Author: Eerig

Christmas in the Dark

Two suicides in the past week. I don’t move in large circles or have contact with hundreds of people a week. My Facebook friend list is not extensive, and I don’t have a huge Twitter following. Still in one week two people that I have a connection with have found life too unbearable to continue.  In studying psychology and counseling, we were often warned that the holidays could be some of the most difficult for those with depression.  The losses seem more poignant, loneliness is more extreme and hope harder to come by at this time of year.  Why is this? I don’t have an academic answer to offer but as someone who has clung to the edge of the black hole, let me offer some observations based on my own experience. This year I have been reminded that when the Christ child came it was very dark.

Unrealistic expectations are a huge one for me. I want the perfect family Christmas! I want all my family to be together and to be in harmony with one another.  Gifts have come to mean less and less to me over the years, but I would like to be able to give them each something meaningful. All of these expectations have about as much chance of happening as a blizzard in Georgia.  Yesterday in the sermon, the speaker was mentioning how the religious intellectuals lived so close to Bethlehem, even knew that it was the prophesied place of his birth, yet missed it. They had expectations about how their Messiah should come. It was not supposed to be in this dark, messy, downright unsanitary fashion.  I guess I need to let this Christmas come however God intends that it should.

This year especially, it seems that the world and the US, in particular, are such a mess. Terrorists, chaos, refugees, government decisions, violence, anger and fear seem rampant.  Listening to the rhetoric from so-called Christians who would rather shoot their enemies then follow Christ’s command to love them makes me heart-sick. Something as simple as finding a college for my senior for next year became this week a cause for alarm and concern. Why must we always be choosing between the lesser of two evils?  Maybe this is how Joseph felt when the oppressive occupying Roman government decreed a tax that not only made it difficult financially but required travel with his full term pregnant wife. Should he choose to defy the authorities, or travel when it might harm his wife and her child, should he choose a shed or try to make her keep going? Should he believe the strange visions he had, maybe he was delusional, over his wife’s obvious infidelity.   Then there was one that made them refugees fleeing into Egypt. It must have seemed to Joseph that there were no good choices, only hard ones.  BUT GOD, was still accomplishing His purpose to bring salvation to the world! God is still in this current world mess accomplishing that same purpose! I must believe that, or I will sink into despair.

We can become so overwhelmed this time of year with doing good things that we do not see people. If we do not take the time to stay in tune to the Spirit, we will not realize when someone is at their breaking point. We will just be, like the innkeeper, too busy.  Not an evil, vile, cruel person just preoccupied with taking care of our own business.  Anna, on the other hand, was so tuned in to the voice of God that when the poor shabby couple who looked like they had been living in a barn brought the offering of the poorest to circumcise their insignificant eight-day-old child; she knew! She was able to offer them the voice of hope to believe the unbelievable words they had been given.  It is what so many people need to hear! There is a future that God has for you, and a place that you need to fill in His plan.  You are necessary, and needed even if what you have to offer seems pitiful by all the world’s standards.

It was a dark night, in a land with an oppressive, God-less government. A baby would have to be born in a barn.  The senseless killing of innocent babies would result from the unbelief of pagan rulers.  Joseph would have to choose to make his families refugees.  God knew Christmas would come in the dark.

So He ripped open heaven and poured out the announcement with gleaming multitude of glorious beings! To Mary and Joseph’s loneliness and fear came the shepherds which at the least indicated that God still knew where they were. He affirmed the message of His purpose through Anna and Simeon when they brought Jesus to the temple in spite of their paltry gift.  He sent the shining gifts from strangers to pay the way for them to escape to Egypt. He was there breaking through into the darkness again and again.

Now we are the bearers of the light of God. Help us, Father, to let go of all our expectations, to see hurting people even while we are taking care of our business, to believe that You are still accomplishing Your salvation even in this dark world. Help us to trust You will guide us even when all our options seem hard.  Help us to keep bringing our babies to the temple even when our offering is pathetic in our eyes. Make us purveyors of hope who will grab the hands of those on the brink of despair and tell them we still need them.  God has a place for them.

