in for the night is a process for them.  They take turns going in and out before the doors close.  They run in and think about roosting then they run out for one last bite.  In.  Out.  Bite to eat.  Drink.  Hop up.  Hop down.  Jostling.   They chase each other and squeeze each other out, jockeying for the best roost position.  If one tries to go up the ladder before another thinks they should, they get a peck or two on the head.  Maybe even a pluck.  Ouch Georgie Girl!  Poor Ethel is always the last to ascend she’s most often pushed, pecked and bullied.  It’s a tough crowd.

After finally ascending to the coop, the jockeying for position is not yet over.  They move, they ruffle, they peck, they squawk.  It’s constant.  I try to intervene, to restore calm, but I’m reminded that it’s what chickens do.  They’re animals – fowl, technically.  They have a pecking order. 

One thing I’ve noticed is that we, me, I, have chicken-tendencies.  We, me, are not so different from them, really.  We do the same sometimes.  I know I do.

After watching the news the other day, I started thinking how very similar we are to my girls.  We treat each other the same way my girls treat each other, and it’s permissible and acceptable.  I wondered to myself – when did it get okay?  When did it get okay to be mean?  Push.  When did it get okay to call people names?  Squawk.  When did it get okay to degrade other people?  Bump.  When did it get okay to mistreat others?  Peck.  When did it get okay to speak our minds without care for others’ tender hearts?  Pluck.  When did it get okay to say what we want, regardless of the cost to someone else?  Scar.  When did it get okay to bully?  Jostle.  When did it get okay?

Clearly, my chickens have not heard about the Greatest Commandment.  Sometimes I act like I’ve not heard it either.

The most important commandment is this:  Hear, O Israel! 

The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,

All your mind, and all your strength.

and your neighbor as yourself.

Mark 12:29-31

According to Jesus, this is the most important commandment.  Notice He gives us a few directions before we are to love each other.  His directions are just that – listed in order of importance.  First, he gets our attention.  Then He identifies Himself.  Next, He tells us exactly what we must do.  He says:

Listen up folks!

I am the only God!

You must love Me with absolutely everything you have – heart, soul, mind, strength,

Only when you do that can you love your neighbor as you should. (Beth’s paraphrase)

Only by putting God first in our hearts, in our souls, in our minds, with all the strength that we have, can we love others as we should.  He knew we would struggle with love because we are human, that’s why he gave us the directions – He’s shown us how to work this love thing.

God did not tell us to love our neighbors if we want to, if they love us first, if they’re loveable.  He said love your neighbor as yourself.  Do we do that?  Do we love each other as we love ourselves – maybe.  Maybe that’s our problem.

Paul tells us living in the Spirit – heart, soul, mind, strength – produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We can pretty much tell if we’re living in the Spirit or living in the world by the fruits we produce.   Will they know I’m a Christian by my love?  By my words?  By my deeds?  By my eyes?  By my life?  The fruits are not to be practiced occasionally, they are to be how we live our life.  They are to be practiced consistently.  What a wonderful world it would be if we all immersed ourselves in the fruits.

We peck.  We bump.  We shove.  We squawk.  We pluck.  We scar.  We jostle.  We act like animals.  We act fowl.  That’s the truth.  Ugh!  We need a Cross check.  We are sinners living in a fallen world but that doesn’t excuse our actions.  Because we are His we are to be of the world and not in the world. When did it get okay to peck, bump, shove, squawk, pluck, scar, or jostle each other?  It didn’t.  It never did.  It’s just not okay.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him.  I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me.  For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.  As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.   I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!  Philippians 3:8-11

This scripture was referenced in a book I was reading recently.  Seen it a million times.  Today it stopped me in my tracks.  You know me.  I have this running dialogue in my head.  Some of you do too.  Maybe one of the reasons it stopped me in my tracks is because the author asked if this passage described me (you) and if that’s how other folks would describe me (you).  Wham!  Right upside the head.  I fall to my knees.

Piece-by-piece.  Bit-by-bit.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. 

