What Are You Waiting For?

There’s a lesson that The Holy Spirit keeps returning to me over this past month. Let me first confess that the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22&23) that I most have to strive for is patience. Often, if I am not moving forward I become apprehensive. My husband bought me a spa pamper session for my birthday one year and it was very thoughtful. However, as I lay there getting a facial and message, my mind was listing all the things I should be doing instead and what a waste of my time this seemed. A friend suggested we look at the study The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer for our women’s group and as we reviewed the trailer for the video series I contemplated where the root of this feeling lies. The truth for me is found in the idea that if I can check enough boxes on my to-do list then I can somehow show my worth. Ouch, that hit a mark!

Earlier this month, I got away with my youngest daughter to the restorative sands of Cocoa Beach, Florida. No agenda, no demands, just reflection and resetting my spirit. Morning walks along the shore had me marveling at the works of a mighty God. I took the time to just be with Him in prayer and scripture, and would carry a song of praise at different intervals throughout the day. Whereas for David in Psalm 23 had green pastures and quiet waters, the Lord was leading me beside crashing waves and to lie on warm sand and find “He refreshes my soul.” (verse 3 NIV) God’s nearness during this time did more for my sense of worth than any checklist could accomplish, and all I had to do was lean into Him.

I am reminded of Martha and Mary in Luke 10. “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'” (verses 38-42 NIV) My to-do list, like Martha’s, was an attempt to show I have value, but it quickly becomes a distraction. I won’t deny that as God’s hands and feet we are called to do good works, but works for work sake and not His sake are fruitless. The best thing we can do as believers is to draw near to Him and He will amplify what needs to be done.

My time of reflection at the beach has led me to seek to be more like Mary. I long to sit at His feet and just listen to what He has to tell me. To lean so closely into Him that I am covered in the folds of His robe. I suppose the better question than “What Are You Waiting For” would be “What IS Your Waiting For?” Are you being refined and renewed by a much needed pause? Is there a purpose in the waiting where He is moving things into position for your future? I often would see myself like a racehorse in the starting gate; my eagerness rattling the metal as I know any moment the doors will open. However, this month has shown me that there is a blessing in the waiting if you are still enough to see it. Do your best not to chaff against the stillness and have anticipation rob you of the jewel that is the quiet place with a Good Shepard.

Share the Glow

Recently I got to catch up with a friend who I had not seen in a while. As a Christian counselor, I knew that she carries a lot of people’s stories and how heavy that can be. She expressed how she wished she could have more people in her life who lived their faith every day because it gets so dark in her life through the week after Sunday. We need a community of believers around us to have strength through the journey of life because trying to shine the light of God by yourself can feel daunting.

It made me think of how the ancient Egyptians used mirrors to light up the dark places in palaces and tombs. They would position mirrors to shine the natural light of the sun and direct it towards areas that the source could not reach on its own. One mirror could only go so far, but a series of mirrors working together could carry that light further and reach more people. Just watch the first Brendan Fraser “Mummy” movie for an example. Although I couldn’t say it worked as well in real life as it does in the movies.

No one who calls themselves a Christian is perfect, but we are covered by a perfect Savior. That said we do not shine a light of our own making but are passing on a light that comes from Jesus Christ. We need to make sure the light we reflect is the true light and not an artificial light.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light—for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—testing what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:8-11

When people like my friend spend time reflecting the light of Jesus to others, without having it shown back to them, it can feel like the darkness is able to overtake them. However, when a brother or sister can “share the glow” of radiating that light and love, you can sense the depth of pushing through the dark places. A single star may succeed in shining a light yet cannot hope to fill the whole sky, and therefore can be missed by some. However, a million stars can be seen by many more and are harder to miss. Perhaps that is why the writer of Hebrews said “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (vs. 24-25) So let’s be dutiful in walking in our faith daily. Not only for ourselves and those we hope to reach, but also for our fellow believers who need to know they are not alone.

Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3

The Favorite Child

Anyone who has more than one child knows how they can become jealous of each other. Often I would ask my littles which of two meals they would like for dinner. Inevitably one would choose one and the other the second. I would ultimately have to make the decision and it would sometimes result in a hurt child crying, “You love them more!” (You’d think I would’ve learned sooner to stop asking.) Obviously, on my part, it was not a motivation of caring for one child more than the other, but having one’s wishes overlooked can be received as hurtful.

