2013: The Year of Hope

"There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach. His song in the tower had been defiance rather than hope; for then he was thinking of himself. Now, for a moment, his own fate, and even his master's, ceased to trouble him. He crawled back into the brambles and laid himself by Frodo's side, and putting away all fear, he cast himself into a deep untroubled sleep."

~The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien

As this year wound down to mere days, I turned my mind to pondering what another year of life has taught me. At first, I could not come up with anything -- I felt I was in just the same place that I was at the close of last year. What word could sum up my year of trying, failing, and plodding on, contrasted on occasion with unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experiences? Then it came to me: Hope. Of course! The word has come to mind countless times this year in various contexts, and has picked me up over and over when failure and futility would knock me down. The great hope of Heaven has grown in me more than ever -- with so much endless beauty to look forward to, what is a little trouble now? Dead earthly hopes are a very small thing in a very short while hardly worthy of notice when I consider eternity, where every hope I've ever had will find its fulfillment. Not that all earthly hope must die -- I am here yet, and hope remains for many desires to find their place in this life.

To me, Tolkien's picture of Sam and the star that renewed his hope is a splendid portrayal of the concept. There is beauty that no evil, no matter how dark it seems, will ever touch, and that is where our hope must be. If our hope is only for our own present well-being, we may well grit our teeth and defy anything that dares come between us and our desire. But if our hope is set on something outside of us that will be there no matter what life brings us, then we can forget our little selves and no fear can trouble us. Look up! Do you see only a star above the clouds? Only a star! Bright and lovely though it be, it seems only a tiny thing in the darkness; yet it is really something vast and awesome beyond all you have ever known. So is our hope. Because of God's grace, there is truly much to live for, both in this life and beyond!

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul;

in You I trust, O my God. . . .

No one whose hope is in You

will ever be put to shame.

Psalm 25:1-3

The Outcast

For all the merriment and festivities, Christmas is a time of perhaps unequaled pain for many -- the bitterness of old memories, the sorrow of lost traditions, loneliness of another holiday without family and friends.   But was not even the first Christmas a time of turmoil, a story peopled with outcasts?  Mary surely lost her reputation, and nearly her fiancé, with the gossip of her pregnancy going around small-town Nazareth.  And what about Joseph -- what might people whisper behind his back when his bride turns up pregnant before the wedding?  What did their families think?  A trip to Bethlehem where no one would know the scandal was probably almost welcome, even if it was just another oppressive reminder that their nation was a slave of Rome.

And what of the Child?  Well, His loss on that first Christmas was greater than any of us will ever experience.  He left behind a perfect relationship with His Father in His perfect dwelling place, and came to a dingy, dark world where He was an inconvenience, a laughing-stock, without even a decent birthplace.  All His life, He was an outcast, misunderstood even by His family and closest friends.  And at the end they all abandoned Him to the most shameful death imaginable.  He understands bitter memories, sorrow, and loneliness.  And all out of love for us -- hurting outcast, turn to Him, the One who bore it all that you might share His joy.

He is despised and rejected by men,

a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief . . .

Surely He has borne our griefs,

and carried our sorrows.

Isaiah 53:3-4

Busy

Running in circles, too busy to think
So much to do, today's gone in a blink
This thing is urgent, it must happen now
I know You're important, but just tell me how
I can possibly quit all that's lined up to do
For even one hour of time just with You
What would she think, and what about him
If I suddenly stop being all that I've been
I'm committed to that and I've always done this
But somehow this stuff isn't bringing me bliss
I'm stubborn and selfish, I want it my way
I'm too scared to hear what You'd have to say
You might say I'll have to drop this and wait
Or You might tell me to love the people I hate
But I guess I should listen since You know what's best
And only with You will I fully have rest
Whatever I do and want is too small
If it steals me from Jesus, my Master, my All

Happy Thanksgiving!

. . . How can it be if it's not?  For thanksgiving only comes from being happy about something.  "But," you say, "thankfulness doesn't mean you have to be happy.  We're told to be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  How can you be happy about bad circumstances?"  Ah, but watch your prepositions -- it's in all circumstances, not about all circumstances.  Just two verses before, we are told to "rejoice always," and that includes bad times.  Now, joy is an emotion -- you can't work it up if you honestly don't believe you have anything to be joyful about.  Thankfulness is the same -- you must really have something to be thankful about.  You can't, and shouldn't, be happy about the hurts and problems of life.  They are the result of sin, and they don't make God happy either.  But even amidst trouble, we can still be thankful, that is, happy, about something, indeed, many things.  God loves us, and that in itself is enough to make us happy forever!

In the same way, lasting happiness only comes from thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is not a mere feeling, but an action born out of our recognition of good, and from that action comes the emotion of joy.  Even if life were perfect, without thanksgiving we would lose the enjoyment of it.  And since it's not, the only way we can be happy is to recognize our abundant blessings and give God the thanks for them that He deserves.  The natural and appropriate response to good things is thankfulness -- indeed, their purpose is to direct our attention to their Giver.  Failure to do so is disregarding His goodness.  Express it to Him -- a warm, fuzzy feeling of general gratitude is not enough.  What will you thank Him for today?

Yourself

“Tell me, who are you, alone, yourself and nameless?”

~Tom Bombadil to Frodo, The Lord of the Rings

As humans, we base much of our identity on our relationships. Consciously or not, the value of our lives is determined largely by the quality of our relationships – to be alone is the most dreaded evil. We introduce ourselves to others as “friend, sister, cousin, etc. of so-and-so”, and indeed our very existence is defined by what family we have come from and what group(s) of people we belong to. Rightly so, for we could not exist apart from them. But our souls, our selves, are descended from and ultimately dependent on no other human. Were all others stripped away and your whole life boiled down to nothing but your own self, what would be left?
 

What is the essence of your self, completely aside from the names others gave you, the reputation you have gained, your part in society? Is your soul an empty slate, made what it is only by the influence of the world around you? The answer, I suppose, would depend on one’s view of the existence of man – if an individual is simply a passing expression of the great organism called Mankind, then he can have little meaning beyond his role in connection with it. But if each individual is rather intended to be an expression of Something greater, and his identification with Mankind is first of all dependent on his relation to that Something, then each individual must have some significance of his own. Of course, I propose the latter.

Every soul possesses something unique, totally independent of the influence of other human beings. That great Something is the Image of God, bestowed on each of us (Genesis 1:26). Now, God is infinite, and He certainly did not entrust His infinity to us, so it follows that every soul has been given some different aspect of that infinite image to display. God fashions our hearts individually (Psalm 33:15), taking utmost care in the details of each one. Now, does this imply that we don't need other humans? Quite the contrary – since we each bear the image of God in a way that no one else can, it is our duty first to know and love Him, then to share His image with Mankind. And we can learn much from others who bear God's image in a way that we do not. It is only when our identity is not dependent on our relationships that we will truly find value in them.

Applied Thinking

Thinking has become a lost art.  In times past, there were people -- great scientists, composers, theologians, politicians -- who, it seems, spent their entire lives thinking, and today we enjoy the benefits of their minds' labors.  But in these times, to sit down in some quiet place and apply one's mind to a particular subject for even several minutes is excruciatingly difficult.  What has changed?

