Make His Praises Glorious!

1 Peter 1:6-8  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…

I have a grandson, Jackson, who will be two years old in August.  When Jackson was only a few weeks old, it was discovered that he had been born without a liver bile duct, a rare condition called biliary atresia.  Consequently, his liver was not draining the accumulated poisons of digestion, and was being damaged.  Emergency surgery (called the Kasai procedure) was done to create a bile duct from his existing intestine.  Although this surgery has kept him from total liver failure, it did not solve the initial problem, and Jackson has been waiting for a new liver for over a year.

When I learned that Jackson had been put on the liver transplant list in Alabama, I immediately went to the Lord in prayer, and started praying for him to get a new liver.  But before the words had even left my heart and mouth, I realized that I was, in effect, praying for another baby to die so that my grandson could live.  I find that I cannot pray that prayer – I feel I have no right to pray such a thing.   And yet, my heart’s yearning is for this child of my child to live, to play and smile and get into mischief and bring us delight through his growing and learning.

God knows the desires of my heart.  He also has promised me that ALL things work together for good, because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.  And I know He is able to heal Jackson, fully and completely.  So I am waiting in trust and faith for just that – healing.  I don’t know how God will do this, nor when.  But I am watching and waiting, and even now seeing His almighty hand at work in Jackson’s life and the lives of our family as we love this precious little boy.

God has promised me that there will be a glorious resolution to the story that began with the birth of little Jackson.  And so every time I hear or read the word “glorious,” it is God’s reminder of His promise.  I often need the reminder – my flesh is weak and my spirit becomes discouraged so easily.  But I am fully convinced of God’s faithfulness, for it never fails.  And I eagerly await the day when the promise of “glorious” becomes the reality, and I will sing another new song to my glorious God and King!

The Empty Tomb…Fullness of Life!

Interesting fact:  Cruden’s Concordance shows that the word “empty” and its variants (emptied, empties), is only used 4 times in the New Testament, while the term “full” (and its variants) is used in a positive sense at least 60 times.  What a beautiful and wonderful contrast!  Here are a few “fully” loaded benefits we enjoy:

Because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, we are full of joy.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 Peter 1:8 …whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, we are filled with Christ Himself.

John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

Ephesians 4:13 ...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, we are filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Hallelujah – the tomb is empty and I am full! I am filled by God’s Holy Spirit, fully forgiven and welcomed into His family, fully satisfied in Him with every spiritual blessing, filled to bursting with joy and glory, overflowing with living water.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for emptying Yourself so I can be full.  Make me a vessel, poured out yet never emptied, so that others may know You and your fullness.

A Magnificent Dwelling Place

The house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical,

of fame and of glory throughout all countries.  (1 Chronicles 22:5)

David had a communion with God that most of us would love to attain.  He was filled with awe and wonder at the power and majesty of God as the Creator of all, but he also was aware of God’s presence in him and through him, one-on-one.  So when he began to prepare for building a place of worship, it had to be the best of the best, like no other place before.  And with God’s instruction and assistance, David’s son Solomon did build the temple, a place whose magnificence is considered even now a marvel.

Peter calls us, as Christians, living stones that are being built up as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).  Surely this house should also be “exceeding magnifical!”  It must be a testimony to the greatness and goodness and glory of God.  What will make this building exceed the fame and splendor of the early temple?

“And in Him (Christ Jesus) you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His spirit.”  (Ephesians 2:22)

What a statement!  I am part of an architectural wonder!  The master architect and construction foreman is God, and Jesus is the foundation.  We are the laborers, using bricks and stone, silver and gold, wood and straw (1 Corinthians 2:16).

I confess, however, that my dedication to this job is sometimes less than enthusiastic.  (After all, you know how some of those other laborers are, right?  Some of them are really lazy and apathetic, and some of them have a real attitude problem.  And if everyone isn’t working to their best, why should I?  Right?)  If this is how I approach the work of God, it’s no wonder that this building isn’t getting the kind of recognition it should!  I need to remember David again, and his intimacy with God.  Is my relationship with Him hindered because I’m building His temple with a selfish or “what’s the use?” attitude?  Am I really building up, or tearing down?

 Lord, give me a new vision of you and your holiness.  Help us all to work in the building of your dwelling. I want to be exceedingly lovely to You.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 8:23-27

This is an old and familiar story, but let’s try to put ourselves right in the middle of it.  Jesus had barely begun His ministry, and recently called the disciples.  The previous verses in Matthew 8 tell us of several people Jesus healed before He got on the boat.  Therefore, the disciples had seen a display of His power, and were probably full of questions.  But the day had been long, and they all needed to get away for a bit.  Jesus, being fully human, needed sleep; being fully God, He was not concerned about earthly storms.

