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. 

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.  

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.

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.  


  

Bring Him to Me

Christmas trees strung with brilliant lights...gifts given and received...children's eyes shining brightly with the anticipation of Christmas morning... 

It should be a time of joy and gladness for all involved...at least it SHOULD be that way.  As we gather with family and friends, our love for one another SHOULD abound, and any hard feelings SHOULD disappear.  But that's not always how it happens, is it?

Christmas for some is a drudgery, because they know they'll have to see "him" or "her" again.   Now, I am by no means trying to lessen the emotions that come along with a damaged heart, but I am saying that it's sad that we often find ourselves concentrating so much on those broken relationships at Christmas, that we often forget the most important relationship - Christ coming as a Babe to be Emmanuel - God with us!

So, for those who will struggle this year in their "going home," I've got a plan for you.  This year, decide ahead of time not to dwell on and dread the reuniting of your family and friends, but take joy in what the Lord can do when we bring those relationships to Him.

Not too long ago, I was reading my Bible, and the Lord showed me something I'd never seen before.   He actually was speaking directly to a relationship issue, haunting me at the time, but I would never have guessed He would have chosen this particular passage to do it.  After all, this passage seemingly had nothing to do with my situation.  Isn't it amazing how God takes something from His Word and applies it to our lives in many different ways?

To bring the context into focus, I'll tell you that Jesus had just taken Peter, James, and John with Him to a mountaintop, where they experienced the amazing transfiguration of Christ.  The rest of the disciples were at the bottom, waiting for them to return.  During this time, evidently, a father brought his son to the disciples, hoping they would be able to heal him of his epileptic fits.  They were not.  When Jesus and the three others returned from the mountain, the father fell on his knees before Christ and said:  "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him” (Matt. 17:14-16).  Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me^" (v. 17).

This father desperately wanted healing for his child.  He wanted more than anything to not have to worry over his son's health every minute of every day.  The situation, I am sure, seemed impossible to him, UNTIL he heard about Jesus.  Christ was his last ray of hope.  So, he grabbed his son and off they went to find this Man who others had said had the power of healing.  Imagine the disappointment he must have felt when he found the disciples, but not Jesus.  They, of course, tried to heal the boy, but could not.  I wonder if the demon began to torment the child, right before their eyes, so that the disciples became fearful and lost faith in the power of Christ.  Whatever the case, they could not heal him.

So, when Jesus returned, the father was desperate.  His situation looked hopeless.  All he could see was more torment for him and his child and the rest of the family.    It seemed impossible to fix this mess...and it SHOULD have been.  But then, Jesus said, "Bring him to Me."

"Bring him to Me." 

At the time I read this, I didn't need Jesus to heal my son.  I didn't need Jesus to drive out a demon in my life.  But what I did need was for Jesus to do something I thought might be impossible - that I thought was hopeless.  I needed Him to heal a relationship.  I needed light and hope in the midst of a seemingly dark situation...and He said, "Bring him to Me."

It struck me as so simple, and yet so powerful, that I did.  I gave that relationship over to the One who could fix it.  And ever since that day, when I feel fearful and stressed out about other relationships in my life - whether it be with my friends, my family, my children - I once again, hear the Spirit speak, "Bring him to Me."

For you, it might not be a "him."  Sometimes, it's a "her."  It might not be your relationship with your child.  Then again, it might.  Whatever the gender or whatever the case, Jesus wants to speak healing into that relationship.  He wants to do the impossible, just when it seems all hope is lost.

So this Christmas, if you find yourself in "dread mode," or simply bearing with "him" or with "her," remember to take the active role and bring that person to Christ in prayer.  Bring that relationship to Him and ask Him to heal it and transform it into something that will glorify Him.  Ask Him to change your heart FIRST and purify your motives.  Ask Him to heal the brokenness.  And then watch, as the Author of love and power, Himself, does amazing things - impossible things - in you...and in "him" or "her."

That's just the way it SHOULD be.  : )

Dearest Jesus...change us this Christmas.  Change us today.  Help us lift our difficult relationships to You in trust and belief that You alone can change them.  We've tried, Lord, and it doesn't work for us.  But You, oh You, can do miraculous and marvelous things for us, if we but give ourselves and our relationships to You.  We can't wait to see what You do this Christmas!  Happy Birthday, Jesus!  

