The Daddy Dance...at least, that's what we called it. Steve would walk through our front door, and KK - then, still in diapers - would throw her hands up and wiggle herself back and forth, just like a fish out of water! No matter what was going on, when Daddy got home, everything stopped and she started. It was her dance of joy, because she and her Daddy were together again. Nothing else mattered. Not me - not Mr. Rabbit - nothing. Daddy was there. Daddy was with her. Life was good - no, great!
Those were precious times. Steve and I had conversations about how we would feel when the Daddy Dance became a thing of the past, and how sad it would be when it finally did.
I must tell you - the dance DID stop...at least on the outside. KK has grown up now and moved on to more mature things, like boys and phones. But I can't help but think that her heart still jumps a beat when her Dad comes home. You see, he loves her. He cherishes time spent with her. She is a treasure to him, and she knows it...for she is his daughter.
That's why when I come across verses like Romans 5:15 that says, For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by Whom we cry out "Abba, Father," - my heart melts.
You see, somewhere down the line, my heart grew up. My "Daddy Dance" stopped, and I replaced the joy of my Father's presence with the fear of my Father's wrath. I ran FROM Him, instead of TO Him. I allowed my sin to fester and swell within me, instead of allowing myself the privilege of running to Him and letting Him cleanse me. I secretly kept the burdens, instead of casting them on the One Who desires to take them from my tired shoulders and wipe the tears from my eyes.
Even now, sometimes I find myself living again in the first part of that verse - the part about bondage and fear. I see God as Judge - as the Great Father of the universe, Who convicts and condemns me in my sin. Again, I find myself, actually running away FROM Him, instead of To Him.
But that's NOT right thinking, is it? Let me write that again, so you and I both can read it....that's NOT right thinking!
All the condemnation and judgement I deserved was released the day Christ died. Everything that could be held over my head - every sin that could be thrown up in my face by the evil one - every heart-stopping, depressing bout of guilt was released...removed...and accounted for on that day. I merely had to believe that He did it for me...and it was done. The guilt was gone. The sin was gone. The payment had been made.
What I received in return for my belief, had nothing to do with the bondage the previous verse spoke about. No longer did I have to fear the presence of the Lord. Instead, He now cherished me as His child, and I could live in the joy that He was my Father - my Abba.
And today....I'm choosing to celebrate that. I'm choosing to celebrate my freedom to run to my Father - in my joy and in my sin. I'm celebrating my right to be loved by God, as His child.
Won't you celebrate with me? Won't you force out those feelings of inadequacy in His sight and just enjoy His presence? Let's celebrate His presence! Let's do the Daddy Dance together....okay?
Here we go...one, two, three...one two three...one, two, three!!!
Thank You, Father...for being my Daddy...my Abba...my perfect Provider and Friend. I celebrate simply being in Your presence today, as you child. Thank You for loving me...for celebrating me...for enjoying my presence. I love You, Father. I love You, Abba. I love You.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
God's Design for Failure
So how's that New Year's Resolution coming?
By now, you are either shaking your head in the affirmative, proudly thinking to yourself, "Pretty good so far," OR you've stopped reading this altogether, because I've reminded you of something dreadfully gone wrong!
I do hate to admit it, but I'm afraid if I was in your position right now, I'd probably skip this column and move on to something else, not wishing to be reminded of my failure. I don't like to fail, so I avoid "it" and any conversation about "it" as much as I possibly can.
But let me assure you, this column is not about failure. It's not about an accusing finger pointed in your direction. It's about something totally different...something incredibly encouraging to my soul...and I'm sure to yours, as well.
However, His goodness doesn't give us an excuse to fail. Just because He doesn't respond to us in accordance with our sin, doesn't mean that we can choose to fail Him over and over again, taking advantage of His forgiveness. His mercy and grace doesn't give us liberty to sin. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace my increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Rom. 6:1-2.
Instead, our response to His goodness in the midst of our failures should send us racing back to Him. Our shortcomings - and our admittance of them - should never drive us away from God in shame, but drive us TO Him in gratefulness and humbleness for His mercy and grace. His conviction was/is never meant to harm, but instead to woo us homeward, so that we can walk faithfully and fully in His love.
Jesus, I SOOOO needed that today. I needed to hear that You love me, in-spite of my failures and who I think I am. I needed to hear that You took the burden of my sin and flung it away from me...and You. I needed to hear that You are a compassionate Father, not giving me what I deserve, but fulfilling Your law of love in my life. Thanks God...for the reminder. I praise You for it. Praise You, Father. Praise You.
By now, you are either shaking your head in the affirmative, proudly thinking to yourself, "Pretty good so far," OR you've stopped reading this altogether, because I've reminded you of something dreadfully gone wrong!