This seems the carol for this year:   

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)

Till We Have Faces

I have just finished reading C.S. Lewis’s book, Till We Have Faces[i]. A troubling story, to say the least, where Lewis remakes the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche.

One of many aspects it portrays through the two sisters is the search for love. Orual representing the earthly grasping, at best jealous, selfish love of humanity apart from God, and Psyche the search for Divine love, which requires the giving over of one’s self in utter abandonment. The title is reported to have been taken from the scripture in 1 Corinthian 13:12, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

The difficulty is in seeing yourself clearly and in exposing that self as ugly as “Ungit” in the story. Orual attempted to write her story giving her complaint, even accusation, toward the gods. Similarly, I have often “written” myself out on the page as much to see my thoughts and motives in black and white, as to share any newly acquired insight.

“When the time comes to you at which you will be forced at last to utter the speech which has lain at the center of your soul for years, which you have, all that time, idiot like, been saying over and over, you’ll not talk about joy of words. I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer. Till that word be dug out of us why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face until we have faces?”

I felt arrested by this statement. I know the complaint that I have so often rehearsed; my very own personal Job’s accusation that God had somehow been unfair! The reality hit me that it was not until I had written it into a story literally, uttered the speech which had lain at the center of my soul for years, which I had, all that time, idiot like, been saying over and over” that I saw the truth of it for the first time. It was “dug out” of me! Orual says it well,

“The change which the writing wrought in me (and of which I did not write) was only a beginning; only to prepare me for the gods’ surgery. They used my own pen to probe my wound. ”

It is hard to accept that the love that you think you have- may be jealous, manipulative, even at times, cruel. The hardest reality is that it may also become a barrier to someone else’s pursuit of God. As Lewis says,

“For mortals, as you said, will become more and more jealous. And mother, and wife, and child and friend will all be in league to keep a soul from being united with the Divine Nature.”

Seeing oneself as truly exposed before God, does away instantly with any thought of demanding from God justice for the supposed wrongs or slights we would accuse Him of allowing. Orual ask the question,

“Are the gods not just?” Her teacher the Fox replies, “Oh no, child. What would become of us if they were?”

It is no slight coincidence to me that I have been meditating on where James says, “mercy triumphs over judgment”.

Again Micah 7:18 takes it even a step further, “You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” Mercy triumphs over judgment is not a bad refrain to get stuck in your head.

Orual ended her first book of accusation with the words, “no answer”. She ended her second book after her encounter with the Divine Nature as follows,

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away.”

[i] Lewis, C. S. Till We Have Faces. Orlando: Harcourt, 1956, 1984.

Are there any wise among you?

Are there any wise among you?

Is anyone else already fed up with the US political candidates? Please join me in a groan of despair. Some of the candidates seem to be intelligent within their particular areas of expertise, but overall are still lacking in wisdom. Perhaps their knowledge would be better used in some other field than as the leader of the nation.

C.S. Lewis states the following, “Holy wisdom is not clear and thin like water, but thick and dark like blood.”
So what is this holy wisdom? The book of James says that we can ask for it.

James 1: 5, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Later James gives a description of what this sort of wisdom does, and does not, look like.

James 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

So no matter how smart you may think you are, if you are full of bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, boastful and are “false to the truth”; you are not wise. These negative characteristics are practically the calling card for some of the current political candidates…

Holy Wisdom has pure motives                

Is peaceable                     

Gentle

Reasonable

Full of mercy and good fruits

Impartial

Sincere

Results in a harvest of righteousness

So, to the current field of candidates, “Are there any wise among you?”

Perhaps we shouldn’t expect “holy” wisdom from them.  I could agree with that statement, if so many of them were not claiming to be Bible believing Christians! That means that even if wisdom doesn’t come naturally to them, they should at least know that they can ASK God for it, RIGHT?

