EVER AFTER

I have two clocks--one in the master bath and one in the master bedroom--that are battery powered with moving hands and numbers on the face.  The 'old fashion' type. They both make a ticking sound to count the seconds.

As I sat in silence in my bedroom one morning, I noticed something disconcerting about these dueling clocks. One clock was, ever so slightly, just ahead of the other clock. I would hear a 'tick' followed immediately by another 'tick'. Again, again, again.  If I focused on the noise long enough, it started making me feel a bit nervous and unsettled. Something that is suppose to be rhythmic and soothing became rather disturbing! Praise be to our Creator for creating rhythm, balance, and order out of potential chaos. (Well, at least for me anyway...).


This ticking echo reminded me of God's timing. He is transcendent in time and space moving in and out freely without being confined to one place or one moment in time. He is everywhere all the time. Time does not matter to Him. He operates freely without the confines of time. He manages multidimensional time with ease!

How amazingly liberating! But, alas, this transcendent gift is not for us. Not yet. Now, time belongs only to Him. We are ruled by time. Not only our appointments, our calendars, our waking and sleeping, our eating but in life and in death. Even in one dimensional time, we find it difficult to manage. And, it is only by His providence that we receive the gift of time; He holds our every moment in His hands.

"Time and tide wait for no man." Geoffrey Chaucer

What a comforting picture that should be for us in the here and now. God is in control of all of it. He knows the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. He is everywhere and in everything.  Way too much responsibility for me! Way too much to do and to be in charge of at any given moment. Too much juggling!

Let's rest in our transcendent God. Let's rest in His divine ability to manage every detail of everything simultaneously.   What a precious gift: His Word is Truth,  He Himself is love. He knows every thought before we think it, every word before we speak it, every hair on our head. (Talk about detail oriented!) His purpose is pure. We can trust Him with every detail in our lives. We can rest, truly rest, in Him. Whew! Let us manage it wisely as it is a gift to be used for His glory. Our time is in GOOD hands!

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He CARES for YOU [emphasis mine]. 1 Peter 5:7

He saves the best for last--this gift of transcendence. For life ever after. We will be transformed, a new creation, a new beginning with a divine nature. As transcendent as He is now. We will use it for His purpose, for His glory in ways that we cannot, at this moment, begin to fathom. I want to be a part of that.....when the right time has come!

 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. 

Hebrews 6:17-20

WHO'S THAT KNOCKING AT THE DOOR? PART TWO

(In December 2013, I wrote a post entitled "Who's That Knocking at The Door?"  You may want to read that post before this one to help tie things together.)

Sweet Snuggles

Almost a year ago, my sweet snuggler of a dog developed the routine of coming to my bedroom door during my morning quiet time and asking to come in. He and I would enjoy each other's company as well as my time with God and his time being pampered.

Unfortunately, during the past few months, our morning ritual has changed a bit.  He now comes to my room VERY early,  scratching, whining and waiting to be let through the door.  If I don't open the door right away, Snuggles will wait outside continuing to whine and scratch until I do so.  Not helpful in my pursuit of prayer and quiet time with my Creator.

Why the change?  Well, we have another morning routine.  Snuggles gets one stick of dog jerky for his 'breakfast'. When?  After my quiet time, when I go downstairs to grab my cup of coffee and something to eat. Hmmmm......

Apparently, the treat has become more important than the pampering. Now, the food is the driving force behind his desire to seek me out in the morning. Satisfying his fleshly desire is more important than spending time with me feeling loved, comfortable and cared for. Hmmmm...

I recently realized how easily I can fall in that same routine. It is a trap, really.  How often do I allow my 'to do' list or the dog himself to get in the way of my quiet time?  How often do I pray for my own desires instead His desires for me?  How often do I ask for things that satisfy the flesh rather than fill the spirit?  How many times do I ignore or deny His will and press on toward my goal rather than His? How often do I just sit and listen, look and wait for Him rather than rushing ahead on impulse? How much do I ask to be blessed without giving, yielding, serving, asking what I can do for Him or just being with Him?


Fortunately, I can think outside the limits of a dog's life!  Praise Him for that saving grace!  I can  recognize what has become routine, what has become habit and move beyond it. I can make changes to improve my time with Him, my walk with Him, and my relationship with Him. If I anticipate the blessings of the flesh, I miss the most important blessing of all: being His presence!  Missing my walk in the garden with Him. Missing opportunities to serve, to help another, to worship. I focus on self rather than Him and others.