Wow, complete surrender.  Surrender of thoughts.  Surrender of lifestyle.  Surrender of things, even good, but ungodly.  Is that true for me?  In the verses before, Paul laid out his life, a mini-autobiography.  You see, Paul was quite the man before he met Jesus on that road.  He was living the good life.  He was the ultimate Jew – from the tribe of Benjamin.  His tribe, along with the tribe of Judah (who came from there?) were the only tribes that returned to Israel following the exile.  One of the “it” tribes.  Paul was a Pharisee, a learned man, highly esteemed, highly revered.  He knew the law inside and out, moreover, he lived the law – to the strictest letter – to a T.  Paul was the real deal.  So, when Paul’s life did an about face, complete surrender, and he made the claims that “everything else is worthless,” he’s saying that his knowledge, his power, his position, his life, were nothing compared to knowing Christ – priceless.  Remember that commercial?  What’s in your heart? 

What does complete surrender look like to me, to you?  Am I willing to chuck everything I have so that “I may have Christ and become one with him.”?  That’s a toughy isn’t it?  Let’s go around back – what am I willing to chuck?  Am I willing to toss out anything that keeps me from becoming “one with him”?  You see, we do get to pick and choose what we will and will not take to the dump.  He gives us free will.  Here’s the thing though, until we lay it all down, not just the things we’d like to get rid of, we will not be “one with him.”  Some things in our lives and our hearts are easy to toss on the heap, some things not so easy.  What’s in your heart?  What do we need to kick to the curb? 

I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me.  For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Paul’s transformation revealed to him that he simply couldn’t be good enough.  He couldn’t count on himself, by following all the rules, towing the line, doing the right things at the right time.  No matter what Paul did, or what we do, we simply cannot be good enough to inherit the kingdom.  There is not one thing we can do – Christ has already done it.  God used His only Son to make us right with Him.  Believing on the Son, faith in the Son, is the only way.  Even rule followers cannot enter the kingdom without faith, not even Paul, not even us. 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  John 1:12

As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.   I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!

Paul trusted Christ, he had faith in Christ, and as a result he was reborn.  Paul experienced the resurrection power of knowing Christ and his life was transformed.  The things Paul previously thought were important were no longer important.  I feel certain that before his transformation, Paul used the same absolutes we use.  I will forever be a Pharisee.  I will always follow the law.  I will never follow this Jesus.   But, Paul surrendered and look what happened – just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of God the Father, he was living a new life, a life that will be resurrected from the dead to live for all eternity. Remember, Paul thought he had it all before.  After meeting Jesus, he knew he had it all.  So, what are we hanging on to that is worthless compared to Christ?  What do we need to discard, take to the dump, get rid of, throw out? 

Canadian Geese. For some of you, I need say nothing more. Over the past three weeks, they’ve started landing in our front field, our soy bean field. They swoop in about 7:00 pm. They swoop out some time during the night because they swoop back in starting at 6:15 am, or so.

There are many recommendations on how to move them on. So far the repeated foot chase with arms flapping, a git holler, and waving scripture cards has not been successful. Oh, they move when the Worst-Best comes close, but only about 10 feet. They’re diligent about the claim they’ve staked.

Despite our frustration with them, their swooping in is interesting. The other morning, while walking the Worst-Best, I watched as they gathered – party time in the soy bean field. The first dozen or so came a honkin’, circling, and then they picked a spot in the field. I guess they were the ones who planned the vacation itinerary and they were told to go and grab a table. The Farmer has assured us that they don’t eat too much and they are just passing through — we shall see. Anyway, after they’ve gotten a table, they then start arriving from all different directions, north, south, east and west — a group will come honking in and get settled, then another group will do the same until we’ve got 100(?) or so buggers.

The thing I noticed when they came swooping in, what I thought was dangerously close over my head, was the sound they made. Not the honking, but the sound of their wings and the sound of the air as they cut through the sky. Even when they’re not honking, they sound like a rush, their flapping wings, their angles, their formations, generate a powerful force, an undertow, a sound. Aside from the obvious honking, they generate this loud hum, they generate a buzz.

