A Sign

04.26.15

Psalm 86. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. – David

Ever since the day my Pastor in Payette Idaho (all those years ago) said there was a more modern meaning of grace than the classical meaning: unmerited favor; I realized, what in the world could be more meaningful than favor; what word could we use to replace, favor? So, when I read today and saw the above, I said, that’s what it is: it’s favor!

Grace is a much used but misunderstood word, and it’s been my habit has been to use the word, favor, when I read or hear the word, grace. Favor certainly is more understandable. Do me a favor. Can I ask a favor of you?

David, the great Judean king, is credited with psalm 86. If anyone needed favors from God, it was David. David lives a very tumultuous life. He was called to be the next king whilst the current king was in power. (If we understand anything about monarchies, it’s this: we don’t understand the meaning of the word competition. We kill competition.) And David for many years lived under this threat.

David didn’t ask to be king. He didn’t lay around the sheepfolds all day whining, O God, I’m so tired of smelly sheep crap! Would You let me be king? But David was called, and when he was called he became a target to those in power; certainly to the then sitting king: Saul.

And David learned to pray. David knew the presence of God from those days of smelly sheep and David knew how to praise God; it was a part of his being. So David praised God and God took him to lead a nation that had forgotten how to pray. And sing. And praise. And David’s prayer was: Lord, show me a sign of Your favor, that those who hate me may see…

David didn’t merely pray for their destruction (which he did often); he prayed that his enemies would see the presence of Almighty God and repent. I’m just doing what God called me to do and if you only understood that, you’d praise Him too! Isn’t that like you and me, who’ve got friends and relatives and neighbors who don’t believe us, and don’t care for our God and… if only God, that they could see Your goodness, mercy, and love…

My prayer isn’t for: in your face! My prayer is for a manifestation of His grace that not only may I be, but also that they may see, and then be set free.

Father, a sign of Your favor isn’t really a merit-badge – I don’t merit anything! But You favor Your children, and I believe (that for whatever reason) You favor me. I pray for a sign of Your favor that they may see; and let the chips fall wherever they may… Amen

A Very Presence

04.20.15

Psalm 46.2 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea… - the Sons of Korah

The above is part of a larger passage of Scripture in Psalm 46. The whole passage says:

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

The reminder is God is truly present and He is our refuge and strength; and He is a very (true) presence in trouble. And so, no matter that the earth, which we take so for granted, gives way; and the mountains which we perceive as mighty and immovable, slip into the sea (what a force that would take); though the sea’s waters roar and foam and cause fear, though the mountains, now weakened, shake in terror at its swelling. Hmm… That’s some event! God is still our refuge and strength.

What is fear? Fear is giving into the known or the unknown. Meet a bear on the trail and there may be some fear. Not knowing what the bear may do will cause some fear. Though the earth give way and fall into the sea and the sea crashes and writhes – God is still God; truly our help in time of trouble. Why then should I fear? What then do I fear?

I fear a lot of things. I fear debt. I fear sickness. I fear old age. I fear war. I fear poverty. I fear letting my family down over the choices I’ve made (and still, from time to time, make). I fear failure. I fear embarrassment and humiliation. I fear lack of creativity. I fear because I have no control over these things. But God is my Presence and strength – a place to be safe – in trouble. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble – but take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33 paraphrase)

I think those Korah boys were onto something. If you take even a scant glance at the history of Israel, you don’t have to look very hard to see they were (for the most part) always up to their eyeballs in some kind of trouble. Their problem: they were always afraid of something. You look around today and you don’t have to look very hard to see that most of the folks you meet are fearful about something. Money. Relationships. Health. Debt. Poverty. Failure. It’s all trouble.

The Korah boys sang: Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea… Big trouble (or small) needs the presence – the true presence of God. (We’re not gonna take! No! We ain’t gonna take it! We’re not gonna take it anymore!!!) Sounds like a familiar tune. Maybe Twisted Sister. I’m gonna stick with the sons of Korah. My problems need God…

Father, how I needed to hear those words today. How I need Your help today. And how I need Your very presence today. And tomorrow and all the days after that. Build my faith. Give me courage. Help me God. Though the mountains slide into the sea I will not fear for You are my true Help in times of trouble and whatever else comes along. Thank You!

A Family Tradition

04.18.15

Psalm 78.38 Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. – Asaph

Asaph was a musician and a poet – he wrote psalms. Psalms 50 and 73-83. He is generally recognized as one of the directors of King David’s choirs. Asaph’s perspective always gives me pause. Asaph was an insider and he cut the people of God who chose to rebel and disobey God little slack. Asaph knew the Family tradition. I thought about Hank Williams Jr. when I thought about Asaph today: “…if I get stoned and play all night long; it’s a family tradition.”

The different between Asap and Hank is Asaph’s view of God and what he understood to be the proper response to God in our lives. Asaph had a heart for God. I’m not sure about Hank. And Asaph understood just how much grace God poured out on His people despite their unfaithfulness, grumbling, and disobedience. Asaph said, “…[God] restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.” It would’ve been ugly had God stirred up His entire wrath.

This made me think today of just what God puts up with when He puts up with me. I’m glad He doesn’t pour out His entire wrath. Wrath is way more than just anger. Wrath is the settled and fixed response of God to our choices. There comes a point where the wrath of God is settled with our choices and there is no reversing the outcome; no turning back.

