I stood a mendicant of God
Before His royal throne
And begged Him for one priceless gift
Which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand
But as I would depart
I cried, "But, Lord, this is a thorn!
And it has pierced my heart!
This is a strange and hurtful gift
Which Thou hast given me."
He said, "My child, I give good gifts
And gave My best to thee."
I took it home, and though at first
The cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last
To love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn
Without this added grace:
He takes the thorn to pin aside
The veil which hides His face.
(Martha Snell Nicholson)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Through Dark-Clouded Glass
...In this world you will have trouble (pain and sorrow). (Jn. 16:33b) That "trouble" will often become the filter thru' which we distortedly view everything else in life...sometimes it will distort even our view of the Father.
But, He has overcome the world! And someday, believer, the overcomer will come for us; then we will see him as he truly is, in all of his glory...face-to-face...the filter removed!
For now, Lord, I will continue beholding your face in righteousness (right standing, rightness, justice). I will be fully satisfied when I awake (to find myself) beholding your form (and having sweet communion with you)! (Ps. 17:15 AMP)
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! (1 Cor. 13:12 MSG)
...come (quickly), Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:21b)
But, He has overcome the world! And someday, believer, the overcomer will come for us; then we will see him as he truly is, in all of his glory...face-to-face...the filter removed!
For now, Lord, I will continue beholding your face in righteousness (right standing, rightness, justice). I will be fully satisfied when I awake (to find myself) beholding your form (and having sweet communion with you)! (Ps. 17:15 AMP)
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! (1 Cor. 13:12 MSG)
...come (quickly), Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:21b)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
I'm Looking Forward
2011! Everything is new! Though to us the days ahead seem to be a blank page, He has already written the story of our lives before one day ever came to be. (Ps. 139:16)
I'm looking forward to discovering the story He has written of me. I'm looking forward to walking with Him, loving Him, serving Him, trusting Him and, most importantly, BELIEVING Him, in the days ahead.
His promises to Joshua so long ago, are the same unchanging promises for us today.
I'll be with you. I won't give up on you. I won't leave 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 1:5b,9b)
I'm looking forward to reading/discovering your story this year as well! I can promise you it will be full of adventure, joy & hope! If we don't for a minute let (His Word) be out of mind, and if we ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure to practice everything written it, then (we'll) get where (we're) going; then (we'll) succeed. (Joshua 1:8)
May your 2011 story be prosperous and successful, according to God's Word. Happy New Year friends!
I'm looking forward to discovering the story He has written of me. I'm looking forward to walking with Him, loving Him, serving Him, trusting Him and, most importantly, BELIEVING Him, in the days ahead.
His promises to Joshua so long ago, are the same unchanging promises for us today.
I'll be with you. I won't give up on you. I won't leave 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 1:5b,9b)
I'm looking forward to reading/discovering your story this year as well! I can promise you it will be full of adventure, joy & hope! If we don't for a minute let (His Word) be out of mind, and if we ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure to practice everything written it, then (we'll) get where (we're) going; then (we'll) succeed. (Joshua 1:8)
May your 2011 story be prosperous and successful, according to God's Word. Happy New Year friends!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Happily Ever After
I Thessalonians 4:16-18 has been my favorite passage of scripture since I first heard it at 8 or 9 years of age. There was something beautifully poetic and victorious about those verses. I memorized them quickly and quoted them often; quoted them to myself many times just for the reminder that He is coming for me.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
I have realized this week just what it is that I find so mesmerizing in this passage. It's the ultimate story-book ending. The King comes for the princess and takes her to his home; the home that he has prepared just for her.
Every little girl has dreamed of the fairy-tale happy ending of life at some point in her childhood. Even as women we still long for the grand story. It is created within us. It is the image of God that we bear upon our hearts; creativity, beauty and romance. Yes, our God is all of that. He is romantic, beautifully creative and the grandest of all story-tellers.
He calls to our hearts. He woos us unto himself because he wants to give us the BIG ending. He wants to give us a beautiful story in life. He wants to be our King and He wants to rescue us!
Not always do our circumstances appear to be beautifully orchestrated toward a happy ending. Acts chapter 7 tells the story of Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power who did great wonders and miracles among the people. The end of Stephen's earthly life-story was to become the churches first martyr. He was viciously stoned to death.
