Friendship

I had an experience today that provoked me to stop and remember just how valuable our friendships are. I absolutely believe that our God, a God of relationship, must have put special love into His design for Godly friendship.

From His word:

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIV)

A friend of mine had a scary incident today, and reached out for some support. I was so honored and glad to be available in her moment of worry and fear. The situation resolved well, but did leave me thinking. Where would I be without the friends in my life today and in years passed that have meant so much to me? I am grateful to say that there have been few times in my memory during which I was one of those who had no one to help me up. The Lord has been faithful in providing me always with a friend to help me when I fall.

As has been my experience of God's principles and precepts, being a part of them in any role is always beneficial. In this context, that means that it's good to be not only the one receiving help from a friend, but also the friend helping another. I find that both are gratifying, and on any given day, I am certain God smiles down on us as we live out His love for the people in our lives.

For me, it's an encouragement to remember that part of His designs includes being there for our friends. On some days, I feel like this is some of the most important ministry work I undertake. So, as we go into our weekends, let's all remember how much being a real friend can me - and maybe even take time to thank someone who's been that friend we needed in that challenging moment or season. It gets talked about a lot, but I'm hoping to overcome the cynical feeling of "Oh yeah, that's trite" and instead put enough time, heart and energy into really appreciating and valuing my friends today. I trust it will bless not only them, but me as well! God's plans work like that; it's a wonderful thing!

Vantage Point

"Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:10-12

Each and every one of us has bad days. Yesterday, one of the computer systems over which I have purview crashed, I hadn't gotten enough sleep, my head ached all day and I was cold. All I wanted to do was to go home and sleep, and yet, even after I was off work, I had commitments I needed to fulfill - and they ended up going longer than anticipated. I got home late, tired and stressed.

Yet, even in the midst of what really amounts to nothing more than a "bummer" day, I am utterly convinced of the reasons for gratitude and joy, and not just it spite of the bad day. This verse (and the many, many other like it - praise God!) remind me of the necessity of looking at life with His eyes and from the vantage point of His kingdom and the big picture.

I look at my life before I decided to let Jesus have His way with my heart, and I can't deny that, yes, there was wailing. There was the modern day equivalent of sackcloth and oh-so-much grief, sadness and mourning. My heart felt nearly dead for many years.

Do I still have occasion for grief, sadness and mourning in my life? Yes, of course. But when I look at the scope of my entire life, and the landscape of my heart as a whole, I have joy. I dance and I sing. It is these facts of which I hope to never lose sight. And I have found that when I keep my eyes pointed toward Him, no cruddy morning can take them from my sights. And I'm oh-so-grateful!

Amazing Faith

The seventh chapter of Luke opens with a story that is among my favorites in the gospels, and a source of much recent inspiration for me.

I encourage you to read the story for yourself, but the short version is that a man comes to Jesus, asking Him to come heal one of his valued servants. Before they get all the way to the man's house, however, the man balks and tells Jesus that he (the man) isn't worthy of Jesus' presence in his home.

The man goes on to say to Jesus, "I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."" Luke 7:7b-8 (NIV), emphasis mine

Now, here's the good part: "When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."" Luke 7:9 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but I definitely want to take a lesson from the man whose faith amazed Jesus. Hello! Amazing to JESUS?!? Um, yes please!

So, I started taking a look at my own faith and the times, places and situations in which it shows up outwardly & inwardly. And I started looking at this situation. What's similar about the ways in which I sometimes believe? What's different?

Here's what I realized.

God has been pushing me and teaching me a lot over the last year about believing Him for His promises to me - promises found both in the Bible, and also those specific ones He's made to my heart through the Holy Spirit. And I have gratefully come a long way. In the instance of this story, however, the man approaches the Lord without any pre-existing promise specifically related to the topic of his ailing servant. If anything, he may come with the foundation of promises that tell us that our prayers are heard, and that God will respond to us. So, at least so far, that is part of what I've realized makes the faith of this man so amazing.

He comes with a new boldness. Although I do not mean to diminish my own journey in believing, I must admit that things for which I've been learning to believe Him haven't been particularly remarkable. So far (and it IS a journey I've only just begun in so many ways!), I've come into a place of learning to believe Him for the things He's said. Truthfully, this isn't all that remarkable. If my friend says, "I'll meet you at 3:30," I expect to see her at 3:30. When my co-worker says, "I will bring that in to lend to you," I am not surprised when she brings it in to share with me. This is the kind of belief I, personally, have had to work on with God. In essence, His word has said, "I've got this thing I'm going to do" and "Here are the things I'm going to take care of" and I've had to get to the place of simply believing He'd do the things He says He will do - specifically.

So, my suspicion for the next lesson for me is that God's ready to work on getting me to believe Him for my requests, whether He's explicitly affirmed them or not. Now, don't get me wrong; I am certain that there are some parameters that are in play here. I know there is abundant commentary on such things, and I'm sure I'll delve into some of that in my own study at some point, but for today, I'm just looking at the path ahead and taking in the view.

So, for now, I'm just realizing that God's plans for me include not only the faith I've built with Him so far (and it's amazing to me!), but also so much more. He is good, and I am SO grateful that His view is wider and greater and far above my own! So, here's to the next leg of the journey! I can't wait!

