He Will Bring Us Goodness and Light

Said the year's end wind to our 2020 year,

Do you see what I see?

Pandemic, political divide, protests and pain,

Do you see what I see?

God's faithfulness to us, dancing through the months, 

with continued income, health and grateful hearts.

With a tail as big as His generosity. 

With a tail as big as His generosity.

Said our church to the future,

Do you hear what I hear?

Logging on or coming in person,

Do you hear what I hear?

A song, a song, that calls us beyond,

High above current events and current resources,

With God's voice as big as His plans.

With God's voice as big as His plans.

Said the Hochstetlers to you our friends,

Do you know what we know?

Kevin is taking online business classes-what better time

than this when we're spending more time at home?

My hosting business continues, while some usual summer 

family visits were canceled this year. We enjoyed a few 

get togethers with the families in closer distance to us. 

In March we welcomed Josh and family here. 

That month we also went to a niece's wedding in 

St. Petersburg, FL., where I enjoyed time with my 

Showalter siblings. I flew out to CA in February to escort 

Ashley and the kids, back to OH, while Austin drove 

back by car. Those three events feel like they happened 

in another era, in fact, I forgot they were part of 2020 

and have revised this post to include them. 

In November we traveled to Virginia to see

Amanda and family, and my dad (92 and going strong)

and my brother's family. We had three grand kids 

turn double digits this year, two became teenagers,

and one more joined the ranks of the other four who are

driving, and with three kindergartners, we keep celebrating

new horizons.

We try to make frequent jaunts to Kevin's parents, 

who trudge through the loneliness of their retirement home 

quarantine. 

Each family visit seems extra special when socializing 

is a valuable commodity and not taken for granted.

We're enjoying the rhythms of partial retirement,

occasional times with friends, and family connections 

by internet and phone. Grateful beyond words.

Do you know what we know?

In these days of masks, chapped hands and distancing,

we're witnessing God's goodness in the creativity

and resourcefulness of those created in His image.

Let us bring Him precious worship.

Let us bring Him silver and gold.

Said the King to the people everywhere,

Listen to what I say,

Pray for peace, healing, unity, forgiveness

and revival; for my kingdom to come to earth.

Listen to what I say,

The child, the child,

Who came that Christmas night,

He will bring you goodness and light,

He will bring you goodness and light.

So Much Grief Demands Defiant Joy

So much grief in this pandemic! Several people I know are now gone to their heavenly home. We are warned about being involved socially with anyone outside our household. This sadness underlines our holiday preparations and makes our future festivities uncertain. But we open up our hearts to the refreshing of this season anyway. We plough through with defiant joy! 

What other choice brings hope? Defiance is defined as: 

a daring or bold resistance to any opposing force; open disregard; contempt; a challenge to meet in combat or in a contest. 

We will choose to focus on goodness, hope and mercy and in that declaration our joy will increase. Listening to several sermons this weekend lassoed in my focus to these thoughts: God's plan continues in the midst of disruption, our troubles are light and momentary and have an expiration date!, each of our decisions effects future actions, and God initiates his involvement into our lives. Joy is possible if we believe he will never leave us or forget us and that nothing is randomly proportioned or wasted in his economy. We rarely know what he is accomplishing in the disruption, grief and trouble that he has allowed or even brought for us to experience. I'm not of the belief that every adverse circumstance is from God, but he can use each one to transform us into greater glory. 

Our joy also depends on our response to his custom-made, unique purpose for us.

“Some plants die if they have too much sunshine. It may be that you were planted where you get only little, you are put there by the loving Farmer, because only in that situation will you bring forth fruit for perfection.” Charles Spurgeon in Morning and Evening Devotional, Day November 11.

Hosta plants need lots of shade. I've watched them turn brown and wither in their unsuited sunny spot.

Likewise, I've had vegetable plants yield little fruit, or slow ripening fruit, because they lacked the right amount of sunshine. We all vary in our reception of nourishment. I like the thought that the Farmer has created me for a particular climate. I can't compare myself to you, because I may need shade to blossom, while you might flourish better in full sun. If someone's life seems shrouded by hardship and trouble, the Farmer has provided just what they need, and He knows they have the makeup to be enhanced by those surroundings. Each of us was made to "bloom where we are planted". May we not judge and criticize each other, but respond to our Maker's tender care. Then we can offer our blooms and plumes to be joyfully displayed in his colorful bouquet. In the vase, we all drink from the same well of mercy, with his presence shining exactly right upon us.

Show your defiant joy today! Discouragement will not defeat us! The Farmer won't let his crop be unfruitful!

To Catch and Not to be Caught

 I dislike the days I awake with negative thoughts badgering my emotions. This particular day it was disappointment in and worry about some relationship that didn't seem to reciprocate my efforts to connect. I was hastening towards rejection, by-passing the well known fact that this trap only leads to a dead end. I then remembered the training exercise of taking my thoughts captive and handing them to the Holy Spirit. I deliberately said the prayer of submission, asking the Holy Spirit to help me focus on the realities of God's kingdom and his abiding presence. I wanted him to make good on the prayer I've been praying lately, especially this line-

"Make me love you so much that nothing in this life comes close to my joy in you". 

Does my joy come from you above all, or does it depend on whether this other relationship meets my needs? When I'm pining about how or if others show appreciation for what I do or how much I care, I'm probably seeking after an other-than-Jesus source of joy. His love always far outdoes my efforts to stay connected to him; I only love because he first loved me.