I do hate to admit it, but I'm afraid if I was in your position right now, I'd probably skip this column and move on to something else, not wishing to be reminded of my failure. I don't like to fail, so I avoid "it" and any conversation about "it" as much as I possibly can.
But let me assure you, this column is not about failure. It's not about an accusing finger pointed in your direction. It's about something totally different...something incredibly encouraging to my soul...and I'm sure to yours, as well.
Now, I don't want you to rush through this next paragraph. You speed-readers - SLOW DOWN. Yes, I'm talking to you! Take your time reading, no matter how hard it is to keep your eyes from flying over the ink. For the rest of you (including myself!) who tell yourselves you are speed-readers, don't allow your desire to finish quickly to take away from the passage...even if you've read it a hundred times before. Let the Words really sink in. "Feast" on what it says and allow God to speak openly with you (and me) about your (our) failures. Ready...here we go:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever (By the way, these Words were written before the birth of Christ. God strives with us no longer for His anger was poured out on the crucified Christ). He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust (Ps. 103:8-14).
Whew! How's that for encouragement?
When I read this a few days ago, I immediately thought to myself, "I really needed to hear that today. Thanks for reminding me, Lord."
Praise God, He doesn't deal with me according to my failures...that He doesn't give me what I deserve...that He flings my sin away, as far as the east is from the west (that's a pretty "fer" piece!)...that He has compassion on me, when I'm trapped in my downward-spiral of thinking...that He is mindful that I am but dust. God is, indeed, incredibly good to us - even in our failures.
When I read this a few days ago, I immediately thought to myself, "I really needed to hear that today. Thanks for reminding me, Lord."
Praise God, He doesn't deal with me according to my failures...that He doesn't give me what I deserve...that He flings my sin away, as far as the east is from the west (that's a pretty "fer" piece!)...that He has compassion on me, when I'm trapped in my downward-spiral of thinking...that He is mindful that I am but dust. God is, indeed, incredibly good to us - even in our failures.
However, His goodness doesn't give us an excuse to fail. Just because He doesn't respond to us in accordance with our sin, doesn't mean that we can choose to fail Him over and over again, taking advantage of His forgiveness. His mercy and grace doesn't give us liberty to sin. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace my increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Rom. 6:1-2.
Instead, our response to His goodness in the midst of our failures should send us racing back to Him. Our shortcomings - and our admittance of them - should never drive us away from God in shame, but drive us TO Him in gratefulness and humbleness for His mercy and grace. His conviction was/is never meant to harm, but instead to woo us homeward, so that we can walk faithfully and fully in His love.
Jesus, I SOOOO needed that today. I needed to hear that You love me, in-spite of my failures and who I think I am. I needed to hear that You took the burden of my sin and flung it away from me...and You. I needed to hear that You are a compassionate Father, not giving me what I deserve, but fulfilling Your law of love in my life. Thanks God...for the reminder. I praise You for it. Praise You, Father. Praise You.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
God is Our Refuge
My kids LOVE to play HAGS - affectionately known by our neighbor Sam - as Hide-and-Go-Seek. It was no wonder then, that when Seth - the youngest of the bunch - was old enough to run, he wanted to join the older kids in their adventure...and I got the privilege one day of being his hiding partner.
"Seffie" and I went and stood behind a big bush and waited. I don't remember who was actually "It" at the time, but whoever it was knew where we were, and I guess decided there were more challenging opponents just around the front of the house. You see, "the bush" was Seth's hiding place. He hid there EVERY time and everyone knew it. He was convinced it was a great place to be, because he never got "caught."
As I stood there, treasuring the moment, Seth kept peering around the edge of the bush, wide-eyed and ready to run. He finally looked back and me and said, "I'll check and see if the 'ghost' is clear." Needless to say, I broke into laughter...on the inside, of course. After all, this was HAGS. You had to be a serious and silent hider, if you wanted to be safe!
Fast forward two years...
I'm sitting at my dining room table, Bible-opened, searching the Scriptures for life, and I see, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation (or my hope) is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us" (Ps. 62:5-8).
So, now I guess you can see what's got me thinking about HAGS.
How silly would it have been for Seth and me to stand out in the open while playing this game. That would defeat the whole purpose. The "ghost" would never be clear!
After all the point of the game is not necessarily, NOT to get caught. The point of the game is to be the best "hider."
Oh, how I want to be that way in my spiritual life. Yet, most of the time when I feel in "danger" - whether it's because of my own sin or because of someone else's - I stand out in the open and ring my hands...worrying about the outcome. I just stand there, trusting in something or someone to save me - all the while, leaving myself completely vulnerable to the enemy, when a great hiding place is just around the edge of the house.