The Bible has many stories with this dynamic; Cain and Abel, Esua and Jacob, Joseph and his brothers. Most of the time these “favorite child” feelings are unfounded, while other times it can seem apparent. When my oldest brother passed away my mother told me, “I loved him more than I could ever love you.” That would have been shocking were it not for the fact that she showed it every day of our upbringing. However, her feelings were just that, her feelings, and I had no control one way or the other. What I could control were my own feelings. A person could react as Esua or Joseph’s brothers did, allowing bitterness to shape how they interacted with their parent’s favorite, or they can recognize that we cannot control who others attach their relationships to. These brothers of the Bible stories would later come to care and accept the brother they had fumed towards, as their old feelings of hurt subsided. This came to them under the wisdom of time. Seeing their own relationships with their parents were not contingent on the favorite, but by their own lives.

When Cain feels jealous towards his brother Abel, after he found favor with God, Cain receives a warning. “‘Why are you so angry?’ the LORD asked Cain. ‘Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.'” (Genesis 4:6-7) Let’s be clear, this wasn’t some food competition where the cloche lid reveals the meal and one person advances. God wasn’t saying that since He found favor with Abel there was no room for Cain. In fact, He tells Cain that if he were to come with right motives then he too will be accepted. However, we know that Cain does not subdue his violent thoughts, but instead destroys his brother’s life as well as his own with his actions.

Unfortunately this tendency is innate and we are often quick to jump to jealousy. While we may look at a brother or sister and pronounce them as mom or dad’s favorite, we are painting a picture that wants to label things as unequal or unfair. “They are the baby” or “he’s the perfect child” become the devices used to chisel away at their standing. We seek to put qualifiers on people so we can level the field. Instead of accepting someone as having been lifted up, we have a nature that wants to bring them down. This is sad enough when it happens within a family, how much more so when it happens in the family of God?

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:11-12

We can see many around us who become lifted up in their ministry. Whether a beloved pastor, a dynamic speaker, or a talented worship leader, there are some who receive a brighter spotlight than others. Our “Cain nature” may have us whispering behind tilted hands about who we think the person really is while seeking to bring them down a level. If you are tempted to needlessly destroy someone’s character because they have found favor, I would say to remember God’s warning. Watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. We need to celebrate our brothers and sisters who are being raised up in God’s kingdom and remember a vital truth: just because someone else has found favor in God does not mean there is less to fall on you. If you are in Christ, under His inheritance, then you are God’s favorite child.

Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:21-22

The Hands of My Father

Since my father’s passing I have not been sure what Father’s Day will hold for me as far as my experience. Although, now that I think about it, I’ve never quite been sure what to do with this “holiday.” The circumstances of my broken family meant that I spent most of my life separated from my dad. The number of days I can remember spending with him wouldn’t use up both my hands in counting. So I knew what it was like having a father somewhere out there, yet now the opportunity to reach out to him is no longer.

Today had me thinking about the last time I saw him at his memorial service. Lying in state I observed how I could see my own features in his face, and I placed my hand on his. As I did so, I thought about his hands in my life. They were the hands that steadied me on his shoulders when I was a child; too small to see the parade among the crowd. They were the hands that picked me up when I fell while playing in the back yard. They were the hands that walked me down the isle to give me away at my wedding. They were the hands that led me around his work place from office to office to show everyone his daughter. And now they were the hands I held as I said goodbye.

Many thought that my father had failed me for not fighting harder to be in my life. I know he at times even felt that himself. However, I will not fault him for trying to be a peacekeeper. He was not a perfect man, but looking through the lens of grace has revealed some truths to me about my Heavenly Father. I know that my father would do everything in his power to be there when I needed him. The times we spent together were filled with delight in his eyes to take in just the sight of me. My sister told me that after our father would speak to me on the phone he would be so filled with joy in the hours following.

I see that reflected in my Heavenly Father who would move everything in His power to be with me, and how He delights in me as His own. While dads here on earth are not perfect they can help us to see the love of God. Being Imago Dei, made in the image of God, there is a special ministry that a father has within his family. How do you show your children the love of God? Help them to see that you will always be there for them, and that you delight in them. As children of God, our worth is found in who we are in Him. A father who shows their child has great value can go a long way to reflecting the love we find in Jesus. So use those hands to hold them tight.

