To Rescue Me from Me

Today, I read some truly challenging words in a devotion book that my husband and I enjoy each morning.  The book is "New Morning Mercies" by Paul David Tripp.  Thank you, my friend Darla, for the gift of this book.

This morning's message focused on James 4:1-20.  The beginning sentences in today's  chapter speak of the sin in one’s heart - anger, bitterness, discontent, jealousy; sins that may result in difficult people problems.  Although the author didn't mention them, those sins can also result in health issues.  Those problems cannot always be laid at another door.

One of the important statements in this study is that much of the time the problem is me.  I'm desperately in need of the grace of God.  And, as Mr. Tripp says, "If I confess this, I am saying that I don't so much need to be rescued from people, locations, and situations.  I am in desperate need of the grace of God that alone is able to rescue me from me." 

I love what David asked of God in Psalm 51.  "Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me." 

It's about the heart, isn't it?

It's all about what's in my heart
and how I think and feel.
It's not another's sins set free
or the way this evil world I see.
It's not those things that hinder me
from knowing grace is real.

When trials come, when anger lives, when bitterness is there,
when discontent and jealous thoughts are more than I can bear,
God's grace is still available.
His love can set me free.
When I kneel with all my heart and mind
in contrite humility.

And then I must depend on Him
to rescue me from me. 

Lord I Believe

This message could touch any of us at any time.  Right now, I'm more than convinced that our God has me in His hands.  Funny thing, my husband reminded me recently that prayer is not in the hands of the “prayee” but in the hands of the God we pray to.

When we pray, do we trust God to answer?  Have you ever been told that God didn’t answer your prayers because you didn’t trust Him enough?  Do we have to have perfect faith before our Father will hear and answer our prayers?

There’s a story in the Bible about just that.  We read in Mark 9 about a man in the crowd around Jesus who said, 

“Teacher, I brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

After some discussion the man said to Jesus,  "if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes."

”Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”  . . .and Jesus healed the child.

We pray, and God has the power to answer.

Life in this world seemed so troubled and torn

that I asked for a reason or plan in this storm.

Black thoughts may assail me,

and doubts may arise.

I want to see God, 

and to look in His eyes.

The wonder,

the worry,

the doubt will not leave

unless I can trust Him and truly believe

that

God holds tomorrow in the palms of his hands

and all things will work out in the way that He plans.

I plead that my heart will trust God today,

As the paths of my life turn and twist on the way.

I want to feel strong and to truly believe,

and to see in the future the pattern He weaves.

My mind must remember,

that His love will not end.

"My Father, my helper, my God, and my friend."

Today I will trust Him and truly receive

His help, and His love.

I will truly believe

what He’s shown in my life,
day by day,
hour by hour,

and remember the times that I witnessed His power.

I'll remember He loves me, so I trust in His care

and remember I’m His,

and He’ll always be near.

Dear Friends, 

Lately I've been reading  The Knowledge of The Holy by A W Tozer

This has been a really good start.  The beginning of the book sets in motion thoughts that have been forming in my brain for quite some time.  The main idea of this first portion is that God is beyond.  You may have heard me say those words recently.  But the author has a beautiful way of describing that reality.  His voice is so effortlessly skilled at describing what cannot be described.

Mr. Tozer uses the word “dignity” several times in this chapter.  That some of the ideas (pictures) that we humans might have about God are beneath the dignity of the Most High God.  I was stuck a little at the word, but if I stop to consider what the Bible tells us, and nature tells us, and our inmost thoughts tell us about His Majesty, I cannot complain about the use of that phrase.

I expect one of the most intriguing things to me in Chapter one was the statement about the burden of worshipping a God who requires obedience, love, fnd acceptable worship from every part of me.  And I believe that, if I do not acknowledge this burden, I can never appreciate the sacrifice that God gave to his people in Jesus, my Savior.

To know Him, Oh the Mighty Creator

To know Him, Oh the God From Forever

To love Him

with a yearning to know,

to worship and adore Him, 

in the depths of my soul.

There's a burden to carry 

it's called perfect obedience.

And if I did not know it,

if I could not see the

requirement so heavy 

Jesus carried for me  

if I didn't acknowledge my need  

then you see  

the price paid by Jesus 

would mean nothing to me.

