Saturday, December 11, 2010 -"Hark! An Angel This Way Cometh!"

     The Christmas I learned to trust God with details about a pageant stands out as a true "step up" in my faith path. We were serving at Central Baptist Church in Springhill, LA, when Tom asked me to put together an angel choir to sign "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." We needed seven other "angels" who would be willing to learn the sign language, wear a costume, stand in bright lights and smile angelically about the whole thing. 
     Before this particular Christmas, I had used mostly logic to decide these things and then, after sealing the deal, I prayed "God bless us" or "God help us," depending on how I felt about the end result. However, I was studying Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God at the same time we were preparing for this Christmas Pageant and I decided to practice the truths God was highlighting for me in this study. I began praying, "Lord, I'm not going on an angel-hunt. Instead, I ask You to bring seven "angels" to me. Let our paths cross and open my eyes to see them when You place them in my path." I would almost laugh out loud when some ordained angel (I could almost see the halo shining) would come to me and say, "Is there anything I can do to help with the pageant? I can't sing but I'd love to help in any other way." I'm sure I almost scared them off with the tears in my eyes and the smile I could barely keep from spreading past the front of my face. 
     I was teaching school at the time and one day I asked an interpreter who accompanied a hearing-impaired student to go over the signs for "Hark" with me. We just "happened" to be in the teacher's lounge at the same time when Sherry, the young, vibrant P.E. teacher who was a member at Central bounced into the teacher's lounge and saw us. Sherry said, "Cool, I've always wanted to learn sign language!" and jumped in to sign along with us. When we finished, the light came on in my dull head, "Sherry, would you like to be a signing angel for the Christmas pageant at church this year?" This time hers were the eyes suddenly wet with tears as she said, "Really? Me?"  What a blessing to feel I was doing someone a favor to invite them to serve the Lord instead of having to talk them into it with constant reassurances!  
     Not one of them said "yes" out of obligation or to please someone else that year. As I shared the story with them of how each of them came into the chorus, we rejoiced that God knows where we are and is always working in our behalves. We were part of God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven. He brought that little band of angels together and it was, for lack of a better word, "heavenly." 
Lord of Heaven and Earth, give us greater faith for the little things. Each day can be an "eye-opener" if we trust You with our hopes and plans. Break forth with shining Light into our logical habits and thoughts! Help us release these "former ways" so You can show us Your amazing attention to minute details and monumental dreams. Your ways are infinitely better and Your Light leads to more light. Bring us together to serve You with hope, joy and faith in Your Character and Will. 


In the Name of Jesus Who embodied and fulfilled God's will on earth.
    


"For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light." Psalm 36:9


"And she added, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.'" Genesis 21:1-7


"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Friday, December 10, 2010 - The Impossible Dream

     One television special I looked forward to each year at Christmas time when I was a starry eyed little girl was the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Cinderella" starring Lesley Ann Warren. I would hum my favorite tune,  "Impossible," for weeks and singing out the only words I could remember from Mr. Rodgers' lyrics, "Impossible things are happening every day!"  The fairy godmother's eyes sparkled with  secret knowledge and prophecies as Cinderella questioned the possibility of overcoming all the obstacles standing between her and her dream of going to the ball.
     Sometimes I think we'd rather have a fairy godmother with a magic wand than a God-Father with unending wisdom. It would simplify our lives if some sweet, happy soul could "bibbity-bobbity" the obstacles away and "bobbity-boo" what we want or need before us every day. The Bible says "With God, all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26)  and "Everything is possible for those who believe" (Mark 9:23). So what's the hold up? Why can't God give us the occasional break and wave a wand to make everything all better in a flash? He can, he just won't for a good reason: it's impossible to grow without the obstacles and complications life presents on a daily basis. We try to keep life from getting out of our control and Jesus says (according to Sarah Young in today's Jesus Calling): "Not only is this an impossible goal, but it is also counterproductive to spiritual growth. When your private world feels unsteady and you grip My hand for support, you are living in conscious dependence on Me." Conscious dependence on God is His goal for us, not a problem-free life. God holds our hands and hearts through the dark faith-trials and teaches us the untouchable joy of His Presence. He won't cripple us with ease or let the fruit of His Spirit rot unused on the vine.  To ask Him to do so is to dream the impossible dream.
     Father, forgive us when we long for ease instead of knowing Your Presence. Strengthen our minds to grow more determined to trust You as each new obstacle pops into view. Encourage our hearts with the joy of Your wisdom for letting us face what's around the corner.  Help us share the same dream You have for us and not work against it by insisting on ease and comfort.  We give your our mustard seeds and ask You to use them however You choose for Your Name's sake, for Your kingdom purposes. 