It fascinates me that they may not be announcing their arrival with their honking, but you can hear them moving, you can hear them in action, at work. It reminded me of that saying: Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary.

As believers we should live our lives so that they point to Christ, always. Sometimes we can create a hum, or a buzz, without using any words at all, with just our actions — good or bad. Every one of us is called to preach the Good News — don’t get hung up on the word preach, it simply means to tell others about Christ, that obviously takes words. But sometimes, we think we have to have a big long speech ready in order to do that, we think we have to honk-honk. Not so.

Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’–but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? James 3:14-16

Yes, we must use words for telling others the Good News, but sometimes we need to create a buzz with our actions too. We have to remember there’s an undercurrent, or an undertow in the world, it is spinning pretty fast, and there are many voices vying for the attention of those we want to introduce to Christ. The audible hum or buzz of our lives, can create a powerful force in people’s lives that gives us opportunities to talk about Christ, to use our voice, to honk, if necessary.

David Clarkson, the prayer writer, was a theologian born in 1622 in the UK, Bradford. Suffice it to say he’s no longer with us by about 300+ years, but his impact is still felt. Clarkson was what was considered a nonconformist — that’s exactly what it sounds like — he did not conform, fall in line, keep in step, with the Church of England. He was not obedient and did not comply with those teachings. Many years later there were others who were nonconformists who escaped the Church of England and that’s why we’re right here in the good ole USA.

I’ve said before — I just love these dead men — eeeeewww, you say. I don’t mean that in a creepy way, I say this with complete reverence and honor. The Puritan Fathers had a way of putting things that just struck right to the heart of a matter. Maybe I like them because they spoke of Our Lord in a way not spoken today, they didn’t beat around the bush. Maybe I like them because they held Our Lord God in such high esteem, in a world that tramples His blessed name. But, I probably most like them because they spoke absolute truth at a very tumultuous time — boldly, directly, and unapologetically, they called a spade a spade, without remorse. So concerned were they that all people accept the salvation of God, that people repent of their sins (yep, we’re sinners), that people enter into His Kingdom for all eternity, that they really didn’t care about political correctness, couching phrases, softening the blows, presentation, or hurt feelings.

I just love this prayer. I’ve been meditating on on it for a couple of weeks and each time I read it I gain more and more understanding. I don’t know about you guys, but I need grace every second of every day. Grace upon grace.

This prayer is such a greater reminder to me of exactly who I am, absolutely nothing without Him. I know because I’ve highlighted all those things in that prayer that I am (ouch!). But more importantly, about exactly who He is. I’ve underlined and exclamation pointed all those things He is (Amazing!). The Spirit Giver, The Mind Transformer, The Vision Giver, The Obedience Giver, The Wisdom Giver, The Heart Transplanter, The Out With the Old — In With The New God, The Light Giver, The Soul Seeker, The Clarifier, The New Creator, The Chain Breaker, The Peace Giver, The Lover of My Soul, The All Powerful, The Door Knocker, The Life Changer, The Grace Giver.

Who doesn’t need every single attribute of God in their lives. I definitely do. I need things I don’t even know I need. He is willing, certainly able, and desirous of our call to Him. He knocks, we need only open the door a crack and He will break it open with almighty power and come in and bless us with His presence and renewing grace.

Try printing the prayer and marking it up — you, Him. Then maybe praying, Lord, give me this heart, put this new spirit into me. Lord, open this heart that has been too long closed against you. Break down these strongholds that keep you from me. Amen.

I had a party on Monday for some of my dear friends, some I’d worked with for 36 years, some only a handful of months. I wanted to honor them and do something special so we had a picnic at a nearby pavilion. It wasn’t a practical picnic — I took the good China. Gasp! Yep, I took real flatware and glasses. We even had cloth tablecloths too. Practical picnics have paper plates, plasticware and disposable tablecloths because they’re…practical, sensible.