Is our generation (save a select few) just less capable of great thoughts than the men of old?  I say no, at least not by nature -- the greatest thinkers of years past only used a tiny percentage of their brains' capacity, and even if the human race has deteriorated in the last few hundred years, our brains still have capacity for even more than the musings of our ancestors.  Indeed, in our time, we have far more opportunities to learn and study than they had.  But on the whole, our advantages have crippled us.  In today's culture, computers, cell phones, or a few especially brainy people will think for us -- we don't have to, so we don't.  Our fast-paced lives don't give us time for it anyway.

Clearly, it will take work to rebuild a thriving mind.  But the ability to focus, understand, and think worthwhile thoughts is a reward well worth the training.  Thoughts matter, because they are the foundation of our lives.  So what can be done?  Here I pose a few suggestions, as much for myself as anyone (if you know me, you may hold me to it) -- for as the recent lack of life on my blog will testify, I myself too often succumb to apathy of the mind, a most frustrating ailment.

Start small.
Grab a colorful leaf and get to know its every detail.  Marvel at a spider's web.  Ponder the little things, for in them God has hidden great secrets.
Memorize.
A chapter of the Bible, a poem, a song . . . something you can think about all day and all night.  Know it intimately, at face value and beyond.
Read.
Take advantage of the thoughts of the great thinkers, even if you're not "a reader."  Pick up the train of thought where they left off, and keep going!
Be specific.
If you don't give it an assignment, your mind will wander off into trouble like a naughty child.  Choose a passion, a particular subject, and study it.
Take time.
Just do it -- think!  Meditate on one topic, no interruptions, for more than sixty seconds.  Be alert, and take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Share.
Talk about what's on your mind, big or small.  Write about it.  You have not learned something until you can teach it.  Think to impact other lives.

And I could go on.  It's just discipline, so simple, yet so hard to do.  We get bored far too easily, when there is so much truth to be explored.  God gave you a brain -- use it!  It must be exercised to be strong.  Let us strive for applied thinking, and applied thinking -- applying our minds to worthwhile thoughts, then applying those thoughts to our daily lives.

"As nothing is more easy than to think, so nothing is more difficult than to think well."
~Thomas Traherne

Until He Comes Out

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Luke 19:10

Sitting outside, two friends waited.  Inside, another was blissfully unaware that he had been stalked for three days.  Stalked, I say, not with malicious intent, but sought out for the privilege of seeing his face and hearing his voice.  Somehow, he had unwittingly, forgetfully, evaded this meeting several times, leading his pursuers in search of him to places they would not otherwise have gone.  Now, all other possibilities exhausted, they were camped on his very doorstep, unwilling to give up this encounter they had set their minds on.  When at last he appeared, they fairly ran to meet him.  How little did he know what energy was spent on his behalf!

Outside the human heart, Jesus, the Friend of sinners, waits.  Shut inside, surrounded by the cares of life, the lost soul is unaware of His presence, perhaps choosing rather to believe that God is a stalker, only wanting to take him prisoner and rob him of the good life.  Too busy for Him, the soul has forgotten the times He has called.  But the Savior has gone to great lengths, even leaving His heavenly home to meet mankind in his own domain -- He will never give up what He has set out to redeem.  And when at last the heart is opened to Him, He will meet the one He has pursued without the slightest hesitation.  Wandering heart, though He may be a stranger to you now, He is seeking you!  Have you come out of your hiding in your self to see Him waiting there?

And, my praying friends, if our God refuses to give up on one who runs from Him, what excuse have we for doing so?  Let the ambassadors be as faithful and patient as the One who sends them!

First Meeting of Old Friends

Last Friday was a monumental day for me – after more than seven years of being pen pals, I met one of my dearest friends face to face.  Though I'd never before been able to share with her the simplest things like a hug or a meal, our relationship had grown deep and solid through written words and phone calls across three time zones.  There was no need to get acquainted once we were actually together – we're old friends.

It seems to me that our relationship with Jesus may be something like this.  We’ve read His Word.  We’ve seen His artistry.  We’ve heard His voice.  And someday soon, we’ll see His face.  And when we do, we’ll know without a doubt that this is the Person we’ve loved for all these years.  No awkward first meeting, no wondering how to respond.  It will be a reunion of old friends, picking up with a new dimension of a relationship that we’ve been building for so long already.  He’ll show us everything He’s told us about, and we’ll understand what we’ve been trying to picture.  We’ll meet more of His friends, ones we’ve heard of and ones we haven’t, and we’ll love them all.  Life with Him will seem perfectly normal, since we already know Him.

This is why we invest in our relationship with Jesus on this earth – the better we know Him here and now, the better foundation our face-to-face relationship will have.  It's hard to get excited about meeting someone unfamiliar, but think how thrilling it will be to finally meet Him if you already have a strong bond!  It takes work to build – no relationship comes without effort, especially one with someone you've never seen in person.  But the joy of meeting our Savior will be affected by the depth of the friendship we've built before that moment comes.  Will you know Him as a mere acquaintance, or will He already be your best Friend?

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him . . .

1 Peter 1:8

Sweet Sixteen

Sixteen years ago, I was riding home with my dad when he saw a garage sale.  Now, my dad can pick up some good stuff at garage sales -- he stopped at this one of course, and I stayed in the car while he hunted for a bargain.  He found one: a little-used Precious Moments Bible for a dime.  He hopped in and handed it to me, and as we drove off, I decided it was time . . . time to make Jesus my Savior, ask Him to forgive my sins.

I still have that Bible, near tatters now, and I still have my faith, no longer so simple, but richer for its years of practice.  It's been a long journey since that day, walking with Him and learning what it means to be His.  I have let Him down more times than I care to think, but He has been faithful every moment.  I have doubted, pouted, and complained, but never once have I regretted my childhood decision.  And I never will, for I know the Author of truth, my Father, my Friend, my Lover and my King!

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

 and you will be saved . . ."

Acts 16:31

Wedding Announcement

So, the secret's out -- in case you hadn't heard, I'm getting married! We've been going together for a long while, actually, though we've just had a long-distance relationship so far. He's an amazing letter writer, though, way better than I am! He's working on our home, and often sends me pictures of what it's going to be like. We're so madly in love, it's beyond words! I've been working on my wedding dress ever since we got together, and I can't wait for the big day. He's coming to get me soon! And you're all invited to the wedding, of course.

When is it, and where, and who's the lucky guy? you ask. Well, I'm not exactly sure when, but He has a date in mind. Be ready! The wedding will be at His home. All right, have you guessed by now who my Man is? It's Jesus, of course!

Seriously, we who know Jesus are His Bride -- how much do we think about that amazing, absolutely romantic concept? He is the greatest Lover the universe has ever seen! Every verse of the Bible is His love letter, every blessing is a clue from Him to what our eternal home will be like. He's building a grand place for us, and our job is just to get ready, to be as beautiful for Him as we possibly can. He's ridiculously in love with us, and He's coming soon to take us home to be His forever! His wedding invitation, indeed, His proposal, is for all -- have you said yes?

