Category: Scripture

Rumors of Joy

Scripture

Isaiah 35:1,2 says “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.” The rich woods of Lebanon include cypress, fir, oak, and pine and are mentioned in Isaiah 60:13 as the trees that will beautify the Lord’s Temple sanctuary, to give it elegance.

I am not an authority on the plant world, nor a green thumb. However, when I look at a flower or a tree in bloom, many thoughts come to my mind. I see elegance. I see Creative Genius. I see God. I see hope, especially the hope of the Christmas season. The hope of Immanuel (God with us).

From EVERY MOMENT HOLY (Vol. 1, p. 91), the author’s liturgy (Planting of Flowers) says that God “has scattered the evidences of Creation’s former glories across the entire scape of heaven and earth, and these evidences are also foretastes of the coming redemption of all things, that those who lie in this hard time between glories might see and remember, might see and take heart, might see and take delight in the extravagant beauty of bud and bloom, knowing that these living witnesses are rumors and reminders of a joy that will soon swallow all sorrow.”

The color and beauty of flowers speak of the eternal weight of God’s glory – the Truth of God’s grace that is so much more substantial than all the mass of evils of this broken world in which we live. The blooms shout for joy that there is indeed a Redeemer Whose birth we celebrate at Christmas time. A joy that will swallow all sorrow.

Before the blossoming, the tiny seeds and bulbs we plant are like the hope that we treasure, hidden only briefly. We are confident that there will be a bursting forth. The flowers send us rumors of joy. They are a reminder that God has the first and last words. A reminder that human flourishing is only possible through so Great a Salvation provided for us long ago in a humble manger.

Romans 5:1,2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

We are reminded that we live in the tension of the “not yet” but that flowering will soon happen. We sense reminders that the Incarnation has happened. We know and believe that our Savior will return to restore, redeem, and rebuild all things. Lest we forget, He whispers rumors of joy through His flowers and mighty trees. A Christmas tree full of lights also whispers rumors of joy during this season. Elegance. Hope. The swallowing up of all sorrow. King Jesus.

A Better View

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Psalm 121 says, “…I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your Shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

There is a lot to be said for looking up. Looking up from your smart phone. Looking up from your desk pile. Looking up from the to-do list. Looking up from life’s circumstances. Looking up from life’s messes…

And then it can happen. You see a masterpiece, like a mountian scene. You see the person in front of you, you see God’s creation, you see hope, you see vastness and beauty that is “real world” instead of virtual, you see possibilities and opportunities. You wonder how easily you might have missed it all…

As one who spends more time inside than outside, I especially need the “up look” in my life. I really do need to get outside, to take walks (not just for exercise), to visit the beach as often as possible. I need to reach upward for the God Who provides help. Help to believe when my faith is shaken. Help to feel His presence when so much of life seems upside-down. Help to stand firm in love for Him and for others. Help to find the good in people who bear God’s image. Help to move beyond disappointments and fears. Help to meet life’s demands with grace and humility. Help to receive His abundant mercies and grace.

God is my Keeper. Therefore, I cannot be lost or unsafe. He is my spiritual GPS. He safeguards my soul and protects my heart from false views of Him, myself, the past, and the future. He promises that, if I abide in Him, I will bear much fruit – the eternal kind that is. He personally watches over my life and will see me safely through to eternal life with Him after earth’s difficult journey.

God is Present. God doesn’t ever go missing (we are actually the ones who go missing). He is near and accessible always. Lord, give me eyes to see your presence and the ability to feel it, I pray. I know I am shielded from things I know and things I do not know. Similar to sunlight, I enjoy the benefits of Your presence, but am often unaware of the dangers from which Your presence is shielding me.

God is my Shade. He is my covering. He makes it possible to breathe deeply. He makes it possible to feel the cool breeze of peace and joy. He refreshes me, leads me to recover from the assaults of daily living, and reminds me that His Word and Spirit provide everything I need to have a heart that is cool, calm, and collected.

so, I will lift up my eyes to the hills.