In the Name of Jesus who prayed, "My Father, If it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet, not as I will, but as You will.
"
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10


"even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:10


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds," James 1:2

Thursday, December 9, 2010 - Mixed Metaphors

     Does anyone else have to stop and think before comparing an experience to a mountain or a valley? On one hand, mountains are hard to climb and a mountain of anger or bad history can separate people. Sometimes we try to use our mustard seeds of faith to  move mountains of whatever stands between us and our goals, be it made of debt, a lack of discipline, or anger. We call problems and difficulties "uphill battles" and say "It's all downhill from here," meaning we've come through the hardest part. However, specific mountains in the Bible were designated as places people met and worshiped God (Mount Sinai, Mount Carmel, Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives). In many countries, people flee to the mountains for refuge during wars. God's people built Jerusalem on higher ground and thought they were invincible. When something good happens we say we're "on top of the world" and we call the peaks in our spiritual lives "mountain top" experiences.
     What about valleys?  Armies meet to war in fields on flat land but fertile valleys are also where rivers flow to provide the best place for farms and gardens. Psalm 23 associates valleys with both life and death. "Green pastures" and "quiet water" can only be found in the lowlands yet David spoke of the threat of death as a shadowy valley.
     Maybe our metaphors are confused because our God is always showing us the "up" side of what brings us down. God sees our overall growth chart rather than our circumstances. He's interested in the location of our hearts: whether they're soaring with faith in the deepest pit or buried and blind to His Presence and Purpose while surrounded by mounting evidence that He's moving and working in every direction as far as the eyes could see if they were opened. 
      Later this morning, Tom and I will head to Arkansas Children's Hospital to be with a family who has been living in the valley of the shadow of death for several weeks. Today, life support will be removed from their week old baby girl. They face a mountain of hurt and disappointment that could block out the Light of God's Presence and Love. And while faith moves mountains, does that mean that if they have enough faith Baby Lyla will live? No. It means that if they put their bruised and questioning faith in the God who holds the whole world in His hands, they will have the peace of knowing their little tiny Lyla is safely in His loving hands down here where they hold her, and "up" in heaven where God will hold her as she waits for them. 
   Father, my heart breaks for Brittany and Marcus as they wait and watch, but I wonder what Lyla is experiencing. Have You shown her Your face? Do angels entertain her? May Your will be accomplished today in the lives of these three and their family. Open their eyes to see how Your working for their good, in their behalf. May the hope that they'll see one another again sustain them. Fill their hearts with blessed assurance and peace. Guide the words and actions of those with them. We trust You know and will do what is best because You love Lyla most.


In the name of Jesus, Son of the Most High yet Son of Man!


"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4


"Those who know Your Name will trust in You, for You LORD,  have never forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:10


"Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me." John 12:26

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 - "X" Marks the Spot

     Nick asked me why it's "wrong" to write X-mas instead of Christmas. I explained that although "X" is the Greek letter for the "Ch" in Christ, most people don't think of Christ when they see an "X" and many others see the "X" as X-ing out Christ. Isn't it ironic that many people who say "X-mas" think they're omitting Christ when they're actually pointing back to His Name? It's the same with "Happy Holidays" which means "Happy Holy Days," again referring to the season we celebrate Jesus' birth. Rather than getting bent out of shape when the world uses "X-mas" or "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas," we can nod and smile in agreement and say, "Thank you for reminding me that Jesus is the Reason for the season," foiling Satan's efforts to sabotage Christmas. Ho ho ho!
     While everyone knows "X" marks the spot on a good treasure map, angels directed simple shepherds to find their Treasure in "a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12). What did these men and boys find that night? Peace: God came to them, included them, accepted them, invited them. The manger held Hope that the Presence of God would now fill their dark, lonely nights. The Joy they found sent them back to their flocks different men, enriched and enlightened. They carried the Light within, praising and glorifying God for their new-found Treasure. Because they knew how it felt to be left out in the cold and out of the loop, they left a trail for others to find the Treasure by spreading the Good News to anyone who would listen.
     What treasures have I found in the Jesus Christ I know? Acceptance just as I am; forgiveness when I fail; fulfillment for every deep longing; wisdom to live His purpose; encouragement to face the mundane and difficult parts of life with joy; love that satisfies and must be shared; understanding and intimacy no person on earth can offer. If you add your list to mine we've still only begun to touch the top layer of His riches. The mystery of Christ is that there's no bottom to the Treasure Chest for any of us non-angelic types who will come humbly and expectantly to explore and draw from His supply. 
     "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." Thank You Lord for lavishing Your riches on us when we're standing clueless and cold in the dark. Thank You that Your Treasure is deep and wide and covers every need we can conceive. We praise You! We adore You! You brought us in and You light our hearts with Hope, Peace and Joy. Thank You for breaking into our ruts and insecurities with reminders of Your Glory and Love. We treasure You and ask You to show us how best to share the Treasure we've found in You during this Holyday, X-mas season!