"Let us rejoice and be glad

and give Him glory, for the marriage

of the Lamb has come, and

His wife has made herself ready."

 Revelation 19:7

A Week to Live

For all our "living in the moment," the thought of the future is never far from our minds -- almost everything we do is connected in some way to being richer or happier or more comfortable tomorrow, or next week, or next year, than we are today.  But what if you knew that you would leave behind all your saving and planning by the time a week was up? Most of our endeavors would immediately become pointless, because they look beyond the next seven days.  Now, having long-term vision and goals is very much a good thing, but let us not be so busy looking ahead that we would be sorry to see our time limited.  Is the profit of your life, your treasure in heaven, building up day after day, or are you banking everything on a great "someday" that you may never see?  Make today count as if it were the last Tuesday you have to influence your world!

Overcompensation

A canoe trip is a great opportunity to study people's personalities -- I noticed a few things about mine while paddling down the Santiam and Willamette rivers last weekend.  I was in the steering position, and facilitated some impressive log dodging, I have to say, but my little ship seemed to do a fair share of zig-zagging, too.  If we drifted a bit too far to the right, I'd rudder deep, and we'd find ourselves headed left of center . . . and so on.  Granted, sometimes quick turns are necessary to save you from a nasty dunk in cold water, but swinging continually from one extreme to the other only takes more energy to cover the same distance.  It shows a lack of skill.

This observation was no surprise to me, because such action seems to be my habit in all of life.  Knowing I'm off course brings a strong reaction from me.  I head the other way, only to find that I'm still off course, just in a different direction.  Perhaps one way may be preferable for the present, but either will sooner or later have me running aground.  Only a straight and centered course, with turns where necessary, will get me to my destination most efficiently.  The best way of doing things can seem so evasive, but there is indeed a best way, God's perfect way.  It takes faithful practice and constant looking ahead to find it, but let us not just settle for floating along and wildly dodging the worst dangers!

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may

observe to do according to all the law

which Moses My servant commanded you;

do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left,

that you may prosper wherever you go.

Joshua 1:7

Act, Speak, Think, Live

Be sober-minded and joyful-hearted
And heavenly-aimed in all you do;
Don't wait for later, this moment get started
To live out God's purpose and plan for you.

Speak only truth with loving intention
Give glory to God in all you say;
Have a right reason for what you mention
When you tell others the news of the day.

With every idea and recollection
Strive for purity in all you think;
Consider the end of your mind's direction
And if you would care to see it in ink.

Be thinking wisely and speaking rightly
And acting kindly in how you live
So you may be a light shining brightly
And know the rich blessing that God can give.

Mercy

Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

Psalm 90:14

Oh, where would I be without God's mercy?  Every single time I fail, He is still there to pick me up.  Even when my many sins weigh me down and hold me back from approaching Him, He has covered the cost and forgotten them all.  He is passionately in love with me, even when I forget Him.  He reaches out to me and says, "You don't have to do anything -- I love you, and I want you back."  His infinite mercy for His beloved is such a relief for a broken, failing soul.  Here is joy, that He never fails to forgive!

Rise!

My grandma died yesterday, after a three-year battle with bone cancer.  When I heard the news, I didn't cry; I hugged my dad, then I went to the piano and played "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin:

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say, "It is well"
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise
When He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise
On eagle's wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When the darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise . . .

And I hear the voice of many angels sing
"Worthy is the Lamb!"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart
"Worthy is the Lamb!"

I will rise . . .
Rise!

What a glorious thing to look forward to: rising out of the bondage of this dim and dying world to find oneself at the feet of the Savior!  At last, my grandma is there rejoicing, done forever with suffering and worry.  I haven't cried yet, and though I'm sure I will, I still celebrate a soul's entry into our great hope.  Praise God!

Still Fighting

A night and a day on the battlefield hot
Two young men-at-arms had valiantly fought.
Side by side their swords clashed
Against a foe not undone
Countless times they had dashed –
Yet still had not won.

Said one to the other, “I fear we are lost!

For to win such a battle is too great a cost.
We’ve fought far and wide,
And to what end, pray tell?
If we never had tried
We’d have done just as well.”

To conquer this foe looked hopeless to him,

But for his companion things seemed not so grim.
“Say not so, my dear friend!"

He said with a cry.

“If we stand ‘til the end

We shall win by and by.

“For what is a warrior without a true fight?
And what good is living, if not for the right?
Though all now seems dark
And the battle is long,
Our swords oft reach their mark
And we’re still going strong.

“Your battle shall end the moment you quit

If for such a fight you deem you’re unfit.
So come now, my friend,
And give it your best!
The right first defend,
And then we may rest.”

So he drew his companion back into the fray,

And as he foretold, they conquered that day.
Said the first, “Now I see
That in this you were right.
Though a battle there be,
Thank God I still fight!”

Opportunity

I faced an unforeseen challenge a couple weeks ago -- a little thing that could have been a big discouragement at the time, but turned out to show God's ability to get things done just fine in spite of "inconveniences." When I brought her the news, a friend told me she was glad this problem had happened to me of all people, because "you won't worry about it." "No, it's just an opportunity for God to do something great," I said.

That got me thinking: do I really have a reputation for not worrying? I want to be known as someone who sees every challenge, great or small, as an opportunity for God to act. I can trust Him with little things, a day, a week, but I want to be just as steady in big things, a month, a year, a life. For is not God the Author who never needs a rewrite? The twists and turns He writes are the setup for a perfect payoff -- maybe a few pages away, but it's there!

Since you cannot do this very little thing,

why do you worry about the rest?

Luke 12:26

How to Make Something Happen

Lack of discipline (i.e. laziness) is the plague of my life.  Unfinished projects haunt my steps, untended piles grow to formidable heaps of rubble, and unconquered habits wear into weary ruts.  Once things go on for like this for a while, it's easy to start thinking, It's gone this long, so what's another day . . . or week . . . ?  And before you know it, it's been a year . . . or two . . .

A few months ago, a friend shared something very profound with me: "If you do something, it will happen!"  What a novel concept.  Really, the cure for most of our ills is so simple we overlook it.  Surely it can't be that easy!  But it is.  If any long-neglected thing is ever going to happen, it just requires some concentrated effort in that direction.

I say concentrated effort -- not shuffling things around halfheartedly for five minutes, but actually doing, finishing.  Profitable action requires a vision for the end result, a goal, a plan . . . but ultimately, it still comes right down to simply doing it.  So take some hearty action, and see what happens!

He who knows the good he ought to do

and doesn't do it, sins.

James 4:17

God of the Unseen

Yesterday, I was blessed to be part of a successful excursion to the Valley of the Giants, and had a beautiful day of enjoying God's creation and fellowship with His people.  High in the hills, we rested, explored, had conversations and contests, and took pleasure in simple things.  Being in such a place, nearly untouched by man's "improvements", one can see clearly how much care God puts into His works, and praise Him for them.  And just to get to this little haven, we drove through miles of forest that is surely as lovely, yet likely has never been explored by man, at least in this generation.  But still the river washes faithfully over smooth rocks, flowers bloom and trees stand strong, and birds sing, even if humans don't observe it.

