Author: desertspringblog

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It’s All About Me

“Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost.”
Luke 19:10

As I read Luke’s words, I recalled a little worship chorus that was popular in my earlier adult
years. The words were “It’s all about YOU, Jesus! And all this is for You, for Your glory and
Your fame . . . “ But at the time, there were other things going on in my adult life and church
world that made me substitute some other lyrics that seemed more honest:

“It’s all about ME, Jesus… for my glory and my fame. And all this is for ME . . . “

No, this version was never sung out loud. It was just sung in my own head. But it seemed an accurate description of the faith world in which I was surrounded. Unfortunately, we have a strong propensity to make ourselves the focus, even in our faith life.

Considering all that Jesus – the “Son of Man” – gave up for the sake of our earthly world and our Human destiny, we don’t deserve anything from Him. . . except judgment.

This simple statement by Luke is loaded with insight of what should matter most in how we live.

“…the Son of Man”….He lowered Himself to be one of us…simply as a “son”….a human.
“…has come…” His initiative, His movement toward us.
“….to seek…” Active pursuit of us…actively searching for us, no matter where we are …
No matter what rock we’re living under.
“…and to save….” Active choice on His part to intervene in our fatal path
“…people who are lost.” We face hopelessness, certain doom, unable to do anything to
change our fate. We have no idea where we are, nor how to get “home.”

He took all the actions to save our lives. We had no options nor ability to change our own
reality nor our endings and beyond, in our eternal destiny.

Why would He do that?
Because that is what Love does.
That is Who He Is.

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Marked

“If someone brings a lamb as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect.”
Leviticus 4:32

Our lambs are having babies! It’s the first time that this event was actually intentional on our part. The first sheep we purchased arrived in January a few years ago, and we received a phone call about a week later from the seller that she suspected they may all be carrying lambs, due to her ram escaping his pen every Sunday when she would go to church.

Now, those grown-up “lambs” are carrying their own little lambs, and we are almost daily finding new little ones in their mama’s pens. Their baby-like cries are so heart- touching, calling for their mama’s as they stand on their wobbly little legs, their little eyes looking at these strange creatures with two missing legs.

For our mama’s, it’s their first experience of giving birth. Some are doing fine with the process. But there are a few we have had to closely monitor or remove them from their
mothers for their own lamb’s safety.

One new mother actually killed her twin lambs in the night. The emotional experience
for our family was something we’d never dealt with before. One action taken was to
spray-paint a fluorescent “X” on her wool. She is “marked” to be used for “other
purposes” in the future.

God made it clear in His Book that the sacrifices He required in worship from His People were to be done with lambs that had no defect. Any lambs that were not “perfect” would be used for purposes other than as gifts of sacrifice to God.

It’s impossible to find “perfect” lambs.

God Himself could not find a “perfect” Lamb that would be fully acceptable to Him to
become the “perfect” Sacrifice. . . One who was not “marked” by sin. One whose blood
would cover the sins of man.

So He chose to provide His Own. . . for us.

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Hey! I’m Talking to You!

“Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Any parent, and any child is probably familiar with the frequent scenario of parent’s voice calling the name of a child, and saying something like, “Hey! Are you listening to me?” or “I’m talking to you, Henry!” or “Have you done what I asked you to do 15 minutes ago?”

God has a lot of problems of this nature with telling His Children something, and then having to repeat the directive because it wasn’t done.

In this passage, God’s amazing leader Moses had died, just on the brink of entering – finally! – the Land He had promised to Moses and all of His People Israel. Joshua was now in his new role of leading this massive nation of desert-travelers into their new Homeland, Israel. Out of Egypt’s bondage, through decades of traveling (in circles at times) together and learning not only who they were as a Nation, but learning Who God Is.

Having now arrived at the brink of their Promised Land, their beloved leader Moses died, and the man who must now fill Moses’ sandals – Joshua – was looking at their Destiny. This was IT. The nation had spent 40 years going in circles in the Desert . . . learning who they were, and Whose they were. It was time to GO IN.

But there were already people there, who had lived in that Promised Land for as long as anyone could remember. They had their own history there. They had their own unique culture and language. They had their own gods.

It’s understandable that there was great hesitation and fear for the former slaves, God’s nation of Israel, to take those first steps into the Land. What awaited them? WHO awaited them? They could see their Destiny, but they did not know what would happen next. Friends or Foes. Most likely foes, as they had been experiencing for centuries as slaves in Egypt.

What were their thoughts as they stood at the brink of their true Homeland?

Fear. Weakness. Discouragement. What awaited the weary nation of former slaves? New leadership. Foreign people who now had lived their own history on those Promised Lands.