Another thing to remember is that God settled His wrath on Jesus, who bore our sins and failings upon Himself on the cross for us. And so, according to the Scripture, the one who believes in what God did for us in Christ is spared from the full wrath of God when God finally lets it all go in judgment on those who choose to ignore Him. Wrath is for those who (figuratively, unrepentantly) give God the finger. They might seem to be really good people according to our standard of good, but they flip God off. It’s a family tradition.

Now, back to what God puts up with. God doesn’t have to offer salvation. He could (as some wish He would) just leave us alone. We can live, laugh, and love all the way to hell (eternal separation from the Greatest Being Anywhere, Ever). But God chose (at least in my thinking) to compassionately restrain most of His wrath and help, at least, me to get my sorry act together. He allowed me to live, laugh, and love in my own way, but He didn’t arm-twist me to believe. He let me have my way until I understood my way was a bad way, and in a bad way I came to Him and asked for His way. 

Complete wrath is like God allowing us to have our own way forever. Nobody really wants that but God lets many have their way. It’s a family tradition.

Today, in Christ, the Wrath is stopped for those who chose to believe. It’s full-bore for those who disbelieve. It’s not exclusivity; it’s choice. And really, it’s not full wrath…yet; that day is coming. It’s my job to live and serve God in a way that helps those who godlessly live, laugh, and love to perhaps see that there is a better way.

Father, help me to help those who are struggling in unfaithfulness, grumbling, and disobedience to see You as compassionate and restrained and break out of the family tradition of the sons of earth… Amen.

Fourteen dot One

04.14.15

Proverbs 14.1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. ESV

Most of the proverbs in Proverbs are attributed to King Solomon, the son of David. Solomon is accredited as the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon did some danged impressive things during his reign: he built cities, gardens, imported and exported horses; he sent ships off to gather gold and silver was so plentiful in his day people viewed it as common as pebbles.

The fun part about the proverbs that Solomon wrote is they say a lot in a few words. We have similar proverbs today, and just when you think you’ve heard them all, another one pops up on the charts… I am currently attempting to read through the Book of Proverbs every month: one chapter a day. Some days they really say a lot (in few words), and other days I miss the point entirely. And some days are like today: one catches my eye (my mind and my thoughts) and I have to stop and think about it. Proverbs 14.1 is such a proverb.

It says so much about life in sixteen brief words. The wisest of women builds her house… What is it with women and houses (more specifically homes or households) and putting a life together around such an endeavor? Proverbs 31 talks about a wise woman who is motivated, caring, industrious, proactive, creative, charitable, and smart. Not all women are Proverbs 31 women. (Men you can quit looking or dreaming because she is an ideal, not a reality.) But she (ideal or real) is a standard to be thunk about. She loves God, family, and life, and lives all three on her toes, not on her heels.

We don’t need Proverbs 31 women – what we need are women who will live their lives on their toes, not their heels. We need men who will love their wives, their family, and serve them as if serving God (on their toes, not their heels).

But 14.1 is a woman we can identify with: she is wise enough to know her role and her importance in building up her home. She lives life on her toes taking care of the home and does so in a manner of wise importance because she knows the result of such an effort. What is it about a woman who builds up her house? She knows how important it is. She knows that the pain she expends is well worth the reward she receives. A wise woman is a jewel beyond price. A wise woman is fearless. A wise woman is focused. A wise woman builds a legacy and a life. Is that too much to ask?

A wise woman once prayed:

Our Father, who has set a restlessness in our hearts and made us all seekers after that which we can never fully find, forbid us to be satisfied with what we make of life. Draw us from base content and set our eyes on far-off goals. Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength. Deliver us from fretfulness and self-pitying: make us sure of the good we cannot see and of the hidden good in the world. Open our eyes to simple beauty all around us and our hearts to the loveliness men hide from us because we do not try to understand them. Save us from ourselves and show us a vision of a world made new.

I share her prayer because wisdom is not gender specific – it benefits us all…

More Morsels than Mounds

04.05.15

Isaiah 30.15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling...

It used to be that I spent a great deal of time and energy pigging-out reading through the Bible each year. And I was quick to point out to whoever would listen that I did so. There were times when I could quote the word, or certainly spout off something that sounded like quoting and help you to see just how dedicated to God’s Word I was. Today, I feel like I’m the meager container that Elijah told the widow to go and fill all her other containers so she could sell the oil and make just enough to live on.

So, today, it’s more like eating crumbs of bread than feasting at the table. It’s not that I don’t have the stomach for it; it’s just that I don’t seem to have the capacity for it. It’s more morsels than mounds. I mostly read the Psalms and the Proverbs these days and I stick to a devotional that has become precious to me. In the devotional today was the above verse: In returning (repenting) and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. So counter-intuitive!

So, in brokenness and humiliation these days I’m learning to repent, and rest. I’m thinking that my repenting is my ceasing from leaning on my own understanding; and my resting is found in prayer. My prayers still need much work – there’s still too much laundry list to them. But my prayers are getting me to think about the more important stuff of life…I think…

And now life is more about repenting than it is revising. Life is more about resting than wrestling. And today’s morsel is more than enough: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

The verse ends with this: But you were unwilling... What a sad reality. To be shown what to do and then not do it is a sad reality. Today I am left with repentance and rest; not inactivity, but immersed in holy activity: in repentance and rest from doing what I have always done where I’ve found myself in that place I’ve always been.

Lord, today find me willing to walk in a new manner on a new path. Find me willing to repent and rest in Your abundance today; in Your provision today; and in Your purpose. Father, I am glad for the abundance of a morsel of Your truth today to sustain me until I need fed again tomorrow. Amen.