Calling My Name Twice

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Has your heart ever been seized by someone calling out your name twice? You know something is amiss. There is something of great importance that needs to be communicated. You wonder if you did something terribly wrong, but can’t imagine what in the moment. Your attention has been grabbed. Your listening skills are honed in. You can’t fathom not answering.

In a recent Bible study, I was reminded of the times in Scripture that someone’s name is called out twice for great emphasis. And, in looking at the situations, you find that something very important is forthcoming.

Genesis 22:11-13 (NIV) says, “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”

The interruption of a would-be slaying was vastly important. The provision of a substitute was vastly important. The compassion and salvation of the Lord was vastly important. And Abraham’s faith and obedience were vastly important. No wonder Abraham’s name was called out twice.

When you look at other similar instances in Scripture, you find “Jacob, Jacob” (Genesis 46:1-4); “Moses, Moses” (Exodus 3:1-10); “Lord, Almighty” (1 Samuel 3:1-10); “Simon, Simon” (Luke 22:31-32); “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:1-6); and “God, God” (Matthew 27:46). Each situation depicts something important to be communicated, something amiss, something needing attention, something demanding an answer, something requiring excellent listening skills.

I am reminded to eliminate the clutter on my to-do list and the screen-noise in my life, so that when God calls my name, I am awake and ready to respond. Because I have been quiet. Because I have been ready. Because I have been hopeful. Because I can hear better when my gaze is set on Christ alone.

In the stillness, the blank canvas of my heart anticipates that a call from God will surely come. I definitely don’t want to miss it.

Wonders

Scripture

Photo credit: Kim Clayton Lance

Psalm 77:14 says, "You are the God who works wonders, You have made known your might among the peoples." Psalm 78:4 says, "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done."

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our 43rd anniversary! Marriage, by its very nature, is a wonder. It is a wonder that it lasts. It is a wonder that it can survive thousands of life's storms and troubles. It is a wonder that two people of vastly differently personalities and values and beliefs can make a life that is better together than apart. And there's nothing better than looking into the faces of your children and grandchildren and seeing so much wonder in God's creative work.

Today, I am simply grateful for the wonder of marriage in my life! The countless blessings that have come to me because I married Mike. The countless ways that my life has been enriched by his gifts and expertises. The countless ways he has filled gaps that I cannot possibly. The countless ways that he protects and provides for the family. The countless ways that he uses his intense energy  to fight for justice, make crooked things straight, and fix what is broken or ready for the trash pile.

The dragon fly's bright colors and agile flight are symbols that remind me of the wonders of a 43-year marriage! By God's grace, our flight has been navigated with minimal turbulence and the colors have been breathtaking. I am blessed!

Sunrise

Scripture

If I had to choose between receiving kindness or love, I honestly think I would pick kindness. Of course, I know that “cause-and-effect-wise,” love probably expresses itself as kindness. So, there is no need to separate these out. Love bubbles over as kindness sometimes. And I love being the recipient. I am grateful for the kindest people in my life.

One of my favorite sister-in-laws is Sherry. The word that most often describes her is kind. Sometimes I wonder how she became so kind. I have been touched by her kindness again and again, although I can’t see where there is any connection between nature and nurture to explain where her extraordinary kindness came from. It is simply a gift of God to be enjoyed by all.

Sherry posts beautiful photos on social media and I do see her appreciation of the beauty of nature being a familiar thread running through her brother’s (my husband’s) family. So, the sunrise you see here is one of her beautiful photos.

Sherry is much more than kind. I have seen her courageously battle cancer. I have seen her love her husband, children and grandchildren well. I have seen her care for family members in good and bad circumstances. I have seen her stand up to bullies. I have seen her be the kind of caring nurse you want to have in your corner. I have seen her stand tall during adversity. I have seen her be the adult in the room. I have seen her generosity and hospitality on many occasions.

I Timothy 4:4 says, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”

I am thankful. I don’t get to see Sherry very often, but she is a pearl in a dark ocean. Many lives are richer, including mine, for knowing her. And I am grateful.