What would life be?

Joshua’s first official speech as their new leader was “Be strong and courageous.” Woven through the new leader’s first official address to his Nation were the reminders of God’s plans, how He had led and protected them. They remembered God’s promise to be with them each step of the way. God “has this” and was with them. Promise.

We, the People of God….following His leadership in our lives, need to also be reminded of God’s faithfullness, His Promises, His protection, His Plans for our good as we journey through this life on earth. Look back and remember how He did it before. Look ahead with confidence that He will be in our future. And hold tightly to His Hand as He walks with us through the years He has planned for us here.

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Nowhere to Perch

“But the dove could find nowhere to perch
 because there was water over all the surface of the earth; 
so it returned to Noah in the ark. 
He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark.”

Have you ever felt like that dove of Noah’s?    He’d been sent on a mission by Noah to scout out if there was any land beginning to appear after the global flood all the inhabitants on the ark had just gone through.   Being given his freedom to fly, he’d been flapping and soaring, looking for any place to land.  Nothing . . . 

So back to the ark he flaps.  He saw no other option.  Back to the crowded, creaky boat, and all the creatures with whom he’d had to share the space.  His brief opportunity for freedom wasn’t going to happen  . . . at least not now.  There was no other place to land.

When God orchestrates seasons and situations in our lives,  we may begin the adventure with a sense of joy as we take off and begin to soar.  There’s hope in our hearts of a new opportunity. . . a sense of “mission”. . . a sense of being chosen.  And off we go.

But then, slowly, reality begins to sink in.  The soaring becomes more of a “flapping” ….searching the horizon for any sign of where to land and begin a new Page in  life.

Weariness comes, and the practical facts become clear.  This isn’t going to happen . . . at least not now.  Disappointment takes over where Hope had soared.  The change of course and the realities of going back make the struggle even harder.  Back to the place where you’d felt “stuck.”  Back to the creatures from whom you’d looked forward to having some space.  The soaring . . . the struggle . . . the reality of survival  begins to well up in mind and heart.  

Then we realize . . . the One Who sent us on our mission is still there.  Still watching.  Still waiting.  Still hoping for us.  Caring about us.  

The One Who sent us extends His Arm. . . holds out His Hand to us.  No condemnation.  No shame.  Just Rest. Safety. The Hope and Purpose still alive in His Heart . . . The Mission will be accomplished.  Not today, but the day’s experience will help as we head out the next time.  And He will still be there, quietly waiting and watching from our safe place.

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Whispers in the Darkness

“What  I   tell  you  in  darkness, 
Speak that  in light;
And what you hear in the ear,
Preach that upon the housetops.”
Matthew 10:27

As a child, I didn’t enjoy being in darkness.  My imagination would start “hearing”and “seeing” things that were scary, and I’d run to any light I could find.  

As adults, literal darkness isn’t quite as frightening to us as when we were children.  But we still experience “darkness” that brings fear to our hearts and souls.  There is a spiritual darkness that seeks to permeate our minds, our beliefs, our understanding, and sense of safety and peace.  Darkness is the substance of evil.  It fights the light.  

When we experience darkness in our lives, it goes beyond a literal absence of “light.”  Darkness seeps into our minds. . . into our thoughts. . . into our relationships . . . into our very beliefs and knowledge of Truth.  It works hand-in-hand with fear, and can become a powerful force – a bondage – in our lives.  

But it probably began as a whisper.

Jesus talked with His closest followers about the reality of being in darkness.  He is not afraid of the darkness, and purposefully steps into our darkness as The Light of the World.  He speaks to us in our darkness.  His words bring Light.  Whether our darkness is in our minds, or our beliefs, our relationships, our life choices, or our very souls, He Himself brings Light.  

What is your darkness?  “Speak that in light.”  Especially to Him.  Don’t hide.  Don’t fear that it’s too dark for Him to handle . . . to change . . . to dispel.  There is Good News.  He speaks in that darkness.  He doesn’t wait for us to change the “lightbulb” or “flip the switch” of our darkness to accommodate His Light.  We cannot do it.  

What has He spoken to you in your darkness?  He is not afraid of the darkness in your life.  The darkness that He deals with in your heart, mind, and life is not only Good News for you, but it is Good News for those in your life.  Live out… and tell of the Light that has dispelled the darkness in you.  Our dark world longs for Light.  It longs for the Good News that you carry and now live.  The secrets you held in your life have, in Jesus’ Hands,  become your Light, worthy of shouting with abandon from your rooftop.  It is Good News!  The Best News!