I know, it is not my job to cast condemnation on anyone, so now that I am at risk of being judged by the same measure that I have used, let me take a step back.

I know that personally I need to be asking God for wisdom every day that I live. So when I pray and ask God for wisdom how does He go about giving it liberally and without scolding (reproach)?

What I find fascinating in scripture is the personification even anthropomorphic (often feminine) way that wisdom is represented. Such as, the father speaking to his son in Proverbs 4:7-9.

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

But I find Proverbs 8:27-31, the most fascinating of all. Wisdom is speaking,

When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

In all my very limited understanding, the only being involved in creation was God. The Triune fellowship that is God seems to have had wisdom as the master workman. We know that Christ is represented as responsible for creation.  Colossians 1:16, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

Whether the “Wisdom” represented in Proverbs 8 is Christ or merely a personification of a facet of His nature, I think it is safe to assume they are closely related.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says, “… you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The only way for any of us to become wise is through a deeper and more profound connection to Jesus Christ who came to represent to us the wisdom of God. The result of that will be, not boasting in ourselves but boasting in the Lord.

The Way I Cannot See

When I was younger, I assumed that most people would pretty much have it all together by the time they reached my current stage in life.  Their career or ministry would be settled, and their habits and life would be proceeding in a somewhat normal, everyday fashion.  I am not sure why that never seems to be the case with us.  Perhaps God has to keep some of us off kilter throughout our lives so we will perpetually be seeking Him for direction. I am somewhat suspicious that He calls into ministry those strong-willed children that He knows He will need to keep on a tight leash. Just look at the trouble Saul/Paul was causing. Acts 8:3 “But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.” God had to call him into ministry so He could keep him from disturbing the spread of the gospel!

I guess it should be encouraging to me that Paul also sometimes struggled to discern the way God wanted him to go.

Acts 16:6, “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”

The problem was not that God was having trouble making up His mind where Paul needed to be. Rather God had to reign in Paul’s enthusiasm for where he wanted to take the gospel and get him to where God wanted him to be.

God knows the way we should go:

Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold

Psalm 1:6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous

Psalm 142:3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!

Psalm 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

I have had a song stuck in my head for days. It is The Long Defeat by Sara Groves.  The chorus, in particular, speaks to me.

We walk a while we sit and rest,
We lay it on the altar
I won’t pretend to know what’s next
But what I have I’ve offered

And I pray for a vision
And a way I cannot see
It’s too heavy to carry
And impossible to leave

And I pray for inspiration
And a way I cannot see
It’s too heavy to carry
And impossible to leave
It’s too heavy to carry
And I will never leave

Ministry/any call of God is not something we can ever leave. I know there has to be a way that I cannot see.

Like Father, Like Son

In most adult lives past 40 years of age, there comes a moment when we look in the mirror and think, “I look just like my mother/father!” Even earlier you can hear their voice coming out of your mouth with one of those comments that you were determined you would never say. There is some small consolation in realizing we will also do this to our children. How desperately different each generation wants to be, yet sooner or later we all look or sound just like our parents.

Jesus said the same thing in John 14,

7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

Also Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

In other words, if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus! He looks like Him, talks like Him, represents Him truthfully, fully, because He is one with Him.

Often young people stumble over the Old Testament picture of who God is. I believe God was working within the historical, cultural settings of that time to represent Himself to those generations in ways that would communicate with them. However now, God is communicating who He is through Christ.

Hebrews 1:1 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”

“In these last days” what God wants to say to us about Himself- He is saying through the words and works of Christ.

