Words of Life

“The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:62-64)

I have a friend who struggles with a debilitating illness that has become progressively worse. We were chatting a few days ago and she cried, saying she had come to the end of her rope with this sickness and just wanted a way out. Her words became progressively darker and I could almost see a cloud of oppression forming over her head. Since I don’t have perfect health (who does?!) either, I sympathized with my friend’s position. However, I also recognized a familiar thread in her words. When struggling with an ongoing problem, be it an illness, a relationship heading south, financial woes, or any other of sundry things, we tend to get mesmerized by the difficulty, rather than the Solution.

Having just recently emerged from such a battle, the pattern—and the way out—are familiar. Struggling with an ongoing situation for many months, I felt absolutely weary—in every way. All I could seem to think about was this quandary for which there appeared to be no solution. While out hiking one day, I heard a voice say to me, “I have given you the mind of Christ.” That seemed really good. But the next words thoroughly shook me: “Why don’t you use it?”

I stopped in my tracks, and said, “But Lord, what do You mean? I thought that I am using it!” Then I asked Him another question, “What do you mean by the ‘mind of Christ’?”

I’ll never forget His reply: “Think upon whatever is lovely, whatever is noble, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is commendable.” And the next line of Philippians 4:8 says, “If there is any excellence, anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

I was trapped. I suddenly realized thenegative path I’d been on for months, wrapped up in my world of problems and anxiety. I had lost sight of the purpose for which I live, “To know and to make Him known.” And as I know Him, the only thing I can do is to worship Him, because He is so amazing, so profoundly wonderful, beyond anything we could ever know on earth. And as only He can do, the Lord somehow “zapped me” and all the negativity I’d been feeling for months simply vanished!

As I turned to my friend, I said, “Do you worship our Lord in the midst of the pain and illness?” Our thoughts can adore Him even when we can’t speak. We can worship Him while in a coma, as I discovered in a book about a boy who was comatose for months. We don’t have to be fully conscious, on our feet or knees. We can worship Him anywhere and anytime. For, as His Word says so eloquently, if we don’t, even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40). I don’t know about you, but I’m not too excited about competing with—and losing to—a rock! If I can’t praise Him more than a rock, something is terribly wrong.

So, my friend and I concluded that it’s better to speak words of life—which seem always to lead to worship—than to speak negative words about sickness or unpleasant and unfair situations. I truly do find that the more positive things I say, the more I want to praise the One Who’s responsible for making things that are wonderful, holy, pure and glorious. I want to dwell in the “mind of Christ,” rather than in the mind of the flesh because the latter was made to help me function in this strange land—the one that’s not yet my home—but the former is what I will use for eternity.

Hearing in Our Heart's Language from One Who's Multilingual

As I visited my original homeland, I was all smiles; everything was pretty simple and straightforward—much moreso now that I live where I don’t fully grasp every word that’s spoken or can’t always find the right words for what I want to say—which knits my eyebrows together in intense concentration and the smile disappears!

All of that is a sweet reminder for those who live in “strange lands”—there’s “another” place called home apart from where we actually live! And when visiting that place, there is solace in speaking our heart language and spending time with those who’ve known us for many, many years. There’s a common history and bond there that is irreplaceable—and that also makes “goodbyes” bittersweet.

But to me, the most important part of this earthly life isn’t just comfort and familiarity—as wonderful as those things are—but obedience to the God Who adored me enough to create me, then made a way for me to come to Him to dwell in a perfect homeland surrounded by His glory forever! Sometimes, that’s what drives the ability to take the next step, going to strange places and mostly feeling like a fish out of water—except during those indescribable moments when His presence floods the person I’m ministering with/to and me! Those times make being a stranger in a strange land worth it all. Knowing that so few people in the places I go ever experience the peace and love of God gives me a heart for them to know this as I do. To believe with certainty that there’s a Creator Who absolutely and unequivocally adores us completely changes life on earth, doesn’t it? It makes it possible to spend much more time living selflessly, rather than just for me. And because He ministers to my heart when it feels empty and I feel alone, I know He’s always with me and always for me. That incredible knowledge is worth sharing, isn’t it?