We don't always understand God's plan, but we can trust His heart. For what I notice the most in Stephen's story is in verse 55 of chapter 7, But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
May I suggest to you that the Holy Spirit opened heaven to Stephen's view for the sole purpose of seeing Jesus. So that Stephen could see that his Savior was not a bored by-stander sitting on his Kingly throne, but a King so in love with His subject that He stands because He is involved in what is happening. He stands, anxious for that moment when he will relieve Stephen of his suffering and welcome him enthusiastically into an eternity of rest and face-to-face communion.
So after reading Stephen's story, I now see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 in a whole new light. What I see is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Prince of heaven, God's Son who is seated at His right hand with power and authority, "the Lord HIMSELF will descend from heaven." He is not sending His angels or mighty army for me, He is coming for me HIMSELF. My first face-to-face meeting with my King will be in the air. And He will take me to his home, to a place He has prepared just for me personally, where I will live forever in unbroken fellowship with Him.
We serve a King who loves us so much that He Himself came to rescue us when He came as a baby 2,000 years ago. We serve a King who loves us so much that He Himself will come to rescue us and take us home...any moment now. And we will live happily ever after! Who says God doesn't love a story-book ending?
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
I have realized this week just what it is that I find so mesmerizing in this passage. It's the ultimate story-book ending. The King comes for the princess and takes her to his home; the home that he has prepared just for her.
Every little girl has dreamed of the fairy-tale happy ending of life at some point in her childhood. Even as women we still long for the grand story. It is created within us. It is the image of God that we bear upon our hearts; creativity, beauty and romance. Yes, our God is all of that. He is romantic, beautifully creative and the grandest of all story-tellers.
He calls to our hearts. He woos us unto himself because he wants to give us the BIG ending. He wants to give us a beautiful story in life. He wants to be our King and He wants to rescue us!
Not always do our circumstances appear to be beautifully orchestrated toward a happy ending. Acts chapter 7 tells the story of Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power who did great wonders and miracles among the people. The end of Stephen's earthly life-story was to become the churches first martyr. He was viciously stoned to death.
We don't always understand God's plan, but we can trust His heart. For what I notice the most in Stephen's story is in verse 55 of chapter 7, But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
May I suggest to you that the Holy Spirit opened heaven to Stephen's view for the sole purpose of seeing Jesus. So that Stephen could see that his Savior was not a bored by-stander sitting on his Kingly throne, but a King so in love with His subject that He stands because He is involved in what is happening. He stands, anxious for that moment when he will relieve Stephen of his suffering and welcome him enthusiastically into an eternity of rest and face-to-face communion.
So after reading Stephen's story, I now see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 in a whole new light. What I see is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Prince of heaven, God's Son who is seated at His right hand with power and authority, "the Lord HIMSELF will descend from heaven." He is not sending His angels or mighty army for me, He is coming for me HIMSELF. My first face-to-face meeting with my King will be in the air. And He will take me to his home, to a place He has prepared just for me personally, where I will live forever in unbroken fellowship with Him.
We serve a King who loves us so much that He Himself came to rescue us when He came as a baby 2,000 years ago. We serve a King who loves us so much that He Himself will come to rescue us and take us home...any moment now. And we will live happily ever after! Who says God doesn't love a story-book ending?
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Clay
Awestruck anew today to think that "we have this treasure in jars of clay"; that He, the Potter who is the pearl of great price, worthy of heavenly palaces of silver and gold would choose to dwell within and live through us....flawed, broken vessels of mere clay.
In love He chooses to re-mold the clay not leaving it in the marred condition in which it was found. Faithfully, the Potter works and painfully smashes the stoney places of our hearts, re-working the clay over and over again.
And "shall the clay tell the Potter what to do or where to work?" No. We must simply wait upon Him. In essence, sit still like a lump of clay. No matter how painful to us nor how painstakingly slow the process may seem, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to carry out to completion" until we are the vessel He meant for us to be, fit for use in the Master Potter's hand.
Then the clay will sing the Potter's praise and glorify Him throughout eternity!
In love He chooses to re-mold the clay not leaving it in the marred condition in which it was found. Faithfully, the Potter works and painfully smashes the stoney places of our hearts, re-working the clay over and over again.
