Fat Robin

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." Romans 8:26

I saw a fat robin sitting on a fence under a tree yesterday and thought, "That's me."  

I'm looking to get comfortable between the danger on the ground and the needs in the nest.  I don't long to soar or bring home the worms. There's not enough get up and go in these wings to spread them and I can't think of a single springtime tune to trill. This fat Robin just wants to sit here and groan.

Now, as a child of God, I know I'm going to be miserable if I sit on this splintery fence too long.  God didn't give me wings to hang 10 (or is it 8?) on a rail forever. Nope. Something's got to give and it's got to be me. So, 

Note to self: 

Do you not know?                                          (What?)

     Have you not heard?                                 (Tell me!) 

The LORD is the everlasting God,                     (but . . . )

     the Creator of the ends of the earth.           (that's amazing!)      

He will not grow tired or weary,                       (even though I do)

     and His understanding no one can fathom.   (I don't understand . . .)

He gives strength to the weary                        (I'll take two -)

     and increases the power of the weak.          (Weak as water, Lord, feel                                                                         free to amp it up.)

Even youths grow tired and weary,                   (So what hope is there for

     and young men stumble and fall;                   a fat bird on a fence?)

but those who hope in the LORD                      (I want to, LORD)

     will renew their strength.                           (Hope in the LORD=strength)

They will soar on wings like eagles;                  (That's a great goal)

     they will run and not grow weary,                (Maybe soon)

     they will walk and not be faint.                   (That could happen today.)   

Isaiah 40:28-31

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

If, in the very near future, you see a fat robin walking along a fence or running down the rail and shaking our her feathers to take off - don't laugh, just ask God to help her remember Who lifts and empowers His children.

Lord God, I glory in my weakness: I'm nothing without You.  You alone are the strength and wisdom I need. May Your power rest on me as I rest in You. Fill me with Your Spirit so I can release the fence and walk, then run, then soar in Your strength.   May we free You to free us: pry our toes off the fence, build the muscles in our legs, and unfurl our rusty wings.

In the Name of Jesus Who ascended!

All - Deep - Ever

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
"Do not depend on your own understanding.
In all your ways remember Him.
Then He will make your paths smooth and straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

I enjoy seeing a project through from beginning to end, a list checked off from top to bottom. This task-orientation works for many areas of life  - running errands, cleaning house, grocery shopping, getting dockets done for work, studying to teach a lesson, painting a room - but, woe to me and you if we think we're going to arrive spiritually anytime soon. Thank goodness God doesn't view us as projects but as His own children with whom He wants relationship. Three words pop up regularly in scripture to keep us tied into God's power and strength for this never-ending  spiritual journey.   

1)  The word "ALL," a little word covering the width and breadth and circumference of life leaves no excuse for our half-hearted efforts.  For example: "All your heart;"  "All your ways;"  "All your mind;"  "All your strength" "Casting all your cares on Him," "praying about all things," "giving thanks in all things," and on and on because "all" means all.  We'll never check it "all" off our lists.  We may have trusted Him for something 20 years ago, but "all" means we trust Him with every bit of today's messes and needs.

2) The word "DEEP."  How deep is deep when God is infinite? When His love is higher than the heavens and deeper than any reachable place? Deep, deep and deeper we may go in Him, but we'll never burst through to the other side of God's Presence.  "Deep" means we can keep trusting His heart when we seem to be stuck in a forever problem.

3) And, the word "EVER."  If I lived all my life for God today and managed to know Him deeply and personally, what about tomorrow and next week?  Simply overwhelming if we picture ourselves trying to drum up that kind of determination and focus from our own power and understanding.

We may never turn it "all" over to Him, but we can add a little more to the pile,  go a little deeper in His Word and in heart-obedience,  and we can live one more day depending on Him to the end of the day.  

"But I am like a healthy olive tree.
My roots are deep in the house of God.

I trust in Your faithful love for ever and ever."

Psalm 52:8

Sunday, January 23, 2011 - Too Bright For Our Britches

     I have a confession to make, but please tell anyone you tell not to tell anyone else: I stay in my pajamas until it's time to walk through the door except on rare occasions when I've been caught running to the mailbox still in my p.j.'s. (Hey! the mail carrier shows up early in my neck of the woods.) My mornings seem to be one long train of thought and if I hop off the train, it leaves the station until the next morning. However, when it's time to be seen, I go through the customary primping and preening as I try to cover all the bases and flaws revealed in my artificially lighted bathroom. I've learned not to give the final thumbs up until I look at my reflection in the full, natural light of my car's rearview mirror. 