While visiting my homeland, I spent a precious few days just being still with God—and discovered something I already knew in my head, but needed to have penetrate my heart—what it means to deal with others in love, and why it matters. The Lord spoke to me in a way that actually changed something inside of me. He explained that when I speak to someone about an issue that disturbs me, if I start with a heart of love, the words I say will have impact and come from His heart. But if I’m angry, hurt and trying to get justice, what I say will likely be judgmental and harsh—and ill-received (understandably). Some of you may already know this, but for me, it penetrated the core of my being, and has been making a difference in how I think, as well as how I speak. Only a supreme God could make such an extraordinary difference in one of His children’s mindsets, I’m sure. This is that revelation knowledge talked about in Ephesians 1:17-23—and I prayed those scriptures over myself and others for a number of years—so it’s just dawning on me that this is actually an answer to my own prayer. Isn’t our God amazing?

So I pray the same thing for you (and me): “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.“

May He fill you in every way!

Good Intentions:  Falling or Climbing?

Well, after issuing what seemed like an encouraging and appealing challenge, I find myself fumbling it!   As I began to feel successful at praying daily for those with whom I have less than a stellar relationship, I started to slack off—and things began to spiral.  New situations developed, and once again, I was faced with the decision to criticize and judge—or intercede.   Along with that choice, I also found that pit where my own heart began to beat against me, and I, too, was subject to the same dance.  Am I so unable to be positive, even about those whom I see very little to be positive about?  

I recently read somewhere that someone who was facing the same challenges decided to begin to thank God for the circumstances and for the people involved in them.  She began to speak gratitude to God even for the negative things as well as the positive ones.  Now that’s not a unique idea, having seen a number of references to the same topic in our most-loved Book.  However, it’s altogether different reading about someone else doing it and embarking on the same journey in this day and age when most of us just complain and give up, walking away from anyone who ruffles our feathers.  

But today, I was inspired by that writer to enumerate positive things regarding an individual with whom I’m extremely myopic when it comes to virtues.  After several minutes, I was able to come up with six, but also wrote down six negative things, so I’m not sure if that counts!  However, I was pretty happy about being able to recognize six good things!  And I’m realizing that the other six are for prayer—if I can only climb that mountain once again.  I’m most grateful that our God shared with us that He picks us up when we stumble and keeps us from falling (Psalm 145).  So up I climb, hanging onto His strong and kind hand, grateful that He can even find six things about me that He loves!

A Challenge

I was recently visiting with a lady who had just gone through a very ugly divorce after discovering that her husband had repeatedly committed adultery with numerous women. I wasn’t in the happiest or most content of places when she asked me to pray for her and though I wasn’t too enthusiastic, she insisted so I prayed—and in a way only He can do—the Lord chose to speak through me.

“I believe the Lord is saying that He wants you to pray for your husband. You know him better than anyone and you know how far he has fallen away from the Lord. You are also deeply wounded by him, and by praying for him, forgiving him and blessing him, you’ll receive your healing and the Lord will use your prayers to bring him healing and recovery also.”

A friend with whom I was praying for the lady later told me that the prayer was straight from God (though I sure didn’t feel much when praying!). My friend said there was someone in her life about whom she could utter not one positive word—so she decided to act on what I’d said to the lady for whom we were praying. As she spoke, I quickly realized that there were people in my life with whom I was mentally wrestling pretty helplessly. And rather than praying for them, I was complaining to God and others about them—a lot!

I told my friend that perhaps I should heed my own words. She repeated that these weren’t my words, but from the Lord. (She was very kind to not point out that I, indeed, needed to pray for those with whom I was struggling!)

So in the morning for the past couple of weeks, I’ve begun to pray for them—blessings, not complaints. I try to pray according to what I know their struggles to be, in an opposite kind of way.

For example, if I’m struggling with someone who consistently ignores me, I ask God why she does that and pray from that place. I almost always discover something about the pray-ee: that she/he is hurting, feels rejected, or is insecure, perhaps. Then I can pray for her/him to feel loved, accepted and confident of whom she/he is in Christ. If I don’t hear anything from the Lord, there’s one sure-fire, no-holds-barred way to pray: “Lord, please help them to know how high, wide, deep and long Your love is.” (Eph 3:16-18)

You know what? Since beginning to do this, I actually feel better about the people and the situations. I’m no longer struggling whenever someone mentions them and feel positive when I think of them. Yay, God! Isn’t He amazing??

So here’s the dare, dear reader: Begin today to pray for the one who challenges you the most, be it your spouse, child, the president, friend, boss, co-leader, etc. Pray every day for a week and see what happens. And if you’d be so kind, I’d love to hear the results; please feel free to post a comment!