Then the Holy Spirit brought to mind Galatians 6:9-10. 

"So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith."

Grateful for an answer so quickly, I stopped the negative rhetoric and humbly thanked the One who knows me so well. I felt the joy of being heard and reminded to not quit reaching out, caring for others, and expressing my love. And what a bonus to know the promise that I will reap a good harvest when the time is right. 

Maybe your challenge to joy isn't tied to petty, self-centered emotions, but maybe to grieving for an activity or income that isn't happening because of these tenuous times. Perhaps it's even darker than that. A loved one has died, your health is compromised, or you literally are alone in your room-like many seniors in retirement homes right now. 

Without negating the importance of grieving sadness and loss, catch any destructive thoughts and take them to the Holy Spirit. Find his perspective on your situation. He will comfort and guide you and bring to mind what Jesus said (often a verse from scripture).

Here's to our peeps in the community of faith!  How we need each other! Let's catch the chances to work for the benefit of all.

Inheritance That Doesn't Fade

 

Have you jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon yet? I have. I've heard glowing testimonies of how quickly you can prepare food with this magical appliance. A friend prepared a pot roast for another friend who was convalescing, and the praise she received made me jealous. My pasta casserole to the same recipient was acknowledged with the minimum-est amount of appreciation. I inquired about the recipe for the rave-reviewed piece of meat. With the step-by-step process in hand, I was determined to make a roast that far outdid my previous roasts. (Earlier renditions of my attempts at this dish had never reached that succulent state of satisfaction that I hoped for; was it my lack of recipe, or my lack of skill?) 

I loaded the Instant Pot with great care and followed every step. When the Pot told me it was finished, I opened the lid with great expectation. How disappointing to jab the hunk of barely browned meat, and find it all intact on my fork. Nowhere near tender!

My other attempts with the Pot never quite hit the mark either- sweet potatoes too mushy, frozen chicken not done enough, apple pie filling that sprayed out of the little pressure marker on the top of the Pot... My only success to declare is making yogurt. So I guess you could say I bought a new, over-priced yogurt machine!

The Law of Diminishing Returns has proven true once again. Do you notice this happening in your life, too? The dress that was perfect in the store doesn't seem quite right after you've worn it the first time.  The vacation site that brought so much joy when you first visited, just didn't measure up the second time. Or, the excitement of a dating relationship often dissipates after the wedding. 

I did a quick study this week on the word inheritance in the Bible. Abraham was promised many descendants and a land. Moses recognized God's inheritance in the promised sanctuary. Joshua led the people into their inherited land. God often speaks of his people as his inheritance. The nations are Jesus' inheritance. As believers in Jesus, we can look forward to a heavenly inheritance. It is being prepared since the beginning of creation. It's described as glorious, a reward, it's a promise, and will never perish, spoil or fade. 

Reflecting on the word fade, reminded me of how quickly some of my possessions can lose their appeal. One of the definitions for fade in Strong's Concordance is "without loss of pristine value".          Contrary to the dimming of earthly things, our heavenly gains will not diminish in intrinsic value or in our evaluation of them.

So let's live now as "... those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. (I Corinthians 7:30-3). We'll fix our eyes on the heavenly prize, Jesus, and the amazing bundle of surprises he's preparing for us. 

Until Then

My heart can sing when I pause to remember
A heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along a path that's always winding upward
This troubled world is not my final home

But until then my heart will go on singing
Until then with joy I'll carry on
Until the day my eyes behold that city
Until the day God calls me home

The things of earth will dim and lose their value
If we recall they're borrowed for awhile
And things of earth that cause this heart to tremble
Remembered there will only bring a smile

So, until then my heart will go on singing
Until then with joy I'll carry on
Until the day my eyes behold that city
Until the day God calls me home

http://www.songlyrics.com/jason-crabb/until-then-lyrics/

We Have An Ever-Present Advocate

The wind swirled around me, kissing my neck and lifting flaps and folds of my clothing with each short breath. The summer was turning to Fall, and air temps were hovering between almost warm and too cool. The circle of women was already in prayer as I stepped in to join them. Our back drop was our town’s historic courthouse steps.

As our session came to an end, several friends suggested we go across the street and eat lunch together at the Olympia, known for its specialty sandwiches and homemade chocolates. Its longevity extends beyond all of us, even the 70s something-year-old who seemed to be beloved by the rest.  I had not had the privilege of meeting her before, but we were introduced on our brief walk across the street.  Dee was charming and sweet-natured and connected to the others through a small church group that meets together regularly.

It soon became obvious that Dee was eager to treat her friends to lunch that day. They each stepped up to the restaurant window to place an order while she fished for her wallet from her purse. I had not been told to “just tell her what you want” and there was an awkward moment as the clerk looked at me, the only one who hadn’t ordered, and asked what I wanted. I graciously said I’d order after the others had been paid for. 

They were all sitting down enjoying conversation when I finished my ordering and joined them. I knew a few of them recognized that I was the only who had not been treated to lunch, but it wasn’t their decision that had created my lack, so no one mentioned it. 

In that moment, I felt the sting of being left out and uninvited, even though I knew there was no animosity or ill will towards me.  My head could assess the reality that this was a time to “adult” the situation, but my heart felt the pang of rejection.

I silently voiced my feelings to the One who comes alongside with sympathy and comfort.  “Help me handle this well. I thank you that you see me right now and that you care. You do understand, because you’ve been in these feelings on a much greater level than this.”  It was as though He then winked at me and held my hand. What a special, secret exchange!