May the sunrise remind me of her kindness,
May the sand remind me of our shared love of the beach,
May the family I married into give me this reason to smile,
Reminded that Sherry's brother has a very kind sister.
May the rich orange of first daybreak
Give the promise of a colorful day ahead,
May the lone beach chair coax us to enjoy the sea,
May the clouds reflect daylight's promise.
A new day, new hope, new reasons to care,
Kindness exists, and I look up for it,
The quiet of the early morning whispers promise,
The reminder of kindness I found,
Like a sunrise in my soul is the heart of this girl,
I am grateful for Sherry.

Keeping Life in Order

Scripture

About this. I confess I try to keep up the appearance of life in order. My calendar is a moving target. And yes, I am talking about a paper, grid-style calendar! I can’t abide a digital calendar.

Psalm 89:47-48 (NIV) says, “Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility You have created all men. What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?”

But Psalm 68:19-20 answers, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior Who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God Who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”

God redeems the fleeting and futility of life.

My Prayer: Lord, “You care for the land and water it; You enrich it abundantly” (Psalm 65:9a); You care for the raw material of my days and the way the time gets scheduled; You give time and life generously; You place the 24/7 boundary, You created rest, yet You knew I’d overstretch; You sort my confusion; You redeem the overplan; Your enrichment is gladly received when my calendar meets with Your initiative; Your abundance is celebrated when the fish and loaves of my calendar must be multiplied; Your Sovereignty is praised when I see Your handprint stamped on my days.

How do I count my days? As “grasslands of the desert” when Your grace is detected; As “meadows covered with flocks” when Your provision is received; As “streams filled with water” when Your redemption comes near; As beautiful sunrises and sunsets when You color my calendar with Your Goodness!

Amen.

What I Will Remember

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Ideas have consequences. Even if they are bright ideas…

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

In February 2022, my husband and I agreed to meet with a local contractor and likely start the process of renovating our enclosed sun porch and adding a screened porch. My goals were simple. More space for our growing family to congregate closer to our kitchen where everyone could be near food. My husband’s goals were perhaps more vivid and refined. He pictured a window wall that would provide a large unobstructed view of our wooded backyard and our truly beautiful tall trees going down into a deep ravine. This would be the next best thing to being able to see breathtaking sunsets (which we will never be able to see from our house).

Construction started with major setbacks. Number One – the specialty windows for the window wall, promised in late summer 2022, were discovered to instead be deliverable in February 2023! Mind you, I am leaving out many many excruciating details. But here’s Number Two. When renovations began in September 2022, we concurrently experienced an upstairs hot water heater leak that caused extensive water damage to central parts of the house. This involved another whole set of contractors to rip out soiled cabinets, carpet, ceiling and flooring, and begin the process of drying out and repairing the damaged house.

In retrospect, we would have been wise to temporarily move out of the house for parts of this laborious water damage repair. But, we didn’t. There were other hiccups like Covid which my husband and I both contracted in October. Between the illnesses, water damage contractors being called to Florida to assist with the latest hurricane damage, subcontractors that were not on anybody’s schedule but their own, and an enormous price tag… What will I remember?

Mercies embedded in pain, that’s what.

I will remember that we still had family and friends over for gatherings, even before the building was completed. The temporary plywood wall (pictured) that separated our kitchen from the construction area became a makeshift bulletin board, displaying punchlist and other construction items as well as the artwork of some of our grandchildren. I will remember that some of our grandchildren even painted designs on the walls (not pictured) of the unfinished sun porch. These “fun things” happened at the great encouragement of our lead creative, their Pop Pop! A mercy.

I will remember the patience (no, really!) and detailed oversight of the construction by my husband. I will remember him doing more than half of the actual required work – priming siding and painting various things, sanding drywall, installing hardware, doing 99% of the landscaping, directing traffic, ridding the driveway of nails, and much much more. Mostly preventing disaster. I will remember him holding the standard of construction excellence very very high. I will remember his exhaustion, isolation, and virtual imprisonment, but also his determination, strength, and suffering no fools. Double mercies.