You see, I like pretty things. It may not always seem that way because I’m also very practical and life’s practical doesn’t always lend itself to pretty. But I love flowers, and glass, and sparkle, and sometimes I just like being practically impractical.

I went early to the party to set up. Anybody remember how the wind was blowing on Monday in these here parts? As I’m trying to put these 15 foot tablecloths on the tables with gale force winds blowing, I’m sinking a little inside. I wanted everything to be just right, I wanted it to be special for my guests. Eventually, the wind died down enough to get the cloths on and the table partially set. It was pretty.

As I stood there looking at the glassware sparkling in the sun, I thought for an outdoor gig with lots of wind, it was pretty. Everything wasn’t exactly where I had planned because heavy stuff had to be strategically placed to hold it all down, but it was still pretty. As I’m looking across the tables the thought came to my mind that this is exactly what the Lord has done for each of us. He has set the most beautiful table for us, His honored guests.

He has brought out the very best of everything for us. Everything is exactly where He’s planned. There’s nothing disposable at His table, because His guests are not disposable. And to be honest, His table setting seems a little impractical to us, it doesn’t quite make sense to us. But it does to him. We think why, how, it’s not practical for someone to die in my place. But it makes perfect sense to Him.

God has brought out the best of the best, the most beautiful. The place settings of love, hope, grace, mercy, comfort, peace, and so much more. You can look at the table and see such things. But most importantly, He has provided the food and drink for us to feast on, Manna from Heaven to sustain us, and Holy Water to quench our thirsts, eternal salvation, His Son Jesus Christ.

You see, we have all been invited to this beautifully set table. A table set for us by God. Whether we come, sit and partake is completely up to us. Are we tired of trying to feed ourselves with absolutely everything this world has to offer – careers, money, relationships, running, sports, children, busyness, etc., etc. — only to be hungry for more? We cannot satisfy our hunger and quell our own thirsts. There’s only one way to do that, and it is to pull up to the beautifully set table and feast on the Lord.

Today is my last Wednesday at Bowles Rice, a place were I’ve taken up space for the last 30-few years. You see it’s time for me to transition to a new chapter, a new season in my life. I’m super excited about the opportunity I’ve been given to quit my day job so to speak (Tony says I’m a quitter since I’m not old enough to be called a retiree — I’m down with that!) and dedicate myself to my other full-time job of wife, mother, laundry lady, housekeeper, sous chef, lawn mower, horse mother, flock tender, chief cook and bottle washer, and grandmother to-be to Baby Boy Wright. We are some busy people.

Although I’m doing something I never thought I’d do, counting down the days (Can I get a woohoo?!?!), it is a little bittersweet. You see I’ve been blessed (truly) to go to work each day with people I love so much. People I’ve been honored to encourage and people who have carried me. People God put in my life for a reason, a season and a second. Our life here is but a blink. It seems only yesterday I was starting my career as a wide-eyed-22-year-old-know-it-all-single-girl and in a flash I’m humbly packing up my desk, hopefully a little wiser for the years, and expecting my first grandchild — did I mention it’s a boy? But, of course, we’re told how quickly time goes by, aren’t we? King David wrote:

Such beautiful, beautiful, thought provoking words. King David encourages us to live in the moments of life. He says life is but a breath (our next one depends on God), spend your time wisely (think about what we’re doing – does it really matter?) and remember what is most important of all, trusting in the Lord our God (our only Hope). The Gospel is all rolled up in these verses.

Just as our seasons change from winter to spring to summer to fall, so do you lives. We have specific roles in each of our seasons of life, but only one purpose – to glorify God. Sometimes we get that messed up, don’t we? I don’t know about you, but sometimes, unfortunately, I’m much better at living to glorify Beth than God. Only for what Beth wants. Super selfish. Completely forgetting, or remembering and completely ignoring that my sole purpose for opening my eyes this morning, for taking my next breath, is to honor my Creator.

