“Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, And glorify your Father in Heaven. . . “ Mathew 5:16
From my favorite “little chair” in my living space, I can look out of my window every day and see lovely pond, trees, sky, neighbors, and clouds. But from my “little chair”, I can also see all the things in my bedroom. Surrounded by books, favorite art, and furniture holding most of the “things” of my life, I have reminders of travels, events, special people, and amazing memories from a long lifetime of my Journey here.
I see reminders of places in the world that I have visited, people who have touched my life, books I have read, and little objects from childhood up until my present life.
But one spot in my space that gives me delight every day (evening, really) is something that I had not intentionally set up. An old candelabra from a thrift store sits in front of a long, narrow framed mirror that hangs directly behind the “flames” of my 3-candle-candlabra. Withoutvintention, the 3 candle flames reflect and double the amount of glowing little lights. Instead of 3vdancing little flames in my room, there are 6.
I wonder if God looks at us in a similar way. He IS the Light of the World. Singular. Yet, when we are positioned near to Him, we catch His reflection of Light. It is not a Light we can create; it is simply a reflection of His Light.
And as His reflected Light in us begins to dance and glow as we are near to Him, His Light begins multiplying and spreading beyond our single little flame, as others come near and catch the glow radiating and reflecting from our little mirrored flame. There is every possibility that the Light from a single flame can continue to multiply with no end, as others, one-by-one, reflect the Light.
God brings Light into our darkness. He IS the Light of the World. But He shares His Light through our reflective capacity. . . and there is no limit as to how far that can go.
We simply need to step into the Room where He Is. We do not generate His Light. That’s all up to Him. It’s Who He Is. Light.
Step into the Room. Stay there. His Light will continue from there. . . for and through you.
“Through the blood of His Son, we are set free from our sins.” Ephesians 1:7
How easily do these words roll off our tongues . . . flash through our minds. . . come into our ears in a church service. . . or pass in a sentence as we read the Bible? Those words became familiar to me when I was a very small child. I would hear them in my home, in my grandma’s home, in my Sunday School class, on Christian radio, and in every church experience throughout my life. It is woven within traditional liturgy throughout the world.
But when I stop . . . press the pause button of my head, and simply think about those familiar words, they can cut through all of the daily, practical, momentary thoughts that pass through my brain at any given moment.
If I just stop . . . focus my attention. . . and begin to think on those words, this day’s realities take a quiet step back. A very different Reality begins to softly Whisper. . . into the room . . . near to my little corner where my Bible openly awaits my notice. I know He is here. Right here. The thoughts of this day that were in my head when I sat down began to fade without my even intentionally choosing. Awareness of His Presence becomes my new Reality. Not because I could make it happen. He chooses to come near. He is welcome. He is needed. My love for Him begins to overshadow my need. The cares with which I had settled into my seat have quietly faded in this Moment. . . because He is here. The needs that had been in my mind have taken a silent step back, as my Precious Friend comes near. Words are unnecessary in this Moment. Sin’s Barrier is dismantled. Its damages take a backseat.
His Presence. . . His Nearness . . . His Tenderness is here with me. The shadows of sin that always lurk nearby seem to have taken a “recess” as my Father gently draws me to Himself. His Love, His simple Words of reassurance melt me. True Words that I have known since I was a little girl are still true. Still with me. . . having a lifetime of seeing them proven again and again. . . no matter what was taking place in my personal world, or in the larger world around me.
What a Treasure I…we…have been given because of Jesus’ great Sacrifice. Freely Given. Freely received.
“God said, [to Abraham], ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, And go to Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering On one of the mountains that I will show you. Genesis 22:2
Think back to a Moment in Time when God drew you aside . . . He had something to tell you that was important, and He wanted your full attention. He probably had to orchestrate that “Moment” by using circumstances that brought you to focus on Him . . .
away from the normal distractions of Life. It may not have been a happy experience.