Power in Small Packages

A book called God’s Supernatural Power (author: Bobby Connor) discusses how the west “super-sizes” everything—not just food, cars and cereal packages, but people, too. Bobby accurately describes how the church creates “super-saints,” and how we try to calculate where we are spiritually, gauged on what these “super-saints” are doing or not doing. (Sounds an awful lot like idolatry, doesn’t it? And yet, almost all of us have done it with one leader or another.)

As I was reading this, I began to think of people I actually know (not from a distance, but up close) who are nicer, kinder and more loving than many of these super-saints. For example, I’m fairly sure Billy Graham is a pretty normal guy when he’s not doing stadium events. In fact (having read some of his books), it turns out that he thought he was no one special when he was launched internationally as someone who could turn a crowd of drug-using, promiscuous young adults into weeping, repentant ones.

But when you think about it, Billy’s not the one who actually did this; it was God Himself—working through a “clay pot” (2 Cor 4:7) no bigger, smaller or greater than any of us. David is a Biblical hero who started out pretty much the same way. The youngest of many brothers, he was overlooked by his own father when the prophet Samuel came looking to make one of the boys God’s chosen king. Though David was a lowly shepherd, smaller than the rest of his siblings, God plucked him out of the pasture and thrust him before a giant, armed with nothing but a slingshot and some stones. Pretty unimpressive, huh? But he became a king who’s frequently cited in God’s Word, and revered by many cultures and generations.

Then there’s the most notorious Person in the Bible—the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—who actually deserves all of the adulation we could possibly give. But how did the Father present Him to the earth? Did He come on a massive golden chariot, covered in multi-colored robes with gemstones all over them, surrounded with gigantic angels trumpeting His arrival (surely the way religious leaders expected!) to all of earth’s inhabitants? This has to be the determining example. God chose to send His only Son—the Victor of all battles—as a completely vulnerable infant to a now-shamed young woman (because of her out-of-wedlock pregnancy) and an earthly father who just wasn’t too sure about the whole thing (and who can blame him?).

The point is, God truly does use the weak things of this world to confound the strong and the foolish things to confound the wise (1 Cor 1:20, 26-29). I fit in both categories, and am guessing most of you feel the same way, most of the time. Yet this same God Who created the heavens, earth and everything in them, wants to use us to do His bidding—to feed the hungry, heal the sick and raise the dead. He said He’s given us His glory (John 17:22), which I personally think is extraordinarily remarkable. I mean, who did He hang out with when He lived here—the famous priests, rulers and entertainers? Nope, it was the uneducated, the poor, the laborers, the unnoticed ones—much like you and me.

I believe He wants to change our western mindset so that we stop supersizing things and people, and allow Him to be the only One Who deserves this kind of adoration. He wants us to step up to the plate and be the David’s, Mary’s and Billy’s—no matter our age, occupation, IQ, gender or denomination—emulating the Lord of Hosts, as He is the best Example, isn’t He?

This only applies, of course, to those who believe that the Bible is His Word and that His Son came to save us from eternal death by dying on the cross for our sins. But if that’s you, then you have Christ, the Hope of Glory, living inside of you, empowering you to do anything He asks. All it takes is total dependence and relational-connectedness to the Source of life itself.

And if you haven’t yet discovered the reality of knowing the humblest King Who ever walked the earth, I highly recommend it. This relationship isn’t just for the purpose of making sure we have an eternal destiny, but for living now as ones who are power-packed with His loving kindness and miracles that abound as we speak life-words onto a planet whose future is almost present.

The Journey’s Guide

Following after God often seems like being in an enormous maze (like I once saw in England). From the upstairs window of the castle, one could easily see the way out of the myriad of stopping and starting paths, but from inside the maze, it seemed like an overly-tall jungle with no end. Our Father easily sees the path we’re on and is more than happy for His Holy Spirit to guide us through. But if I’m standing in the middle of it and have my cell phone turned off so no one above can call me, nor can I call them, then I’ve cut myself off from the only external source able to help. Is that not what I do with the Lord when I determinedly fix my eyes on a course which I can only see in a myopic way—like a horse with blinders that is constantly surprised when something sidles up beside him unexpectedly and which only knows the way to go as its driver guides it with the reins? Instead of seeking the only One Who can help me, I often focus on trying to do things by myself.