I wonder how many times I've missed something wonderful that He has waiting for me. Some blessing, some gift, some answer to a prayer I haven't even prayed yet. All because my heart and mind are not stayed on Him. The rush ahead. The anticipation of the treat. Hmmmm....

After all, it is NOT about the TREAT; it IS about the RELATIONSHIP.  That beautiful relationship of love is something we take into eternity...... Nothing is more important. Nothing. And, that is where we will receive blessing beyond measure. The treat is truly worth the wait!

CAVE DWELLER

The cave. Cool. Dark. Sheltered. Protected.

Are you a cave dweller?  I've been known to be.

I go there when I need to unplug. I go there to decompress. I go there when I don't know where else to go. When I am fearful or discouraged. I go there to meditate. I go there in times of trouble--to self medicate, to lick my wounds, take time to heal.

Even Elijah fled from those who thought wrongly of him and sought to kill him.  Even Elijah, an ordinary man yet extraordinarily used by God, was discouraged, cried out to God and hid when he felt persecuted, uncertain and afraid.

"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,  while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep." 

1 Kings 19:3-5

Even Elijah, a true man of God, took shelter in a cave.

^"The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.  There he went into a cave and spent the night." 1 Kings 19:6-8

The beauty of it is that God is in the cave. God hears our cry. He knows our heart. God understands our need to be a cave dweller sometimes.  To go somewhere cool, quiet, and safe. He knows we will run, hide and seek solace. He knows we need that time to pray, ponder and regroup. And, He is there waiting to provide.

 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  1 Kings 19:9-13

It is there in the cave that we find Him. It is there in the cave we draw close. Then He comes to refresh, restore and renew. He breathes His life back into us as we seek His face, listen for His still small voice. He reassures us of His presence, His purpose and ours in Him. Just as Elijah.

The cave serves a purpose but only for awhile. Eventually we must emerge. With Him, His mercies are new every morning; He makes ALL things new. He is a God of second chances.

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,  but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! " Luke 24:2-7

He goes before us. We emerge from the cave with a renewed sense of His grace, His strength and His mercy. We emerge with a new sense of life, vision and purpose. The world and our walk with Him look a little different.  We look a little different. Our spirit is nourished and healed. Our confidence is restored. There is understanding, surrender and peace.

The cave is there when we need it. When we need to be transformed. We will visit it as often as He guides us there. For a time. And, He is always there waiting........

DEEP AND HIDDEN THINGS

Honestly, there are times when I feel discouraged. I feel, in a sense, deaf.  I long to hear God's voice but can’t. There seems to be distance between myself and my Creator whether real or imagined. I wonder if He is there, if He is listening, what He is doing, and if and when He will answer.  My head knows the Truth but my heart doubts. Do you ever have those moments?

Yet why can't I hear Him?  I do know that God speaks to us in so many ways. Through circumstances, through people, through trials, through blessings. Mostly through His Word. I do pray for eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know the mind of Christ and the will of God. Even so, sometimes He still seems distant, quiet.  That is when I can become discouraged. Knowing yet not hearing. Searching yet not finding.

Of course, God is faithful. And, He is good. In His loving kindness, He revealed something to me through my precious family recently that brought me joy, reassurance and encouragement concerning His constant presence and desire to communicate with us in depth.

As He would have it, God often reveals things to me through my children. Very humbling and exciting!  My 14 year old son has been studying Hebrew for almost three years now.  He recently took it upon himself to do a research project on the tetragrammaton. YHVH - the 'unpronounceable name' of God.

Here is a summary of what my son shared with me: 

In Hebrew, characters not only have phonetic purpose but the characters in and of themselves have a pictographic meaning as well.
              
The letter on the far right is the yod. (Hebrew reads from right to left.) The letters all make the sound of the first letter in their name. Yod is y. Hey is h. Vav is v. Hey, is still h.

The yod and the hey together in context means; "His presence revealed." The yod in the context means "His presence" while the hey means in context; "His breath." "His presence manifested as His breath."

The vav means to join two into one. The hey means "revealed" or "manifestation." But, it denotes joining in union, like a marital joining. A Covenant revelation.....