To know Him and all that I owe Him

To love Him 

with all that’s within

My heart cries in worship

this heart stained by sin 

my heart 

sighs 

in worship

in soul wrenching worship

in unvarnished worship

I kneel once again

Psalm 104

 Is winter a place - a dull, dim, cold place?  Can I open a door and walk into winter, or better yet, walk out of it? 

 How did this happen?  This morning I woke up and found myself in winter.  The sky was grey, hiding the sun that should have been there up above my world.

This winter place is quiet – not like the sunny days of spring, or of summer.  I find that sunshine and light are sound as well as sight.  They greet my ears and my heart, singing a beautiful bright tune – a song that’s easy to follow, easy to sing. 

So I question, “God, why did you create the seasons?  Why not always give us mostly sunshine and some cool breezes?”

But, today I read Psalm 104.  Oh!  This psalm is so beautiful! 

Many scholars believe David wrote this Psalm, but it doesn’t matter whose pen it came from.  It clutched at my heart and almost screamed these words, “Diane what makes you feel that you can complain about a few dull, drab wintery days, when you look at what our amazingly beautiful God did to make the amazing, beautiful world that you are part of?"  

The writer spoke of God making the clouds his chariot, riding on the wings of the wind and making the flaming fire His messengers.

It spoke of God’s created earth as if it were alive – fleeing from the sound of His thunder, water rising and moving to its appointed places, bound from going too far.  One verse mentions that the earth is satisfied with the fruit of God’s work.  The Psalm tells of all the animals, fish, and birds looking to God for their food in due season – filling them with good things.  I love that the Psalm even mentions a small part of this vast creation - the rock badgers – such unimpressive animals in the realm of large and fancy created things.  I read  “The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.”

And of course he mentions the seasons.  “He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.  You make darkness and it is night…”  

So when I stop to think about the truth of God’s reason for seasons, it makes sense.  And it even gives me a warm feeling to know that He had a plan for the earth and for His created earthlings.  So I know that He has a plan for me – and you as well.

Ok, I think God gave me a bit to think about on this drab, dull winter day.

Love you all,

Diane

Book Review

 A look at “Joyfully Aging” A book by Richard Bimler.  

It’s been an interesting read – bogged down a little bit in the middle but certainly included some truly interesting and helpful information.  I understand that Mr. Bimler is a Lutheran Minister who, I was surprised to learn, may have been a Clergyman on staff at a church we attended in the Kansas City area many years ago.  

I will borrow a few of his thoughts as we go along, then you can decide whether you’d like to purchase this book, or to borrow mine.

Mr. Bimler discusses the importance of laughter for our physical health as well as emotional and mental health.  This book is full of little snippets to laugh about – as long as you’re willing to laugh at yourself.  

He also discusses the importance of community – not just sitting around having an “organ recital” with others our age but reaching out to those that can use our help, our smile, our concern.  That was one of the main challenges I felt he stressed in the book.

He has a chapter about taking care of our bodies, exercise, healthy eating, rest, etc.  I liked that he said about a healthy body not being the end-in-itself, but a means whereby we can serve others.  

Mr. Bimler also brings in some items that I really appreciate.  He quotes other authors who have wisdom to share – historical figures who have demonstrated the fact that age does not mean “dead.” And most importantly, he brings to light scriptures that talk about the subject.

All in all, it was a good read, and I would recommend it.

At this point, I’d like to discuss chapter 44.

This was a chapter called “Got Change?”  That one really made me think, although I truly enjoy some changes that I’ve encountered in my 85 (almost) years of life, I do not buy in to the present cultural worship of “change.”  

The following thoughts are mine, not Mr. Bimler’s.

A couple of my issues stem from the words I hear regarding things “old.”  As if there was nothing good about the past, no important lessons to be learned from history.  It seems to have been forgotten that ALL new technologies, inventions, etc. have a basis in the work done before by our ancestors.   

The words echo in my brain, “It’s new – so it’s good.”  “It’s exciting so we need it to give us joy and fulfillment.”  “It’s necessary” – for what? I ask.  “It hasn’t been tried before, so it needs to be tried.”

And then the words, “You wouldn’t understand how important this is.” or "There is no question, you really must acknowledge that change is good.”  