I’ve recently had a long period of seeking His face and the course He has for me, and this is exactly how it felt. Not yet being completely on the other side of the maze, but confident that I’m closer to the exit than I was a few months ago, I’m beginning to realize that my dependency on Him has increased the way a blind person’s hearing and other senses are radically altered after the eyesight disappears. What was once just background noise becomes quite meaningful when crossing a busy parking lot. And a coffee shop’s almost negligibly attractive smell, to the sightless becomes the directional source to follow when meeting a friend at the restaurant next door. This is how it feels to follow God as our relationship with Him deepens, isn’t it? Making decisions based on our own or someone else’s good ideas is no longer an option. We first go to the One we love the most to seek His opinion and counsel.

I’ve often heard mocking words spoken of those who ask God what outfit to wear, but I’ve begun to realize that most people who have drawn very near to Him aren’t necessarily asking His advice, but are merely having an active conversation—much the same as a wife to husband or vice versa. “Honey, should I wear my grey slacks with my pink or blue top?”

“Oh, you look great in the pink one—wear that!”

It’s not some dramatic encounter, or a plea for counsel as much as it’s simply an affectionate desire to know the other’s opinion and desires. This is how He wants us to interact with Him, isn’t it? Was Moses not like this? How about David, Joseph (of the many-colored coat, or even the stepdad of our Messiah), Mary, Deborah, etc.? Did they not commune with the Lord and talk to Him as one who is intimately close—like a very dear friend, spouse, child or sibling? This deep relationship removes the independence from those who are prone to finding the path alone, and causes the self-reliance to transform into a lovely relationship of interdependency. As I depend on the living God for help, He deigns to let me help Him!

As I’ve oft-traversed these life mazes—often without seeking Him, and finding myself to be quite lost, mixed up and unable to move forward—I’ve begun to realize that my circumstances are designed to drive me closer to my Beloved. And I don’t think this is meant to be temporary, but something He longs for me to grow in as I walk out my life on this strange planet. Truly, He’s closer than a friend, than a prayer, than our skin—because He dwells inside of us—isn’t that just the most extraordinary Truth?!

Helping God

When a mother is getting ready to make cookies, her three-year-old comes tearing into the kitchen, muddy footprints trailing behind.

“I want to help, I want to help, plllleeeaaaasseee, Mommy!!!” he screams.

A loving smile turns up her lips as she gazes upon her progeny, so desirous of being part of what she’s doing. Knowing that he will make a far bigger mess, dropping chocolate chips on her freshly-mopped floor, pouring flour all over the counter, and breaking more eggs than she actually needs, she sweeps her son into her arms and says, “Of course, dear, I’d LOVE for you to help me!”

A few years later, Mom is making cookies again and her 10-year-old bounds up the stairs as she yells out, “Don’t bring the mud up with you!”

This time, he quickly kicks off his shoes and runs in, asking, “Are you making cookies? Can I help?”

Now he can actually do a few things that are helpful, but still, the benefits are greatly outweighed by the extra cleanup afterwards. But Mom still says, “Sure, honey, you can do the measurements, okay? That’ll help you with the fractions you’re studying!” she smiles encouragingly.

At 15, her son clomps into the kitchen as his Mom is cleaning up. “Mom, can you make cookies? I could sure use something to munch on right now.”

Seeing that her son needs to talk, she begins pulling out cookie sheets and ingredients. “Sure, Son. Let’s chat while I throw them together.”

Finally, at 22, the son strolls into the kitchen, his arm wrapped around the waist of his new wife. “Mom, is it okay if Rebecca makes some cookies?”

Grateful that they want to be in her kitchen, she says, “That would be wonderful. I’m just finishing the dishes, and I’d love some time together. Why don’t I help you find everything and we can hang out as you cook, Rebecca?”

So often, aren’t most of us are like the first couple of examples when we think we’re going to “help” God do something? We come plowing in, arms and legs flying, making a mess of things, and He joyfully greets us, and enthusiastically lets us join Him in His work of loving the world to life.