Later as I reflected on the experience, still feeling a lingering bit of bitter sweetness, I thought of how just one person could have changed things for me; maybe discreetly offering to buy my lunch, or handing me some money. The thought held no self-pity or judgment on anyone, but captured my imagination. My next thought was to make a declaration and offer a prayer.  Should I ever be in a situation where someone else is left out, I want to notice them. I want to offer kindness.

May my discomfort, make me more sensitive to others and teach me how to do to others as I would want them to do to me. 

 

Lord, Send Revival!

 Many of us who believe in God's sovereignty and the hope that he will again visit our country with revival, are praying for God's Spirit to come anew.  In past revivals there seem to be key ingredients that proceeded the mass response to messages calling for repentance and the birth of many into God's Kingdom. 

"Genuine spiritual awakenings--or revivals if you prefer--have at least five ingredients.

-prayer

-heart searching, resulting in confession and spiritual repentance

-changes in conduct and behavior

-sovereign acts of the Holy Spirit

-growth in the churches" *

I've heard that the next revival will bring conviction and repentance of the godless.  Lives will be dramatically transformed by the power of God's Spirit.  Whereas, in the early 70s, the Holy Spirit revival seemed to be focused on refreshing believers and instilling them with new understanding of the gifts of the Spirit and the power available to live a more dynamic Christian life.

What then, is important for the church to be focusing on now, in preparation for the next mighty move of God? Will we be ready to receive thousands of baby Christians into our fellowships? Do we know how to nurture them?  It will take more workers than just our present leaders.  Are "mature" believers trained to share life-building biblical truths with newbies? To lay aside preconceived ideas about "worldly" people that would judge their actions and outward appearance, rather than accept their person? To believe God wants to use them, in spite of their inexperience and failures? To be willing to give up schedules and invest whatever time is required to care for newborns?

Let's get the nursery ready. The bosom of Jesus will be their crib, where we can lead them to rest. Feedings of the milk of God's word will be around the clock. There's a good supply of wipes and clean diapers handy, as sin has to be eliminated and cleaned up.

The walls will be bordered with the ABCs of God's attributes and character.  Educational games to boost their skills and coordination in love, hope and faith are in the toybox. The bookshelf will be loaded with books about Bible characters, Christian missionaries and our own memoirs as we share what we have learned. Life group playdates will develop in them the fruit of the Spirit as they learn to play fairly and with compassion. 

We'll celebrate every new milestone and cheer them on to winning over every challenge. Their first outfits will be changes into hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. They'll sign up for basis classes in warfare, wearing armor and handling God's sword of the Word. Music lessons will include singing songs, hymns and spiritual songs. We'll work on memorizing the death and resurrection of Jesus whenever we take communion. Their security details of Goodness and Mercy will keep watch, always. And most importantly, they will grow to love our big brother Jesus and our Father, God.

Are we up for the challenge, the opportunity, the excitement of bringing home a new baby? Our partner the Holy Spirit is the perfect co-worker, who we can count on for wisdom, strength and comfort, no matter what paths this new one will take. 

To God be all the glory for the new family members he will birth into his Kingdom. Let's pray the deliveries happen soon. Let's get our hearts right; free from distractions, alliances that would lock us into meaningless commitments, abandoning sins that would weigh us down, and keeping loose holds on our privileges and wealth. 

Please bring revival, Lord, to our nation, to our world.  Help us to be ready. May we have your love  and heart to care. May we be eager to obey and do, whatever job you assign us.

*https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/ingredients-of-a-genuine-revival/

We Cry for Mercy!

The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi

I love when God brings my meditation life into very applicable real life experiences.       Recently I finished a study by Kathie Lee Gifford from the book, The Rock, The Road and The Rabbi.  Kathie has experienced Israel with numerous visits and love for the land and the people. This book explores the culture of Jesus' day with the understanding and study of Rabbi Jason Sobel.  I gained insights into details that were new to me.

Jesus' birth most likely occurred in a cave outside of Bethlehem where shepherds cared for lambs being groomed for sacrifices.  The lambs were swaddled in cloths torn from old priest's garments, which may have been the swaddling cloths Jesus was wrapped in and why that would have been a sign for the shepherds to know exactly where baby Jesus was.

The crown of thorns Jesus wore before the crucifixion represented the bearing of the curse of the ground in Genesis.  Jesus died on a tree; Adam and Eve fell into sin by eating fruit from a certain tree.  Abraham's use of a donkey to carry the wood for the sacrifice of Isaac parallels Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Many more symbols and signs about Jesus fulfill prophecy and shows God's sovereignty at work.

Today as I listened to the Daily Audio Bible reading from John 21, I was touched by the story of Jesus coming to the disciples who were out fishing, instructing them to throw the net on the other side of the boat, inviting them to a breakfast of fish and bread, with a warm fire to sit by.  I can imagine Peter, with memories of his denial nagging his conscience with guilt and doubt about his usefulness to Jesus, finding sweet forgiveness and freeing reinstatement to Christ's calling on his life. The huge catch mimicked the first oversized catch where Jesus had called them to follow him.  The bread and fish symbolized his continued desire to be their provider, and the fire set up the scene to remind Peter of the night of his denial.  

Details Matter!

Both these reflections emphasize to me the importance of details to our great God. If all the little things are orchestrated by him, how much more does every human being matter to him! And that thought brought me to the crazy, sad and destructive culture I am immersed in today.