Christ…

Who seemed much more concerned about what went on in a person’s heart than in their religious or outward observance ( Matthew 5:20, 23:13-29)

Seemed much less interested in condemning than He was in forgiving (John 3:17 John 8:11)

Who got angry with religious people and practices that focused on self-righteousness, not God (Mark 11:17, pretty much all of Matthew chapter 23)

Had very little interest in politics or personal rights apart from paying your taxes (Matthew 5:38-48, 22:20-21,

Who loved, wept with, healed, prayed for, and died for us. (John 13:1, John 11:34-35, healings at least 31 recorded, Prayed for us-John 17, John 3:16

Do you want to know what God is like? Jesus says He looks just like His Father!

Do It Again!

I spent some time yesterday on a video call with my precious granddaughters. Sophia will soon be three; she would especially want you to know that fact and one of her favorite games right now is hide-and- seek. Yesterday she “hid” by burying her head in the sofa cushions and putting her bunny blanket over her head.  The game was even more fun when grandma (me, via my face on the cell phone) got to join in the fun and hide with her.  I think I may also have been face down in the cushions as well since that was all I could see. But I could hear the giggles and squeals when Daddy found “us”. Such a joy!

I was reminded this morning of one of my favorite G. K. Chesterton quotes. It is a bit long, but I would like to share it with you.

“The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy… Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical ENCORE.”

Since my husband has been home more recently dealing with some family issues, we have begun an evening ritual of watching the sun set. We even bought a park bench so we could sit facing west and watch the ENCORE of God each evening over the valley below our hilltop. It is amazing that no two sunsets are the same and some of the most spectacular happen when the sky is troubled with storms. Yet each evening He does it again!

I think I need to let some of this childish anticipation creep over into my spiritual life.  I find this generation to be so jaded, so sure that there is nothing new under the sun.  I want to share a wink with God and say “Do it again!” Send the movements of God I remember from my childhood! Movements of conviction and power, when people’s lives were so dramatically changed that no one seemed beyond the grip of grace.  Heal bodies and souls so that the watching world will see your glory! What could we see if we would only ask and believe?

However, I feel the rebuke in my spirit when the Creator of the universe looks down at mere mortals who think there is “nothing new under the sun”; while every evening viewing a uniquely glorious sunset. Once again the voice of God echoes from the ancient book of Job, Chapter 38

(God speaking) I will question you, and you make it known to me.

4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding…
7when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

God says even this, Himself revealed through nature, is enough or us to know Him.

Romans 1:19 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

I ask God to show Himself to those I love again. So He lets there be another sunset. ENCORE!

Watch Your Mouth!

Recently my attention has been drawn back to the ancient book of Isaiah. When Isaiah saw the Lord seated on the throne in all his power and holiness (Isaiah 6), his response was as follows:

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Why did Isaiah see his sin as focused on his lips, speech, or conversation? Perhaps it has something to do with the truth that Jesus spoke that it is from the outflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The problem I find is that if I am not spending time in the presence of a Holy God- I don’t even recognize when my speech is wrong.  I get so used to the unclean voices of the world around me that it no longer grates on my soul like fingernails on the chalkboard.

Most Christians would agree that certain things are sins. In Colossians 3, Paul gives a list of the big ones:

Col.3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

But he doesn’t stop there, he goes further into the areas that are harder in these days of social media:

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Do our post/tweets, or responses fit any of these categories?

What about when we are truly attempting to cope with a difficult situation? Can’t we just be honest about our concerns?

Yes, in the right place, at the right time. We know Job said a lot of things to God that seem pretty confrontational. Yet God specifically said to Job’s friends, “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” Through all the loss he experienced God says, 1:22 “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong”. Unlike Job’s wife who did want him to “curse” God.

My point is that when Job poured out his questions and frustrations with God in front of his friends they were not drawn closer to the truth about God. They started speaking out of their understanding and spouting theories regarding God and Job.  Job did not sin…but first he had to get into the presence of God and learn to shut his mouth!

40:3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”

THEN- he was able to have a clear enough picture of who God is to pray for his friends’ salvation.