“My Father, who has given them [Christ’s followers] to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:29 CSB

Spiritual Mail Carriers

Oftentimes the Lord uses His people to carry His words to others. Either to someone far from Him spiritually, or who are in a circumstance where they are not open to hearing from Him directly. Perhaps it may also be that the Lord knows certain people who can get across to others with a voice that has a weight of its own. These are His spiritual mail carriers. (No brown or blue uniform required.)

Over this past month, there have been a handful of times where I felt prompted by The Spirit to deliver a message to someone. While part of me thinks I should do so immediately, I usually run these things through a test first; especially if the message is of a sensitive nature. This is to make sure I am not misleading myself as too often we feel we know what someone needs to hear and convince ourselves it is what God would want us to do. So before I relay the message I ask myself three questions.

  1. Is it backed by scripture?
  2. Does it come from a place of love? (As God ultimately is love)
  3. Is there prayerful conviction?

If it meets the criteria then I pass on the message to the intended person. It can still be an awkward interaction. Let’s be honest, “Hey, I have a message from God for you,” comes off a little crazy to most people. However, it is the times I don’t heed the prompting that I come to regret.

The most recent occasion was with a kind young woman with whom I am acquainted. Our conversation turned to the spiritual and she opened up about her own experience. She said that in her upbringing her family was wiccan and she would work through things with tarot cards. She said even now she would call out to Greek gods and hear spirits. She said that her grandmother had been Baptist and exposed her to Christianity. Yet, she voiced her frustration that when she would try to call out to the God of Christians she would get nothing. The next day, as I sat studying in my office, I recalled the conversation and felt The Spirit prompt me to deliver a message.

Salt water and fresh water cannot fill the same vessel and remain separate. Yahweh is a jealous God who does not play nice with spirits and lesser gods. When you are ready to let Him alone have sovereignty, He will be there.

“Ok Lord,” was my response in spirit. I ran it through the checklist. 1) Is it backed by scripture? “You must not have any other god but me.” Exodus 20:3 NLT, yes. 2) Does it come from a place of love? The message, while firm, was meant tenderly so, yes. 3) Is there prayerful conviction? I prayed, “Lord, do you really want me to say that to her?” The conviction came back unwavering, yes. I resolved myself to do the will of my Lord and deliver the message. I even wrote it down so I’d get it right. When I next saw the young woman I approached her in faith as I said, “I was given a message for you.” I pulled out my small piece of paper and reminded her of our previous conversation that brought us to this moment. I read the note and her eyes grew wide. “Oh wow,” she exclaimed. The message given to its intended recipient, I folded the paper and tucked it away. She was further intrigued that I had written it down. I off-handedly said, “It’s like back in the day when we would keep a notepad by the house phone so we could make sure people got their messages.”

Later, I was led in my studies to Exodus 24:4 “Then Moses carefully wrote down all the LORD’s instructions.” This reminded me of the importance of getting these things from the Lord right. Also, the importance of verifying what comes to you to convey to others so as not to fall victim to a false spirit. “And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.” (Matthew 24:11) That is why studying the Bible and being in prayer is vital for the testing of these messages to work.

Yesterday I saw this young woman again. She came up to me gingerly and said she had been thinking a lot about the message. She said she has felt a tremendous weight prompting her and she has started reading the Bible. She shared that for the first time since she was a child, and her grandmother would take her to church, she feels the draw towards God. She thanked me for my willingness to deliver the message and I returned with thanking her for her willingness to receive it as the Lord intended.

This is the call of His people! To do the will of Him who sends them out into the world.

And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:15

3 Ways to Interpret the Signs

There is a road that I travel often which has two advisory signs one after the other. The first is to let the driver know they are approaching a church. The next warns of a side street intersection and says CAUTION. As I was driving this road one day, I read the signs in succession “CHURCH…CAUTION,” and began to ponder the impact of those words.

Some may approach a church with caution. They may walk into a church with trepidation of what they will find within. Is this the kind of church where people will stare and whisper to each other, wear a smile only to turn away, or just maybe will this be the place I can fit in? They may be reluctant to reveal too much of themselves, lest they be judged. This person approaching the church with caution may be wondering if this will be where they find sanctuary, or will it be another failed attempt at finding a church home? Leaving them resigned to think, “I’m better off alone.” My prayer for them would be that no one should feel they need to heed an advisory sign when coming to church.