As we mature, He lets us do more and more, always joining us because He loves our company so much. However, we never get better at Him than anything, just more skilled at doing different tasks. But the love that must abound in our relationships, in our efforts, in our own hearts for Him must continue in order for whatever we do to be effective. He embraces everything we do because He’s such a loving Father, but He truly doesn’t need us—He simply enjoys having us alongside Him as companions (even though He’s always far more skilled than we could ever be!). When we pray for the sick, walk someone through His Word, showing someone how to find hope in Him, or just want to sit and talk with Him, He’s always present, always enthusiastic about our desire to come close and “help” Him—even when our own desires are to see results, to enjoy the outcome, to show Him what we’ve done. Like the 10-year-old who spilled flour everywhere, eggs dripping off his now-stained-shirt, his mom cleaning up after everything he does, we emerge saying, “Look what I did!!!” when all the while, we were only “helping” our mighty Father by just coming alongside Him in what He was already doing—in His incredible power and incomparable love—trying to keep up with Him, hoping to impress an already doting Father.

His Simplicity

Though His book foretold it, the virgin birth didn’t fit the theology of the Pharisees.

Coming as an infant wasn’t a good enough image for a King;

They wanted pomp and splendor, decrees for their nation to glorify the priests.

But You came in humility, clothed with rags and born in a shelter.

The only ones who knew were those who brought you to life,

and those our Father prophesied to through the stars.

Those who studied Your Word didn’t recognize You.

In fact, they opposed You because You were too kind, too full of grace.

Their desire was for a despot who would overthrow their nation’s enemies.

And Your desire was—and is—to overthrow the enemy of their (and our) hearts.

Your kingdom doesn’t look like their understanding,

So they rejected it—then and still.

But You spurn them not.

You intercede for them—those You called Your people—

And those who came under Your cloak, as Ruth did with Boaz.

You are our Kinsman Redeemer, the One sent to save the world.

Your robes are humble and unattractive in appearance to our eyes.

But we cannot see the splendor that heaven does,

For our eyes are not yet fully opened.

The sound of heaven is intensely busy, some preparing for the arrival of many,

While others shine their battle dress and sharpen their weapons for the coming conflict.

There has never been a war like the one looming ahead…

How extraordinary that You have called the weak things of this world—

Your servants—to confound the wise.

How utterly fantastic that You have changed our name from “servant” to “friend,”

From outcast to chosen child.

 

Yet You are the real Sign and Wonder. 

The knowledge of You is what we seek and what our hearts cry out to grasp.

For Your magnificence is not obvious to the theologians,

Nor is Your power and glory yet manifesting in predictable ways.

But Your love is what overwhelms and transforms us.

Its strength is far greater than any weapon,  

And far more expansive than that of any nation.

Your love is sheltering, yet pushes us onward to do great things.

It is inspiring and undergirding, overwhelmingly full of grace

And fulfilling strategies that not even the greatest scholar of Your Word can predict.

Your love is the royalty that we seek, the power that we long to know.

Your glory is filled with it and Your kingdom breathes it.

No one can escape it except through death,

Which You already fulfilled so we can receive life for eternity.

Reveal Yourself, oh King, to the learned as well as to the simple.

Show the priests and wise men that You are far beyond their minds‘ reach,

That You reveal Yourself to children and Your plans to Your Beloved.

Dissolve our independence so that me may run to you,

Falling on both knees in deference to Your greatness.

Let us no longer hold others back by the limits our understanding places on You;

Help us to spur one another on to know You more and more.

Pull Your children close,

So that we may gaze upon Your splendor, wonderful Messiah!

His Power is Real

I dreamed that I heard a voice saying, “Doom and gloom,” and saw a large olive tree branch that looked old and very dead.  I prayed and asked God for joy, and suddenly the branch became alive and—one by one—was filled with beautiful, bright and differently colored birds, chirping away.  I felt the Lord’s power all around them, the power that created heaven and earth.  How great is our God!

Steppin’ Out

Wooossshhhh…  That’s the sound of breath leaving my lips.  Sometimes it’s challenging being a woman in ministry.  And for those of you in the workforce—especially in male-dominated professions—I  know it can be at least as complex.  (For men reading this, I hope this subject won’t put you off, but will intrigue you!)

I can honestly say that I’ve done some research, but not nearly enough on the subject of women in leadership.  Having been in leadership in the marketplace and in ministry, I find the problems are slightly different but still based on a concept that women shouldn’t lead men.  This is—to say the least—a “sticky wicket.” 

