The Source of Our Hope

Hope is what keeps us going when there is not much else. Hope is that inner driving force that allows us to have faith. Hope is our "half full" attitude. Hope is the invisible belief that God, Himself, created in our souls. Timothy Keller said, "Our Christian hope is that we're going to live with Christ in a new earth, where there is not only no more death, but where life is what it was always meant to be." Yes, that's the hope that we have because God loves us that much!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

God is good... all the time. Our next verses of thanks are from Psalm 136. It is a song of praise to the Lord as Creator and as Israel's Redeemer. It was most likely led in worship by the Levitical choir and the worshipers responded with the refrain "His love endures forever." I am sharing the four verses of this song of Psalms that urge us to give thanks to God for reasons above our understanding.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1-3
"Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:26

As I was studying these verses I came across these bits of wisdom from Matthew Henry's commentary on this psalm (he uses the KJV reference where the refrain reads "for his mercy endureth for ever"):

136:1-9 Forgetful as we are, things must be often repeated to us. By mercy we understand the Lord's disposition to save those whom sin has rendered miserable and vile, and all the provision he has made for the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ. The counsels of this mercy have been from everlasting, and the effects of it will endure for ever, to all who are interested in it. The Lord continues equally ready to show mercy to all who seek for it, and this is the source of all our hope and comfort.

I can so relate to the "Forgetful as we are" comment. Why do I have to be reminded so often of how amazing, loving, powerful, forgiving, and sovereign God is? Why am I so fickle as to spend a portion of my morning soaking in the presence of Jesus only to spaz out on my own children moments after? He pours His love and mercy into my heart and soul each and every time I seek it and I am so forgetful in just an instant and don't return the favor to those around me just because they didn't wipe up the peanut butter that ended up on the floor in the kitchen.

I am so thankful for God's goodness and mercy. I am thankful to the God of gods, Lord of lords, and the God of heaven. I don't deserve His mercy but He gives it to me anyway. That kind of love is so far beyond my understanding and ability.

In my devotional this morning I found this:

Taste and see that I am good. This command contains an invitation to experience My living Presence. It also contains a promise. The more you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. This knowledge is essential to your faith-walk. When adversities strike, the human instinct is to doubt My goodness. My ways are mysterious, even to those who know Me intimately. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways and thoughts higher than your ways and thoughts. Do not try to fathom My ways. Instead, spend time enjoying Me and experiencing My goodness.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

   from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I'll close with this quote from the very wise, Charles Spurgeon,

"Don't you know that day dawns after night, showers displace drought, and spring and summer follow winter? Then, have hope! Hope forever, for God will not fail you!"

God is the source of our hope, for He is good, His mercy endures for ever!

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b

Appearing Before the Lord

It has been quite some time since I've made a post... forgive me. I continue to daily connect with Jesus... studying and listening. The difficulty I'm finding is carving out enough quiet time to pull His promptings together and get them written out. I've been led to a decision about blogging over the summer... it will be my goal to post an average of once per week instead of two. Just more realistic time wise.

The whole point of discovering the Lord's emphasis on thanks is to connect with His true heart and receive His personal reward for this discipline... Give Him thanks, receive His peace. It would be quite contrary if I went about this pursuit headlong and disregarded the current circumstance of added responsibilities and became an anxious wreck over God's plans. How silly. But we do it all the time. Take the "bull by the horns" in our ministries and leave God's gentle guideance out. I just ran across a quote in my quiet time this morning. It comes from Jesus Today by Sarah Young. "Anxious striving drains you of energy, quiet confidence will give you strength."

Summer life for this mama is much different than when all the kids are in school. I'm not going to whine and complain about how busy I am. I love the activities we're involved in. I love having the kids around me. Summer is my favorite!

In fact, the latest summer activity that we were so blessed to be a part of was Vacation Bible School at our church. This year's theme was a theater camp about summer camp. At the last minute, to help with the flow for... drum roll, please.... "The BIG Show," I was asked to become the "guardian angel" for the band of angels - most of which were between the ages of 4 and 6. Darling, I tell you... however, they move a lot and aren't always the best at following a script (seeing as the oldest of them have only been reading for a portion of Kindergarten).