My country is hurting.  There are a lot of hearts wracked with pain and suffering.  Cries of injustice and inequality are causing people to rise up in peaceful solidarity, and others in acts of violence.  All this follows the agony of the effects of the Covid-19 virus. The virus brought death. This pandemic of discord and racial separation is bringing death to hearts and hopes.  

We Cry for Our Country

Lord Jesus, hear the cries. Come to those you love and heal us.  Raise up peacemakers and voices of wisdom that will drown out mixed messages from political leaders and their focus on control and division. Give us leaders who will champion the way forward from here. Leaders filled with your love and the Holy Spirit.  Your will be done in the USA as it's done in heaven. We need you!  Please don't forsake us and the land you have blessed and loved since our beginning.  We have wandered far from you, turned our backs to you, spit in your face and turned to false gods.  Please, forgive us!

We, your followers, have forsaken our first love as we revel in prosperity and convenience.  Forgive us.  Forgive our apathy and fear of man.  Reignite us to be the city on the hill. Bring back the savor that our salt has lost. Have mercy, oh, Lord, have mercy!

Loosen Your Grip

We're often advised to 'get a grip' when we're stressing over something or feeling irritable.
In these times of quarantine, it might be easy to find ourselves parked in these spaces of worry or frustration.

I'm eating a carrot stick and suddenly wonder whether I washed my hands first.  And didn't I just bring in the mail and forget to sanitize my hands? One day I decided to use bleach to wipe down the counter and then worried that I was breathing fumes that might make me more sick than Covid-19! If I pick up groceries do I need to wipe down each item when I get home? And how many swipes can I get out of one wipe and have it still be effective to kill the virus? Today I turned a doorknob open that someone else outside the family had touched.  Rather than use my bare hand, I had turned it with my sweater hem.  But I didn't change my sweater, so did my clothes get contaminated?  Oh, my!  How crazy we can drive ourselves!!

With zooville thoughts running rapid, it's not too hard to jump into that snappy voice and call out the hubby for his huge infraction of standing in front of the cabinet just when I intended to open a drawer.  Nights seem long when you wake up and can't get back to sleep. Negative thoughts run through my brain at pre-dawn hours, like cockroaches boldly trespassing in kitchen sinks when the lights are out.

But we all know that you can't always chide yourself out of the rut, no matter how often you try.
I've found the better way, not necessarily easier way, of letting go and actually loosening my grip. I listened to a sermon yesterday by Steven Furtick from Elevation Church about letting go of our control and trusting God. It was given as encouragement in this pandemic time. You can listen to it here. Great words for today!

While lifting weights one day, his instructor told him that he would be able to lift more weight if he didn't have such a tight grip on the bar. What a great analogy for our lives!  We'll be able to carry more, deal successfully with more of life's stresses, if we loosen our grip and let God lift our heavy work.

Loosen Your Grip!  Let God Do the Heavy Work!

This reminded me of the cruise Kevin and I took to Alaska some years ago. When I signed up for several excursions, I included a zipline adventure-not because I wanted this "fun" amusement ride, but my husband did. I hid my worries about this kind of high adventure, for his sake. But when the dreaded day arrived, he realized my anxiety.  We awoke, well he did, I was 'awoke' most of the night, to a dreary, misty morning.  I hoped with all my heart the trip would be canceled. Several other excursions were canceling because of weather. I drug him down to the service counter to find out if ours was still on.  "Yes", the desk attendant said, in much too cheery a tone.  "Days like this make the ziplines go even faster." This only added fuel to my nervousness!

After the bus ride to reach higher ground, getting fitted with harnesses and helmets, and after signing the waiver that I was agreeable to possibly falling to my death, we were tethered to wires and began the grand adventure. Before sailing downward, we had to walk across ropes and narrow planks, maybe to weed out the faint of heart, but I made it through all the tests. (Kevin was smitten with guilt for causing my distress, especially after seeing our obstacle course).  We finally approached the first zipline. We had been told numerous times that the cable we held on to would hold and we would not fall even if we let go of the cable that attached us to the overhead wire. The instruction for zipping was to grip the cable in our hands lightly and let our weight sink into the harness we sat in.  After reaching the end of the first ride, I realized my hands were hurting.  I had gripped that cable with all my might, as if I was hanging onto  a rope swinging out over a swimming hole!  As I continued the course, I began to relax in my saddle.  My hands only touched the cable to keep my body upright, and I even let go once and waved, very briefly, well, actually if you blinked you would have missed it. After the last zip, I breathed a well done, confident sigh. I had conquered my fear!  But the point here is, I had learned to loosen my grip and let my harness carry me.

Let God Be Your Harness.  He Will Carry You and Never Let You Down!

Instead of letting those crazy thoughts consume me, I'm finding peace in saying, "God I can't protect myself perfectly. I'm trusting you to keep me safe and healthy.  I'll do what I can, but ultimately, you're bigger than all this and you are the Healer and my Peace."  Those nights when sleep hides from me, I set my mind on God's attributes and gifts.  I whisper, "help!" to the Holy Spirit, and "here are my thoughts.  I've collected them as best as I know how, and I'm bringing them captive to you." His peace is guarding my mind whether I feel it or not, and that brings me comfort. 

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Phil. 4:6-9 MSG

What Are You Missing?

                                  

In these days of stay-inside

Here's what I'm finding is true,

Lonely times come calling,
I'm missing you!