In the Name of Jesus, the Christ, our endless source of wisdom and knowledge!


"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19


"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 - Your Attention, Please!

     I learn something from each person God brings into my life. Some lessons are pointed and painful like the time a friend told me in love but quite forcefully that my pride was the reason I had an upset stomach and felt like falling apart every time I sang or spoke in church. Pride kept me focused on myself, how prepared I felt or didn't feel, whether or not I would remember the words, and ultimately, what people would think of me. My friend was right: I hadn't seen how my pride, in the form of worrying about myself and what others thought, had taken my attention off of glorifying God. Yuck. Tough lesson. 
     Other lessons are less direct but just as effective. During a conversation with one lady I realized I was darting my eyes around the room as she talked because she started getting closer to me and practically bouncing into my line of vision wherever I looked. It hit me that although I was standing perfectly still in front of her, I wasn't giving her my full attention. I was too busy looking around the room to see who else was there. My focus immediately centered on her and for a second she calmed down but I must have overdone it because she didn't know how to respond to all that attention and made a hasty retreat. Go figure! 
     Paul told us to stop darting our eyes around at the temporary tangible concerns of this life and "fix" our eyes on "what is unseen" and "eternal." Forget what your mother taught you in this case: it's not only acceptable to stare, it's commanded that we stare at God. We're allowed to obsess over Him. He's to preoccupy our thoughts no matter what else we're doing. We're to open the eyes of our hearts and spirits to see His eternal purposes for each temporary and menial task. He cares about the list on the fridge and the bills on the desk. He calls us to stay keenly aware of His Presence and in tune with His loving concern over every facet of our lives, from the sublime to the ridiculously mundane. Why else would He tell us to call on Him morning, noon and night and to pray about everything - "without ceasing?" 
     What would happen if we fixate on keeping Christ in view no matter what or who is standing in front of us? How would Christmas be different if we carry on every conversation and complete every act of service with an awakened sense of Him standing with us? How would our lives change if we dropped everything, especially our pride, to stop and stare at Him? What could we accomplish for the kingdom of God if we couldn't take our eyes off of Him?  He's not going to jump up and down but He does ask for our attention, our full attention, please.
   Always-Present Lord, I want to know the answers to these questions. I want to know what You can do with someone like me if I stay fixed on You and through Your churches when we put You between us and everything else. Awaken our spirits to eternal things, especially in this season of materialism. Strengthen us to keep You at the heart of every conversation and every activity. Plan each day for us. Broaden our vision to see Your purposes and to act on Your Word even when we don't see Your purpose. Mighty God, may we,Your people, obsess over You and Your will. May the world see the difference our Everywhere-God makes when we give You our full attention! 


In the Name of Jesus, the only One who lived His life completely and totally fixed on You!