.....so we have the yesterday in creation of Adam and Eve and the prophecy of the bride of Christ:
"His presence manifests in His breath (Us; He breathed us to life from the dust) as two join into one as one manifestation or revelation." 


As my son explained, I felt as if the doors of heaven were being opened to me so I could catch a small glimpse of His majesty. But, there was more....

In Paleo Hebrew, which works in pictograms, each letter had a meaning. Like hieroglyphs. Yod signifies a closed hand, a work or a deed done. The Hey, to the left of that, signifies the word "lo" or "behold!" The vav signifies a nail or peg, and signifies joining two things together. It denotes labor or a task.

Lo, the work and deed is done! Behold, the nails and pegs, the labor complete!”

My eyes filled with tears. God's very name is a tribute to the sacrifice of His Son. Absolutely amazing!
Not long after my son's research project, my husband was doing research on his own accord and came across this amazing truth in God's Word.  In using the pictographic translation of the Hebrew characters, in the Book of Genesis, the genealogy of Adam through Noah, the names of the firstborn sons, contain a message for us!

"Man is appointed mortal sorrow (death) but the Blessed God shall come down teaching. His death shall bring the despairing comfort, rest." 

Once again, our death sentence through sin is turned to triumph through our Savior, Jesus Christ!  Such a comfort and confirmation of His perfect plan, His omnipotence and His omnipresence contained with the Scriptures.


So, be encouraged!  His desires to communicate with us and reveal Himself to us are deep and intense. When we have the earnest desire to seek Him and know Him more, He will go to many lengths and use any method to communicate with us. He truly is  the God of details.

When we feel a lull in our walk, a time when the Lord may be quiet or we don’t sense or see Him working in our lives, remember and reflect on His multiple layers, His different ways of communicating with us, His depth, and the irrevocable proof that He exists. Reaffirm your faith in His unrelenting pursuit in revealing His majesty to us. In an intimate way. Be encouraged knowing He always speaks. Remember that we may need to change the way we listen and look in those places that seem least likely to find Him! Oh, how He loves us so…..

DAILY BREAD & LIVING WATER.... LIVE ABUNDANTLY!

(Also see the post entitled In the Garden-Cultivating Our Relationship with the Lord)

In the beginning. In the garden.

So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” 

Genesis 1:27-28

Such a beautiful picture of a Father loving and trusting His children! He created them to be as He is. He blessed them. He granted enormous privilege. Most importantly, He talked and walked with them.

Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there He placed the man He had made. The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden He placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9

She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.  At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:6-9

And, so it goes.  From that point forward, the garden stroll, the walk with God in the most perfect of gardens was off limits. The door was shut. Sin had entered in where it had no place. Where it had been forbidden. No direct access to the Creator of the Universe Whose power is beyond all comprehension. Access denied.

 And then came Jesus the Christ. The Door.  God had a backup plan! Hallelujah! Those who believe in Him will receive the gift of eternal life in circumstances far better than imagined. And, for now, those who believe can walk through that Door and, once again, walk with God in His garden. Anytime. Anywhere. Just by speaking the name of Jesus, believing, and following in His steps.

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Revelation 3:8 

This walk in the garden.... It is precious. It is a privilege that some know, few recognize and even fewer utilize. It is truly an undeserved honor bestowed upon us to walk in the garden with the Lord.

An honor and privilege bestowed upon us by the Almighty. Yet we take it for granted. Time flies, schedules fill, 'to do' lists multiply, activities accelerate. "No time for that walk in the garden today" we hear ourselves say.  Other things are more important......?

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

Without walking through that door and into His garden, we can never know Him.  Yes, we can know of Him but not truly know Him.     Without walking with Him, we won't understand our true purpose, be given access to divine wisdom and counsel, be comforted, be healed, receive peace. We will miss out on the most important things in life because we are worried about the insignificant details of our lives rather than leaving them with the One who has an answer for everything under heaven.

We call it quiet time. The daily bread and living water we MUST have each day to make this life's journey. To give, to serve, to love, to live fully. To receive His blessing. To give out His grace. To resist temptation. To live truth. To speak life into others. To live abundantly.