However, trying to determine the Biblical correctness of women in leadership doesn’t seem cut and dry.  Having been in close quarters with some extraordinarily powerful women leaders in the marketplace and in ministry, I just can’t say that they’re missing the Lord’s mark by doing what they do.  In fact, few men currently can keep pace with some of them.  And oddly enough, some male leaders who oppose women leaders in ministry have allowed women to “share” from their pulpits.  So far, I haven’t heard of anyone being struck by lightning or dying of a sudden heart attack for having allowed such a thing, but the odd thing is, these same leaders went back to default position as soon as that particular woman had finished, and continued the ban on women leading congregations in word and deed.   

As I said, this is a quagmire that, as far as I know, has yet to be satisfactorily resolved.  And sadly, if you’re hoping for answers here, I’m sincerely sorry to say that I don’t have any.  What I do have are concerns that anyone would try and hold back another person powerfully-equipped (by God), from doing what He has called them to do, such as Biblical figures Deborah the judge and Priscilla the home-group leader with her husband, Aquila (a paradox because in the days the correspondence from the disciples were written, women’s names were always mentioned following their husbands’—except in this case).

I’m reminded of a wonderful saint born two centuries ago—Maria Woodworth Etter.  As a thirty-something farmer’s wife, since her teens she had sensed God telling her to begin preaching.  However, she steadily refused—on the grounds that she was an uneducated woman whose husband would not approve of such a thing and because she was a mother whose children needed her.  However, after five of her six children died and the farm completely failed to produce, the Lord’s desire for her won out.  She began to be invited to speak in churches, and quickly became a popular preacher—and traveled  throughout the Midwestern US doing revival meetings.  Though her husband had joined her in the ministry, after a few years he tired of tromping after her and began seeing another woman.  After his infidelity became public (due to newspaper reports), Maria filed for divorce.

As she continued to follow the Lord’s call on her life, the anointing He gave her for healing and leading people to Him steadily increased, as did the results—people being healed in greater and greater numbers, and more importantly, a huge spike of lost souls coming into the kingdom at her meetings.  Though this is arguable, I know, it seems that God approved her decision to continue.  She has gone down in history as one of America’s great turn-of-the-century preachers and was an inspiration to other historical figures who became internationally-known spiritual leaders, such as FF Bosworth, John G. Lake and Smith Wigglesworth.

I believe that in these chaotic times, many are unwilling to be vocal about their faith and want to just get along with everyone—although this isn’t the model Jesus or His disciples gave us.  deeply sense the urgency of this age, and feel the time has arrived for everyone available—regardless of gender—to openly tell others of their eternal hope.  When a ship is facing a battle or emergency, this cry emerges:    ”All hands on deck!” Everyone drops what they’re doing and immediately runs to battle stations.  The Lord’s return is looming ever closer and I believe He’s quite happy to have His daughters fly into action to serve Him however and wherever and whenever He deems appropriate—opposed because of their gender or not.  Rather than trying to prevent them from doing so by saying it’s not Biblical, I believe the Lord would have us commend and even egg others on to do the same—allowing the Lord to determine who shall lead as we willingly run after Him, our Supreme Leader.  The clarion call to leave our daily concerns and seek the Lord for His heavenly ones is here.  Man (pun intended) the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

CONQUEST: EPIC DAY
In the stillness of a cold spring dawn,
drop after drop of crimson agony
fell to the brown, caked ground
below the towering pine poles that
bore the most infamous King to ever live.

There was never a greater silence
than the earth’s collective gasp
when her Creator took His last human breath
while on her surface.

Angelic forces stood tense at every level,
completely filling all available space, surrounding
this place of desolation with raw energy
as all of heaven’s forces with tortured gazes looked on
the One they adored as He hung in
the worst humiliation His greatest enemy could devise.

And His most beloved friends and family 

stood by—impotent, scared, absolutely empty.
Feelings of complete abandonment,
hopelessness and despair
raged desperately in their searching hearts.
They could only wonder why He left them…
And there were no answers at that moment.


But then there was a small tremor,
followed by a greater one.
The droplet-drenched earth split open
to receive the royal blood
that spilled upon its surface,
hungrily swallowing it before
it could be defiled any further.


And the heavy, thick curtain that
covered the place of His Presence
began to loudly tear, ripping in
half in a way that no human could manage
as His presence began
to once again fill the galaxy.


The royal Lion’s silent roar was felt by
every body that lay in its grave in that
sorrowful city at that unforgettable moment.
Long-since dead followers
of their yet-unborn King began to awaken.
They rose from their tombs as
portents of what was yet to come.