Another way I thought of the signs “CHURCH” proceed with “CAUTION” is the appeasement mentality that has seeped into many churches. This is where the church itself is proceeding with caution so as not to offend the masses they wish to attract. They preach a watered-down ‘come as you are with no need to feel bad because God is love’ doctrine. This is dangerous as it creates a congregation of believers who are in danger of hearing “I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!” (Matthew 7:23) Yes God is love in that He longed for a created mankind to love Him in return; a creation that rejected His love by their free will to choose to be apart from Him. God is love in that He set a path for redemption to come back into His garden through the way that is Jesus. What is not love is to enable people to bathe in their sin-nature and say they will still be found clean. Such churches should be approached with caution.

In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:28 CSB

Holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people. 2 Timothy 3:5 CSB

I then thought of the signs in yet another context when I meditated on 1 Peter 5:8-9. “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.” (CSB) Anyone who tries to deny that there is spiritual warfare is deceived. There are forces around and within us that battle between good and evil. When Jesus says in Matthew 13: 49-50, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” he makes it pretty clear. With our perceptions on the physical world, it can be secondary to consider the spiritual realm in our everyday lives. That is how we can be vulnerable to the traps of the evil one. As the body of Christ (i.e. Church), we should proceed with caution. Not only for our own spirits but for our role in God’s plan.

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5: 15-17

While I’m sure the Department of Transportation had no intention of sending me on this theological journey, it was a reminder that there are things all around us that can turn our attention to God. Remember to be alert and open to His prompting. Also, watch for signs.

The Godhead

The idea of the Trinity is a difficult concept to grasp, and therefore explain. As Christians we have a monotheistic faith in that there is one God. However, when we break it down into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it seems like a polytheistic belief. How does one express how they are one yet separate entities? Jesus tries to tell us in John 14. “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.” (10 & 11) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.” (16 & 17)

My daughters and I have been blessed with many years shared in proximity because of homeschooling. There is a phenomenon that I observed during our time together where we experienced a shared collective. We would be silent in a room doing our own things, I would think of something, I could feel the energy in the room change, and my daughters would start talking about what I was just thinking. It would also make me wonder when I would hear one of them call for me, “Mom, I need you.” I’d go to them and see they were about to start an exam in their computer program. I’d say, “You know I can’t help you with a test.” They’d reply, “I just need you in the room. I can think clearer when you’re here.” My oldest came to call it my Athenic aura. Whether it comes from familiarity or it is a product of us being part spiritual beings, there is an energy that can be shared.

Just go with me on this one. There is a movie that my children enjoy called “Pacific Rim.” In this movie there are huge robots called jaegers that are used to battle massive creatures, which appear out of rifts in the ocean. These robots are piloted by individuals, but it is determined that one mind is not able to control all the functions of so large a creation. Often two (in rare occasions three) compatible people can align their minds in what the movie terms the drift so that they can think as one to share the burden of control. Sometimes my girls and I will be together and we will think things or say and do things at the same time and with the exact same mannerisms. Sometimes my oldest will look defeated and say, “I am my own person! I am not a clone of my mother!” Other times we will catch ourselves at it and chime in unison “drift compatible,” with a sing-song tone.

It’s funny to say it this way, but I can see the Trinity in the idea of piloting a jaeger. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit come together to form the Godhead to carry out the functions necessary for God to fulfill his will on Earth. The three are as one to battle that ancient serpent who rises up to destroy mankind. I think of the imagery John uses in Revelation. Starting in Chapter 12 verse 9 he states, “the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world.” He goes on to describe the voice from Heaven declaring that through the authority of Christ the Kingdom of God has now come. “Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.” (verse 12) The devil was angry to be thrown out of heaven, and vowed to get his revenge by waging war against “those who keep the commands of God and hold firmly to the testimony about Jesus.” (verse 17) Revelation 12:18 through 13:2 create an interesting scene. “The dragon [Satan] stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads were blasphemous names. The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority.” Seriously! If you think of that as a scene from “Pacific Rim” how crazy is that! Granted the writer uses imagery that unfolds layers of meaning, but using imagery from our era in terms of this movie you know The Godhead would control one wicked jaeger to take that beast down!

Bringing it back to our life journey, the crazy thing is that if we look more at John 14 from what I cited starting in verse 10 and continue through verse 26 we find that we can join Him in the drift. This is highlighted in verse 20. “On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.” In prayer and meditation on scripture we align our mind with His so that we become compatible in spirit and thought, able to do more together than without.