Those tops and pants in closet,
Are feeling lonely, too.
I'm thinking spring clothes this year
Will not get their due.                                     
                                                                       

Dressed in sweats and a sweater,
I rotate every day,
I still try to match these few,
It sure takes less effort this way!

Makeup will last till kingdom come,
I'll spend less money for looks,
I'm reading fewer pages 
What if I run out of books?

The car sits idle in stall,
Even though gas costs much less,
They say LA can see far,
No smog, to cloud and oppress.

Store pickups are now my norm,
The process is not refined,
Bleached flour and processed meat,
In place of healthier kind.

But I'm cooking more from scratch,
This joy is starting to ache,
Oh, what I would give to eat                            
Cuisine that I didn't make!

Speaking of groceries and such,
Shortages, are such a rut,
No sanitized wipes, and, cheap
TP that's hard on the butt. 

                  God is working, even when I can't see it, or feel it!

But I'll not keep complaining,
Thankful for hubby and Zoom,
Good health, internet, and phone,                     
God is here, all is not gloom!

Resurrection! Joy!

Mostly taken from the gospel of John's account of the resurrection in John 20.

For the Joy Set Before Him


Gabriel nudged Michael from their perch on the huge tombstone. "He's like a child, bursting with anticipation". He chuckled. "I wonder who will be the first one to discover his surprise?", Michael responded.

Joy and excitement beamed from Jesus' face as he paced through the garden. It was far too early for any of his friends to be here. Containing his joy until they would show up was almost impossible. He danced, he felt where nails and spear had pierced him, but no emotions of shame or pain shadowed his happiness. He had done it!  The Father's plan had worked! He could now include the human race into the perfect love and forgiveness of his and his Father's heart.  Those who believed would never be separated from him.  They wouldn't have to sacrifice lambs or bulls anymore. His chosen ones would worship now in spirit and in truth. He wanted to tell them, to see their surprise when they saw him alive! Earth's time was passing way too slowly today. If only the sun would run it's race faster this morning!

          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mary Magdeline walked alone towards the tomb.  She had brought the smallest lamp she had, hoping to be as inconspicuous as possible in the early morning darkness.  She felt numb and drained of feeling. Crying hadn't brought relief and tears collected into a heavy lump of anxiety in her chest, that seemed more than she could bear.  Sleep was far from reach.  Without a reasoning thought for her safety or what she would find when she arrived, she only wanted to be near him.

Mary remembered Jesus' last words to her. He had thanked her for being a friend, for her faith that kept her following him.  She had emphatically declared that her thanks to him was greater. She didn't want to think back to the days before he had touched her and commanded the evil one to go and leave her alone. Even in this cloud of grief she was comforted by this memory, and the freedom he brought to her that had not faded.

There was the tomb.  The entrance was open with the huge covering stone rolled to one side. What had she expected?  Certainly not this! No one was around. Panic burned in her throat. She could only think of getting to the disciples, to report the unsettling news.  She ran! John and Peter opened the door at her insistent knocking. Relieved to be in their presence, her breathlessness and shock sputtered out her words. "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him."

John and Peter began running towards the tomb. Mary followed, not able to keep up, but wanting to know what they would do. Both men were heading back her way when she arrived, but she could tell they did not want to speak to her. They looked confused and baffled. Initial shock was giving way to the raging river of emotions roiling inside her. Their force was released in anguished sobs.  As she stood near the tomb, her crying subsiding, curiosity overruled and demanded she look inside. Surprise again assaulted her as she saw two shining angels by the empty bed. "Why are you crying?" If it had not been for their sympathetic question, she felt sure she would have succumbed to fainting. "They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they have put him." She felt a presence behind her and quickly turned around. Given her fragility, everything felt threatening. A human man stood there, and he also asked why the tears and who was she looking for. He must be the gardener, she thought, he would know what had happened. In a respectful, surprisingly, calm voice, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." I am not thinking clearly.  As if  could get him! Fear of her past emotional bondage seized her. Would she be captured by the evil again?

Joy for You and Me!

"Mary". The way he said her name cut through her terrifying thoughts. It was the voice that called her the first time. A voice that held love and chased away demons. It was the Lord! She lifted her face to him. As the morning sunrise colorfully splattered the sky behind him, she reached for him, for the one who was her rock, her savior.  "Teacher!" She blurted his name joyfully. She had not only found him, but he wasn't dead.  He was alive! She wanted to hold on to him, to never be separated from him again. But he was gently withdrawing from her and telling her to go now and tell the disciples she saw him and that he was on the way to his Father, and her Father. It wasn't all clear to her, but she knew he was alive and her heart was whole again. She began to run.

Michael and Gabriel watched as Mary turned to go. "He chose Mary, of course. She loved him dearly and she needed him so desperately.  He knew her heart would receive him warmly and openly."
"And she would be quick to obey and deliver his message," Gabriel added. Michael high-fived his co-worker. "Let's get back to the heavenly party.  I want to see the celebration of Jesus' return." Gabriel had already lifted off, and Michael followed.

            --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What was most meaningful in writing this is the thought of Jesus' joy and his eagerness to show himself to those who had been closest to him on earth. His joy is our joy because as he said to Mary, his Father and his God, is now our God and Father! The resurrection account in Matthew records that the women leaving the tomb after hearing the angel's words that Jesus was alive, ran to the disciples with fear and joy.  And isn't that so descriptive of us in many of our earthly trials and uncertainties?  Fear may be present, but joy is equally palpable. In these days of mitigation during the virus pandemic, we can live in the resurrected life of Christ where the fruit of the Holy Spirit is abundant. The joy of the Lord is our strength!