I will remember that Pop Pop’s finished “happy place” was mostly worth waiting for (he might argue the point). Despite giving up a year of his life, he genuinely loves the screened porch! A mercy. The screened porch is where I’ll definitely find him unless he is outdoors doing yard maintenance or critter elimination.

And my happy place is the window-walled sun porch, especially when we can share it with family. I will remember that we survived a too-long journey to enjoy these new spaces and that the headaches and frustrations and disappointments of the construction plus water damage saga will fade with each moment enjoyed in these new areas. A mercy.

All construction was mostly accomplished by Easter 2023, including furnishings. We had all of our local kids and grandkids over for Easter dinner as well as my parents. A miracle really. And certainly a mercy!

I will remember God’s mercies.

Wartime Lifestyle

Scripture

One of my favorite verses is Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” You might ask, “What might this have to do with a ‘wartime lifestyle?’ ” There is a process God conveys upon Christian believers called sanctification whereby the Holy Spirit works in hearts to change them to reflect more and more of God’s image. Instead of a self-improvement project, sanctification is a process of learning to love and serve God and others. It is a process of being rooted in the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ. It is a process of being transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ.

The winter is typically the time for New Year’s resolutions and self-reflection. A new diet might be in store. A commitment to a new exercise program could be in the works. A change in focus and energy usually follows the hectic holiday season. Maybe more so in early 2022 with the prospect of a pandemic that wouldn’t seem to go away, a “Covid-19” mindset that entered almost every decision of every day…

Regardless of the attempts we make to start over or start something new in our human strength, it is a job that cannot be taken away from the Holy Spirit Who is the only One Who has the power to give us a new heart. Yet, something we can do is to assume a wartime posture and invite the Holy Spirit in to take over. When we answer the Gospel’s radical call to expose the idols of our hearts from underground we recognize the work of spiritual warfare and look to the Victor Who leads us forward.

What hinders us is a subtle drift into a peacetime mindset. This is when we sit back and ignore the silent cancers in our own hearts and adhere to the Pharisee-like externals of keeping to our confessional theology and outward duties of faith. But, at the level of what we are really living for down deep – it turns out we are living for something other than God. We are drifters. We drift into a peacetime lifestyle that makes us complacent and unaware of present dangers to our souls. If honest, we discover that all we want is comfort. Not the responsibilities of the Great Commission. Not engagement, but rather passively watching movies and clicking through social media. Not generous giving, but taking pride in our own possessions. Not soldiering, but taking pride in ease and prestige. Not building the Church, but weakening the Church.

The wartime lifestyle is a stance of repentance, not forgetfulness, not mind-numbing activity. It is an Isaiah 55:6,7 stance, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” A wartime mentality focuses on needy people who are spiritually and physically perishing. A wartime mentality focuses on missions and unreached peoples.

I don’t battle weight gain or loss, but instead for the weightlessness of Christ’s reconciliation; I don’t shed soul-blood over life’s frustrations, but instead apply my life-blood to honoring Christ and loving others; I don’t engage in combat to get to the front of the line, but instead engage in combat to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5); I don’t create conflict unless it is to further the cause of Christ to which I have been called; I don’t answer others with hostile words, but I maintain healthy hostility toward the enemy of my soul; I don’t stir up strife, but I will contend for the spread of the Gospel; I don’t strike out to inflict retribution, but I strike out to offer others the fruits of the Spirit of God.

The Gift of Laughter

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Although not an exhaustive list, my friends – the “Outer Banks” girls, have spent many of our beach getaways coining phrases, inserting new connotations into otherwise ordinary words, and re-quoting the best lines from “Call The Midwife” or “The Chosen” (our favorite shows to stream while retreating). The ensuing laughter could definitely be categorized as the best medicine! True fun!

While others in the world draw their inspiration primarily from music, we seem to draw our “beach” inspiration from laugher, a not so distant relative. Bodywise, laughter actually decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies. While increasing the intake of oxygen-rich air, laughter triggers the release of endorphins which promote a sense of well-being. Laughter even provides temporary relief from pain. More please!