Everyone in the city ran to hide.
No one could deny what was happening.
It was not normal. It was not explainable.
It was death’s victory—the Answer to
every question had just died.
But now the sudden baffling events began to
overtake the saddest moment
that ever occurred on the earth’s surface.

No one alive in human form—
not even the very offspring of the Creator—
could explain what was taking place
before their eyes and in their ears.
They were stymied into silence.
The overwhelming sorrow was
being replaced by terror and confusion.

Who was that Man?
Why did His death cause a shadow
to fall across the sun?
What blanket of darkness could
cover the brightness of His love—
the very act of complete sacrifice
that nothing else could heretofore accomplish?
He had won the final victory.
There were no more scenes in the play.

His sworn enemy could not believe
what his nefarious scheme was
becoming.
His greatest triumph was quickly being overthrown
as his most overwhelming defeat loomed before him.
And he knew there yet more ahead.
He could never win.
His punishment was empty and loathsome.
The crucifixion replaced
the need for death that
his temptations caused.
It was finished…then and there.

Now the whole creation impatiently
quakes and groans, eagerly anticipating
His offspring’s enthusiastic embrace of
the inheritance He—the living God, the One
Whose blood was enveloped in its cracks— bought for them:
“Step up, brothers and sisters. The time has come.”

Needing Help, Calling on the Answerer

Most of the time, I go charging ahead, shirttail flapping in the breeze, without a care in the world as I get to live out my dreams.  But sometimes, seemingly more frequently now than in the past, I’m pulled up short by someone else’s words or actions.  Once in awhile, the word is a kind or encouraging one that makes me pause and be thankful that I’m on the right path.  But more often than not, the words come as a disheartening and discouraging surprise.

I see through those words—or a raised eyebrow with a scowling eye on the opposite side and downturned lips below—that someone is disturbed by something I’ve done or said.  Very few times can I just keep moving forward when this happens, but sometimes I recognize that the sharpness has nothing to do with me and is just a reflection of the others’ negativity or sour mood.

On the rest of the occasions, I find myself before our King, asking if I’ve done something wrong—or blaming the other person for being in the wrong.  When I feel wronged, I often go on tirades to Him, telling Him what’s wrong with them, why they’re wrong and asking for Him to sort them out.

Once in awhile, I actually discover that He brought someone else correction, but more frequently, He sorts ME out (maybe you can relate?!).  I discover old wounds that have formed crusty, thickened scars inside my heart, or even fresher ones that are oozing with infection.  And I must open myself up to my Healer and say, “Here I am again, and I need surgery.  Please cut out the rotten parts and replace them with new ones that aren’t so riddled with darkness.”

He’s so kind and faithful, always loving.  He doesn’t chide me for being like a continually-errant child, but encourages me by saying that He’s so in love with me and so happy that I need Him to help me.  He never tires of my tales of hurt feelings or cries for help.  Just today, as I was pouring out my heart, I saw a “picture” in my mind’s eye, of me climbing up a rocky mountain-side—my Beloved Jesus right beside me.  I would slip, and He would grab me, preventing me from falling.  Or I would start to move too quickly and fall backward.  And—you guessed it—He was right there, hands up and on my back, shoulder s pressed against me so that I wouldn’t topple.  What kind of friend can always be so available —or even wants to be so helpful when we frequently mess up?  His faithfulness always surprises me, but less so than His abiding love.  He truly overlooks my wrongs so frequently, just waiting for me to come running (or crawling) and asking Him to help.  And it’s then that I’m face to face with my sinfulness and He’s there to pick up the pieces.

As difficult as it is, I’m thankful for the parts of life that cause me to stick close to my Maker.  These are opportunities to draw underneath the enormously powerful arms that shadow me from harm and keep me warm when the world feels cold.  As the prince of this world chases after us and tries repeatedly to knock us down, trip us, or just plain kill us, it’s an amazing feeling to know that my Hero never fails me and always wins.  He makes the battle all worthwhile, and knowing that He can go inside and treat what’s broken—no matter how long it has been that way—is deeply encouraging.   Even when I’m wrong, He helps me to find the truth and makes me feel loved and forgiven as quickly as I recognize it.