And that’s our cinema inspiration of the month. I suggest you dive deeper into John 14 and the subsequent chapters as they are the last speeches Jesus tells his disciples before he is handed over for crucifixion. This entry being made during the week of Easter, it is a good way to turn your attention to him and what he fulfills for mankind.

When to Say When

Let’s be honest. At the restaurant, when the waiter says those two words “say when” we have all thought let’s see how far I can take this. It’s a test of limits between how much we really need to be satisfied, and how much they are willing to dish out. Sometimes in our pursuit of more garnishment the waiter stops before we have said when and we feel cheated. This happens when our focus has shifted from the actual entrée to our control over the experience. The waiter at the restaurant knows that at some point you are being excessive, and will alter the enjoyable concoction that is the meal the chef has provided. How does this relate to our Christian walk?

Recently I had determined that I would do an in-depth study of the Bible. Although I have read it through several times, now I would make charts, do etymologies, and follow well-researched timelines in a pursuit of greater understanding of scripture. Starting of course in Genesis, this had me reading Lee Strobel’s The Case for a Creator and diving into resources on the Answers in Genesis website. Yes, I am a huge nerd! (I blame my nearly twenty years of being an educator.) So there I was, studying a paper on nuclear fusion versus gravitational force as the fuel for our sun, after reviewing it having been created on day four (Gen 1:14-19), when the thought hit me of how far am I willing to take this? While it is good to have a sound understanding of such things, they are not the main focus. The real meat and potatoes is God’s word, and not the perceived control we have in knowledge of the world.

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3NASB

In this day and age we have gained a greater understanding of how the world and we ourselves function. Does that make our faith less than people of old who lacked such knowledge? I don’t believe so. Jesus had more understanding of the world than any human in history and a faith that was uncompromising. There is a gap between what we know and what we choose to believe. The bridge between our understanding and our faith is hope. Our faith can shape our understanding; our understanding can strengthen our faith. Back and forth, and the vehicle for this is the expectation “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28) That is the hope within every believer.

I am not one who thinks greater knowledge and faith are at odds with each other. Look at Paul’s hope for the Laodiceans, “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.” (Col. 2:2-4NASB) We find that a deeper understanding is a sure footing on which we as believers may stand. Yet, while we have attained so much knowledge in the twenty-first century, more still remains beyond us. There are some things we may never fully know, but we strive nonetheless. Will we feel as though something is being kept from us as we demand more, or will we trust that He that knows all is allowing us to savor the full experience of faith? Pursue understanding, but be content in knowing when to say when and lean in to Jesus.

“It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me-“
‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭45‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Great is Thy Faithfulness

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'” Lamentations 3: 22-24

  When I wake in the morning I do my best to catch myself before my feet hit the ground to thank the Lord for this new day. Seeing as His compassions are new every morning, like this verse reminds us, I want to go into my day with eyes that look for Him in the events that unfold. I also don’t want to lose sight of His faithfulness in all circumstances.

  Last month I had the blessing to share in leading worship at church with “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” I reflected on the words “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.” It was especially touching after a recent visit with family. My aunt and uncle had only just left two days before that worship team rehearsal and my uncle’s words were still fresh on my heart.

  A little context: my mother gave no warning when she took us from my father’s family and moved us 1,650 miles to her home state. My uncle told me of how heartbroken everyone was to have us ripped away, but then how what had happened was rarely spoken about afterwards. He was upset that there didn’t seem to be more of a fight to see us returned, but, as he had nothing to go on, he had to let the issue drop. This past December was the only real time we’ve had to establish our relationship in nearly forty years. We talked about so much in the six days we spent together. It was overwhelming at times, but also cathartic. He expressed that the experience had strengthened his faith. He could see that, although he had been prevented from being in our lives to make sure we were cared for, the Lord had me in His hands and was providing what I needed. With that fresh in my mind, my spirit lifted the words of the song to the ears of my beaming Heavenly Father.