Abraham had experienced several Moments with God which had significantly impacted his Life Journey. But this would be the most personally gut-wrenching Encounter of his life. And it would not only impact him, but it would deeply involve his son. . . his most precious, beloved son. It would surely devastate Isaac’s Mama Sarah. At that time, Abraham had another son, Ishmael, from Sarah’s handmaid Hagar. But God specified the “miracle son” of Sarah and Abraham.
Any loving parent knows the feeling of dread when he or she realizes that there is a decision to be made that will significantly impact our precious children. It is very difficult to weigh our own personal decisions in life, but the added dynamic of knowing that my choice will surely affect those I love most, and that the outcome will not be in my control makes it even more gut-wrenching.
God’s words to Abraham must have been the most horrific words any parent could hear.
Abraham had become well-acquainted with God’s Guidance and Directives in his life. Although he had made mistakes along his Journey, he had learned to trust God with his life and future. God had blessed His beloved Abraham, despite many challenges and heartaches along the Journey.
Abraham’s most precious Gift of all was his son, Isaac. And now, suddenly, God is asking him to give Isaac back.
This was not going to take place through a terrible accident, or on a battlefield, or some natural disaster. . . the death would be at the hands of the one who loved him most.
How does a human being follow God in a Moment like that? Our most basic human instinct . . . Believer or not . . . is to protect my child. See him live, watch him grow, . . . become the man or woman that God has Plans for and Loves. This is the child that God put into my life . . . into my heart!
Throughout all of the years that Abraham had walked with God, through all the twists and turns of life, successes and failures, Abraham had learned Who this God truly IS.
He had walked through Life with God. God had always been faithful. Not easy. . . but faithful. This would surely be the most difficult “Walk” this father would have to take, especially because its deepest impact would be on that beloved son.
Abraham had a choice. God did not just take Isaac. Abraham had to bring his precious son to God and intentionally hand him to God. Alone. A Moment between a father and his God. A son was to be deeply impacted… face Death itself. A mother was to surely be devastated. God had orchestrated this Moment. No Explanation. No Promises or Plan “B” included. This was, at its core, a matter between Creator God and one man. The ripples of that Moment in Time continue to us today. Divine Intervention came into the Picture. Obedience and Total Surrender, Trust in God, Redemption, Salvation, all took Center Stage in that Moment.
We have the advantage to see some of the Effects of that Daddy’s obedience and trust in God. But did Abraham see that? Sarah? Isaac? All three were deeply impacted by the shared, extremely unique experience. We have the advantage of reading and seeing “the rest of the Story.” But that little family did not. Abraham had to put one foot in front of the other as he made his way up that mountain with his precious Isaac.
How could he do it?
Abraham had been walking with God for a long, long time. He had learned through experience that Walking God’s Path in life was not easy. It was not “safe.” It was not comfortable, painless, nor popular. And no one else could take that walk for him.
But God was already at the Destination, waiting for Abraham and Isaac to arrive. He knew the Outcome, and that the challenges of that lonely Climb would evaporate when Abraham had his Moment with God at that Altar.
“Come close to God And He will come close to you…” James 4:8
“Come” . . . Such a simple word. “Bo” in Hebrew. Jesus used that word many times, in many different situations with the people in his earthly life. Two little letters, but its meaning and purpose in language is to activate a listener to move. Move near to the one speaking the word. It is an action that intentionally draws two individuals closer to one another. A choice is involved. An intentional action is set in motion. Distance of separation lessens.
Think of how that little word is used in our daily lives. In training a pet dog, it is likely the most frequently used word by its human companion. The “come” and the response to the “come” says a great deal about the relationship and attitudes of both parties. If there is no movement towards the one saying, “come”, there is no impact on the situation. Nothing changes . . . except emotions and thoughts of those involved.
Jesus used that simple word repeatedly during His time on earth. “Come…follow Me.” “Come
to Me….” “Come, you who are weary. . . “ “Come near . . . to God . . . “ and more.