And "shall the clay tell the Potter what to do or where to work?" No. We must simply wait upon Him. In essence, sit still like a lump of clay. No matter how painful to us nor how painstakingly slow the process may seem, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to carry out to completion" until we are the vessel He meant for us to be, fit for use in the Master Potter's hand.
Then the clay will sing the Potter's praise and glorify Him throughout eternity!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Healer
Unclean. Diseased. Shamed. Humiliated. Ostracized.
Not the life she had envisioned for herself, by any means. When she was a small child, twirling in front of her Papa, she was beautiful; life was full of love and laughter. Her dreams were filled with romance, a loving husband and a home full of children. But dreams fade and life changes. Where once there was love and laughter, now there is only the slow plodding of time, alone…and unclean.
It’s been 12 years now. Twelve years with “an issue of blood.“ 12 years. 4,380 days. 105,120 hours. 6,307,200 minutes. She had counted every minute, marked off every day. She had reached out so often in that time, looking for something, anything that would heal her. She spent all of the money she had on doctor after doctor, yet she only grew worse. She is now at the end of her rope. All of her efforts have failed and she remains diseased -- unclean.
It was at the market in the heat of the day that she overheard someone say he would be passing through town. She had heard rumors of him. Perhaps today she would see him. Perhaps today he would see her. And maybe, just maybe, everything they said about him was true. And, if what they said of him was indeed true, today she would be healed. She knew it in the deepest part of her soul. He was the one. He was the only one who could heal her. He would make her clean. She thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:28)
Weak and frail, she pressed through the crowd determined to touch Jesus. Heart pounding, filled with joy and fear she pushes on; not wanting to be noticed, but wanting to be healed…to be whole again. The crowd is crushing and the noise is overwhelming as many call out to him, “Son of David; Messiah; healer!” The thought of being clean, unashamed, and no longer an outcast moves her to press on.
And then he was there, passing the place where she stood. She pushed her arm between the two burly men in front of her and she touched him. Her fingertips barely brushed the edge of his clothes. One brief swish of fabric, and immediately the bleeding stopped. The smallest, almost imperceptible, touch at the edge of his garment, and she was suddenly healed. At the moment she touched him, he turned toward where she stood in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”, his eyes scanning the multitude of people looking for the one who had touched him.
I believe Jesus knew exactly who had touched him. He knew from the beginning of time that she would be there in the crowd that day. He knew her name. He knew the color of her hair, her height, her weight and everything about her. Most importantly, he knew her heart. He could have continued on his way. He could have ignored her and chalked it up to one more healing miracle among many. But he looked for her and waited for her to come to him.
The Bible says she knew exactly what had happened to her and she fell before him trembling with fear - telling him the whole truth. Knowing the magnitude of mercy and grace bestowed upon her in this miracle, she fell before him confessing all. I believe her fear was a reverential trust in the one who had just made her clean and whole. And what does Jesus say to her? “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”(Mark5:34)
What a beautiful picture of salvation! We can come to him in our sinful filth, fall before him confessing all, with nothing but the tiniest bit of faith; and in that encounter we can be healed, freed from our suffering - made whole!
The Savior is looking for you. His eyes are scanning the crowd. He knows your name, your heart and everything about you. He thinks you are beautiful. He thinks you are worth the effort…and he is waiting for you to come to him. In faith, reach out to him. You too will be made clean and whole. “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” (Mark 5:36
Not the life she had envisioned for herself, by any means. When she was a small child, twirling in front of her Papa, she was beautiful; life was full of love and laughter. Her dreams were filled with romance, a loving husband and a home full of children. But dreams fade and life changes. Where once there was love and laughter, now there is only the slow plodding of time, alone…and unclean.
It’s been 12 years now. Twelve years with “an issue of blood.“ 12 years. 4,380 days. 105,120 hours. 6,307,200 minutes. She had counted every minute, marked off every day. She had reached out so often in that time, looking for something, anything that would heal her. She spent all of the money she had on doctor after doctor, yet she only grew worse. She is now at the end of her rope. All of her efforts have failed and she remains diseased -- unclean.