If God made this earth for our enjoyment, what is the point of all the things that come and go on it without ever once being seen by man?  Is it all just filler?  I wouldn't say so.  God made this world with our pleasure in mind, yes, but even more than that, He made it for His own pleasure.  He enjoys the beauty of it even more than we do, because it's all of His making.  Creation, corrupted though it now is, is more faithful to declare Him than we often are.  The things unknown to us sing His praise, whether anyone else sees it or not.

What an example for us humans, who are so dependent on the affirmation of our fellows that we will hardly lift a finger to do a task that no one will give us credit for.  Can we learn be content to praise God just for the joy of it, just because it's what we were made to do?  If by sharing our praise with others we can fulfill our purpose, let us do so, but let us not be discontent to bless the Lord where only He will see -- it's all for Him anyway!  His pleasure is the ultimate reward.

The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1

Perfect Love

God, give me perfect love.  Rid me of selfish fear and prideful anger.  Fill me with Your heart for others.  Give me strength to sacrifice myself for others as You did for me.  Grant me love that is not rude and self-seeking,  impatient and envious.  Change my heart to an image of Yours.  Amen!

Driving Lessons

As I've been tending a family's home this past week or so, I have also been given the generous, and risky, opportunity of driving their car, which happens to be a stick shift.  Now, I've driven stick shift a few times before, so I know how it goes.  Over the past several days, with the exception of a few interesting occurrences of sitting helplessly at intersections for five minutes, I have greatly improved my skills -- though I can't say the car hasn't lost some rubber on the tires and gained some cracks in the bumper.  But though I seem to have mastered the art of going forward comfortably, backing up is still quite another story.  In fact, having got the car safely parked, I've gone back to my friendly automatic for the time being, lest I inflict further damage on my friends' poor old rig!

Learning to drive a stick shift is first of all a wonderful lesson in patience.  So I've killed it five times?  Give it yet another try, and another, and another . . .  But when one more try has turned into two dozen more tries and I'm still only inching along in the wrong direction, in comes the next lesson: I need help!  I really can't do this on my own after all.  Somebody who's been there done that and fully conquered it needs to step in to my rescue.  I'm very thankful for the kind lady who did just that for me the other day -- God routinely uses His people to answer desperate prayers!

In every monumental thing we set out to learn in life, there will be moments of "I got this!" as well as many more moments of "I'm totally stuck!"  If we're going to get anywhere, we have to keep trying until we do get it.  Often God provides the ability to get through without outside aid, but when there comes a time that we simply can't get it on our own, a mile in the passenger seat and a little pointer from someone skilled may be just what we need to get us on the road again.  So if you're stuck, put on the brake and call for help before you get in a big scrape.  And when you've finally got it down, look for somebody who doesn't yet and lend a hand!

Without counsel, plans go awry,

But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

Proverbs 15:22

Of Salamanders and Friendships

As we hiked along a woodland creek last weekend, my young friend found a salamander, and like many children her age, she planned to take it home as a pet. She carried it lovingly down the trails, asking me what salamanders eat, noting that the creature liked water, and voicing ideas of a big tub to keep it in. But when I told her she would have to let it go, she couldn't bear the thought of parting with her new friend. I tried to explain: the salamander would likely die in captivity, and if she really cared for it, she wouldn't want it to be unhappy just so she could enjoy it. It was not made to live in a tub -- it was made for the creek, right there in the woods. At last she was convinced, though she held off the parting as long as possible before bidding the salamander a fond farewell.

"That's how it is with all friends," I told her. "If you're not made to live in the same place, you enjoy each other for a while, then you go and live where you were made to live." A lesson for us all, I thought. Aren't we so often like this in our friendships? People make us happy, and we want to keep them, caged up, if need be, for ourselves. We possess our friends. We get hurt if their lives don't run parallel to ours. But it's only because we love them so much, isn't it? No, in reality, it's pure selfishness. We have no right to own another's life. It is unfair and confining to the others and only a burden on ourselves to try to keep them for our own benefit.

Yes, some of us are made to live in the same places. But only the Maker can decide where each of His creatures will call home, thus, only He can decide who our fellow creatures will be. The parameter of where we were "made to live" includes not only the corner of earth we call home, but what makes it home to us -- the things we're passionate about, the things that feed our souls, the specific work God has given us to do. If a friend, dear as that friend may be, cannot share all this, we should not try to force a fish to fly or a bird to swim, so to speak. Granted, some do. And what a blessing such friends are! But let us not have too much sorrow over those who truly are made for a different place in life than the one designed for us. We may enjoy each other when we meet, then go in freedom to fulfill our purpose where we each were made to live until the day that all our true friends -- our family in Christ -- will share one great Home.

But now God has set the members, each one

of them, in the Body just as He pleased.

And if they were all one member,

where would the Body be?

1 Corinthians 12:18-19

The Hardest Little Word

"No" is such a negative word.  It is the denial of desire, the declaration that something doesn't measure up, the rejection of plans and ideas.  It's a slap in the face, a door slamming, a "Closed" sign.  It confines, constricts, controls, and condemns.  Never did two letters smash lives more quickly.

Hearing "No" requires some tough constitution, and saying it takes even more.  You must brace yourself for the word, and when it comes, what then?  "No" is isolating, and leaves you to take the next uncertain step alone.  It is dangerous to say -- for to deny a loved one is great pain, or there may come a risk of finding cruel pleasure in the duty.

On the other hand, "No" does have its beautiful place. It is the release from fear, the freedom to move on. It's a reassuring touch, a "One Way" sign. It protects, propels, and projects. Never did two letters bring such relief -- for a "No" here must mean a "Yes" elsewhere . . . or perhaps just later.

God, the perfect Father, often tells His children "No" -- always for our protection, and always so He can say "Yes" to something better.  "No" shreds our beloved rough draft and sets up a fresh blank page, which may indeed be daunting.  But it is good.  Amongst ourselves, as bearers of God's image, we must unflinchingly say "No" to evil, and often even to perceived good, so that we may be free to say "Yes" to the best.  For the best is coming -- our Father has planned it, and He has promised!

"The grace of God . . . teaches us to say "No"

to ungodliness . . . while we wait for the blessed

hope, the glorious appearing of our great

God and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Titus 2:11-13

The Adventure

This past weekend, I and six others had an adventure we will never forget, nor, I suppose, will anyone else who heard of it! It all began with an afternoon drive on the logging roads in the hills of western Polk county. Our plan was to go to Valley of the Giants for a hike, and return by evening. But when, after searching in vain for the locked gate our directions described, we suddenly came out at a paved road, our suspicions that we weren't going to find our destination were confirmed. The battered sign we found here informed us that we had come out on the other side of the coastal range, and were a mere 12 miles from Drift Creek Camp . . . and the Narrows trail.

Change of plans -- this was even better! We traveled the familiar road in merry wonder, and after informing our families of our unexpected new location, headed up the rigorous trail. An hour later, we were standing at the top, looking over the wooded hills at the line of ocean beyond. All seemed perfect -- I couldn't have asked for more. But little did we know that the adventure had just begun!