“Come” requires a response of movement that lessens a separation. Two entities come closer together. Without the movement, the “come” has not taken place. “Come” always requires a choice of the one being beckoned. It also implies that something….or SomeOne awaits the action of the one being beckoned. The Daddy is looking for the child’s response. The Trainer is watching for the dog’s movement toward him. The hostess is prepared for the guest to enter her home.
“Come close to God,” requires a deliberate decision of movement that will close the distance between myself and God. “Come” is an action that intentionally closes the distance of separation. Making no movement brings no change. It may result in other effects connected to the initial “Come”, but not the outcome that had been initially intended or hoped.
God speaks to us, “Come close.” A simple invitation to move toward Him. But He does not leave it at that. God does not stand still, leaving all the action to us. He responds to our action to move towards Him by intentionally moving towards me. “He will come close to you.” Purposeful. Deliberate. Active. Inter-active. It is His response to my action of moving near to Him. He does not sit or stand, just looking at me as I move towards Him. He responds by intentionally moving towards me. I move towards Him. He moves towards me. He does not stand still, observing or scrutinizing my movement. He responds by moving nearer to me, initiated by His Invitation to “Come.”
The first step towards God is for each of us to “Come.” And do not be surprised if the next Whisper is, “Be still. . .and know that I am God.”
“Come” . . . (“Bo”). . .Such a simple, familiar word.
But when spoken by God, it opens the Door to Eternal Life.
“As Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers… Simon (called Peter) and Andrew …They were fishermen. Jesus said to them, ‘Come, follow Me! I will teach you to catch people instead of fish.’ As Jesus went on, he saw two other brothers, James and John… They were in a boat with their father, preparing to go fishing. He called them and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Jesus. Jesus went all over Galilee.” Matthew 4:18-21
Two sets of brothers out fishing. One set with their dad, one set apparently on their own in their boat. Different boats. Different dads. Same body of water, the same day, the same activity, and having separate, similar encounters with Jesus. The two sets of sons shared the same response to this Stranger’s simple invitation. One father watched his sons leave him as they got out of his boat and walked away with this Stranger. The other father was apparently absent. . .the sons on their own.
The writer does not elaborate about the fathers’ reactions, one present, one absent, but there certainly must have been some kind of response, whether internally or verbally, to this unusual disruption to the two fishing routines of their respective sons. The courses of those sons lives would be forever changed as the young men walked away from what “had been” and follow the Footsteps of Jesus and the change of Course He had prepared for them.
In Bible-times, fathers had a lot of authority in their families . . . a son being called away by a Man outside of their family would not have been typical. Whatever internal struggles may have been going on in that daddy’s heart is not mentioned. He watched his sons drop what they had always done together and walk away, following this Man Who had called them to follow Him for a very different kind of “fishing.”
It’s not easy as a parent to let go of what “has always been” in their family’s life. From birth, fathers have hopes and dreams for their sons’ and daughters’ futures. Good fathers have invested their hearts, time, love, and encouragement in their child’s life. Their child carries a part of his/her father into their future.
There is a spiritual piece of each child’s life that is also in each parent’s heart and thoughts. We can love, teach, model, and train our child in God’s Ways, but we do not have control of that piece of our child’s life. That rests in God’s Hands.
Jesus did not speak with those two daddys first. He spoke directly to the sons. Parents cannot control the spiritual life of our children. We can teach, train, model, and invest in their spiritual lives, but ultimately, there will be a Day when Jesus Himself invites that child to follow Him. It is between Him and that son or daughter we love so much. Jesus did not talk with those fathers about details, nor permission, nor of the Plan for their sons’ futures. He spoke directly to the sons. Each personally responded . . . and followed. No information is given concerning going back home to say good-bye or grab something to bring for the unknown journey ahead. No mention is made of saying “Good-bye” to Dad or Mom….friends or siblings. Personal decisions to follow Jesus, wherever that may lead, come down to One-on-one choices.
There were two fathers. . . one present, one absent, but the interactions with Jesus were between Him and the sons.