May this be your reality today!

If it's difficult to write in the comments of this post, you can respond to my email:
ruthshow1@gmail.com

Sneezing Jesus

Sneezing spreads viruses. So we cast sly unapproving glances at any stranger sniffling, hoping a water droplet shower isn't about to happen. Armed with spray sanitizer or germ fighting wipes, or both, we hurry to finish the shopping trip and return to the fairly safe haven of home. However even here, we wash hands frequently and remember not to itch, stroke or rub our faces, or even strike that ponder-and-think pose of fist supporting chin. If you haven't been an OCD freak before, it might feel like you're on the verge of the diagnosis now.

What a crazy time!  Yet what a time for God to arise and let his enemies be scattered. There's no better time to sneeze Jesus.  Spread his infection, infest our environment with his Kingdom words and actions.

LET US PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER TO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS

How creatively we're doing this right now.  Facebook posts of scripture or sermons, or live videos from pastors, have replaced pictures of fancy restaurant meals and vacation fantasies.  Here are some internet gems I've been enjoying.

Daily Audio Bible

I've borrowed the phrase, Sneezing Jesus, from Brian Hardin who hosts the Daily Audio Bible. He reads through the Bible to his listeners in one year, and every day is a brand new recording.  He's done it since 2007, every day new. Sometimes he'll give commentary on what he's read, and the broadcast ends with several prayers or requests from his global community of members. He wrote a book, Sneezing Jesus, and is currently reading a chapter from that book every day, after the Bible reading. It's only the second day today, so a great time to jump into this wonderful, daily encouragement from the Bible and a book that shares the awesome teaching and person of Jesus Christ.
I use the DAB app and find it a great place to start or end my day in bed. You can find it in the app store for any device.  It may cost .99 for other than iPhone users.

Sermons

Our pastor had an excellent sermon on March 15 on how to balance our need for caution with the pandemic, with continuing to minister to those who need help.

Elevation church's sermon on March 22rd was so relevant to the current situation. The pastor used the text from Joshua 3 where the Israelites are finally getting to enter the Promised Land.
Verses 3-5:

[officers gave] "orders to the people: 'When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits (about half a mile)between you and the ark; do not go near it.' Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'" They were on the verge of a miracle; they would see the flooded Jordan River back up and make a dry path for them to walk through. 

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS WAY BEFORE

By following God's presence we will know how to handle this time. Keeping a distance between them and the Ark of the Covenant would have allowed everyone to see it. If they were allowed closer only the ones in front would see it. They all needed to see because it was an unknown way for all of them. (thoughts from Mathew Henry commentary) 

God is making a way for each of us, all of us in this never-been-here-before time. He asks us to keep our eyes on him, trust his leading and get ourselves prepared for miracles.

CONSECRATE YOURSELVES. GOD WANTS TO DO AMAZING THINGS!

We are! Let's keep it up. We have time to read his word more, pray, share spiritual truths with our children and grand children and fill our thoughts with his goodness and creative ways to "be together". Who knows what character, what patience he is developing among his people and what he will do as we prepare our hearts to receive more of him? We are on the verge of amazing things!

Social Media and Technology

I've learned to do group Facetime calls. I see families exercising together, baking, making masks, singing birthday songs to a neighbor from their deck, 'visiting' the elderly with a phone call outside their window. I see teachers parading in their cars through residences where their school children live and exchanging waves between car and porch. A school bus passes with a sign in the window that reads FOOD BUS, and I know underprivileged kids are still being fed.

Back to Basics

I walked today and found neighbors outside. There were walkers, joggers, pet walkers, a dad pushing a kid on a tricycle, someone enjoying the sunshine from a blanket in the back yard, a roofing company doing their 'essential work' including a woman walking the peak, and children playing in the dirt.

I'm intending to send more personal snail mail. Friends are remembering and sharing the words of old time hymns. We are turning our hearts in different ways to things that matter.

What are you finding as encouragement during your shelter-in-place days? Share your creativity and discoveries with us.

Thank you, Father, for each day's gift of health and daily bread.  Please end this virus and bring healing to the world. May we be salt and light as you intended us to be. We look to you and wait on you. Give us your peace.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. Ps 68:19-20

Romans 9 Mysteries Explored

What's fair for one, must be fair for all!

 

What if a billionaire walked through your neighborhood some warm, sunny day and you saw him knocking at some houses, not all of them, leaving something and then getting in his car and driving  away? Later you find out he had given the houses he stopped at money-large gifts-1k, 5k, 250k...

Would you say he was being unfair? Does he have the right to do whatever he wants to do with his money?

In today’s culture, where Grammy Awards are accused of not being given fairly, government is judged for not responding rapidly enough to hurricane victims, there’s the attitude that says, I may have made a bad choice, but you are to blame for taking advantage of me, cops are guilty of being unfair when it comes to the color of skin, I wonder if most people wouldn’t answer yes, he is being unfair.

I am not trying to make  judgment on what is true injustice in any of these types of situations, but current events can color our vision and ability to see God’s system of mercy , justice and his sovereignty. If society believes that we have to watch out for our own backs and fight for our rights because we trust no one, why would we trust a sovereign God to do right by us?

What about Romans 9?