On the way back, somehow -- blame our haste, overconfidence, spring foliage rather than summer as we've formerly known it -- we got lost. Since we couldn't find the trail, we decided to make for the creek until darkness fell. We had a cell phone and were able to tell those back home that we were all right, but it was clear that we would be spending the night in the forest. We found a sheltered spot and built a fire, then crowded around it, praying, singing, and quoting scripture into the wee hours of the morning. I thought of how we've sent ourselves on many camps and retreats to grow in our walk with God, but God Himself took us on this one!

With the help of GPS coordinates from the cell phone, the friendly Search and Rescue team found us by mid-morning, and we were soon reunited with our families, who had also had a long night, but as we prayed, weren't too worried about us. It never rained on us . . . until the moment we left our little camp. We had so much to be thankful for, both in the woods and back at home -- God is good!

Now, no adventure is worth having if something is not gained or learned from it. I certainly gained some physical fitness and learned valuable survival skills, but I also grew in wisdom and appreciation for God's blessings . . .

1. Humility

Once again, I was reminded to watch out for pride. There was certainly no room for it as we all huddled together in the middle of the night -- there could be no blaming or striking out on our own ideas if we were all going to get out safely. We had to work together, each doing his own part to help the others. And foolishly loosing the trail was nothing to be proud of, either, even if it was what God had in mind for us. Pride is the fine line between confidence and cockiness.

2. The Value of Memorizing

The only Bible that I knew of among us was safe in my coat pocket . . . left back on the Narrows when we started getting too warm. So we had to rely on Scripture stored up in our minds. I was very thankful to have many chapters to share, and wished I had more. There is no encouragement like God's Word -- how sad it would be to be entirely without it just when you need it most!

3. The Blessing of God's Family

We knew that our families would be concerned for us, and figured that the church would be praying, but thanks to social media, just about everyone we knew found out before our return -- my mom was home taking calls all day, and I had e-mails from distant friends to answer. It was comforting to know that we had been surrounded by the prayers of hundreds of caring brothers and sisters in Christ. What a family!

4. God's Presence

As we prayed around our fire far from other human eyes, I felt God very near, and knew that even if we had vanished without a trace, He would still know exactly where we were. I didn't feel lost because He was there. Our purpose in life is to honor Him, and that is just as easily fulfilled where only He can see it. Indeed, it's often easier to do that when we're not concerned with the normal life of mankind. God always sees us, wherever we may be on this vast earth.

5. God Does More Than We Ask

A few months ago, I was longing for a Narrows hike, but of course, it was impossible then. Now, when I least expected it, God gave me what I wished for, along with extended time with Him and dear brothers and sisters out in the coastal forest. Be careful what you wish for -- God remembers! I'm so thankful that He overrides our mediocre plans for the sake of His perfect ones. Letting Him take control is truly an adventure!

On Hope

Hope is a small and unassuming word, but it holds great vision.  As humans in time, the thought of the future is never far from our minds – we are always looking ahead to what is beyond our vision, forming expectations of what may happen.  Hope is the confident expectation of good.  It is concerned with desires as yet unfulfilled, for once the object hoped for is achieved, hope disappears – no one has hope about yesterday.  If life was already perfect, we would have nothing to hope for.

But as we all know, life is not perfect, so hope remains.  It is such a simple thing, yet what a profound impact it has on our lives!  It is the root of joy, which, notably, is defined as the emotion of expected good.  Indeed, the realization that greater good is yet to come is the only way to have joy that endures through trial – evil cannot deeply distress us because we know that it will not last.  Hope is the energy of patience, giving us the ability to wait as long as necessary for the end we seek.  It is the fuel of prayer, letting us confidently come to our all-powerful Father, fully expecting Him to do good for us.  The more we hope, the more we will ask.

For the child of God, hope can never vanish entirely – we know ultimate perfection is coming, and that motivates us to continue faithfully in the present imperfection.  But even with the hope of heaven, at times when things look impossible, earthly hope may sometimes slip away from us.  With it goes our joy, patience, endurance in prayer . . . and fear creeps in instead.  Fear, the expectation of evil, is the polar opposite of hope.  Our hope will quickly dissolve into fear when it is founded on anything short of God Himself, the Author of all good.

True hope comes from knowing who God is.  It is confidence in God’s goodness, the knowledge that He will bring about the best in His perfect time.  When we face something that seems completely insurmountable, it can be tempting to give up all hope but the glimmer of eternity beyond; yet good may be found in this life – “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).”  Hope in God’s faithfulness is never unfounded, not in this life or the next!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you . . . We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. . . . But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame . . .

(Rom. 15:13, Eph. 1:18, Heb. 6:19, Rom. 8:25, 5:5, Ps. 39:7, 25:3)



Impossible

"God waits until it's impossible before He does something."  So a dear friend said to me the other day, and it wasn't the first time the word impossible had come to my mind recently.  When I run out of imagination trying to figure out how God is going to make sense of my situation, that's when it looks impossible.  I just can't seem to come up with a good ending for this chapter of my life.  But then again, I'm not the one writing it, am I?

Why does God wait until it's impossible?  It's inconvenient, it's risky, it's painful, and well, it's annoying.  But it seems we humans need the reminder that we really aren't the ones writing our stories, and we rarely notice that until we run completely out of ideas.  That's when God steps in and does things beyond our wildest dreams (Ephesians 3:20).  "I never would have thought of that!" proves to us that God knows what He's doing far better than we do.  It's when He does what only God could do that He gets the full glory He deserves.  And that's what it's all about for us!

Do you really want to see God work? Well, is it impossible for you yet?  When it is, expect an unexpected miracle!  After all, life would be rather boring if the "impossible" never happened.  But thanks to God's perfect creativity, it does, all the time.

"What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Luke 18:27

The Wind

My journey has brought me to a beautiful land -- the sand is smooth beneath my feet, a vast ocean spreads in glorious depths on my left, sheltering cliffs tower on my right, and the sun glistens on everything I see.  Its light fills the path with a feel of perfection and detailed beauty.  Yet one thing seems to mar the scene -- the wind blows terribly strong, full in my face.  Not a cold wind, but of such force that it stings my eyes and at moments hinders my sight of the grandeur before me.  It numbs my face so I must make effort to smile, and takes my breath away so I struggle to sing.  Moving forward against this powerful gale seems nearly impossible, yet I look back and see that my footprints trace a trail that moves steadily onward, just as it should.  I feel fresh energy as I push back into the wind, knowing that I am strong enough to face it, and can only get stronger as I do.  I am in some moments frustrated that my travels don't go faster, but when I take note of the present beauty, I see there is no need to hurry through it.  My goal is not so much to get to my destination, but to learn and enjoy all I can on the journey so I will have something to tell when I reach the end.  So I press on into the wind, knowing that it must eventually shift to help me along, or blow itself out altogether.

(Written October 31, 2012)

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair . . .

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:8, 17-18

Living vs. Alive

As it does every year, spring is bursting forth from stick and ground in all its delicate splendor.  Flocks and herds multiply in numbers, wild creatures present their progeny to the world, and long-forgotten living things emerge to inhabit the earth once again.  Mankind feels fresh vigor in his veins, and goes forth to join the growth around him with his own creative impulse.  Life is excitedly appearing everywhere, as if for the first time.

