In the presence of the King.

Can you imagine yourself in the palace of a king – not just any king, but someone who is the “Chief Monarch of the entire universe?” This King is mightier than we can humanly imagine.  He is the designer and builder of that universe. He is the one who manages the way everything works, and He holds it all together. 

This King is the one who has established our world and calls it His own.
As you read this description, notice that God grows bigger in our eyes and we seem to grow smaller – less significant, less valuable, - just a small cog in this grand creation.

But remember
The King, Monarch, Designer, Builder, and Controller 
doesn’t see us that way at all.

He sees us as so much more!

 More than just something He created out of dust. (Although, He did.)  He sees us as dearly loved children, made in His own image, and rescued by His Son.

But the funny thing – the sad thing - is that, although God’s might and power and creativity don’t make us less in His eyes, we humans seem to want to make the Mighty God into less than He is.  We attribute to Him some of our own propensities.  We accuse God of inattention, of not caring about our pain.  We even accuse Him of partiality.  Sometimes we expect God to be our buddy, or maybe Santa Clause, or a winning lottery ticket.  Sometimes we even feel we should be able to control the actions of the Almighty against His sovereign will.

So, I question, why do we believe that we are entitled to demand - insist – that God grant all of our desires?  Do we sometimes forget that He is God, and we are not?  He has called us His dearly loved children.  Doesn’t that also mean that He is our Father? The Bible doesn’t just say He is our Father, it calls Him a good Father.  The Bible shows us that, as the good Father, He knows what we need better than we do.  He understands us completely, and never tires of blessing us with His beauty.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth. 
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  
Isaiah 40:28 (ESV)

I was considering this one morning.

God, the good and never changing,

His, a heart infused with care.

God the King of all creation,

Monarch of the earth and air.

Gold stirred sunbeams on my window 

Our Father’s touch,
His Glory there.

God’s sweet, perfumed breeze sweeps by me. 

Bird-song beauty greets the dawning. 

Rest my heart.  My Father’s near.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, 
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
 who does not change like shifting shadows.  
James 1:17 (NIV)

Have a beautiful morning in the presence of the King.

What is my purpose?

 Our earthbound world is noisy and confusing,
and at times we look to find a quiet resting place.
And sometimes in our daily pain or sorrow
we reach to touch our heavenly Father’s face.

In the stillness of the night I need His calming.
In the softness of the morn I need the same.
On this rock-filled road,
 my heart will keep on searching
for a way that I can glorify His name.

When I come into the lonely place of meeting
and in His words, God’s love and grace I see.
When I say, “please make your will be done in my life,”
deep comfort floats from God’s great heart to me.

He’s there in the noisy place.
He’s there in our solitary place.
He’s there 
when we seek our Heavenly Father’s face.

Do you ever think of the chaos that permeates our world today, and wish for peace and quiet?  I do.  I’ve been thinking of how we can possibly live in this world of chaos while negotiating the road to the peace that God promises.  The Bible refers to a peace that passes understanding.  Phillipians 4:7 KJV.

Every step leads to something.  We’re born, we move, we walk, we talk, we grow, and we grow old.  But there really is more to life than that. There are some things along the way that will bring us peace and ultimately at the end of the journey there will be

peace beyond compare.

With every responsibility, with every task, with every journey we take, we must have two things.  We need a reason to do that task and a path to follow.  

The Scripture says about that task - we are created “To show God’s Glory.”  The Bible is clear when it tells us our reason for being here is to glorify God.

Do you ever wonder just how that plays out?  I have and I still do.  But it seems an awesome responsibility to have thrust upon mankind, doesn’t it?  This awesome responsibility is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit, who is our guide and helper.  This responsibility given to us by the only God, the giver of life, the creator of the universe, the beginning, and the end.  

As for the path we are to take, we don’t always need a map. But there always must be some sort of direction, if only for the moment.  The path of each person’s life changes, twists, and turns, but it’s only fulfilling when we follow the direction laid down by the creator of life.

And where does that directed path lead? 

To everything! 

To peace!  

To fulfillment! 

To eternity!  

As we travel that path it will be sure to show us the opportunities to fulfill the reason for our lives – to Glorify the Almighty.

To glorify God is to be a mirror of His image.

Let's look at a few scriptures about our purpose.

The purpose of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.  “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV 

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11 NIV

“And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NIV

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-7 NIV  

So there is THE BIG REASON for our lives.  There are many ways this plays out, but the main thing must always remain the main thing.  
We are made in His image
to glorify Him.

I pray that I will do just that today and tomorrow and each minute as I walk on this world. 

 

Nothing is too hard for God

 

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.

Nothing is too hard for you. 

Jeremiah 32:17

 

Do you believe this, “Nothing is too hard for God?”  As a Christ follower I believe those  words of the prophet Jeremiah.   And since I can see this beautiful world created by God’s power, I can also believe that nothing is too hard for Him.  When I consider the vast universe and the intricate flower, the mighty mountains and the surging oceans, I do believe. 

However, I’m afraid that sometimes, although I believe that “nothing is too hard for God,” I don’t always go to Him when things are really hard for me.  I tend to think that He wouldn’t be interested in my problems.  I sometimes forget to remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 11. 

“Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. “   

Maybe I have an exaggerated idea of what I’m capable of handling on my own. 

Or could it be that I don’t ask for His help because I think that if God were to answer, it wouldn’t be the answer that I want?  Could it be that I don’t want to depend too heavily on anyone outside myself?  Or could it be that, in the past, I’ve felt that He didn’t hear my prayer or even care? 

But sometimes, I just forget to ask.  Sometimes the “everydays” get my attention, rather than my relationship with the ONE who is truly all I need.  Whatever the reasons, not taking my problems to God doesn’t make them go away or even help me to get through the trials I face. 

