Yes He Hears!

Ps 18 describes the magnificence of God and yet simply reminds me of His great concern for me. Action verbs such as "heard", "reached", "rescued", "drew me", "led me", or "rewarded me" fill this psalm as God is at work on my behalf. Yes, the writer describes his action as well by crying out to God, keeping His ways, etc. How reassuring to know that God's heart is for me - not against me!

Look As Far As You Can See

The story of Lot (Gen. 13) certainly demonstrates the far reaching, every loving and patient hand of God for His people. It's an example of the lengths to which God will go to protect the plans and purposes He has for His people. I can imagine God telling Lot to "look as far as you can . . " (Gen. 13:14). I wonder how many times Lot glanced at the things merely in front of him. When did he lift his eyes to see further out and away from where he was? Lot could see what what right in front of him, but God could see further out and beyond what was in plain view. The directive to "go and walk through the land" (Gen. 14:17) is a faith step that had to be taken by Lot. God chose not to transport Lot or give him visions to view while standing in the same place. God instructed Lot to take action and move. God's desire was to give Lot all the land he could "see" and fill it with descendants beyond counting.

In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus demonstrated what we can do as we walk through our land. Jesus did whatever it took to bring the Kingdom of God to people. He looked in every direction. He walked the land. The hearts and lives of people were changed as He simply brought what was truth about God to those who would listen. God still nudges His followers to open their eyes and walk where people haven't experienced the freedom and relationship found in God. What amazing possibilities there are to be discovered as His followers lift their eyes to see His work among them. May His followers be found walking in their sphere of influence having His eyes to see where He is at work.

Jesus in Everyday Life

Matthew 8 is a reminder to me of how simple Jesus wanted faith to be. He didn't need a plethora of rules or regulations to help people. He merely brought what was true about God into the world in which He was living. Jesus showed us how unencumbered living by faith really could be. Sometimes I make it much more difficult. A common factor when Jesus does touch people seems to be a willingness of the other person to participate. I see action words like "I am willing", "just say the word" or "getting up and serving". Even when encountering the demonic, Jesus simply said "go!". I'm praying for a less encumbered faith; a faith that is much more simple. I wonder if faith is much more about getting my thoughts in line with Jesus' thoughts. Along with doing what He does, I want to think like He things as well.

God's Idea of Justice

It might be that we have presupposed God's idea of justice. What comes to mind . . . lightning bolts, bad happenings, car crashes, sickness? Psalm 11 gives more clarity of God's thinking about justice (and injustice).

From the passage in Psalm 11, it is important to see that God doesn't "wink" at injustice. He sees and He will deal - in one way or another. I want to value what God values. God values His creation. As said in previous readings, He actually put humans "a little lower than the angels". He didn't put trees or water or the sun " a little lower than the angels" - He put humans. While I know we have to take care of our planet, truly I see that God's heart is for the part of His creation that can have relationship with Him. That's humans!

The world's "stuff" seems overwhelming sometimes, but within the sphere of my influence, I have the opportunity to bring God's ideas and heart. The realm of God's thinking and action, His kingdom, is where I believe justice will be done. My challenge is to retool my thinking to match His so I will see from His perspective. Therein lies the challenge for the day!

New Year - New Plan

I'm leaving a note to announce that I will be doing a yearly Bible reading plan and dropping in notes here on the blog. I will start in the morning on this blog. I've been journaling over at www.youversion.com, but several people have wanted to read what I am journaling. I'll use this blog for that purpose.

Also, I will be memorizing two scriptures a month. I'll have a new one on the 1st and 15th of each month. I'm making a commitment along with thousands of others after having been challenged by Beth Moore. Be sure to check the sidebar for the details on that opportunity.

My January 1-14, 2009 verse is Eph. 1:4 - 5 from the New Living Translation. You're welcome to ask me when you seen me what the verse is that I'm memorizing at the time. I believe by the end of the year I will have enjoyed committing more of His Word to my memory.

By the way, I'd love to know that you're taking this challenge of memorizing the Word too. I do need accountability partners!

Glimpses of the Father's Heart

Psalm 8:3-4 says "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers . . . . what is man that You take thought of him?"

take thought - (Heb) - "to mark, take note of, to burn into the memory"

A friend and I were praying one night and began to speak in prayer some of the things that our Father "takes thought of" regarding us. I thought you'd like to hear from Him today too.

Can you imagine His finger writing on your heart?

You are mine!

I love you!

I bought you with a price!

I love it when you worship me.

I love when you open your heart to Me.

I love inhabiting your praises.

I've been looking for you.

I've been waiting for you and here you are!

I knew you would come back.

Come on in to My secret place.

Let Me hold you.

Climb up into my lap and rest

I really am all you need.

I have the answers to your questions.

I have loved you with an everlasting love!

Don't be afraid.