  I will acknowledge that it is not always easy to see God’s faithfulness when you are stuck in the mire. The Lord knows there has been times my anguish brought me to my knees. Yet look at the verse with which I opened this entry. It is from Lamentations, which comes from the root word lament. Lamentations defined in the Oxford dictionary is the passionate expression of grief or sorrow. This book of the Bible was written during Israel’s captivity in Babylon. In the midst of their despair, God is listening to their grievances, and the fact that they are able to come to Him in that posture is enough for the writer to tell of the LORD’s faithfulness. I had the honor of listening to a dear woman share her painful story of losing her son. She said that she still cannot bring herself to sing the words “It is well with my soul,” because she was not there. I would tell her that that is okay, and even if it takes a lifetime God will never leave her or forsake her. He is faithful even when we lament how unfair this life can be or how broken we feel.

“The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” Psalms 145: 17-19

  Faithful to strengthen. Faithful to forgive. Faithful to deliver. There are a whole host of verbs I could write after “Faithful to…” as it relates to God. That just goes to show how He is not absent, because verbs are action words. When we say God is faithful it is because we know that He has done and/or is doing something for all those who call Him their LORD. Seek Him in earnest prayer and you will find this to be true. I personally know it is true and will sing it like the psalmist who wrote, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (136:1) As well as I will keep singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

Let Them Come

  Christmas morning brings so many memorable scenes in a home bustling with children. Whether they are the ones pulling mom and dad out of bed or the parents are waking sleepy-headed littles, there’s nothing like the joy that radiates from them once they realize “It’s time!” There is a wonder and belief that becomes infectious if you just let yourself be as taken with the experience as they are. I would never wish to quell that kind of complete surrender to the blessings of a moment.

  This lead me to think of Matthew 19:14 where the disciples had just rebuked the crowd for pressing the children around Jesus. “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (NLT) This joy and wonder we see in children on Christmas morning, what if that was what we awoke to on Sunday morning? The realization that we get to worship with our church family and bring gifts of praise, stirring us from our sleepy-headed existence and into the throne room of God. In reality, many Christians would probably like to pull the blankets back over their heads. Some make lists of the things that they could get done instead or they’ve made their lives so busy that even Sunday has little room in their schedule. “Get real Dellaca, we have grown-up responsibilities and can’t be so childlike with our beliefs.” The surrender to the blessings of a moment are not where the adult mind typically goes. So when I get to witness that childlike abandon in an adult it makes me smile.

  It can be no surprise that I’ve been watching my fair share of Christmas movies this season. Polar Express is one my kids have enjoyed over the years and it was highlighted at my church’s production during our annual Journey to Bethlehem. A group of young children go on an expedition to the north pole, one of them close to no longer believing in Santa. They have a glorious adventure and the boy who was near to letting go of his belief found it renewed and stronger than ever. That is what I want for my life to look like! A grand adventure of seeking the Lord that renews my belief and strengthens my resolve.

  Speaking of a grand adventure, and my church’s production of Journey to Bethlehem, I’m reminded of our family’s tradition of setting the manger. The backdrop is in its place before Christmas so we think about what is to come. When the day comes we read Luke 2 and as the different people are mentioned we set their figurine in the scene. We then go to Matthew 2 to read of the wise men and set up their figurines as well. People who attend the Journey to Bethlehem at our church will often say, “You know the wise men were not there that night.” Our reply, come back in a few months so we can do this all over and make it right. Just kidding, we don’t say that. We do however want to acknowledge their contribution of establishing Jesus’ kingship. Yet, I want to take you deeper.

  In my study of the Bible, I see an earlier reference to wise men east of Israel. When Daniel is set up at Nebuchadnezzar’s court in Babylon it is as a wise man. (Daniel 1:18-20) Daniel’s work for the empire made him a prominent figure there and his teachings and prophecies were shared with those around him. I would say that it is likely the wise men in that area, even through the rise and fall of the empires, were trained in those teachings, and maybe even descendants of those exiled Israelites who remained in the land. That being a possibility, they had a vested interest in the signs unfolding of the prophesied messiah. While those living in Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth would have seen the wise men as outsiders, they could have had ancestral ties to this holy land that stirred something inside them.

  Seeing the signs, spoken of by generations of those who remained in Persia, now coming to light (literally in the star), these wise men showed a sense of wonder and desire to believe. They set out on an adventure, not a polar express, but a desert caravan just hoping this faith would be confirmed. They displayed the childlike belief of waking on Christmas morning and knowing, It’s time. They showed this attribute that would say “the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children,” who would drop everything to run after Jesus. Let us pray we would do the same. So remember the next time you see a nativity scene complete with wise men to let them come.