"While he was a long way off..." Luke 15
This is how it describes the scene before the Father embarrasses himself. This is how it describes the picture before the Father grabs his robe and runs, which in this culture you did not do unless you were in battle. This is how it describes the afternoon when he was almost done for the day, but the Father was still waiting, still watching, at the gate, longing for the return of the one who had broken his heart.
Way down the road, still way off, he could barely see something, but He knew it was him. He knew it was His son and so it began.
Don't rush the story. Don't get to the good part yet. Are you longing? Are you standing there waiting until you feel like your heart is going to break? Has someone walked out on your life and broken your heart and you know that they are making choices that could land them in far worse places than a pig pen? Know this, in the longing and praying and waiting, there is a Father standing with you, longing and praying and waiting with you this very moment. He does not turn to leave and go in until you do. And tomorrow He returns with you to long and pray and wait again until way down the road you both see something. For He is after something more than the waiting.
Commit everything you do to the LORD, Trust Him, and He will help you. Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act. Psalm 37:5,7
Today, be encouraged in the waiting, though your heart feels it is about to break. He sees and knows and is very involved in each detail bringing it all where it needs to be. He is hurting, too, longing for things to change. Remember, He is at the gate waiting and longing with you. You are not alone.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
ASLAN IS ON THE MOVE!
Do you remember the Narnia movie when Lucy sees Aslan and the others don't? He finally joins with her and asks her why she didn't come even though the others didn't see him.
Is God after something in your life today that he's not after in those around you? Are the winds of Aslan moving in your direction but perhaps, no one else can feel them? I encourage you, enter it.
I have watched in the last few days something so significant and life changing happen. I have watched some terrible news in one person's life bring another person to a place of great change and brokenness. It has been very unexpected and very surprising. This person has been a hard and angry person and done great harm to those around them and they have become soft and caring and attentive to how they are impacting others. Those around them are not sure quite how to respond. What do you make of such a difference in personality? How does ones character change so drastically? From anger to engaging? There is no pill or drink for such a change. This is a miracle that comes from an unexpected place. It begins when one sees their own heart. It comes from the work of the Spirit.
We can long for things, pray for something and even attach a verse to it because then it has more power and we have stronger faith. We can hope and pray and sometimes do this for many years and see no change. Where is "Aslan"?
The fictional story of Narnia reminds us that Aslan is both good and dangerous. We know from the Word that Jehovah is both good and unpredictable. He is faithful and can be completely trusted, but He is God. He does not work on our timetable or according to our desires and we can get discouraged and frustrated. We can lose hope.
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.
We don't know how or when or what this will look like in us or anyone else. Until then, we hold fast and hold onto the hope that we have been given. We hope, not in a Lion, yes, He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but we hope in Jesus, the Christ, the One who left His throne and came and He died on our behalf and He rose and He now sits interceding for you and for me each moment of the day. Our hope is in the One who is waiting to throw His leg over the white horse and ride into a great battle and come and rescue us again.
Be encouraged today, even if is seems that nothing is going on... God is at work in the waiting. He is.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews:10:25
Is God after something in your life today that he's not after in those around you? Are the winds of Aslan moving in your direction but perhaps, no one else can feel them? I encourage you, enter it.
I have watched in the last few days something so significant and life changing happen. I have watched some terrible news in one person's life bring another person to a place of great change and brokenness. It has been very unexpected and very surprising. This person has been a hard and angry person and done great harm to those around them and they have become soft and caring and attentive to how they are impacting others. Those around them are not sure quite how to respond. What do you make of such a difference in personality? How does ones character change so drastically? From anger to engaging? There is no pill or drink for such a change. This is a miracle that comes from an unexpected place. It begins when one sees their own heart. It comes from the work of the Spirit.
We can long for things, pray for something and even attach a verse to it because then it has more power and we have stronger faith. We can hope and pray and sometimes do this for many years and see no change. Where is "Aslan"?
The fictional story of Narnia reminds us that Aslan is both good and dangerous. We know from the Word that Jehovah is both good and unpredictable. He is faithful and can be completely trusted, but He is God. He does not work on our timetable or according to our desires and we can get discouraged and frustrated. We can lose hope.