We’re getting ready to see the enemy of this world and of God’s creatures be trounced by the greatest Light that ever was or will be.  To know this in times of darkness is like being cared for as a small bud growing in dry and rocky soil.  He waters and feeds us; indeed, He takes better care of us than the best vineyard owner.  We are His investment and He won’t settle for anything less than stellar returns on us—guaranteed returns to what was given us as a new-birthright. 

What If I Don’t Feel Like It?

I’ve heard of people who arose every day at 4 am to pray for three hours—but I’ve yet to meet one!  Honestly, I can’t imagine doing this!  And though I have a “God day” once a week, this isn’t a day I dedicate to praying for others, but for spending time with my Hero, my Beloved, my Everything.    But I do sometimes find Him reminding me to pray for others on those days, rather than just for things I’m struggling with or rejoicing over.  (My favorite way to spend a God day is trying to grasp a mystery of the King of the universe—such as how He created the earth in such a way that it sits on an axis in outer space and doesn’t fall off!)

I sometimes feel guilty for not praying more than I do, but then I realize if it becomes hard—or a yoke—then it’s doubtfully from the Lord; feeling self-important or religious just doesn’t make me feel closer to Him.  However, there is something that prompts me to pray like clockwork—even for just a few short minutes.  The culture in which I live has a reminder five times daily to pray, which has also provoked me to pray more often.  I try to speak to the Lord—or better yet, just rejoice in His amazing love and wonders—when I hear this voice singing nearby, morning, noon and night.  Granted, I can’t always hear it, depending on where I am and where that voice is coming from, but I often do and try to stop what I’m doing—even for just a minute—to tell the Lord how wonderful He is, how much I love Him, how much I know He’s working on the earth.  I don’t want to make it into a big deal and try to sound holy or religious—it’s just my way of “speaking life” where I am, over the people I see every day, over the nation I live in. 

On one occasion, I was dragging myself upstairs to play my guitar and sing a worship song, and when I sat down to play, the Lord spoke, “If you think you’re doing this for me, you’re mistaken.  I don’t need you to worship Me.  But you need to do it for your own spirit to be refilled.”  I was shocked!  Here I was thinking I was doing the “right” thing by praying or worshiping along with the “call to prayer” when I discovered that worshiping our King a few times a day—even if just for a minute—actually filled my spirit.  Though I wasn’t consciously trying to impress Him, subconsciously, that’s exactly what I was doing.  And of course, He wasn’t impressed—He just knew I needed to worship Him in order to feel closer to Him!

Now when I hear that familiar voice praying in a foreign, unfamiliar language, I try to remember my need to pray and rejoice in Him…because He’s worthy and wonderful, and my spirit needs to be able to tell Him so in order to thrive.  For those who don’t have that reminder several times a day, I hope something causes you to sing (even just in your head) His praises.  I once met someone who had an alarm on his watch that went off two times daily just for that purpose!  Taking a minute in stress-filled lives to meet with our Creator is a great encourager in a discouraging world!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”   (1 Peter 2:9)

Through It All

Through it all, You were there.

When I was a broken, misguided teenager, You were there...

Your arm wrapped around my sullen shoulders.

You drew me into Your glorious heart and transformed me.

And when I strayed, searching for a depth I hadn’t yet discovered—to be found only in You—

You were there, wanting to help, but giving me the freedom to fail.

When I harbored only anger, unforgiveness and ambition in my heart,

You were there beside me…waiting for me to find Your grace.

When I sought answers from the New Age, You were there…

Weeping with the knowledge of how far I was straying.

When I sought comfort in the arms of others, You were there…

Sitting patiently, knowing the end from the beginning—

and loving me through the middle.

When I came to the place where I knew my life was a hopeless shambles,

You were there, holding my sobbing face against your shoulder, encompassing me in Your love.

When I finally recognized I could go no further and that You were the Answer,

You were there, leaping and dancing around me,

Your joy turning my darkness into an incomprehensible light.

When I chased after You, Holy Spirit, You were there,

Responding with a continual outpouring of glory and truth…my Answer.

When I become disillusioned with people, you are here,

Reassuring me that my prayers for them are reaping answers.

When I become fed up and frustrated by my own dark heart, You are here,

leading me to the door of repentance and Your loving, forgiving embrace.

When I enthusiastically lunge forward, thinking I can be of some help to You,

You are here, joyfully lunging with me, keeping me from falling on my face,

And urging me to keep in step with You, the humble Servant.

You were there then and You are here now,

My Beloved, You are ever-present and ever-wonderful .