The stage is set for celebration, and indeed, this is the season that we celebrate life -- the Life.  We joyously commemorate a springtime day two millenia ago, a day angels cheered in triumph, trained soldiers fainted with terror, women proclaimed news that would change the world, and men's deepest sorrow was transformed to highest joy . . . the day Jesus Christ defeated death forever.  He is alive!

Looking at the glorious awakening world around us, we say that all this is alive.  But we forget that only weeks ago it was dead, and not many months from now it will all be dead again.  It is indeed living, and living magnificently, but only for a time; for every living thing on this earth is on an unstoppable march to death.  Even the grandest ancient tree will one day lose its leaves, never to bud again.  The moment it begins to exist, it begins to have less and less life remaining -- it begins to die.

But Jesus is alive, for He will never die again.  He alone has passed through death and come to the other side in an immortal body.  This is why He is called the Firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18).  While we are living in this dying world, we are bound in dying bodies, but we have the promise that we, the children of God, will one day be made alive as Jesus is (1 Corinthians 15:49).  What a great hope, and as lovely as living is, how spectacular being alive will be!  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

What you sow is not made alive unless it dies . . . for this corruptible

 must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:36, 53

Where Would I Be?

There's a catchy new song on the radio these days that echoes a common thought of mine:

And where would I be without You?
I'd be packing my bags when I need to stay
I'd be chasing every breeze that blows my way
I'd be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away
It's true
That's me without You

Sometimes I wonder what I would be if my life didn't belong to God.  I could be in vet school right now, or a music major, or have a good job, a nice car, and a cute boyfriend just like any typical girl my age.  I could have had a grand life all about making myself happy here and now.  But I don't have time to waste running after things that won't last -- I'm too busy being God's servant in little "unimportant" things.  It may not look like much of a life at times, but the more I think of "the good life" I might have had, the more thankful I am for the good life I do have.  For I have peace and joy that money can't buy and fame can't earn.  Not that there's anything wrong with music skills and nice cars -- if those things would help me serve God, bring it on!  But they're too small to live for.  Suppose God hadn't chosen me?  What a complicated, hopeless existence.  But oh, joy and glory, He did!  And I wouldn't trade knowing Him for the world.

Hallelujah!

All I have is Christ!

Hallelujah!

Jesus is my life!

Love Is

Love is patient.

It's rubbing her back for an hour and wondering why your arms hurt.

It's listening quietly when he's upset.

It's asking her thought-provoking questions.

It's making sure he reads his Bible.

Love is kind.

It's writing him a letter without a special occasion.

It's actually doing what she jokingly requested.

It's buying his birthday present in advance when you see something he'll like.

It's writing her name in your best cursive and dotting the "i" with a heart.

It's making him healthy food when he's sick.

Love is humble.

It's thinking how handsome he looks in his work clothes.

It's not being hurt when she has friends closer than you.

It's imitating his quirky habits without realizing it.

It's doing the right thing even when it hurts him.

Love is selfless.

It's having his favorite songs stuck in your head.

It's deciding to be friends the first time you meet her.

It's praying for him every time you hear a siren.

It's staying up late to talk with her.

It's letting him go to do what God calls him to do.

Love is bearing burdens.

It's praying for him even when you don't know what you're praying about.

It's feeling slighted when he's been mistreated.

It's crying because she's sad and doesn't want to talk about it.

It's wishing he would have a problem just so you could help him with it.

Love is hopeful.

It's making faces at her across the room.

It's smiling when you think about her.

It's embarrassing her by constantly telling her you like her.

It's not wanting to hang up when he calls.

It's calling her up when you have a night off.

Love is enduring.

It's asking the same question every time you see her.

It's believing he can be restored even though he's made a wreck of his life.

It's still being friends even though you only talk to her twice a year.

It's forgiving her even though she does stupid stuff and breaks your heart.

Love is excruciating.

Love is exhilarating.

Love is worth it.

Love is from God.

 

(To all the dear people who have helped me learn what love is.)

Dear friends, let us love one another,

for love comes from God.

1 John 4:7

Of the Making of Books . . .

. . . there is no end!  (Ecclesiastes 12:12)  From where I sit, I have only to look up to see a shelf full of books, most of them new releases.  This Christian bookstore where I volunteer has scores of books -- books on missions, books on family, books on prayer, devotion books, kids' books, old classics, new classics, fiction of all sorts, and on and on.  And this bookstore has only about a dozen shelves.  I visited a used bookstore last week with scores of shelves and probably thousands of books.  Sadly, the vast majority of them were not worth reading.  And nearly as sad, in another way, is the fact that there is not enough time in life to read all the books that are worth reading.  With so many books in the world, and enough good ones to keep a reader busy for a lifetime, why on earth would we ever need one more?  Surely every subject has been discussed and dissected thoroughly by now, and furthermore, there is nothing new under the sun to be discussed.  (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

These verses in Ecclesiastes struck me with a sort of resigned discouragement from the notion of ever writing a book.  So what if I write -- everybody writes, about the same stuff, over and over.  But in thinking about it, I realized that these verses are merely stating the obvious, and my object ought to be to know why these statements are true, not to draw conclusions they don't intend.  Why, first of all, is there nothing new under the sun?  One reason I would suggest is that God has revealed as much truth as will ever be available to us this side of heaven -- we will never invent or discover more than He has already shown us in His Word and in nature.  Once in a great while a "new" idea may appear, but it is always only a different perspective of an age-old truth.

However, truth -- Truth Himself -- is so infinite, it is entirely possible to find fresh angles all the time.  Hence, the endless making of books.  Yes, the same old concepts may be discussed countless times, more or less skillfully, but we will never really get to the bottom of fathomless, timeless, divine truth.  Even now in our privileged time of history, with the accumulation of thousands of years of authors' labors, those countless volumes are not nearly enough to proclaim it.  That is overwhelming in quite a different way!  Adding to the praise of God's glorious truth is indeed an endless endeavor, more endless than the making of books.

And there are many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Amen.

John 21:25

The Honor Challenge

On our youth group's winter retreat this weekend, I took a challenge to go seven days without saying anything to dishonor anyone, including, for those seven days, even sarcasm and joking.  It didn't sound so hard at the time -- I'm not normally a very cynical person.  But now that I'm conciously working on honoring others, I realize how often flippant words actually slip out.  Yes, I've messed up already, so I have to start over . . . by the time I make it to a week straight, it should be a habit.  It's a habit worth forming, to honor God by honoring those made in His image.  Take the Honor Challenge!

Honor all people.

1 Peter 2:17

Selling Bag End

I read The Lord of the Rings for the first time last year, and have also enjoyed journeyings in Middle Earth by film recently. The epic tale is not a classic without reason -- it is a timeless story, full of timeless truth for whoever will draw it out.

Naturally, I identify with Frodo, the humble hobbit. Just as he comes of age in his obscure corner of the Shire, he is chosen to bear a burden to save his world from certain destruction, and for all he knows, it will cost his life. He throws himself into the quest, selling his beloved home, Bag End, and willingly facing the frightful unknown.