But the disciples were afraid for their lives when the storm came up.  It must have been a terrible storm, for several of the disciples were used to being on the sea and surely had seen squalls and high waves before.  So they ran to Jesus, crying out for help.

What were they thinking?  Did they really have any idea of what Jesus could or would do?  I don't think so! When I am in a panic situation, my brain doesn't think ahead - I just want help, and I want it now!  I think the disciples were in that mindset and Jesus had already come to be a "presence" that they trusted to take care of them and whatever trouble came to them.  We have more perspective and knowledge than they did, and we also know that going to Jesus for help is the best thing to do, even if we don't know how He will help!

Isn't it also true that when we are hurting, rocked by terrible things, and unable to help ourselves - isn't it then when what we really want is someone to be with us, to remedy our aloneness?  When I am alone is when my mind goes off into tortuous paths of self-doubt, fear, worry, and a downward spiral.  Just calling on Jesus and knowing He is near pulls me out of that whirling cesspool.

Jesus probably asks me the same question each time I run to Him.  “Why are you fearful, oh you of little faith?”  And then He calms the storm.  David once said, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3) God knows we feel fear, but He also provides His presence and help in times of distress.  His Word is full of the promise of His presence with us. Oh, how I need Him, and how gloriously He has shown Himself with me!

Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. Psalm 41:10

Be With Us, Lord!

2 Thessalonians 3:16 The Lord be with you all.

I was praying for a friend, “Lord, be with them today.”  But as I said it aloud, I began to wonder why I was praying for God to be with someone, when it is a fact known to us as Christians that God is with us all the time.  I hear people say, after a close call of some type, “God sure was with me and watching out for me that time.”  And I think, isn’t He always with you?  So I go to the Word of God to dig deeper!

Numbers 14:43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.

Amos 5:14 Seek good and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, life in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

I know that God has been with me in those times of my life that I was rebellious and not seeking Him – the protection and His promises of grace were always with me, even when I wasn’t cognizant of them.  Perhaps it would be more fitting to say that I was not with God and therefore could not experience the fullness of His presence.

When Paul was shipwrecked, God was with him and protected him along with the entire crew.  Paul was in dire straits, but God was with him and working through him.  However, when the Israelites were engaged in battle with the pagan nations around them, God did not fight for them if there was sin in the camp.  Furthermore, He let them know about it in no uncertain terms!

My prayers still include the petition for God to be with someone, or with me.  But it is no longer a trite thing.  I pray that we align ourselves with the will of God, so that His presence is fully with us and engaged with us in power and truth.  I want to be with Him, and He with me, in every sense.  Jesus is my Emmanuel!

What do you think?  Further insight always appreciated!

Dandelions for Jesus

It's that time of year again.  Dandelions are making themselves known anywhere and everywhere.  But this stubborn little weed has some interesting qualities that make them worth thinking about.

Roots
The dandelion has a strong, thick root that can reach a length of ten inches.  This root not only keeps the dandelion hardy, it aerates the soil and provides nutrients for surrounding plant life.  In addition, if you break the root, it regenerates, and the broken pieces are capable of creating new plants.
 Colossians 2:6-7 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught.."

Flowers
You can't miss a dandelion in full bloom.  Its color is dazzling and bright, like sunshine.  It's a sharp contrast to the green of other weeds, and especially stands out in that otherwise well-manicured lawn.  It is sensitive to light, opening itself fully to the sunshine, and closing up as soon as light is withdrawn.  This humble little flower stands out!
 Philippians 2:15 "in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.."
I Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

Seeds
Each dandelion flower is capable of producing up to 2000 seeds.  The seed is constructed like a parachute, for maximum dispersion by any puff of breeze. Some seeds may travel for miles.  This flower was made for propagation!
 Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

Healing Properties
The entire dandelion plant is edible - leaves, flowers, buds, and roots.  It is known for its antioxidants and vitamins.  It is especially good for the liver, kidneys, and gall bladder when eaten.  It can also be used for poultices and rubs, bringing healing to rashes and skin conditions.
 Proverbs 4:20-22 "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh."

"Dandelions spread further, are more difficult to exterminate, and grow under more adverse circumstances that most competitors," says naturalist Steve Brill.  Hmmm... how about we substitute the word "Christian" in the place of "dandelion" in that statement?  I think that's the kind of witness our Lord would like us to be in this world today.

We can be dandelions for Jesus.  Shine through me, Lord!