 

The "Expecting" Life

Every year about this time, I start thinking about Christmas.  Imagine that!  Well, actually, it's not just "Christmas" I think about - the presents, the lights, the reindeer antlers that attach to your car windows!  No, believe it or not, it's the meaning behind Christmas I try to focus on.  I really try hard not to "miss" the real reason for the color green or the use of trees or decorative ornaments.  Of course, it's always helpful that my husband preaches about Advent and the happenings before the birth of Christ during the month of December.  It does keep my mind on track...thanks Steve!

This past Sunday, Steve was talking about the four hundred year period between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  During this "Intertestamental Period," God had not spoken to the people of Israel.  He had been silent...at least as far as they could tell.  Four hundred years passed. Stop for a minute and try to grasp the magnitude of that...400 years...passed and the people had heard nothing from their God.  I wonder if some fell away from the faith.  I wonder if some decided that God had given up on them.  I wonder if some of them never expected to see God work again.   

Then, surprise - surprise, God spoke through the Angel Gabriel to Zechariah, telling him that his child would be the forerunner of the Messiah.  That story, in and of itself, is an amazing one to study.  It's full of unexpected drama and intrigue.  You need to check it out - Luke 1:5-25.  But for now, I want to focus on another announcement, maybe not quite so unexpected.

Go a little further in the book of Luke.  Verse 26 begins the narration of another announcement:  Gabriel's appearance to Mary - a young girl of humble means - telling her she would become the Mother of the Messiah.

Can you imagine the scene?  I'm sure it would have been fascinating to be a fly on the wall.  Scripture does give us insight into how it happened, as well as Mary's response.  If it had been me in Mary's shoes, I would have freaked out, but she didn't.  How is that possible?  I thought long and hard about this on Sunday night during the middle of church, while Steve was preaching on this section of Luke.  Yes, I'm afraid I have to confess - my mind was wandering!

I just couldn't help thinking about the fact that when Gabriel appeared to Mary, Scripture doesn't say she went running and screaming through the house, trying to get away from the glowing figure.  If I had been Mary, I would have found a hole in the wall to run through or made one myself!  Instead, Scripture says that Mary, "was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was" (Luke 1:29).  The New Living Translations says that Mary was "Confused and disturbed," trying to "think what the angel could mean."  Scripture doesn't speak of her astonishment at the angel's appearance at all...only of her confusion over the the angel's message.   

What would make a 12-13 year old girl NOT petrified to the point of death over seeing and angel, sent from God with a message for her?  Could it be that she wasn't surprised to hear from the Lord?  Could it be that she had heard through the grapevine that God had spoken to Zechariah, her relative's husband, after these 400 years?  Could it be that she was so well-versed in the Words of God - in the Prophets of old - that when she heard God had appeared, she expected Him to do it again? Could it be that hearing from Him again was on the forefront of her mind, causing an anxious anticipation, instead of a wasting away of the soul? 

Could it be? 

Regardless, a lesson jumped out at me. I started thinking to myself...how would my life change if I EXPECTED God to do something...if I EXPECTED Him to show up in my every-day, run-of-the-mill life.  Would my life change?  Would things be different in my relationship with Him...with my family...with my friends, enemies, acquaintances?
You bet'cha.

If I really expected God to work...to speak...to do something in my life, I would drag myself out of bed early in the morning to pour out my heart to Him and search His Word for answers.  I would beg for His advice, ask for His wisdom for my daily decisions.  I would petition Him on behalf of my family...call out in passionate intercession for those who are lost.  I would spend my day "looking" behind every corner...anxiously awaiting to see Him.  I would be consumed with thoughts of Him...and not of myself.  I would EXPECT Him to show up and come through for me and then not be surprised, but joyful, when He did...

...If I EXPECTED Him to do something. 

How much we must miss, because we think we're too busy, too tired, too this or that to spend time with Him throughout our day, when how exciting and surprising our lives would be if we would only anxiously await His "workings."  Fear would no longer rule our relationship with Him, and our lives and the lives of those around us would be focused and fueled by His sweet surprises lavished on us throughout the day. 

Dearest Jesus,  help me to EXPECT You to work in me and through me and for me.  Remind me today, that You want to speak with me...You want to be a part of my everyday, run-of-the-mill life, so that there will be nothing run-of-the-mill about it!  I love You, Father.  Thank You for wanting to speak to me and work within me and for me.  I EXPECT to hear from You and see Your precious promises this very day.  Praise You, Jesus.  I praise You.  


















, and all of the sudden, I've got a glowing white

Finding Joy in the Midst of the Wadings and Waitings

Recently, as parents, we had to do something I hope we never have to do again - call 911.  Our little boy woke up screaming from stomach pain a few nights ago, and it only got worse.  He couldn't walk.  He couldn't stand.  He couldn't do anything, but lie in my lap and writhe in pain.