     We do a lot to make ourselves look better on the outside for other people but in the stark light of God's Love and Grace, all the cracks in our jars of clay come to light. Those cracks provide openings for God's glory and light to shine out of us but we don't want to accept our humanity as part of His plan. We try to cover the cracks because we're afraid if we let Him shine too brightly one day, we may not feel so shiny the next. We shudder to think people will label us "hypocrites" so to keep them from expecting too much or watching us too closely, we choose to maintain the same, non-attention-getting mediocre wattage by either dimming the Light or flipping on artificial light as needed.

     Scripture clearly states that God's Light shining through us is the natural outcome of Him making His Light shine in our hearts: 

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts

to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay 

to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Hiding His Light makes us hypocrites. We can't produce the Light and we're not to hide the Light He placed in us. We're miserable and we become miserable witnesses when we attempt to diminish or brighten Christ within us. Looking openly and fully into the Face of Jesus means we lose control over His shining with ever-increasing glory through our humanity as we become more like Him (2 Cor. 3:18). Our spiritual goal is to look constantly to the Lord so we become too bright for our britches as the Treasure we hold pours out through the cracks in our jars of clay. It's a Spirit-to-soul transformation no other light can imitate or radiate.  

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory,

are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, 

which comes from the Lord, 

who is  the Spirit." 

2 Corinthians 3:18

"But He said to me, 

'My grace is sufficient for you, 

for My power is made perfect in weakness.' 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 

so that Christ's power may rest on me." 

2 Corinthians 12:9

"Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be terrified because of them, 

for the LORD your God goes with you; 

He will never leave you nor forsake you." 

Deuteronomy 31:6

Lord, forgive us when we try to tone down or add to Your Light. Teach us to do as the hymn says and turn our eyes to You so everything else dims. You are soul-transforming, Glory-infusing God. Give us strength and courage to let Your Grace be sufficient for our weaknesses. We'd rather You remove or at least hide our flaws, but then we'd start polishing and buffing ourselves instead of looking into Your beautiful Face. Show us how to throw back the veil and open ourselves completely to Your Light. 

In the Name of Jesus, our Shining Transforming Treasure!  

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Inspired by My Utmost for His Highest and Jesus Calling
Photo taken by Robin Noland in 

Thursday, November 11, 2010 Power surge

     Today is Veteran's Day - a day to thank the millions who fought in the past and those who presently sacrifice their "normally scheduled lives" to protect us. I need to stop and realize the magnitude and responsibility their gift lays on my shoulders. Overwhelming, isn't it?
     Today is also a day to take stock of what God has provided and continues to provide for us. The "Jesus Calling" entry focuses on the quality and quantity of His Power. He has all we need of exactly what we need when we need it. Have you ever had a steroid shot that boosted you through an infection or other illness? Ahhhh - those wonderful shots make me feel human again but stingy doctors limit how many they'll give, using some flimsy excuse about how much the human body can safely handle. God also knows how much we need and can handle each day. He prescribes the exact amount of the right strength of His incomparably great power as often as we'll call on Him. There's no fine print, expiration date, limit, condition or rain check on His never-ending supply of earth-making, earth-shaking power. He has more than the history of humans combined could tap. Paul prayed  the Ephesians would be enlightened - that they would experience an eye-popping understanding of the power God wants to infuse into our souls because we're constantly guilty of underestimating what our God can and wants to do through us. 


All-powerful God, open our eyes and our souls to Your incomparably great power. We believe and we want to see what You can do through us. We look to You and Your strength for everything we need today. Your Power will never run dry or black out. Surge through us all of Your Power we can handle without bursting the seams of these tents. Show us You put us on earth at such a time as this for more than mere survival. We want every bit of the glorious inheritance You have for us. Shine, Jesus, shine - through us. Give us the buzz of a lifetime today!


"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, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength. . . " Ephesians 1:18-19


"Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always." Psalm 105:4


"The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days." Deuteronomy 33:25