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.
We don't know how or when or what this will look like in us or anyone else. Until then, we hold fast and hold onto the hope that we have been given. We hope, not in a Lion, yes, He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but we hope in Jesus, the Christ, the One who left His throne and came and He died on our behalf and He rose and He now sits interceding for you and for me each moment of the day. Our hope is in the One who is waiting to throw His leg over the white horse and ride into a great battle and come and rescue us again.
Be encouraged today, even if is seems that nothing is going on... God is at work in the waiting. He is.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews:10:25
Saturday, June 4, 2011
STOP BEING A BOTHER!
Have you ever heard these words before, "Stop being a bother!"?
Come unto me all you who are weary.... Jesus
Do you know that God never says that to you? He never even thinks this.
I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1
Are you in trouble? Are you going through something? Do you feel alone or confused? Are you uncertain of where to go? Are people tired of hearing about your story? Has your heart been turned away? Perhaps you have been told to stop sharing, maybe even that people don't want to hear.
I was told this about a health issue. Someone close to me told me to stop sharing about my health. Even if someone asked me, she would interupt and say, "Oh, they don't really want to hear." I began to think my story wasn't important and people didn't want to hear it. I began thinking they didn't want to hear about other parts of my life either.
Where do lies come from? Where do lies about our value and our hearts come from? You know the answer to this question don't you?
Over and over David affirms in his relationship with his God that he could turn to God at any time and at any place for help and comfort and God would listen and want to listen and God would help and want to be of help. Listen to the rest of this section of the psalm:
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Many will hear of the glorious things he did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in him. Psalm 40: 2-3
At times, maybe even today, we can feel alone and like no cares; perhaps someone has even said this to you. But know this-Jesus, over and over tells us to "Come". "Come" if we are weary. "Come" if we are burdened. "Come" if we are ... you finish it. He just wants us to come. Most of us have had experiences and maybe even this day you are having an experience where someone in your life is communicating to you that you do not matter. It is not true. Pick up your Bible and read this great chapter of Psalm 40. Be reminded that God is not like any other person.
I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now! O my God, you are my helper. You are my Savior, come quickly and save me. Please don't delay! Psalm 40:17
This day, be encouraged, have hope, your God says, "Come! I love you."
Come unto me all you who are weary.... Jesus
Do you know that God never says that to you? He never even thinks this.
I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1
Are you in trouble? Are you going through something? Do you feel alone or confused? Are you uncertain of where to go? Are people tired of hearing about your story? Has your heart been turned away? Perhaps you have been told to stop sharing, maybe even that people don't want to hear.
I was told this about a health issue. Someone close to me told me to stop sharing about my health. Even if someone asked me, she would interupt and say, "Oh, they don't really want to hear." I began to think my story wasn't important and people didn't want to hear it. I began thinking they didn't want to hear about other parts of my life either.
Where do lies come from? Where do lies about our value and our hearts come from? You know the answer to this question don't you?
Over and over David affirms in his relationship with his God that he could turn to God at any time and at any place for help and comfort and God would listen and want to listen and God would help and want to be of help. Listen to the rest of this section of the psalm:
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Many will hear of the glorious things he did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in him. Psalm 40: 2-3
At times, maybe even today, we can feel alone and like no cares; perhaps someone has even said this to you. But know this-Jesus, over and over tells us to "Come". "Come" if we are weary. "Come" if we are burdened. "Come" if we are ... you finish it. He just wants us to come. Most of us have had experiences and maybe even this day you are having an experience where someone in your life is communicating to you that you do not matter. It is not true. Pick up your Bible and read this great chapter of Psalm 40. Be reminded that God is not like any other person.
I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now! O my God, you are my helper. You are my Savior, come quickly and save me. Please don't delay! Psalm 40:17
This day, be encouraged, have hope, your God says, "Come! I love you."
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Alone, HE Alone Is What We Need!