Jesus always makes it personal . . . between Him and “me”. . . The Path upon which each of us will walk with Him will be personal. Unique. Individual. Not the same as anyone else’s experience with Him. And the way God will interact with each of our children will be unique as well. He does not ask our permission concerning the Path He plans for our child. We have to let go, and trust Him to lead each of them.
“I will give thanks to You with all my heart. I will make music to praise you in front of the false gods. I will bow toward Your holy temple. I will give thanks to Your Name because of Your Mercy and Truth. You have made Your Name and Your Promise Greater than everything.” Psalm 138:1-2
This begins a series of focused attention on “heart issues,” looking to David. . . one of the most in-tune “heartists” in the Bible. His intimacy and transparency with God gives us a wonderful example of what an authentic relationship with God looks like. May God use David’s heart to bring our own hearts closer to His.
If you have ever had a child in your home who is beginning to learn how to play a musical instrument, you know the nerve-grinding effects of the squeaks and squawks of that experience.
At first, it’s a jarring attack on your ears and the nerves attached to them. But, you bite your lip at the auditory assault, knowing that it is an inescapable piece of the greater picture . . . the dream of making music that listeners will enjoy hearing. Someday.
David was a young boy, but woven throughout his daily responsibilities, he was learning to be a musician. . . a harpist. He was also a lyricyst . . . and a singer. He had spent much of his early life out in the fields with his daddy’s flock of sheep, responsible for their safety and their need for healthy green pastures to rest from their constant munching. It was a responsibility that required “moving attention” 24/7. It was a lonely job. So David used his little reprieves to make music. He could keep an eye on his sheep as he sang his tunes . . . putting words to the music as he watched over his flock.
David was only a few miles from the city of Jerusalem, and he could see it from the pastures of his father. The Temple of God was there, the place where his people gathered to worship. Young David could see it, but he had a big responsibility with his father’s sheep, a job that required his attention day and night.
So from a distance, young David learned to connect with the God of his father . . . his family . . .his people. Out in the fields, throughout the warm, sunny days and the cool, dark nights, he could look across the hills to Jerusalem, and up into the skies of his Creator as they glimmered with stars and galaxies in the darkness. Every day. Every night. God’s Temple was the crowning Jewel of the busy city of Jerusalem. It was within sight. But David was experiencing a personal connection with God on those hillsides, alone with his father’s sheep.
He learned to sing. . . to play his small harp . . . to make music from his heart to God’s throughout those early years. And God had His Eye on that little shepherd boy . . . Had a Plan for his life that would have ripples throughout the centuries to come.
We see so little of what God is doing through our circumstances, our families, our seasons of life, and all of the challenges along the Path. Don’t miss the Moments along your Journey that your eyes are drawn Up, your heart reaches towards His, and you catch a Glimpse of His Presence and the Touch of His Spirit, even in the midst of your daily life. Look up. He is near.
I live in a comfortable, quiet apartment. I’m surrounded by furnishings, books, and lots of lovely memories of the life I’ve lived.
But with a simple step outside of my door, I have the privilege of seeing a large pond that has become my favorite daily view. There is nothing especially notable about the pond itself . . . until near sunset every evening. Like clockwork, the pond becomes a massive glass mirror . . .reflecting the sky and any trees or buildings along its shoreline.
Like magic, it becomes completely still, and the reflections on its glass surface are beautiful. The air stills. . . and the daylight begins to soften as the mirror captures the fading light of the sky. The stillness and mirrored sky always makes me stop . . . and simply look. I do not understand how nor why that beautiful “Moment” is repeated every day, nor why it has its notable impact on me. But it has become a daily reminder of God’s Presence and nearness . . .His faithfulness to me, despite all that Life has brought into my day, my thoughts, my worries, my sadness and my joys. His heavens are brought into my personal view. . . simply standing outside my own backdoor and looking at “my” glass Mirror of God’s artistry.