So what does Frodo's story have to do with me? A burden has come to me as well, one I did not ask for. The eternal destiny of souls rests in my hands, and if I accept the task, I cannot expect to return to my familiar little life. I must sell my Bag End, leave my Shire, and take the path marked out for me, one step at a time. Like Frodo, I am a small and very unlikely person with no clue what to do, but I am willing to step forward and take the burden. The far-off goal is all I know, and every step between will require courage I don't know if I have. But I have faithful Help and Hope that will not disappoint. (Romans 5:5) I don't know what lies ahead, and I can't say I'm not afraid. But I can dive in anyway, because I do know the end of the Story!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with weary feet,

Until it joins some larger way,

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

~J. R. R. Tolkien

The World of the Soul

What an astounding thing the human mind is – the exercise of reason, memory and imagination set each individual apart in an entire world of his very own. By reason, we justify our beliefs and actions; by memory, we allow the past to shape our lives; by imagination, we create the climate our souls live in. For the little worlds we shape in our minds are in a sense very real – they have existed, we have been in them, we have memories of them, and we even find ourselves beginning to reason according to the standards of them.

This is an intriguing mystery, and to the wise, a frightening one. For since we have ultimate control over the worlds we create, it is here that we find what we are really made of. My mind is my world, no one else can get into it or tell me how to run it. And here is the danger – I can rule my world exactly as I please. Anything I choose can happen in it. Nowhere else is the depravity of man more evident than in the mind. Anyone can bite his tongue and control his behavior for the sake of propriety, but his imagination is his own, subject to no earthly law. The outworkings of fear, lust, hatred, greed, and so forth are unacceptable in good society, but if we just "keep our thoughts to ourselves," no one will think any less of us. We are quite safe there.

But we forget that the worlds in our minds are in fact real. A person's soul, his real self, is perhaps often closer to reality in its own domain, the mind, than when it must work through his body. The soul is as the mind thinks (Proverbs 27:3), and it has done things in its world, even if they have not been enacted in the outer man. So we have memories, and even memories of actual happenings can be manipulated by the imagination, all to create another dimension of our soul's world. And finally, by reason, we act out in the real world the conclusions formed there.

Clearly, this world of the soul can be a dangerous thing. Better not to think at all if it will finally overflow into shameful actions! But no human can help but think – it comes with having a soul. Imagination was meant to be a gift, "the greatest gift God has given us," says Oswald Chambers, "and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him." Our soul is the part of us that can connect with God – in this life, the body does not. Imagination, then, is the vital path by which we meet with our Creator. In the worlds we create, we may meet other humans, but either we have invented them ourselves (and have no power to make them exist), or if they exist, they know nothing of the role we have given them, and cannot actually communicate with us. God, on the other hand, as Creator of our minds, can meet us personally in "our" world of the soul. He knows it completely, and will gladly step in at our invitation, sometimes without it. And when He does, there is no room for anything or anyone else.

We will have a world of the soul in our minds, and there are only two options for its management. Since “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (Romans 7:18), then the only way to avoid imagining up a dreadfully twisted world is to give the shaping of it over to the One who is only good. We try our hand at being little creators, but in the end, we can never create a world of truth – that only comes from the real Creator. Let us direct our imaginations to Him, let Him step in and fill our minds with sweet memories of His presence, and use reason based on His truth to guide our lives in the world He imagined!

Lessons From a Funeral

I haven't been to very many funerals, but I always find it interesting to hear what people say about the departed.  Of course, most of the time it makes you wish you'd known the person better and enjoyed them more while they were alive, and rightly so -- there's never enough time in this world to get to know someone as well as you want to.  Thank God we have eternity!  But I think we ought to learn from the completed lives of others and seek to live in a way that will give others something to say about us when our own lives are finished.  Will I be known for loving God above all?  Will people remember me not just as a nice person, but as a genuine friend?  How many lives will I impact for eternity?  And most importantly, how do I need to live now to build a legacy worth leaving?

The passing of a child of God should always be a glorious celebration of a race well run, and a challenge to those still running -- "Keep on, and finish well!"

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1

Better to go to the house of mourning . . . for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

Settled Plans

Commit your works to the LORD,

and your thoughts will be established.

Proverbs 16:3

 

What an encouraging verse!  Turn over what you are doing to God, and your plans, projects, and ideas will all be settled, securely arranged by Him.  If the present is in His hands, He will see to the future.  I know that's what I want!  Of course, no discussion on these lines is complete without the classic . . .

 

Delight yourself in the LORD,

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

 

Profoundly simple.  Same idea, but this takes it just a little deeper, not just to the proposed agenda in our minds, but all the way to the roots -- what we really want to see happen.  What a way to live!  No worries . . . just make God your greatest joy and do everything with Him in mind, and He will plan out your path to be exactly what you were looking for all along.

Fault Letters

Over the years, a few dear friends have requested what I term a "fault letter" -- in short, a summary of what I perceive to be their flaws.  While I consider this a great honor, it is almost certainly the most difficult writing project I have undertaken.  To begin with, the request has come from people with lives I respect (it takes character to want to know one's shortcomings, after all).  And it's always hard to view those I love with a critical attitude, even when invited.  But a true friend must hold his companions to The Standard and be willing to be held to it himself, otherwise the relationship will fall apart when a flaw that can't be ignored appears.  True love cannot be blind.

So, where to begin?  Not being in the habit of looking for the bad in people, I only tend to come up with a pathetic list of potential annoyances.  But I've come to realize that perhaps the easiest way to find weaknesses is in fact to find strengths, for our greatest strengths can become our greatest weaknesses.  Our Enemy attacks with greatest force the greatest threats to his rule.  As we have all observed, a strong leader can be too controlling, a compassionate soul can become a meddler, and so forth.  Is not all evil simply a perversion of good?

Let us all be wary of our own good points, humbly challenge others to evaluate us, and lovingly see our friends as the fallible humans they are.  This is true and profitable friendship.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Proverbs 27:5-6

Have You Ever Seen God Cry?

"Hey, God!"

That beautiful voice -- it's you!

"Gorgeous day, isn't it?"

I made it just for you.  Can we enjoy it together?

"Sure.  What's up with You these days?"

I've been working on a really big project -- did you get My message about joining Me on it?

"What message?"

You know, that letter I sent you.

"Oh, yeah, thanks for the letter!  That was nice."

Nice?  I put My heart into that.

"I've actually been working on a lot of projects, too, so I've been really busy."

You're not listening to Me.

"Sorry . . . what were You saying?"

I really want to spend time with you.

 

"Yeah, we should get together sometime."

How are you?

"I'm fine."

Are you?

"Well . . . I was kind of feeling like nobody cared . . ."

I noticed.  I really wished you would talk to Me about it.  Because I do care.

"I know."

Do you know how much I love you?

"A lot, I guess."

I want you to be with Me always.

"Someday . . . but I have a lot of urgent business right now.  Thanks for the chat, I'll talk to You later!"

I'll be here, waiting for you.

Oh, My love, if only you understood how important this is, how My heart aches to have you near Me!  If only you really knew how much I love you!  I long to share My heart with you, and have you share everything with Me.  Please, My love, won't you come to Me?