Wilderness with Purpose

"And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not." Deuteronomy 8:2 (ESV)

I think we all go through various times one might consider a wilderness. Not to over extend an often-over-extended metaphor, but I think these wildernesses can be entire chapters in our lives, or, sometimes, just a part of a week. I know I've had even parts of a single day that felt a wilderness like for me.

What I love about the verse about (which may seem like an odd verse to "love") is the reminder of the purpose in it. Even the Israelites who wandered in the literal desert for forty years (talk about a season!) were brought to that place for a reason. Perhaps it was their own rebellion as a people that brought them to the place in which they needed saving, but truly, even then, God redeemed the time. He used it to test them, to refine them. I know that, at least for me, the idea of being tested by God isn't immediately met with a big "yay!," but in truth, I do want God's testing to come, because 1) it's the way I learn and grow and 2) it's His will working and whittling away at the dross in my life.

So, for today, especially in my few-hour "wildernesses," I am going to be grateful for a God who uses the uncomfortable predicaments into which I may lead myself. I am grateful for a to a God who takes what seems like it could have been counted as loss and restores it with intention. When I remember that it is into His hands that I must commit my journey, crossing the deserts of my life becomes much easier. Thank God for that!

Where the Spirit of the Lord is...

Second Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Talk about a promise. I can rely on that word: where His Spirit is (which, really, just means where I invite in the Spirit & make room for His presence), I can count on freedom.

I think there's another possible application for this verse as well. When I consider the lives of those around me and my relationships, I can give them the gift of freedom more easily when I let th Spirit run the show. I know that, for me personally, I sometimes want to try to control others in my life. I want them to do what I want, prioritize the way I do, or respond in a certain way to the things I say and do. Yet, there isn't love in those desires; it's control. While one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:32), I think this extends into this idea of freedom quite well. I can release my loved ones into being who they are, fully and freely, when I remember that my root is in Him. When His Spirit guides my day, I am able to better embrace others - just as they are, and also to stand steady myself, regardless of how others receive me.

I think that's the essence of true freedom on this earth in many ways. And I am not only grateful for the option to live into it, but also thankful for the reminder that, on tough days, the path from "here" to that place of freedom is all about letting His Spirit guide the way. God is good; I just have to let Him do what He does best.

Promises Kept

I came across a verse I had as a "favorite" a while ago... I'd sort of forgotten about it. While part of me has a moment of "oh no, don't forget these verses!," I am more amazed by the realization that there are so many verses like this in the Bible, I can forget some of the individual instances.

The verse:

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

The main point, as I read it, is "Hey, this is GOD we're talking about here. He's not going to bail on you, change His mind or flake out on ya. He promises and He delivers. Every time."

And I don't know about you, but I need reminders fo that fact again and again and again. Somehow, I manage to almost forget that so often! I call it the "pea brain syndrome." My little human "pea brain" simply cannot grasp the enormity of the concept of a truly faithful God, without fail, without wavering. His steadfastness is truly beyond my reach in so many ways.

In any case, He is who He says He is. And He DOES do what He says He'll do. Every time.

He's not like you & me. (Thankfully!)

So, I am reminding myself today that the promises He makes are kept... this includes the promises in scripture, but it also includes the tested & tried words He's spoken directly to me. The Bible reminds us that we're to test all things and retain the good, but once we have clear confirmation, we can count on God, 100%. No ifs, no buts... just YES. Yes yes yes. He is faithful - beyond my pea brained imagination, and I am SO grateful!

Baggage at the Cross

I had this mental image yesterday that I want to share with you all. It came to me while I was thinking in the context of new believers, so let's start there.

The image is a simple one... it's people burdened and weary walking up to the cross and unloading the luggage they've been carrying... some have heavy backpacks and are dragging along a suitcase or two behind them. Some have heavy, old trunks, clearly packed full that are strapped to their back; they can barely stand under the weight.

Each walks timidly at first up to the cross and sets his or her load down at the ground. For some of them, it's clearly painful and difficult just to take it off their backs; it's probably been there a long time. There are so many things they've been holding onto. They finally have somewhere to lay it all down.

Once they're finished shedding their excess burdens, there is an amazing transformation. Some leap and jump with joy. Some fall to their knees, weeping in gratitude. And some, (I think I would have been one of these) simply stand there, a little stunned and unsure of what to do, but light is around them and their countenance has changed. They are at the beginning of a special journey.

The reason this image stood out so much to me was 1) I think I need reminding, often, that this is what I'm invited to do and what I have done (once and for all!) at the cross. I can run back up there, pick up my load and trudge around for awhile if I really want to... but I DID lay those things down a long time ago. And 2) I find new things. The jacket I thought was keeping me warm turns out to be full of pockets, each one stuffed with old garbage. When I find these things, I can stick them back in my pocket and continue to wander, or I can turn back toward the cross (It is always right next to me) and put them down, leaving them for Jesus to tend forever.

Remember that you, too, have a choice. Each and every day. Each and every burden. We do not have to carry them alone. In fact, we don't have to carry them at all!