"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31


"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son," Hebrews 11:17


"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 4:18

Monday, December 6, 2010 - A Long Surprise

     "Simplify" is one of my favorite words, especially during this overstuffed time of year. A shopping list and gift cards simplify shopping. Gift bags and those little cellophane tape dispensers for your wrist simplify wrapping gifts. Mrs. Smith and the Pillsbury Doughboy simplify baking and a calendar simplifies Christmas activities. If I'm not careful, I can simplify the whole experience down to a paragraph I write in my Christmas memory book. My intention isn't to smooth out the heart of Christmas but to simplify the frills so we have time to absorb the finer aspects of the amazingly complex heart of God, the Giver, and of Jesus, the Eternal Gift. 
     The Pharisees simplified their religion down to a set of complex rules that became duties and burdens. Believers today can do the same by checking off those little mental boxes of 1) attending,  2) inviting someone to church, 3) tithing, 4) studying our lessons, and 5) serving.  God, however, is keeping the receipt on these gifts to exchange them for the one He really wants: a heart filled with love for Him, "an awakened soul that thrills to the Joy of My Presence" (Sarah Young's words). "Joy" isn't a duty we can check off a list,  which frustrates the list-checkers among us who check them twice. Joy is the long surprise awaiting us when we learn to give God what He really wants.


Father, thank You that duty and obligation aren't on Your wish list. Thank You for being the God of our hearts, the Joy of our existence, the Peace we can't buy, the Pleasure of life. We're simple-minded and we often set aside or vacuum pack what our hearts can't grasp and our minds can't conceive. Lord, open our hearts and minds to receive all of You we can handle. Break into our ho-hum lives as You did for those giddy shepherds standing out in left field. Fill our hearts with the same exceedingly great joy with which You filled the magi's hearts when they saw the star. Equip us to ponder like Mary in response to the glory and majesty of Your Presence. Show us how to give You what You've asked for instead of giving You what costs us little. We want to love You with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our strength.
     In the Name of Jesus the long-awaited, much predicted, surprise of the ages!


"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5


"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men," Colossians 3:23


"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:11

Sunday, December 5, 2010 - Brush of Angels' Wings

   One of the first songs to usher me into the Presence of God was "Surely, the Presence of the Lord is in This Place," written by Lanny Wolfe in 1977, a year after I accepted Jesus as my Savior, Lord, and King and whoever else He wanted and wants to be to me. Here are the words and I hope you know the melody.
SURELY, THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE.
I CAN FEEL HIS MIGHTY POWER AND HIS GRACE.
I CAN FEEL THE BRUSH OF ANGELS' WINGS;
I SEE GLORY ON EACH FACE.
SURELY, THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE.

     In the midst of His children,
The Lord said He would be.
It doesn't take very many;
It can be just two or three
And I feel that same sweet Spirit
That I've felt oft times before
Surely, I can say I've been with the Lord
     There's a holy hush around us,
As God's glory fills this place.
I've touched the hem of His garment;
I can almost see His face
And my heart is overflowing
With the fullness of His joy.
I know without a doubt
That I've been with the Lord.

     Jacob, Old Testament chef who tricked his twin brother out of his inheritance, found the Presence of the Lord as a fugitive sleeping unsheltered in a strange land, with a stone for his pillow. He was literally between a rock and a hard place when the Lord opened the night sky with a stairway of angels to send comforting promises of His eternal Presence. 

     Unruly shepherds on a hillside experienced a similar cracking open of the night sky as angels delivered promises of God's Presence and salvation. An obedient young couple under the shadow of scandal found the Presence of God in a stable surrounded by the earthy smells of tired, sweaty donkeys. Praise God, He doesn't wait until we've Windexed our souls or sanitized our surroundings to be available to us. God's Presence is for anyone, anytime, in any situation: alone and wrong, just doing their jobs, or smack in the middle of God's world-changing will. 
Thank You, Father, for the open door to Your Presence. Thank You Jesus, for opening that door. Thank You Holy Spirit for ushering us into the Presence of God, the Almighty, the Great Three in One, whenever we ask. Teach us to stay alert to Your Presence and obedient to Your guidance, like Mary and Joseph. Break into our everyday responsibilities with Your Light and Love to remind us of Your greater purposes, as You did with the shepherds. And Lord, when we feel alone in our sin, running from problems we've caused and people we've hurt, use even our dreams to remind us You will never leave us nor forsake us and that You still have plans for us in Your kingdom work.


In the name of Jesus, who stands knocking at our hearts' doors


"In the shelter of Your Presence You hide them from the intrigues of men; in Your dwelling You keep them safe from accusing tongues." Psalm 31:20
     
"When he (Jacob) reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of god were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and He said: 'I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. i will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed by you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.'  When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.'" Genesis 28:11-16