He cried out to his dad to pray for the pain to go away: "Pray Dad!"  Of course, his father had already been praying, but Seth wanted to hear Steve say it.  So, he did...but the pain didn't go away.  My precious little boy cried and cried, asking me why God didn't stop his pain.

He didn't understand.  He had prayed.  His dad had prayed.  His mom had prayed.  Why didn't God make it go away?  He fully expected God to make him better...right then.  Grasping for words that a little one could understand, I gave him the best Mommy answer I could, "I don't know why God's not making the pain go away.  He could do it.  We'll just keep praying, but sometimes God uses other people to make the pain go away.  The doctors will be here in a minute to help you."

His response was one that struck me, "But Jesus could do it NOW."

Thankfully, the stomach pain subsided by the time we got to the hospital.  Thankfully, the staff at Johnston Memorial were wonderful.  Thankfully, our little boy came out of the ordeal with a new-found interest in doctors and nurses.  "Mom, I think I want to be a doctor when I grow up...no, maybe an ambulance driver," he said with a smile on his face, before drifting off to a peaceful sleep in that big hospital bed.  Thankfully, our ordeal for the night was over...

But Seth's comment remained in my thoughts...

"But Jesus could do it NOW!"

I had caught myself saying the same thing only a couple of days earlier.  Why did He wait?  Why did Jesus choose to do something "the hard way," instead of fixing it for me immediately?  

Isn't it interesting that for the most part, we really do think that God should be at our beck and call.  We think He should give us an easy life, filled with pain-free days and glorious mountain-top experiences.  That is what we truly think, when we get pushed to our limits in situations that are completely out of our control.

And yet, time and time again, Scripture reminds us that God is not at our beck and call...that our life is not about us.  It's about the glory He can receive through what He does in us.    

I'm sure Joseph didn't think it was very fun to be sold into slavery, put in prison for something he didn't do, accused of wrong-doing, forgotten about, and then finally released after years of captivity (Gen. 37-45).  But he came to understand God's plan, when he realized that if those things had not happened, thousands and thousands of people would have died from starvation...including his family.

Daniel probably didn't relish the thought of being thrown into the lion's den (Dan. 6:1-28).  And yet, had he not been taken captive from his home, stolen away, and forced to work for someone who served other gods, we wouldn't have the account of Daniel in the lion's den.  We wouldn't know the power of God's ability to shut the mouths of lions, nor would Daniel's king probably ever come to a head knowledge - at least - of the ONE TRUE GOD. 

I'm sure the people in the early church would have rather not been murdered, beheaded, tortured, etc....  And yet, if the persecution had not come, Believers would not have been scattered in all directions, sending them and the Gospel out to parts of the world they had never considered visiting.  The persecution of the saints was the main reason for the spreading of the Gospel in Biblical times.

If Jesus had not "endured the cross, despising the shame" (Heb. 12;2), then all of humanity would be in a heap of trouble!

Is. 43:1-3a says, "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by your name;  You are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you:  and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel Your Savior....'"

Read that passage again...Isaiah doesn't say "IF we pass through the waters" or "IF we pass through the fire."  Isaiah says, "WHEN" we do. 

Yes, there are times that God allows "stuff" to happen....stuff that we never dreamed would happen.  And the option is always there - He could change it immediately.  Jesus could wipe it all away with one thought...and sometimes He does.  But then there are other times when He is patient with us in our suffering.  He doesn't immediately snatch away the thing that breaks us.  It's at that point when we have to put our faith into action and trust that He knows best....that He wants what's best for us...that He is still in control, even when our emotions are not.  It's then when we have to remember that He is WITH us and is causing something greater to be born IN us.


Oh, if we could just see what's on the other side of our suffering.  If we could just see how God takes the stench and turns it into the sweet smelling aroma of Christ for those around us, then our faith would never falter.  It would never waiver again.  But then, it wouldn't be faith.

We don't often get a chance to see those things ahead of time, but there is something we can do in the midst of them.  We can choose to see past what we think we know and see into what God is doing.  Read that again:  We can choose to see past what we think we know and see into what God is doing.  We can choose to believe that He really is with us as we pass through the water and walk through the fire and that He will be glorified and uplifted though it all.  We can choose to know that He is creating in us, more of Himself.

Knowing that - really knowing that - makes the WADING and WAITING have purpose and meaning, giving us joy in the midst of  the "stuff."      