My thoughts toward you are good.

My plans are to give you a future and a hope.

Nothing is too hard for Me.

Let Me show you the depths, heights and widths of My love.

Where You Haven't Gone Before

Romans 6:4 - "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."


Romans 7:6 - "But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter."


newness - kainotes - (kahee-not'-ace) - freshness, renewal, not simply an experience similar to the past, but a qualitative different one; having not been this way before

Each summer I watch our mulberry tree in the front yard bear new fruit. I have the joy of picking those berries and enjoying them on pancakes and in my cereal. For many years now, we've cared for that tree by pruning it and watering it. It's amazing to watch it's renewal each year!

Just as that tree brings fruit to our table each summer, so there is a process where I may have renewal or "freshness" as well. As an act of my faith, I identify with Christ in His death so that I may experience that resurrection life.

The above two passages are the only places this word "newness" is used in the Bible. It stems from the same intitial experience (salvation) but produces a qualitatively different experience from past experiences. In Christian circles, that "experience" is sometimes called "growth" or "maturity". It is more than the acquiring of more knowledge. It is literally walking by the Spirit out into places we've not yet been.

I find it interesting that many of us want to "grow" and experience the Father more, but going where we've never gone before makes us anxious. So, the tension between our desire to grow and the anxiousness of the unknown can cause us to "freeze" in our tracks. The wonderful thing about the Father, though, is that He knows where we should grow and will continually "draw" us to that growth. That "drawing" might look like a desire to be with certain people. It might look like wanting to read the Bible more. It might look like talking to the Father more than ever before.

Suddenly we find that the "pain of remianing the same is greater than the pain of change". Taking the step out into "the wide open spaces" of the Father becomes a joy. It's found that all along He was leading and creating hunger for more of Him. Our vision of Him is qualitatively larger and keener. There are new areas of Him that open to us. Courage to keep going rises because of the way He met us for the current step of growth. That is a picture of the "newness" of life in the Spirit!

Just as I know my mulberry tree has in it the potential for bearing fruit, so I know the Father has put in us the potential for growth.

It's a wonderful time to grow!

God's Kind of Heart

Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

broken - shabar (shaw-bar') - to burst, to break into small pieces where the inner parts are exposed

contrite - dakah (daw-kaw) - to pulverize to mere dust; to crush; has the picture of reducing to the consistency to talcum powder

despise - bazah (baw-zaw') - put to shame; take away esteem

Have you ever watched your kids get caught at something and there was that "moment"? You know, the "moment" when they are deciding which is the best way to go - give you that innocent "kid" smile or that "ok I'm caught, now what?" look! King David had those very choices himself when he make unwise choices, tried to hide himself and then came full circle back to the bare truth that he had sinned "against God and God alone". (Ps 51:4). While our kids may or may not understand that, I believe the sooner we all learn it, the sooner we will come to love the "wonder" of brokenness.

This study is not about the sin or the repentance. It's about the work that God does after repentance (or right along with it). True repentance brings out a God given desire to "make it right" or somehow "do" something. God doesn't necessarily want those kinds of "sacrifices". What He loves to watch, with full loving, no shame acceptance, is a broken and contrite heart.

The heart, being the place of understanding and emotion, is where God loves to work. Being broken by Him involves having large or small issues be exposed to the light of His love. Remember, He doesn't dismantle our dignity - He has placed us in His Son, Christ Jesus. But He does want every part of our being flooded with His light. He does want our depravity exposed. That's where the Holy Spirit lovingly nudges and breaks into the hidden areas exposing the need for Him. We are not meant to be left hanging there exposed though. Thus, the next step of having a "contrite" heart.

"Contrite" has to do with being the consistency of a fine powder. Have you ever seen talcum powder? You know how fine it is? Originally, it was made from a rock yet pulverized to very fine powder. That "pulverizing" is a picture of the word "contrite". Now the purpose of being contrite is not to lose our identity. The chemical makeup (DNA) of the rock was the same whether in a rock form or a fine powder form. The difference was that the powder can stand on the surface of the water. It is pliable and much more conformable as talc than as a rock. The picture of a contrite person is one that has not lost his identity (I am still a child of the living God). But, he's one that has given all his "rights" and "ownership" to the surface of the place on which he rests (or floats)! Of course, we are IN Christ Jesus! We are not our own, we are bought with a price. It's the ultimate picture of "rest"! Who I am, rests completely on the plane of who He is. When I start walking in my own understanding - I sink like a rock!

Do you have a little different picture of entering in to His rest?

Oh awesome Father,
For every reader of this study, I pray for such hunger to be broken and contrite before You. We want to know the joy of seeing Your face looking at us without one hint of shame. More than anything, I pray that each of us will experience the "wonder" of rest in You. Truly Father, in You we live and move and have our being! Because of You, I say . . . Amen!