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This is love… 

...not that we loved God, 
but that he loved us and sent his Son 
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
                                                              1 John 4:10

Think of the one person in your life that you love the most.  That’s a hard one, I think, for most of us.  There may be several . . . but I’m guessing that the “one” at the top is someone who has been in your life for a long time.  You’ve  probably invested immeasurable time and heart into the “one” you cannot imagine being without.  You may feel you have given that one all you have to give.

God understands that in the deepest way.  It is so far beyond my imagination to think of the Love of God for His Son, and the Love of God for us . . . so much so that He would sacrifice His perfect, sinless, absolutely selfless Son because of His Love for us, His chosen sons and daughters, all of whom would break His Heart.  He knew we would ALL fail Him, disobey Him, walk away from Him, and replace Him in our own hearts with “the foolish things of this world.”

We don’t deserve His Love.  We cannot earn it.  We cannot measure up to qualify for His Love, no matter what we could ever do.  We cannot take any credit for how much He has loved us.  

God’s Love involves sacrifice . . . on His part.   His sacrifice is necessary for me to be one of His own, not mine.  His daughter.  His son.   His Beloved.  His chosen ones.

That is Love.  That is Love beyond our own human understanding, earning, worthiness, experience or making.  His Love for us cost HIM. . . the Father for His Children.

Anything we perceive it costs us to return that Love is not really worth mentioning.  

Besides, He knows, and that’s all that matters.

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Believer:  101

“Listen, Israel: [People of God]
The Lord is our God.
The Lord is our only God.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
With all your soul,
And with all your strength.’”
Deuteronomy 6:4-5

We love to complicate things, don’t we?   That’s nothing new.   You can taste it in this ancient verse within the first five Books of the Bible.  I can almost hear that ancient voice leaning in, enunciating each word with perhaps a touch of frustration.  Making simple things become terribly complicated is nothing new.  It’s an unending human struggle, and it’s been the struggle of every Believer since the Beginning.  

But in its simplest terms, it boils down to acknowledging God’s very existence. 

Out of that ancient admission of God’s existence, comes the fact that He is the only God.  No other True God exists.  We may hold onto other fake gods in our lives, those things we don’t think we can live without.  But they’re not real.  Not true.   Certainly not worthy of owning our hearts.

What does God want us to do with our hearts?   Love Him. . . with my own heart. . . with ALL of my heart.  Not just a little piece of my heart.  Not a piece that is sad…. or needing love, …. or hurting . . . or having a moment of happiness.  All of it needs to love and embrace Him into our hearts. . . into the core of who you are.   

My soul will live on as my earthly body returns to dust.  The experience of God’s Spirit … His Essence, will carry me as my soul rises to be in His Presence…look into His Eyes….know, at last, the One Who first  . . . and always . . .loved me.

That sense . . . that taste . . . that hope provides the strength needed to walk through each day,  walk with each person, and walk through each situation that Life here presents.  Strength of mind, strength of hands, strength of backbone, strength of spirit . . . strength of heart and soul flows out of our knowledge and love for our God.  Believing Him as His People, who have all come out of the slavery of whatever “Egypt” we’ve been in.  And  we then step into God’s Promises, Love, and Freedom,  carrying His Living Presence to a world that waits . . . 

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On the Heights of Zion

“They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
 they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord – 
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,
 the young of the flocks and herds. 
They will be like a well-watered garden, 
and they will sorrow no more.”  
Jeremiah 31:12

It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to spend quite a lot of time in Israel.  Many favorite memories have been in the context of the Old City of Jerusalem, and on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city. It is “ on the heights of Zion” that the present day Jerusalem sits.  Across from the heights of Zion, separated by a deep valley, is the Mount of Olives, a “well-watered garden” . . . an ancient olive grove.  Visitors flock to the garden, which is commemorated and may well be the place where Jesus spent time praying just before his arrest.  Tourists  make it a regular site to visit.

On one of my visits to the Mount of Olives, walking through the traditional garden of ancient olive trees, an old man approached me.  He was a stranger to me,  and said no word.  But he held a large ring of keys, and motioned for me to follow him.  With hesitation, and curiosity, I followed him across the narrow little road that wound from the top of the Mount of Olives, alongside the walls of the Garden of Gethsemane, and down to the base of the Kidron Valley, where tourists return to their  buses.  

The old man led me across the narrow, walled road to an old  wooden door that I had never seen opened.  He unlocked the door, and motioned for me to go inside.  It was a garden.  Far more humble than the tourist gardens, it had very old olive trees, simple  flower beds, and a worn path through the flowers.  He pointed to a small bench, invited me to sit down, and with a sparkle in his eye, walked back out through the old door, locking it behind him.  