Regardless of the day, perhaps even the storm you may be anticipating, let me remind you that you need not call all your friends for help. You may be watching the storm clouds forming and you can feel the air change from warm to chilly cold, you know it is coming and you better seek cover. Or perhaps, this storm has come out of nowhere and the day has been beautiful and this betrayal knocked you off your feet and you hit the floor sobbing in disbelief. This storm came quickly like a lightening bolt from around the corner.
I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come? Psalm 62:1-2
Why, because what was said was a lie. Because it assaulted my dignity and my character and it will ruin my reputation and it is so far from the truth of my heart. But He allowed the wind and the rain and the hail and the violent rain and dripping wet I sat on my sacred laundry room floor weeping and asking, knowing that He had given me this Word the day before. He had asked me, "Do you put your hope in Me alone?"
What does it mean to silently wait for God alone? I was reading Andrew Murray's book on Waiting, a book written in the 1800's, and I felt so convicted that I know so little of what it means to wait. I prayed all day about it and did not know my heart would be ripped out the next day. I sat on the floor with my hands open crying and asking that good would come, no, first I prayed it would all go away, then I prayed that good would come. I prayed this because that is who He is...the God who allows storms, the God who sees and comes close to the one crushed in spirit and the God who brings good out of what is not good.
But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from Him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress-why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come? My protection and success come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. O, trust him at all the time. Pour out your longings before him, for he can help! Psalm 62:5-8
This was mine. It was severe and rattled me to the core. It was shameful and I knew the one who gave me the news did not want to tell me in fear of my response. But I needed to know as it had to come out. Truth has its place in our lives or we cannot move forward; but this was betrayal and this was hurtful from one I had confided in and trusted. This came from one I had told secrets to and asked for help. He had wounded me intentionally.
Today, whatever you are going through, be greatly encouraged and stand quielty before the Lord, or sit humbly on your laundry room floor, and wait for him to save you. For our salvation comes from Him alone! Don't go calling all your girlfriends, don't email everyone you know... do that another time to give Him credit for what He has done. But come before Him quietly and put your hope in Him for He longs to save. It is who He is. He is our Rock, our rescuer, our defense and our fortress. Why then should we be tense or afraid when troubles come? Today we will wait quietly and expectantly for the salvation of our God.
I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come? Psalm 62:1-2
Why, because what was said was a lie. Because it assaulted my dignity and my character and it will ruin my reputation and it is so far from the truth of my heart. But He allowed the wind and the rain and the hail and the violent rain and dripping wet I sat on my sacred laundry room floor weeping and asking, knowing that He had given me this Word the day before. He had asked me, "Do you put your hope in Me alone?"
What does it mean to silently wait for God alone? I was reading Andrew Murray's book on Waiting, a book written in the 1800's, and I felt so convicted that I know so little of what it means to wait. I prayed all day about it and did not know my heart would be ripped out the next day. I sat on the floor with my hands open crying and asking that good would come, no, first I prayed it would all go away, then I prayed that good would come. I prayed this because that is who He is...the God who allows storms, the God who sees and comes close to the one crushed in spirit and the God who brings good out of what is not good.
But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from Him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress-why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come? My protection and success come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. O, trust him at all the time. Pour out your longings before him, for he can help! Psalm 62:5-8
This was mine. It was severe and rattled me to the core. It was shameful and I knew the one who gave me the news did not want to tell me in fear of my response. But I needed to know as it had to come out. Truth has its place in our lives or we cannot move forward; but this was betrayal and this was hurtful from one I had confided in and trusted. This came from one I had told secrets to and asked for help. He had wounded me intentionally.
Today, whatever you are going through, be greatly encouraged and stand quielty before the Lord, or sit humbly on your laundry room floor, and wait for him to save you. For our salvation comes from Him alone! Don't go calling all your girlfriends, don't email everyone you know... do that another time to give Him credit for what He has done. But come before Him quietly and put your hope in Him for He longs to save. It is who He is. He is our Rock, our rescuer, our defense and our fortress. Why then should we be tense or afraid when troubles come? Today we will wait quietly and expectantly for the salvation of our God.
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