Psalm 126:1-2 says, “When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ ” C.S. Lewis indicates in his book THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS that the enemy of our souls attempts to eradicate laughter and fun in our lives because these are too closely connected to Heaven’s joys and to God Himself. Can you imagine the feeling of freedom that comes from being released from captivity? I’m sure it is similar to the feeling of all-is-well that comes from lots of laughter. Big doses of relief, restoration, refreshment.

Why music and laughter can be paired together is because both can carry us away by lifting our hearts higher than earth usually allows us to be lifted. We get a little closer to Heaven’s joys somehow. We reach heights that are unusually healing. Lewis says that “fun” is a means of destroying shame. How wonderful! So the reader will understand that Uncle Screwtape urges Wormwood to discourage laughter in THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS.

Ecclesiastes 5:20 says, “For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps [him] busy with the joy of his heart.” Joyful laughter lifts us out of anti-grace, or a low position of not being able to experience how humor ministers to the heart. It raises us to a higher position whereby we experience enjoyment for its own sake. No agendas or hidden motives. Just pure enjoyment.

The SpaceX Starship orbital test flight blew up on April 20, 2023. It had been described in the news as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” – a phrase that presented me and my beach friends the raw material for much laughter as it can apply to many other volatile life circumstances… Don’t get me started… It might be one of our favorite quotes this trip.

For us, the most powerful therapy is arguably laughter. Some may argue music. Some may argue a beautiful sunset. I know laughter to be an immediate source of hope, like a shot of adrenaline. A good burst of laughter is miraculous to the body, mind, and soul. And laughter should be celebrated, not just because it is such a great gift of enjoyment among girlfriends at the beach, but also it foils the attacks of the enemy of our souls on our actual souls.

Isaiah 51:11 says, “So the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Psalm 4:7 says, “You have put gladness in my heart…”

Let laughter transport you to the closest orbit of Heaven, so that you will overcome the disassembly intended to harm your soul. Let laughter bring you the restored hope communicated by a beautiful sunset. Let laughter bring you to understand that it is a special gift of a gracious God. May God keep you busy with the joy of your heart! May it be as beautiful and colorful as a wonderful sunset!

Photo Credit: Joan Mills, Saguaro National Park 2022

I Am With You

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With over 200 instances in God’s Word of the declaration “I am with you,” is it any wonder that God’s heart is to alleviate our sense of aloneness and assure us of His presence? Are we still unwilling to see Him as the Anchor for our souls when we are threatened by life’s storms? Do we ignore His palpable Presence available when we are in the midst of scary circumstances? Do we miss the Quiet Breeze of His Spirit when we are still and prayerful? Do we forget that He is our Refuge when our tears must be poured out and when our fears must be safely processed?

I am currently back at a place of remembrance – a small cottage at the Outer Banks where I spent approximately 10 years doing bi-yearly weekend retreats with my friends, lovingly referred to as the “Outer Banks Girls.” What started out as a Bible study group reunion idea blossomed into now “twice a year” week-long retreats. God has been extremely detectable in this group from long before the actual beach trips. We jumped into the complexities of each other’s lives years ago in a Bible study entitled “Master Life.”

Friends are indeed the best helpers. There has always been a lot of compassion and love in our group. And the wisdom for living came directly from God’s Word. All we did was listen to it and try to appropriate it in all our seasons of life. We had the right credentials – we felt quite weak and ordinary, real messes. But, we had God’s Spirit.

Psalm 46:1-11 says (NKJV), “…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea…There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her…Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”

I am reminded that relationships are where we find the best and worst of life. I am very thankful for my friends, the “Outer Banks Girls.” The gift of friendship, especially among Christian friends, is the best of life. Speaking honestly with friends from the heart and in a safe space is a treasure, not to be hidden away, but to be similarly shared with others. We are able to minister because we’ve been ministered to. All conversations have been roads to our relationship with God Himself, the One Who is Present, the One Who is With Us. We have helped each other to be conscious of God and to recognize His voice. And I am extremely grateful.

Acts 2:28 says, “You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.”