Quiet time. Time to be undistracted, undisturbed. Time to focus on the One Who matters most.  Time to cry out to Him with heart issues, praise and thank Him for all He does every day (the seen and the unseen), ask for forgiveness to release us from bondage, and seek guidance in the smallest of things knowing that He cares and He is into the details. You can talk to Him about absolutely ANYTHING!

Quiet time. It is also a time to enjoy being in His presence in stillness and solitude. To love and be loved. To write things down as He gives guidance through His Word, speaks to you in His still small voice, or answers a prayer through a devotion.

 Quiet time. It is truly the most important part of your day. Whether it is at the beginning, the end or some time in between. Whether it is in your favorite chair, on the back porch, or in the car. Take that time in that space to cultivate your garden. Bring an offering of sacrifice in time, praise, thanksgiving and fellowship. To grow in your relationship with Him. To know Him better. To become more like our sweet Savior. To develop and sharpen those gardening tools in your spiritual tool box.

Such a marvelous gift. What a wonderful relationship!  A small sacrifice each day after all He has done and continues to do for us!  Make time for Him. Be still and know Him. He is always waiting and wanting you to know Him more.....

Daily Bread + Living Water = Life More Abundantly in Him!

 

 

IN THE GARDEN - Cultivating Our Relationship with the Lord

A LAUNDRY LOVER

Believe it or not, I actually enjoy doing laundry. In a physical sense, I like the routine of it, the comfort of hearing the water sloshing and the dryer tumbling (especially in the fall when I can hear the football game in the background). In a spiritual sense, I feel more connected to my family, it fills me with a sense of security, and gives me a feeling of love in the purity in its purpose for me.  I even make my own laundry soap and dryer balls just to show my family how much I care!  Crazy, I know!

It is a constant in life. And, I love the smell and feel of clean clothes! There is fruit in the labor of washing and drying and demonstrating love in this way. I can see the clothing on my husband, my children, my father-in-law. Not instant gratification but almost. I take comfort in the routine, joy in the fruit, and find a sense of purpose and fulfillment in all of it.  Yes, all that from doing one simple task.  But, every once-in-a-while, something creeps in and tries to steal some of my joy.....

The dreaded tissue!  Left in someone's pocket. You just know it was used for something not so clean. Yuk! Hidden in the fabric during the wash and dry cycles only to come out tattered and torn. Of no use to anyone anymore. Scattering its little fragments all over my clean clothes! So annoying and disruptive.

I just went through this scenario yesterday. Remnants of used tissue all over one load of laundry. Oh, not again! So, I sorted, picked and plucked my way through the load to remove it.

In a way, that tissue reminded me of those little fragments of tatteredness in our lives. Those hurts, wounds and the tattered parts of our heart that have never healed. They often surface out of nowhere at the most inconvenient times. They serve no useful purpose other than to remind us of the dreaded parts of our past, convince us that we have more work to do, that we are still not doing life the right way.  We are not clean, fresh, pure. We are still tattered, torn and useless.  When we are with others, we sense our brokenness and just know we will never amount to anything. And, yes, sometimes those tattered places feel more comfortable than the wide open spaces so we retreat believing something that is not Truth.

O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. Psalm 30:2

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Our relationship with Christ should be every bit as comforting and joy-filled as a fresh, clean load of laundry. WITH NO TATTERED TISSUES!  He has done the plucking. The work is done. He has washed us clean with His blood and His Word. He gives us a new beginning. He gives us a fresh start, a new mind, and new heart. Every morning! Let Him transform you, keeping your eyes fixed on what lies ahead rather than what you've left behind....

 

In Him, we have no need of the old things. They serve no useful purpose. They just weigh us down and keep us from our usefulness for Him and others.  If anything, we should use them as a reminder of His grace, His mercy, and in motivation to help others.  Therein lies the beauty of brokenness.....

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  2 Corinthians 5:17

  ^"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation." Galatians 6:15

Fortunately for us, we are not disposable like a tissue. We are healed and given new life in Him. Claim that promise everyday!  Every time you see that tattered tissue in your own dirty laundry and start to doubt yourself or Him.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." Isaiah 65:17

Your past does not define who you are with Him. He sees you as complete, healed, and whole with Him abiding in your heart. The tattered parts have come together in the beauty of His forgiveness, His love and His grace.  You are nothing but BEAUTIFUL in His eyes!

 He has made EVERYTHING beautiful..... Yes, even YOU!