I sometimes work frantically to fill the eternity hole in my heart, which can only be filled by Him, with every other thing in life — work, house, cars, animals, travel, money, friends, family, toys, noise, busyness — all things in and of themselves not bad, but all things that can be used to fill the eternity hole, replacing the only thing that can actually fill the eternity hole, Jesus.

King Solomon helps give us a little perspective:

These times, they are a changing. My under heaven is going to look a little different in the days to come, but my eternity will not. All my hope is in Jesus. What does your under heaven look like? What does your eternity look like? What do you put your hope in?

Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.  Proverbs 4:23

Well, obviously, that’s not the only thing we need to guard.  We must also guard our gardens!  Clearly, our hearts are the most important things we must guard, as the scriptures say as a mirror reflects a man’s face, a man’s heart reflects the man.  Ouch!  But, gardens rank up there pretty high in the guarding group.

Gardens are important, we need them for a couple of reasons.  The obvious reason is because we need to eat.  Sure, we could pick up some tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, and other produce from the market, but there really is something super cool about tending a garden whether it be a flower garden or food for your table.  Those things we grow ourselves look more beautiful and taste much better.

But what happens when an unwelcome guest shows up in our gardens?  We’ve had one of those guests in our garden at least three times this year.  I know this because this is the number of times that Tony has replanted.  Before each replant, we have to add more protection.

As we were adding one more layer to our fencing the other night, I kept thinking about the lengths we’re going to to protect our garden, as well we should.  It’s an irksome battle against wild kingdom.  Looking at the chicken wire, colored strings, whirly gigs and sparkly decorations that move in the breeze, all saying KEEP OUT, I thought to myself, goodness, just how high are we going to have to make this fence in order to keep our unwanted guest out?

As I stand there pondering, trying to conjure up other defenses, the thought struck me that those layers of protection served two purposes – to keep something in and to keep something out — to protect something inside the fence and to keep something destructive outside the fence. Hmmm…

Should I not also do the same for my heart? Do you see the parallel?  Things in our lives can penetrate our hearts and destroy them – the consequences of poor choices by ourselves or others – the pride of thinking we can do all things through us who strengthens ourselves – allowing those things of the world to enter into our hearts and take root – compromising on the little things – opening the gate just a crack to only have it slammed wide open to the flood of destruction.  You get what I mean, right?  As I look at the garden, I think goodness, if I guarded my heart the way I’m guarding the garden, what would my life look like?  If I added some of the protections and defenses to my heart that have been added to the garden, would my life look different?  I think most definitely.

We live in such a deceptive world.  The evil one prowls about looking for someone to devour.  He has a special eye for those who have a heart for the Lord.  Why so?  Because those who belong to the Lord have something that satan wants – a heart for God.  The evil one is not seeking those who don’t believe or follow Christ – he already has their hearts.  The evil one is seeking to turn hearts for God to himself.  If we are not guarding our hearts, in broad daylight and hushed nightlight, he will leap our barriers and devour our hearts.  Yikes!

The evil one is quite wily.  Just like I felt sorry for our unwanted guest and wasn’t too concerned about her hanging around more and more frequently after all she had babies to feed, satan preys on our emotions as well with the things of this world.  Loving people will obviously feel compassion for a self-destructing world, but it doesn’t mean that we let down the guards on our hearts.  We must lean in to God and allow the Holy Spirit to fuel us with strength.  We must put on the full armor of God – the first two pieces are the study belt of truth – we must know the truth – and the body armor of God’s righteousness – the body armor is the barrier that protects our hearts!

We must use the resources the Lord gave us – chicken wire, colored strings, whirly gigs and sparkly decorations – the Word of God, Prayer, the Holy Spirit, Christian friends, and a Biblical Church family.  All these things will keep out those things that are destructive to our hearts.  We are not to go it alone, we must use all the defenses the Lord provided to us in this battle for our hearts.

But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one.  2 Thessalonians 3:3

Think a little today about your heart. What’s the condition of the fence around it? Is it keeping out evil or does it need to be fortified?

May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5