It was at the market in the heat of the day that she overheard someone say he would be passing through town. She had heard rumors of him. Perhaps today she would see him. Perhaps today he would see her. And maybe, just maybe, everything they said about him was true. And, if what they said of him was indeed true, today she would be healed. She knew it in the deepest part of her soul. He was the one. He was the only one who could heal her. He would make her clean. She thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:28)
Weak and frail, she pressed through the crowd determined to touch Jesus. Heart pounding, filled with joy and fear she pushes on; not wanting to be noticed, but wanting to be healed…to be whole again. The crowd is crushing and the noise is overwhelming as many call out to him, “Son of David; Messiah; healer!” The thought of being clean, unashamed, and no longer an outcast moves her to press on.
And then he was there, passing the place where she stood. She pushed her arm between the two burly men in front of her and she touched him. Her fingertips barely brushed the edge of his clothes. One brief swish of fabric, and immediately the bleeding stopped. The smallest, almost imperceptible, touch at the edge of his garment, and she was suddenly healed. At the moment she touched him, he turned toward where she stood in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”, his eyes scanning the multitude of people looking for the one who had touched him.
I believe Jesus knew exactly who had touched him. He knew from the beginning of time that she would be there in the crowd that day. He knew her name. He knew the color of her hair, her height, her weight and everything about her. Most importantly, he knew her heart. He could have continued on his way. He could have ignored her and chalked it up to one more healing miracle among many. But he looked for her and waited for her to come to him.
The Bible says she knew exactly what had happened to her and she fell before him trembling with fear - telling him the whole truth. Knowing the magnitude of mercy and grace bestowed upon her in this miracle, she fell before him confessing all. I believe her fear was a reverential trust in the one who had just made her clean and whole. And what does Jesus say to her? “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”(Mark5:34)
What a beautiful picture of salvation! We can come to him in our sinful filth, fall before him confessing all, with nothing but the tiniest bit of faith; and in that encounter we can be healed, freed from our suffering - made whole!
The Savior is looking for you. His eyes are scanning the crowd. He knows your name, your heart and everything about you. He thinks you are beautiful. He thinks you are worth the effort…and he is waiting for you to come to him. In faith, reach out to him. You too will be made clean and whole. “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” (Mark 5:36
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Draw Me Nearer
O Lord, draw me nearer, for apart from you I can do nothing. Unless you draw me - call to my heart - nothing within me would ever seek that sweet place beneath your cross, at your feet, hidden in Christ, covered by His blood, and robed in His righteousness.
O Lord, draw me nearer. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Let me hear your beautiful voice in prayer for me, singing over me and whispering in my ear, "This is the way; walk here." (Isaiah 30:21)
O Lord, draw me nearer. Pull me into your embrace. Keep me close to your side. May my eyes be fixed upon yours, in a tender communion that needs no words. In the stillness of that intimate moment, hear my heart of praise as I sing my love to You.
O Lord, draw me nearer and may I ever abide in You, for I delight to dwell in your shade...under the banner of your love. (Song of Songs 2:3,4) Here, tucked away and hidden in you, I will obey your commands and joyfully remain, as you prune and cut away those areas of my life that would hinder the bearing of much fruit for your glory.(from John 15:10,11)
O Lord, draw me nearer that my lips may overflow with praise. May I sing of your great love forever; (and) make known your faithfulness to all generations. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD -- that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.(from Psalm 119:171, 89:1, 83:18)
O Sovereign Lord, draw me nearer that I may live!
O Lord, draw me nearer. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Let me hear your beautiful voice in prayer for me, singing over me and whispering in my ear, "This is the way; walk here." (Isaiah 30:21)
O Lord, draw me nearer. Pull me into your embrace. Keep me close to your side. May my eyes be fixed upon yours, in a tender communion that needs no words. In the stillness of that intimate moment, hear my heart of praise as I sing my love to You.
O Lord, draw me nearer and may I ever abide in You, for I delight to dwell in your shade...under the banner of your love. (Song of Songs 2:3,4) Here, tucked away and hidden in you, I will obey your commands and joyfully remain, as you prune and cut away those areas of my life that would hinder the bearing of much fruit for your glory.(from John 15:10,11)
O Lord, draw me nearer that my lips may overflow with praise. May I sing of your great love forever; (and) make known your faithfulness to all generations. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD -- that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.(from Psalm 119:171, 89:1, 83:18)
O Sovereign Lord, draw me nearer that I may live!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)