In studying Romans 9, Paul addresses a question in verse six. If all Jews aren’t included in salvation then has God’s word from all history failed? We need to know. If it has failed, how do we know all of Romans 1-8 can be trusted to be true for us?

Paul takes us back to the promise to Abraham and what God really said. The promise was not to all of Abraham’s descendants, just because they could trace their bloodline to him, but to those God had called to be included in the promise. John Piper talks about how the basis of blessing is not to be found in physical relationship to a forefather, but by spiritual relationship to God by faith. Grace does not run in the blood…

Individuals matter! 
 

Paul goes on to list some of those in the lineage of promise-Isaac, not Ishmael, and in case you think it was because Ishmael was born from a slave women,  he chose Jacob, not Esau-twins so there is no mistake they were both from Issac’s wife, and they were chosen before they were born.  Paul is establishing God’s sovereignty in the choosing-not because Isaac and Jacob were better men-Scripture tells us their flaws-, but God was setting up a lineage for Jesus and a people to show himself to and to teach them his ways. Who begats who matters! Jesus, as human man, needed a lineage to be born through. 

Culture matters!

 God creates a nation who worship Him and show him to be like no other god.  This people would carry his laws, his presence, and his governing.  His promised son would be born among them.

As I recalled those whom God called to carry out his purposes and to show his mercy to, I was overwhelmed with awe at his patience and love. How mercifully and sovereignly he worked out his plan with the individuals he chose. All of them were imperfect; yet God kept working with them.  Jacob steals his blessing. Moses protests that God has the wrong guy when God calls him from the burning bush. David commits adultery, then covers it up with murder, yet God calls him a man after his own heart. Rahab and Ruth, both from foreign nations, are included in Jesus’ geneology. 

When the Jewish nation was integrated into a foreign culture in the exile, he was still choosing individuals to show mercy to and to fulfill his purposes- Daniel, Mordecai who raised Esther, who God used to miraculously save his people, and Nehemiah and Ezra to help restore the temple and God’s laws. Each of the prophets were chosen for a specific time and purpose. Eventually, God chooses Zechariah and Elizabeth and Mary and Joseph to be his son's family.

I could go on,  right down to you and me and how he called and predestined us to be in his plan. The Jewish people are excluded because they wouldn't accept Christ as the Messiah, but that does not make the promise invalid.

 God's ways are not our ways

Paul next addresses the fairness in God’s choices. In John 6:37 Jesus says that all who come to him, he will never drive away. 2 Peter 3:9 says God is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Isaiah 55 tells us God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours.  I saw something in the Isaiah verses that I hadn’t thought of before. God is declaring his so-much-greater thoughts and ways after he invites the wicked and unrighteous to turn to him and repent so he can have mercy on them and freely pardon them. What man would think like that?  

 He compares his word to the rain and snow that come down to give life---causing budding, flourishing, yielding seed for bread. He’s reminding us of His greatness, not in the context of judgment and condemnation, (your thoughts are so puny compared to mine) but to show his wisdom and goodness in  caring for those he created. The evidence that God is completely just and fair seems overwhelming to me. It’s not about who isn't included, but that he included any of us!  Why me?

We who are Christ followers are in the promise.  We’ve received the blessing of Abraham through faith, so we can be a blessing. As we see the futility of the shortsightedness and blindness of the culture around us, let it motivate us to long for and pray for Jesus’ compassion that looked on the crowd as sheep without a shepherd. And then offer ourselves in total surrender and with deep gratitude, to fulfill whatever in the world God chose you and me for! 

So that billionaire- was he being unfair? 

Read Matt 20:1-16 to see God’s system of justice and sovereignty in action. An interesting parallel to to this study.

 

Some of these thoughts were processed from these websites: bible.org, enduring word.com and desiringgod.com.

 

The Hidden Places

Seeing the Unseen

Summer, what life you hide
where I can’t see,
Nurturing and building
under the canopy.

First a hodgepodge of items
stacked, then spread,
Molded, then folded
into a hidden homestead.

Feeding times scheduled,
Keeping close to hover
so none are missing,
Parents working hard, undercover.

Nighttime prayers and tucking in,
Took place where young lie,
Behind scenes, yet,
Out under a starry sky.

Protecting and watching
for enemies, while giving lessons
before takeoff,
Clandestine sessions.

Autumn, you blow blasts,
And cause the fells
of the colorful foliage,
Exposing the abandoned shells.

Oh, Winter, how your winds rock
empty cradles. I see them now,
Dotting the swaying tree limbs, high and low,
To the craftiness of Nature’s secrets, I bow.

Spring, you will beckon life return,
To remodel and claim back the lair,
Or start fresh places for new migrants,
In busy seclusion; again, I’m not aware.

What of me? I see the seasons
I’ve weathered.  Busy building shelter,
Shaken by gusts that expose emptiness,
Feeling the cold tossing me helter skelter.

Then awakened by new starts,
Finding the place I had lived in
now replicated by love’s offspring,
I'm fully alive and aware to this kin!

Prayers for Our Nation and Leaders

Just reflecting today on the new developments with our country and Iran and the continuing saga with impeachment proceedings. Also, I'm trying to make sense of the Christian community and the messages that are exchanged between Trump supporters and those that believe Trump should be ousted.