So today I hope you’ll join me in taking your needs to the God that Jeremiah knew, the
Sovereign Lord, who has made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm. 

And I hope we can all say and believe those words.

Sovereign Lord

“Nothing is too hard for you.”

Jeremiah 32:17

The Lamb Slain and Victorious

We’re walking now that path from Calvary,

following with hearts and eyes cast down.

We see the body of our Savior.

We see them lay Him in the ground.

But

in this picture of the Lamb slain

amidst the holy bloodstain,

and God-forsaken breaking-heart pain,

we still believe 

He’ll live forever, victorious

over evil, sin and Satan’s reign.

---

We’re waiting now to hear the story,

We watch and mourn the spotless Lamb slain.

There's no body resting in the chamber.

Is it true that Jesus is alive again?

Because

in the picture of the Lamb slain

amidst the purest bloodstain,

God-forsaken breaking-heart pain,

we still believe

He’ll live forever, victorious,

defeating evil, sin and Satan’s reign.

---

We're walking now that path from Calvary

following the pure white Lamb.

In hindsight, we now know the story –

the conquest by the great I AM.

But we can’t forget

the picture of the Lamb slain

amidst the purest holy bloodstain,

the God-forsaken breaking-heart pain,

although we know He’ll live forever,

victorious over evil, sin and Satan’s reign

A Difficult Saying for Holy Week

It's a hard saying today. 

It's a difficult condemnation and a picture of the price our Savior paid to bring mankind back to God.

"What will you have me do with Jesus?"

Pontius Pilot asked that day.

"What will you have me do with him?

I find no earthly fault in him.

    What would you have me do with Jesus?"

The crowd cried out.

What words they shout.

They wanted blood.

CRUCIFY!

"Then this is what I'll do with Jesus"

Pontius Pilot said that day,

as he washed his hands before the crowd.

"I'm innocent of this man's blood.

    Now you do what you want with Jesus."

The crowd cried out.

What hate they shout.

They wanted death.

CRUCIFY!

"Are you not a friend of Jesus."

the woman at the fire said?

"Didn't you come in with him?

Haven't you taught and preached with him?

    Are you not a friend of Jesus?"

Peter cried out

with heavy heart.

"I know him not"

CRUCIFY!

Will you walk today with Jesus?

Will you greet Him on your way?

or

Will you deny your love for him,

and wash your hands in front of him?

Will you choose to serve our Lord today?

    What will you do with Jesus?

If we know Him not

If we serve Him not

If we love Him not

CRUCIFY!

 

They walked in the garden together.  Supper was over and the night they would never forget was closing in. 

They were all tired and needed some sleep, but one of them still had a burden that could not be put to rest.  The teacher looked from one to another and then asked his friends to stay where they were and wait while he walked on ahead.  

He would need to be alone now.  Little did the others know just how alone their teacher would be as the night went on.  But just now he must be alone in prayer with his Father.  He asked his friends to pray while they were waiting for his return - not just wait - but wait and pray.

Do you think they wondered why?

But as he walked the path ahead, 
they settled down, relaxed a bit,
and slept, while his heart bled.  

"My father" Jesus cried "please take this cup away, 
because I know the weight, the debt, 
the price, this night I'll pay."

"But my Father, God, you know, though 
I hurt so much inside,
it is truly in your will I want to now abide." 

After a while he rose and went back to the disciples.  
They were asleep.

"Couldn't you watch and pray one hour?
 Didn't your flesh have a little power?"
"Please watch and pray" again he said, 
as he walked a little way ahead.

 In grief, he fell before the King.
He wept – his heart was shattering.
He prayed and sweat with drops like blood.
He prayed to the ever-living God. 

But he said, "Not my will be done, but thine."
 And his friends slept on in his darkest time.   

They missed so much.  They had no idea what our Savior suffered for them. They did not see his struggles.  They didn’t hear his plea.  How could they know?  And if we ignore this part of the story we will miss much as well.  We won’t see what Jesus, The Son, suffered for us during those hours in the garden.  There was more suffering ahead, but in these scriptures we see Jesus’ humanity, and in that humanity we see his love and pain so vividly.

If we read Matthew 26:36 - 46 or Mark 15:32 we will respond with gratitude as well as sadness.

Thank you, Jesus.  Oh, Thank you!

 

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.  Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.  Mark 14:72 NIV 

Have you ever wept with sorrow for something you said?  Have you ever broken down and cried your heart out - not for something happening to you, but for an instance when you failed a friend?  Maybe they truly needed you to listen to their pain, but you chose to instruct instead, and were the results  devastatingly hurtful to your friend?   You caused their pain and you felt so very, very sorry.

Is there a time you can remember when you failed your Savior.  Did you choose other gods? Did you deny His existence, or did you walk away from His family?  

And then, when you remembered what He's done for you, did you fall on your face in sorrow?

Peter did.  

If you read last week's post, you'll hear Peter promise to never desert Jesus and you'll remember that he broke that promise.  But if we follow the account, we see in Mark's gospel that 

"Peter remembered.....and he broke down and wept."

And I cry

For times I failed my God, my Savior

For times my words have caused Him pain

For times, unthinking, I ignored Him

Or turned my face away in shame.

I cry

For times I said He couldn't love me 

For times I didn't trust His care

For times I counted prayers unanswered

And didn't think my God was there.

I cry

But are my tears like floods of sorrow, 

spilling, 

needing to begin again. 

Does my human heart break open

in surrender 

as I say, "Amen."

Peter remembered.  He cried.  He repented.  But remember always that Jesus forgave.  He forgave Peter and will forgive His children when they ask.