Thank You, Lord, that we "have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body" (2 Cor. 4:7-11).  Praise You, Jesus.  Praise You.

The Covering

My mind has been on Genesis lately.  If you read my last blog post, you'll know why.  The picture of God's love in the midst of the Garden, after the Fall, has really done a number on my spiritual life. And today, I find myself here again...in Genesis...just as bumfuzzled and bewildered about the love of my Lord and His amazing care for His wayward creation. 

After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, God showed many mercies to them.  One in particular was by clothing them for their life OUTSIDE the Garden.  This wasn't a joyous occasion.  He didn't take them out to the nearest Macy's and say, "Here, find anything you want, and I'll get it for you.  Just make sure it fits well, and I get a good deal for my money."

Instead, God had to do something very sad.  He had to take one of the animals He created...one of the animals Adam and Eve had probably petted and played with...one of the animals which was precious to them all...and He had to kill it.

Death had entered the world.

Adam and Eve, in their shame, had clothed themselves with fresh leaves, but their newly woven garments weren't going to last very long.  Can you imagine how long it would have taken for that type of clothing to be destroyed?  If you're having a hard time picturing it, just think with me about my six year old son playing football in the front yard with his older brother...dressed in a covering of leaves.  No matter how many stitches I had used to perfect the garment, it wouldn't last more than the first tackle! 

God knew this.  He knew their attempt at covering themselves wouldn't work very long outside the Garden.  They would need something else...something a little more suited for the weather...something a little more permanent.  So, in order to remedy this temporary "fix,"  God had to do something drastic. 

He had to kill.

He took one of His creations - we aren't told which animal it was - and He killed it, in order to provide a better covering for His wayward children.  This, in itself, is an act of love.  If He were the angry, vengeful, hateful God that some claim Him to be, He would have kicked the couple out of the Garden right then and there, clothed in their pitiful green leaves.   Yet, instead,  He sadly sacrificed something precious to Him to temporarily cover their sin, until a later time!

Did you get that - UNTIL A LATER TIME!  Fast forward with me a few thousand years.  God's children were still figuratively clothed in their temporary garments of animal skin - skins that wore out - skins that reeked of death - skins that were temporary.  There wasn't a permanent covering for their shame...UNTIL JESUS.

Is. 64:6 says, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away.  Yep, sounds like a covering of rotting leaves to me.  And yet, read on in the New Testament in Romans 4:6,7.  This is where the joyful covering takes place - no more sorrow, no more death:  Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputes Righteousness without works saying, Blessed are they whose iniquites are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

Do you see the exchange?  God, in His sorrow, sacrificed an animal to provide a temporary shame covering for His children in the Garden.  And through the sacrifice of Christ, God joyfully provided a permanent and lasting shame covering - His righteousness.

Oh, how our lives would change if we would grasp onto this idea that we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ.  Oh, how our lives would change, if we would simply stop trying to cover our shame and allow God to do the work only He can do.

I challenge you.  Every morning as you dress, remember as you put on piece-by-piece - that you, as a Believer, are no longer clothed in shame.  You are no longer clothed in death.  You are, instead, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  Your pitiful, wilting leaves have been exchanged by Him who knew no sin (made sin for us) that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.  Whew!  Can you hear the Spirit within you agreeing, as I can? 

If we do this, no longer will we get up in the morning, take one look in the mirror and think of what an awful person we are.  Instead, when we remind ourselves continually that we are clothed with the robes of righteousness that God prepared for us through Christ, we will be different.  We will continually be thankful to God, the Father, Who clothed us.  We'll be a humble, grateful people...and the fragrance that we give off to those around us, will be one of Jesus, instead of dead, wilting leaves.

More Genesis to come.  I'm sure of it!!!

Thank You, Father for taking away my stinky garments and providing beautiful, holy, sweet-smelling, precious robes to put on.  Thank You for giving and sacrificing in order for that exchange to take place.  Thank You, Jesus for making that exchange - Your righteousness for my filthy rags.  You are amazing.  Praise You, Jesus.  Praise You! 

Oh, What a Marriage Retreat Can Do For You!

We spent this past weekend at a marriage conference in beautiful, western North Carolina.  We've been about 9 times out of our 19 years of marriage, and it just gets better.  We go there to enrich our marriage, but more importantly, to hear from the Lord...and oh how He speaks when we listen!

One of the most precious times of "hearing from the Lord" this year, came during one of the break-out sessions at the conference.  There were about 60 of us gathered in a room together, waiting anxiously to hear what Dale and Jena Forehand had to say about marriage.  Steve and I had heard this husband/wife team speak before, so we knew we were in for a treat.