As a Christ follower I want to follow Biblical commands and hold Biblical values and worldview. Here is what I clearly see and know to do:

1.  Pray for our leaders, no matter who is in office. Part of the daily Bible reading today, through-the-Bible -in-one-year-plan, was from Proverbs 2:7-9 AMP:

He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],
⁸ 
He guards the paths of justice;
And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).
⁹ 
Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance]
And integrity and every good path.

The phrase, "he guards the paths of justice", is very comforting.  God is concerned about justice and nothing will get beyond his guardianship. I thank him for that and pray those who are righteous in government will be given the stored wisdom he has for them.  If they have this wisdom, God's shield of protection, and God preserving their ways, then they WILL understand righteousness and justice-in every circumstance.  Can I trust God for this answer and promise?  Let's keep God busy with our fervent requests for his wisdom to be imparted to any who are deemed righteous in Washington right now.

2.  God is sovereign and will do what he pleases.  Whoever is in office is appointed there by God. Even though a democracy votes for their leader, the final plans are in God's hands.

    In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.
    Prov. 16:9  NIV

I am not politically postured, but I am Biblically based.  God's word will never lie or return void to him.  May my heart always seek to know his heart and what he thinks, and may his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Let's pray and trust, Jesus, our commander and chief. And constantly grow in loving those around us, no matter our differences.

Was Jesus Born in a Stable and Laid in a Manger?

A Stable Relationship

It might be the way the words of a familiar carol suddenly catch your attention. Or a conversation with a friend paints the nativity in a different hue. What was it this year that made the season fresh and new-like for you? What reflections stirred your emotions?

I entered December with flat emotions.  We had a glorious visit from family out-of-state for Thanksgiving and with that holiday being later this year, it was a harsh bump into Christmas preparation. I dutifully put up the decorations, trying to drum up spirit, listening to holiday music.

The first tiny spark of wonder crept in as I prepared the Sunday School lesson.  Nothing new about God's choice to bring the first tidings of Jesus' birth to shepherds. Informing the lowliest of society first, confirmed God's disposition towards all mankind, no matter the social status. But what was new thinking to me was the likely idea that shepherds were less positioned to spread the message because of their status, thus keeping Jesus' presence less visible until it was God's time for his ministry. (More on shepherds later)

From a devotional online, another thought brought new challenge into my season. All of the characters in the Christmas story chose what they did not choose.  Mary and Joseph didn't ask for the assignment God gave them, but they chose to embrace what must have seemed impossible and impossibly hard for them personally. Can I accept whatever God assigns for me in this next stage of my life?

Inspiration hit as we attended a grandchild's church program. A mishmash of ages stood in the front, swinging arms, twirling bodies in angelic garb, a shepherd adjusting his headdress every 2 minutes, spoken parts barely audible, others shouted into the microphone, words sometimes spoken haltingly following the prompter sitting in the front row, and then the director ad-libbing to make the whole thing kind of flow into a meaningful production.  But the director ended with a practical application for each of the stories' characters.  Perhaps we could identify with Mary, accepting a big interruption in our lives, or Joseph submitting to God's plan when we thought we had figured out a different solution.  Or the shepherds hearing good news and hurrying to express their worship, or the wise men staying on a path for a long time to follow the unknown because they were convinced there was a new ruler who would change the world and was worthy of the best gifts they could offer. "Which do you most identify with?", was his ending question.

During a phone discussion with my 91 year old father, he responded to my cue for what was new in the story for him this year. How did the wise men find out about Jesus?  They weren't Jewish. Probably not knowledgeable about scriptural prophecy because they go to Herod for answers. And what was so compelling about the  alignment of heavenly bodies that moved them to take expensive gifts and commit to a long journey to find a king who they needed to honor?

One more discussion with friends opened up a new look into the shepherds which may or may not conflict with what I mentioned before. Micah chapter 5 in the old testament  prophesies a promised ruler to be born in Bethlehem. Micah 4:8 mentions a king coming to Jerusalem, and addresses the watchtower of the flock; stronghold of Daughter Zion. According to a Facebook article one of the friends had read, I was intrigued with knowing more about what some scholars were suggesting the watchtower signified.

I looked up more information on the internet and from the patheos.com blog and the estremecedorbook.com site, I found this information. (I’ve included some of the findings word for word and altered some of the texts to condense the information.) Along with the belief that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, it was also believed that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, ‘the tower of the flock.’ This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the barren sheepground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. These particular sheep were destined for Temple sacrifice and the ones who watched them were not just ordinary shepherds. Unlike the dirty, unclean, according to rabbinical law, these specially trained shepherds cared for Passover lambs that were born and kept in this “tower of the flock” known as Migdal Eder.  These shepherds would then inspect and either certify the lambs for use as sacrifices in the temple or designate them to be released for common use. The new certified lambs would, according to some sources, even be wrapped in special swaddling clothes to protect them from injury The word manger in Luke can also be translated stall.

This seems fitting since Jesus became the Passover Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. Second, it explains how the shepherds knew where to go to find the newborn babe — and why Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes would be a significant clue, or sign like the angel said.  These purified shepherds would have strictly maintained a ceremonially clean stable for birthing ewes, who were brought in from the outdoor flocks to deliver their lambs where they could be gently cared for.

Of course, no one knows for certain if this is where Jesus was born, but I like that this possibility nicely foreshadows his sacrificial death as the lamb of God and, being one who knows childbirth first hand, I like to think that Mary had a clean place to birth and care for Jesus.
 
Thank you, Lord, for sharing more insights into the amazing birth of Immanuel. You are with us now as you always intended to be. I bring my worship and gifts to you.