8 And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Confession: I heard recently that words of mine had caused another to doubt the goodness and faithfulness of God. My indulgence in a pity party, my wanting to receive sympathy and support, my pathetic inability to wait on God to carry me through a particular storm without whining; caused me to question God in front of someone whose faith was not strong enough to handle my crisis of faith. Please God, forgive me and have mercy!

Sitting recently before God with the weight of this on my heart has been difficult because more than anything I desire for this person’s faith to be restored. That they would come to know who God truly is and not the distorted picture of Him that I and others have shown them. Please God, before I utter another word send a coal from the altar and purify my lips!

Living in the “Dog Days”

It’s hot and humid and the days are long.  The humidity hanging over the valley below our house seems perpetually replenished by the steam rising from the Chattahoochee River. The garden droops and all creatures great and small seem to wilt with the effort of movement. It is that time of year we in America call the “dog days of summer”.

Defined by factmonster.com as follows:

Dog Days is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was reckoned as extending from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun.

The problem is that in the “dog days” it takes effort to get anything accomplished other than sitting in the shade or the air con with a tall glass of sweet tea.

I thought of that when I read the first line of My Utmost for His Highest devotional today. “We are all capable of being spiritual sluggards”.

Sometimes it seems like it is all just too much effort. We don’t want to enter the spiritual struggle for souls; we really just want to go nap in the hammock. Especially if we have during times of great enthusiasm entered the fray and gotten knocked around a bit; we may be even more reluctant.  I think that is why Paul wrote this admonition to the Galatians,

Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

In the middle of the dog days of summer in can make one weary to have to keep watering the garden and pulling the weeds, but if you want a harvest, it must be done.  It is essential spiritually as well.  We need to keep on doing good to those we want to know God.  Then as if he truly understood life in the church he adds, “Especially to those of the household of faith”.  Those who we think should know better who seem to be along for the ride spiritually. Yep, especially to them we should do good. 

Not only that, but in Hebrews the writer takes it a step further. Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.”

Not only should we stir ourselves up to keep on doing the good, but we should provoke others until they do too. It is so easy to get lulled to sleep and begin floating along with the world around us. Instead, the Scripture says, get together and keep the momentum of spiritual growth alive. Go ahead and stir things up! As Proverbs 27:17 states, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” That implies a noisy operation with sparks flying.

If you or your church are experiencing the spiritual doldrums, let me make some suggestions:

Start an in-depth Bible study.

Begin a prayer meeting.

Reach out to the poor, or marginalized people groups in your community.

Then MEMORIZE Ephesians 6:10-20, because you are going to need it!  When you begin to take God’s word seriously, prayer and outreach, you had better be prepared for things to get interesting.  The enemy is never pleased when we wake up and begin to step into his territory. Various members of the body of believers will begin to come under attack, but that is not the time to go curl up and hide. It is the time to begin to stand up on the authority of God and His word. 

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

He has all we would ever need, and He is with us!

So let’s shake off the dog days, drag ourselves from the doldrums’, and quit accepting defeat by opting for the hammock instead of the conflict! Here is my prayer myself and all of you today:

Colossians 1:9 “…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

The Finger of God

I have always loved Michelangelo’s portrayal of God reaching out to touch man. The effort and determination to establish contact are depicted as coming from God toward mankind. Until recently though I had not realized how Biblical the concept is.  Yes, I know that God does not actually have fingers, but the description of His activity and characteristics represented by the imagery is very vivid to me.

God creates with His fingers:

Psalm 8:3, When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

Isaiah 48:13, My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens

He wrote the law with his finger:

Exodus 31:18, And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

That was not the only time He wrote with his finger. In Daniel 5, the fingers of a hand wrote judgment on the wall of King Belshazzar’s party. Daniel in his interpretation states, “From His presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.”