Scripture says that God is my "refuge." That word means that God is my "shelter against harm." He is my "hiding place."
The next few verses in Ps. 62 says, "Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in roberry; If riches increase, do not set your heart on them" (9-11).
In the earlier verses, God told us that He, alone, is our refuge - and now, He tells us why. Men are just a vapor. Even your best friend in the world - though he/she is God-given and amazing - doesn't need to be the first one you run to when you're desperate.
God is your Refuge.
He also says not to trust in oppression or robbery. Sin NEVER makes things better. Don't think by sinning, you have a place to hide. Doing the wrong things only leave you in the wide open, ready to be attacked. Actually, when you're sinning, it's more like you're hunting the enemy down, screaming, "Hey...here I am!"
God is your Refuge.
Money - even though it is a gift from God - is not to be trusted. If your riches increase, Scripture says, you need to realize that wealth cannot protect you from everything. If you trust in it, money will give you a false sense of security that you are hidden well, when you're really just standing behind something no bigger than a twig and no taller than your shoestring!
God, ALONE, is our refuge. He, ALONE, is our hiding place. He, ALONE, is our safe-house, and only He has the key. God...and God, alone.
Teach me, Lord, to allow You to be my Hiding Place and may I learn it well. It seems I always run to everything else but You, first. I don't want to do that anymore. I want my life to be a pattern of hiding in You...coming to You, first...believing You to be my only source of hope. Thank You, Lord, that because I have asked, You will answer. You will teach me, for You want me to learn...and to trust in You. You are amazing, Father. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You.
"Seffie" and I went and stood behind a big bush and waited. I don't remember who was actually "It" at the time, but whoever it was knew where we were, and I guess decided there were more challenging opponents just around the front of the house. You see, "the bush" was Seth's hiding place. He hid there EVERY time and everyone knew it. He was convinced it was a great place to be, because he never got "caught."
As I stood there, treasuring the moment, Seth kept peering around the edge of the bush, wide-eyed and ready to run. He finally looked back and me and said, "I'll check and see if the 'ghost' is clear." Needless to say, I broke into laughter...on the inside, of course. After all, this was HAGS. You had to be a serious and silent hider, if you wanted to be safe!
Fast forward two years...
I'm sitting at my dining room table, Bible-opened, searching the Scriptures for life, and I see, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation (or my hope) is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us" (Ps. 62:5-8).
So, now I guess you can see what's got me thinking about HAGS.
How silly would it have been for Seth and me to stand out in the open while playing this game. That would defeat the whole purpose. The "ghost" would never be clear!
After all the point of the game is not necessarily, NOT to get caught. The point of the game is to be the best "hider."
Oh, how I want to be that way in my spiritual life. Yet, most of the time when I feel in "danger" - whether it's because of my own sin or because of someone else's - I stand out in the open and ring my hands...worrying about the outcome. I just stand there, trusting in something or someone to save me - all the while, leaving myself completely vulnerable to the enemy, when a great hiding place is just around the edge of the house.
Scripture says that God is my "refuge." That word means that God is my "shelter against harm." He is my "hiding place."
The next few verses in Ps. 62 says, "Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in roberry; If riches increase, do not set your heart on them" (9-11).
In the earlier verses, God told us that He, alone, is our refuge - and now, He tells us why. Men are just a vapor. Even your best friend in the world - though he/she is God-given and amazing - doesn't need to be the first one you run to when you're desperate.
God is your Refuge.
He also says not to trust in oppression or robbery. Sin NEVER makes things better. Don't think by sinning, you have a place to hide. Doing the wrong things only leave you in the wide open, ready to be attacked. Actually, when you're sinning, it's more like you're hunting the enemy down, screaming, "Hey...here I am!"
God is your Refuge.
Money - even though it is a gift from God - is not to be trusted. If your riches increase, Scripture says, you need to realize that wealth cannot protect you from everything. If you trust in it, money will give you a false sense of security that you are hidden well, when you're really just standing behind something no bigger than a twig and no taller than your shoestring!
God, ALONE, is our refuge. He, ALONE, is our hiding place. He, ALONE, is our safe-house, and only He has the key. God...and God, alone.
Teach me, Lord, to allow You to be my Hiding Place and may I learn it well. It seems I always run to everything else but You, first. I don't want to do that anymore. I want my life to be a pattern of hiding in You...coming to You, first...believing You to be my only source of hope. Thank You, Lord, that because I have asked, You will answer. You will teach me, for You want me to learn...and to trust in You. You are amazing, Father. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You.
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