The reflections of His sky draw my thoughts to reflect on Him. Consistent, beautiful, quiet, a Spirit-to-spirit communication that needs no words. And all I have to do is look and enjoy.
He is near. He is Present. He sees me. And that is more than enough.
His little voice caught my attention as he walked holding his Mama’s hand through the parking-lot. I heard him loudly, proudly spelling, “Y-B-B-O-L Y-B-B- O-H . . . HOME DEPOT!!!”
I chuckled as they passed me as I headed to my car with my purchase. He was so happy to think he had spelled and knew the big store sign!
I wondered how often we, as God’s children, proudly announce things to Him that we are confident that we understand, when, in fact, we are seeing something backwards along our Walk with Him, but excitedly conclude that we’ve “Got it!” Does He smile at our attempts to make Him proud of us, His Kids? We think we’ve figured something out, and are happy to show-and-tell Him what we “know.” We may have all of the pieces of the Picture, but often in the wrong order, and with wrong conclusions.
Does He let go of our hand as we walk together, with our mistakes and wrong conclusions? Or does He continue holding us safely as we do our best to keep up and make Him proud.
I think He quietly smiles, knowing that we are trying . . . still learning. Someday we will understand, and love Him even more for His Patience and Unfailing Love as we walk through life together.
“Behold . . . We go up to Jerusalem. . . “ Luke 18:31
Today’s news struck an ominous note to me . . . Lebanon was being bombed by Israel. . . and Jerualem would be a retaliation target. That is not really anything “new”, unfortunately, in the history of our world. In Jesus’ time, Jerusalem / Israel was under Rome’s military Occupation.
But Jesus, knowing what was to come for Him . . . His ultimate Mission and Death, . . . still went, and brought His closest friends with Him.
What might Jesus be asking you to do this day, as you follow Him? Are you paying attention? Is it scary? Is it beyond what you think you can do? Maybe it’s “the worst” you could imagine.
You . . . I . . . we do not know what lies ahead. But Jesus does. And as He calls your name this day, or tomorrow, or next week and beyond, the Call is direct . . . and clear: “Let’s go . . . “ with Him.
When you choose to follow, that is the bottom line.
“My Kindness is all you need. My Power is strongest when you are weak.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
For most of my adult life, I was privileged to have a front row Seat in watching God carry out some incredibly amazing Answers to some extremely difficult Problems in my personal world.
The Problem: 1 very “lost” small-town young man + 1 very shy “PK” (Pastor’s Kid) + a large population of very troubled young people + God = People (estimate unavailable) now in the Kingdom of God.
I was the “church girl / PK (pastor’s kid)” who had known Jesus since the age of 3, when I remember asking Jesus to “forgive me and come into my heart.” I promised to love Him forever.
Of course, at that point, my sin history was fairly brief . . .such as being mad at my little sister, sticking my tongue out behind the door at my un-seeing parent on the other side of the door, clipping an ant with my blunt-nose scissors . . . but I had a sense that those things would probably not make Jesus happy or proud of me.
When, in my mid-20’s, God brought a fairly new Believer into my life, I had never imagined marrying a Coast Guard guy . . . a former “pot-head” with a troubled teenage past, raised a Catholic (his church highlight was drinking the left-over wine from the Host as an altar boy.) That was followed by years of living without any personal awareness of Who God really is, nor of God’s Love and Purpose waiting in his future.
Our unlikely Math added 3 boys to our picture, and then 1+1+1+1+1….to an un-numbered Sum, of troubled young and not-so-young people from our city and beyond, all the way to the Sahara Desert of North Africa.
Our human logic can never attain the Logic of our Creator. He by-passed all human “logic” when He created the world . . . the heavens . . . and our own human forms designed to carry His Own Spirit in each one. He far surpassed human logic when He sent His Son to die on earth so that we could live forever with Him.
May we carry that Eternal Treasure of His “illogical Math” as we individually live out our numbered Days. And may you be numbered in the Divine “+” to His Equation into which He has added us.
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