It’s as if, before the present technological age, there was no joy, no excitement, nothing to help us achieve what we need in life, and no information that could help us to be the blessings that this world needs.

Now I have to say, I’m writing this on my computer, having checked my sources on Wikipedia, making sure that spell check didn’t misunderstand my intent, sitting in a warm house with a cup of leftover, microwaved coffee by my side and ignoring the spam calls on my cellphone. So what does that say about my lack of buy-in to technology? 😊

Love you all,

Diane

He Hears our Prayers

I recently heard a beautiful song by a trio of Christian women.  The message was about the presence of God in the life of a Christ follower.

The setting was a mountaintop.  The woman and the “Shepherd” were talking together.  I surmised that she was asking why God had allowed pain and loss to follow her in her life on earth and why God did not answer her prayers. 
 
“Why?  Why?” she would say. “I asked for …… and you didn’t answer.”

Do you ever question God like that?  I know I certainly have, and even now, it sometimes becomes my plea.  Oh, how I wish I could hear His reasons.  I wish I could see the future.  But when I do, I wonder if, while seeing the future, I would still ask the question, “Why?”

But sometimes these days, I’m grateful that the “why” is lost in the presence of opportunities to say, “Thank you.  Thank you, God, for not answering my prayer in the way I wanted.”  Thank you for protecting me from myself – from my short-sighted wishes.

I cry, “why?”  I cry “how?”  

I cry “God please fix it now!”

My prayers – they whine like howling wind, 

with what, and why, and where and how.

Living in this broken world seems more than I can bear.

I need your help, I need your voice, I need your love and care.

I’d fall without the sure conviction 

that you’re always standing there

to hold me close and listen as

I come to you in prayer.

Even though there are still pains and problems in this world, I choose to believe what the Scriptures tell me – God loves his children and wants the best for them.  

We read in the Bible - 
 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

If you, then, though you are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven
give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:10 (NIV)

The Lord is my shepherd. . . He restores my soul. Psalm 23 (NIV)

The song ends with the shepherd pointing to the valley that this woman has just crossed.  He points out the path she walked – sometimes on her own, and sometimes with his help.  He points to the paths she wanted to take - the ones He prevented, 
and the times when she really couldn’t go on, so He carried her. 
 

Father please forgive me when I whine.

Please help me understand.

You know the trials that I can bear.

You hold me in your hand.

And He does.  God bless you dear friends.

Diane

Is Christmas over?

Another Christmas has come and gone,

let’s think of pictures seen.

Angels’ singing of Jesus' birth

announcing peace to all the earth.

The manger just outside the town

where God’s own Son was to be found.

The child who came as Mary’s son - 

the promised, long awaited one.

We hear of Jesus wondrous birth

and sing of glorious peace on earth.

We praise the baby in the hay

and pause to celebrate the day,

But soon we pack it all away.

For one more year we put away

the trappings of that special day.

With trees and lights and treasures fair,

we put the crèche with Jesus there.

Instead 

Let’s take Him from his manger bed

and watch the holy life he led.

And  

walk with the Son of God and see Him 

die upon that cursed tree.

Then

Christmas might be just the start

of Jesus living in our hearts.

Have you come to the end of Christmas?  Should Christmas have an end? 

As we’re putting our decorations away, as we clean up the house and get things back to normal, maybe we could think of what normal should really be.

Should we leave the decorations out all year?  Should we try to duplicate that Christmas feeling?  Should Christ have a more prominent place in our day-to-day lives?  Will he?

For me, this year’s Christmas celebration is over.  It’s been an unusual one, not the most festive or the most exciting, but it did center greatly on the most important happening that has ever been seen on earth – the birth of Jesus, who came to this earth to live and to die for us, and to show us the way to The Father.  And in that, I have had an awesome reason to celebrate.

I ask myself this question; has this Christmas changed my life?  Has this Christmas changed me?  Has this season of concentrating on the birth of my Savior made a difference?  Oh I certainly think so.

Tomorrow, when I start to “undecorate” the house, I will not be putting Jesus away for another year.  This year, as I looked at Christ’s birth in a different way, I found so much more about God to worship and to love.  He will not be living in a box in the attic; He will be living in my heart.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, 

but Christ lives in me. 

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave himself for me.

(Galatians 2:20)