During the plagues of Egypt, while the Pharaoh would not acknowledge the activity of the God of heaven, the local magicians were only too aware of it. Exodus 8:19, “Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’”

This evidence of the overwhelming sovereignty of God was expressed again through Jesus in Luke 11:20, when His opponents were challenging His authority. “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

In other words, the Almighty Creator of the Universe, the Giver of the Law of Moses, the One who has the right and authority to set up and remove kings; was present there to exercise that same authority over the powers of evil!

So why was it so difficult for people to recognize Jesus for who He was then, and why is it so difficult now? Faith is required.

“Faith removes the veil and uncovers eternal truth. When souls are given the understanding of faith, God speaks to them through all of creation, and the universe becomes for them a living testimony which the finger of God traces before their eyes, the record of every passing moment, a sacred scripture.” Jean-Pierre de Crussade

God refuses to overwhelm our free will with the tsunami of the fullness of His divine presence and authority. Instead, He dips His finger in the water of our souls sending the ripples of His presence into our small pools of existence.

Take then, this little drop of the knowledge that you have of God and act on it. That is faith! The finger of God has reached out and touched your life even simply by your reading this blog. Now, what will you do about it?

Being Brave

Here in the U.S., today is Memorial Day. A day set aside to honor those in our military who died fighting for our country. Whatever one believes regarding the US involvement militarily around the world, one has to acknowledge that these soldiers are brave. In fact, our national anthem speaks of this country as being the “home of the brave”.

All of this emphasis has got me thinking about bravery.  What does it mean to be brave? What does it mean for “me” to be brave? Well, to be honest, I have very little life experience to refer to because I have not been brave very often.  I do have one or two experiences, but that’s not very much over 50+ years.

In one of my favorite old chick flick movies, You’ve Got Mail, Meg Ryan’s character says the following, “Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well valuable, but small. And sometimes I wonder do I do it because I like it, or because I haven’t been brave. So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn’t it be the other way around.”

Looking back in this somewhat pensive mood, I have to acknowledge in so many ways that my “small” life has also resulted from me not being brave.  I have not been brave enough to risk rejection or ridicule, brave enough to embrace change or even to seek it, brave enough to try new things or even to meet new people.

Now, I find the confines of my “rut” are comfortable for me, and the courage, bravery that it would require for me to break out of it seems monumental. In fact, if there is any personal momentum in my life at the moment it would be in retreat.  I am experiencing a tremendous desire to succumb to the solitude of my hilltop and to let the rest of the world “go to hades in a handbasket”.

Honestly, I don’t believe it is laziness.   As the old, rather militantly metaphoric, hymn, Am I a Soldier of the Cross states,

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease?

Um no. I am opposed to anyone carrying my load for me. Thank you very much, but I think I can handle it myself.

It is more that I have never enjoyed the rush others seem to find in adventure and danger.  Being brave doesn’t thrill me; it scares me to death, and I beg God not to make me do it again. Maybe I am short for a reason since I seem to have much in common with hobbits.

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.’
I should think so — in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty, disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!” [1]

Yet, I am forced to acknowledge that even as Bilbo could not be left in his hole in the ground, I cannot be left hugging my hilltop.  There doesn’t seem to be a retirement program in scripture, and the desert fathers are not accepting new members for life as a hermit. There is still much that God wants me to do, or He would already have taken me home. So I need to be brave…

Psalm 27 is David’s statement of courage in the face of his enemies.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

How could David say the following?

Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.

First he says his one desire was to dwell in the house of the Lord forever and gaze at His beauty and inquire in His temple. In other words, to live in a place of constant communion with God.

Second he determines to follow God’s command to seek Him.

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Thirdly, he recognizes his limitations and asks for instructions.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path

Finally, he recognizes God’s timetable is best.
   
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

 For some of us, life doesn’t have to actually BE life-threatening for us to require courage to face it. Yes, I am weak…but HE is strong. I guess I have my marching orders, and I would pray along with the words of the old song,

Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

[1] Tolkien, J..R.R. The Hobbit. Houghton Mifflin, 2002.