Dale Forehand started speaking first, talking about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  He painted the picture of what it must have been like, and then asked this question:  "Why do you think God asked them where they were?"

His question stemmed from Genesis 3:8,9:  "Then they heard the Lord God walking in the garden during the cool part of the day, and the man and his wife hid from the Lord God among the trees in the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man and said, 'Where are you?''  Now, God knew where Adam and Eve were.  It wasn't like He lost them.  So the question Dale Forehand asked was a good question to get some discussion started. 

One of the people in the class said God asked Adam and Eve that question to give them a chance to repent.  Another said something else I can't remember!  And then, the beautiful, blonde-headed lady in front of me said, "Because of His love."

I couldn't figure out why she said that.  I hadn't heard that answer before.  So, I kept turning it over and over again in my mind trying to figure out why God would have asked them where they were because of His love for them.  All of the sudden, I felt the Spirit speak into my heart...He missed them.  What?  I didn't quite catch that...could you repeat that again?  He missed them.

The more I thought about it, the more I think she was right.  Until sin came into the world, God had enjoyed beautiful, unbroken fellowship with His creation.  God spoke unhindered with Adam.  His "feet" walked the same paths in the garden that Adam enjoyed.  Their relationship was special...precious...unlike any every before and unlike any since, humanly speaking.  So, is it any wonder that God, out of a grieving heart, called out, "Where are you?" even though He knew where they were.

Anyone who has a child can somewhat picture a similar scenario.  Let's say that you have enjoyed a beautiful relationship with your son or daughter.  His/her life has been a joy from day one.  You have cared for that child, watched him/her grow, given your loved one everything he/she needed for life...and in return, your child has been so very grateful.  However, all of the sudden, that same child that used to run to you when life got hard, now walks away from you and shuts you out completely.  Instead of the long talks after school, you get a head nod, before your dear one runs and "hides" from your presence in his/her room - shutting the door physically and mentally.  Now, is your child gone?  Do you NOT know he/she is?  No.  Your little one is still in your home.  You know where that child is, but for some reason, he/she seems a million miles away.   I know, as a parent, my heart would be aching over the chasm of  broken fellowship, and I too, would wonder, "Where are you?"

Now, imagine how much deeper the Holy Father must have felt the dis-association with His children...with the entirety of His creation. 

So, as I sat there, my mind turning these thoughts over and over in my head, my eyes filled with tears.  How hurtful that must have been for Him....for them to "hide from His presence" (3:8), because of their sin.  Then it hit me like a ton bricks...He misses me, too..."Where are you, Belinda?"

I about burst into tears right then and there.  The sweetness of His quiet rebuke and the care with which He drew me back to Himself were so very precious to me.  I had allowed the worries, even of that day, to whisk away my mind from Him...to cause me to focus on the things of this world, instead of enjoying my relationship with Him and walking with Him.

So forgive me, but I have to ask you the same question today.  "Where are you?"  Have you allowed some sin to cause you to hide from the presence of the Lord?  Have you just "not had time" for Him lately?  Have you exchanged the trustworthiness of God for trusting in what this world will give you?  Whatever the case, if you've drifted away from the Father, He misses you.  He misses walking and talking with you in the cool of the day.  He misses listening to your struggles about your day and how you're afraid of what tomorrow might hold.  He misses listening to you tell Him of how much fun you had with your friends and how much you appreciate Him giving them to you.  He misses talking with you.  He missed talking to you.

He misses you. 


Don't believe me?  Luke 13:34 gives us a glimpse into the New Testament heart of the Father through Jesus who said:  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!"

You see, God wanted a relationship with them.  He wanted their fellowship.  He wanted to gather them together and protect them as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings...but they would not have Him.  They were more content to remain in their sin, than to come out from hiding and enjoy His presence.  May it never be said of us.  For you see, He still wants that same sweet fellowship today....with you and me!

So I'll ask you the question once again, and this time, let its truth settle deep into your heart, so that you respond appropriately.  "Where are you?"

Dearest Jesus, I pray for those today, who are hiding...who need to know that You know where they are and are calling them out and back into fellowship with You.  Lead them out of hiding, dear Jesus.  Let them know that even a "little sin" causes them broken fellowship with You.  Thank You, Lord that You speak...that You seek us out...that You, above all, miss us, when we are not walking with You in the garden of life.  Thank You.   You are amazing.  I praise You, Lord.  I praise You.