I was doing exactly the things I would always caution our Israel trip groups NOT to do.  But there was a sweet peace in my heart, and I sat down on the bench and simply whispered a prayer that God had my full attention, and I was longing to hear Him speak to my heart whatever He wanted to tell me.  I was listening.  

Looking at the garden surrounding me, my gaze came to rest where it had begun. . . between my own two feet.  A simple little blue violet caught my eye, and I gently plucked it.  Having my focus, I noted the intricate details of this simple blossom. . . a little flower that would  easily go unnoticed  in the humble old garden.  As I held the fragile  blossom, God whispered.  He was there.  He had drawn me away from the crowd, reminding me through a  little flower of His  creation, that He was as aware of me as I was of the sweet  blossom  in my hand.  Simple words from His Heart to mine.  It was a precious Moment in time.  

I needed nothing more.

As His Presence, His simple Words, lingered in my mind . . .heart . . . soul, I looked at the little blossom in my hand, focusing on this Moment in Time.  A humble  garden.  A simple gardener.  A worn old door opened to remind me of His Presence . . . His Love . . . His Truth.  

The sound of the key in the old lock drew my Moment to a close.  The crowd was headed on its way to the next site.  

But the tiny blossom I held between my fingers, and the old gardener with the key would always be a treasured memory . . . a reminder of a sweet  Moment between my dearest Love  and me. 

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The Countdown

“Teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of Wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12

Do you remember as a child, counting down the days until something really special
was going to happen? A birthday, or Christmas, or leaving for some exciting
destination on a trip? You would check the boxes of the calendar, watching that
“star” box getting closer and closer. Excitement grew. The checklist of what had to
happen before the “GO” day was being ticked off and re-counted.


Others of you may think more about checking off the calendar days before something
you dread is going to take place. Completely different emotions begin growing as the
“D” Day (Dread Day) nears.


In either scenario, it is probable that your activities include preparations necessary
before that final day arrives, either good or bad. . . exciting or dreadful.


In our world, it’s easy to lose track of any “countdown” of days before an event is taking
place. Human nature typically thinks of the here-and-now far more than the actions
required in the days leading into the future. It’s natural. An ancient psalm-writer talked
about it. He offered a tool that, when used, would result in an internal treasure in our
very heart: Wisdom. The tool is simple enough that a child could use it: Number each
day. One day at a time.


Human nature moves through a lifetime one day at a time. But without a moment of
intentionality each day, Time becomes a blur. We find ourselves looking back, wishing
we’d made different choices . . . different decisions . . . We imagine different outcomes
“if only I’d . . .”


God has numbered our days. But we don’t know that number. We could number the
days we’ve already lived. That alone is sobering, because we wonder what we did with
all of those days. We regret making unwise choices with many of those days.


Each day counts. If you’re reading this, your days are not finished. It’s not too late to
make adjustments to how your coming days can be used in better ways than in the
past. Wisdom can become part of who you are . . . how you think . . . and how you use
your days ahead. The impact of your life in this world can be a taste of Wisdom that is
is desperately needed.

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What to Wear….What to Wear….?

“Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ’s name have 
clothed yourselves with Christ. 
There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. 
You are all the same in Christ Jesus.”
Gal 3:26-28

When preparing for your day each morning, consider how much time it takes?   For me, I briefly think through what I’ll be doing, and the circumstances in which I’ll be doing them.  Then I head to the closet to choose appropriate clothes to wear.  It doesn’t  take a lot of time for the process, but it’s something I never skip.  (I do know some “guys” who only need about 60 seconds….and done.  No names.)

The first thing that Adam and Eve did after realizing they’d sinned, was to make clothes for themselves.

Paul uses a material example in his writing to which anyone could relate, beginning with Adam and Eve.  “What will I wear today?”

Paul notes the key identifier of who we are and are not, and most importantly, Whose we are.

Each of the categories of human identities Paul lists  have clothing types / styles closely associated with the ethnicity, status, and genders within which we live out our daily lives.  What we wear says a lot about who we are. Clothes often give an outer glimpse of the internal person wearing them. . .  values, status, gender, personality are all pieces of a larger picture of who we are.

Apostle Paul identifies the role clothing has in daily life.   It’s something to which everyone can relate.  Clothing has been woven into the human story ever since Adam and Eve had their first taste of sin from taking Satan’s bait, and suddenly realizing they were completely “exposed.”

Since that day, all those who have recognized that we’ve “taken the bait” instinctively want to hide that fact.  We scramble to the “closet” we’ve put together and search for the best choice of a cover-up.  And then we step into our world.

What do people see of us as we move through our day?  Past the clothes, the accessories, the hair and shoes. . . past the things we do.  .   .

Do they see Christ?