"How often I have longed . . .

but you were not willing!"

Matthew 23:37

Mission Connexion 2013

I attended Mission Connexion for the first time on Saturday, and was instantly impressed by . . . the biggest crowd I've ever been a part of!  Taking part in worship along with such a multitude was like a little taste of heaven, as well as making me feel rather small.  But aside from that, I came away from that long day with a few valuable thoughts . . .

1. Listen!

It seemed I heard this word in every session and workshop, and it became clear to me that listening well takes a lot of work.  To listen to other people without interrupting with my thoughts, my advice, my story, to listen to God without being distracted by my ideas, my interpretations, my plans -- it's hard!  I need practice to just shut up and pay close attention in order to learn from what I hear.  Along with that . . .

2. Be Humble

In one small group I was a part of, I happened to be the only one with personal experience pertaining to the subject at hand, and I ended up dominating the conversation -- a rarity for me!  I had plenty of applicable stories, illustrations, and knowledge to share, but I realized that I felt somehow above my fellows, as if my superior learning was my own doing.  That was a shocker, but a good reminder -- all of the circumstances that make up my unique experience were orchestrated by God.  I have to be careful that even bragging on Him is truly meant for His glory!

3. Joy Motivates

One of the keynote speakers shared very inspiring stories of how God used her through intense inner and outer conflict, and what struck me most about her was her radiant joy, even when speaking of her crushing loss.  In a conversation later, I was reminded that ultimately, our motive for everything we do is that we believe it will bring us joy, either now or in the future.  Even Jesus had this motive (Hebrews 12:2).  The Christian life may be difficult, missions may cost us everything, but the joy to come will be worth it all!

I wasn't expecting to come away with these thoughts -- in fact, I hadn't predetermined what I wanted to learn at all.  (It sounds silly, and maybe I'm the only one, but I do it sometimes.)  I think that when we're willing to learn whatever God has to teach us, we pay more attention to His little reminders.  I'm listening!

Missing Out

Back to the subject of beauty, I am a committed lover of the sort found in forests, particularly coastal mountain forests (think Drift Creek Camp).  I've been pining for a good solo "Narrows" hike, or something along those lines. But being denied such luxury, I've found myself . . . discontent.  I tell myself I have every right to wish for it, I never get good alone time with God, etc.  But I think that while my mind was up in the hills where I wasn't, I missed out on the beauty close to home (remember that transformational frost?).

Perhaps "good alone time with God" doesn't just go with the territory of a glorious location, for all its benefits.  To put myself there would not guarantee thrilling fellowship, and I know full well my true desire can be perfectly met in the barnyard, or a dilapidated car, for that matter.  I limit God by equating Him with my greatest experiences of Him.  Yes, I do believe in holy ground, and yes, God speaks through His creation in unique and magnificent ways, but it is only one of the ways that He speaks.  He is not confined to any place, thank God!  And He is greater than the very best that I know of Him.  To expect Him to meet even my loftiest standard is missing out!

Beautiful moments with my Creator will come again, but it is not for me to decide when and where.  If He takes me to a coastal mountain forest to be alone with Him, I'm all for that, but if not, I must look for Him to meet me in all His beauty . . . right where I am.

O God, You are more awesome

than Your holy places . . .

Blessed be God!

Psalm 68:35

I . . . But You!

I am quiet.

My soul is lonely.

I feel invisible.

I fear the bold and confident ones.

I see my selfishness.

I understand so little, perhaps nothing.

I hear voices I love, yet none seeks me.

Would I be missed?

But You, You are so patient with me.

You are never far away.

You see me better than I ever will.

You are personal and caring.

You gave Yourself for me.

You understand all perfectly.

You hear voices You love, yet none seeks You.

Oh, Father, I need You desperately!

May truth prevail!

(Written September 15, 2012)

I'm Healthy Today!

There’s been a stomach bug going around these parts lately.  I hoped I would avoid it . . . but not quite.  I was blessed with a very mild case, hardly worth mention, but it got me thinking about how thankful I am that even that little annoying pain isn’t part of my daily life.  Sickness, after all, isn’t some added thing, but the absence of health in some form.  Few of us wake up every morning and think, “Praise the Lord!  I’m healthy today!”  We’re so used to it, we don’t even notice until it is taken away, and then we complain.  But perhaps we should look at it from another angle and be thankful for the health we do have so much of.

Health, like all other good things in life, is a grace of God.  We don’t deserve it – in fact, it would serve us right if we were sick all the time, considering the flippant way we so often treat our bodies.  But day after day, most of us wake up in good health, and day after day, we take it for granted.  This goes for most of the good things in life, the graces of God that we enjoy.  How often do we thank God for the air we breathe?  Hold your breath for a couple minutes, and suddenly that invisible stuff is precious!  Sleep under the stars – right now, in January – and your house, however shabby and cluttered, will seem a most beloved shelter.  Try fasting a day or two and see how much more you appreciate being able to eat every day.  Go without water, too . . . isn’t the stuff pouring out of the faucet at your slightest effort beautiful?

The list could go on and on – stay up all night, go barefoot, live through a power outage, walk a few miles, chop a tree down or dig a hole by hand.  Not only are our needs abundantly provided for, but we have many things to make life so easy that we hardly think about what it would be like without them.  And what about people?  The response to the loss of (admittedly annoying) family members is so often, “I wish I’d appreciated them more, spent more time with them, etc.”  Only when a grace is taken from us, be it a relationship, electricity, running water, or health, do we see it for what it is.  Perhaps God sometimes temporarily withdraws a blessing to remind us that we need Him, and inspire us to give Him praise for it.  And sometimes, He may not give it back.  So let’s be thankful now for all God’s undeserved goodness so richly lavished on us!

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.

Every good and perfect gift is from above . . .

James 1:16-17

Beauty

The last few days have been clear and cold, which can provoke a number of responses.  On one hand, sub-freezing temperatures are a pain.  Pipes and hoses freeze, hence, water must be hauled for the animals, hands ache and then go numb, and people hit black ice and drive through fences.  But there's definitely a bright side -- literally.

I can't think of anything that can transform a landscape quite like a heavy frost.  Every humble dead leaf and common mud puddle suddenly becomes a shimmering work of art.  This is what I've been noticing with this cold snap, and it's glorious!  As I do chores around 8:10 a.m., I get to witness the few short minutes of "the golden hour" of sunrise, when the angle is just right to make the whole scene glow and sparkle with an unmatched radiance.  Words can't describe it, film can't do it justice, but I long to share it, because in these moments, I feel, "This is what I was made for."

This is what we were made for.  Our world was intended to reflect the beauty of its Creator, and if we look close enough, beauty is truly found everywhere in nature.  But some moments, some corners of this earth are unquestionably more beautiful than others.  They are the ones that remind us of the world we created for, and keep us seeking to know our beautiful God more and more.  Thank God for frost, icy puddles, stunning sunrises, towering trees, mountaintop views, coastal forests, upward trails, deer ferns, clear rivers . . . and the home He's preparing for us that all these are only a peek at!

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."  ~C. S. Lewis