Well, we were quite the tribe. And we had a very important message to tell, about the hope of heaven, to those lost and scared campers. We told about the way to get into heaven (Jesus' sacrifice and God's grace), what it's like up there (mansions on golden streets), the protection all God's children receive from His loving hands, and the parties that are thrown in the heavenlies for each soul that is saved. So much to be thankful for!

In one week's time we gathered children, learned songs and lines, created sets, costumes, and props, and put on a production. With all the variables that played into this effort, we leaders felt unprepared and under rehearsed for "The BIG Show." But what we discovered was that it left TONS of room for the Lord to do His good work and allow us to trust that He can truly do anything! The production was far from "perfect" but the message was heard, the kids had fun, and I think some parents and grandparents had their hearts filled with joy.

This next verse of thanks talks about the tribes going before the Lord in the temple within the city of Jerusalem. Psalm 122 is a hymn of joy over Jerusalem which was celebrated as the earthly residence of God.

"All the tribes of Israel--the LORD'S people--make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the LORD, as the law requires of Israel." Psalm 122:4 NLT

The Lord gave His children laws about how they were to worship. In Exodus 23:17 it tells us, "Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD." This verse of thanks is referring to one of those three times or pilgrimages to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.

Today we have such a luxury of being able to meet with God at least weekly in our churches. Even better, we can be in His presence whenever we desire through the Holy Spirit.

This "big angel" had a reawakening while on stage yesterday. I had to hold back tears (as to not confuse and scare my little angelic tribe) as my heart and mind were drawn even closer to my Heavenly Father. Playing the roll of a guardian angel, I felt a new connection to heaven. I made a pilgrimage to the house of the Lord, right there on stage, and it felt absolutely glorious. Indescribable. All I can do is thank God for the opportunity of what seemed like unmanageable chaos that allowed this sinner to feel like a precious and perfect saint for about 7 minutes! God is that amazing. God is that good. Give thanks to God!

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b

Midnight Feedings

It's been some time now since I've had to drag my sleep deprived body from bed to tend to the needs of one of our infant children. I love infants. I love their simplicity. I love their smell, their downy "baby chick" hair and their incredibly soft skin. I love their brand new facial expressions. I love watching them discover their hands, their feet, my face, their surroundings. I loved nursing them and bonding in that incredibly intimate way that only a mother gets to experience. I loved how they needed me.

What I don't love is how my brain and body handled sleep deprivation. About three or so years ago I remember being in my veggie garden enjoying the goodness of the peace and joy I get out there. While in the moment, it dawned on me that I felt good... really good. I got to thinking that, in fact, I had been feeling good for months. I then realized that I was consistently sleeping through the night... every night for a long time. It had been about a decade since that was the norm for me. Wow! What a great feeling.

It's really hard to wake out of sleep, get up out of bed and tend to something in the night. This next verse of thanks talks about exactly that... tending to something at midnight.

"At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws." Psalm 119:62

Psalm 119 is a 176 verse devotional on the word of God. The author, I believe, is King David and he is passionately devoted to God's Word as his guidebook for living. This lengthy prayer is filled with praise for God's laws. It is said that those who pray much will have much to give thanks for. David had much to give thanks for. He was so devoted that he not only gave the Lord thanks during the day, but was so consumed by his love and appreciation for the Father's laws for living that he rose - got out of bed - and gave thanks to God. Thoughts of God's goodness kept David awake and refreshed him more than sleep did, so he rose to praise the Lord. Every moment that we have on this earth is a gift from God, David was aware of this gift of time, so when he couldn't lie and sleep, he would rise and pray.

I have been awaken in the night, by not only babies' needy cries but also, by the Lord. Sometimes it's been in dreams or a verse playing over in my head or a prayer request that needed attention. Do I always get up out of bed and take on those "midnight feedings" from God? I'm sorry to say, no, I haven't. However, the times that I have risen in the dark of night have been precious, intimate, sweet... a lot like those priceless nurturing feelings I got from nursing my babies in the stillness of the night. God loves us just like that... feeding us with His Word - food only He can provide for His children. And sometimes those intimate, "just for you" words come at midnight.

There's a song that comes from this psalm in verse 105. It was my confirmation verse back in the early 80's. It also happens to be printed on the inside cover of the first Bible that my parents gave to me. This song was made even more precious to me because my very special "sister friend" asked me to sing it on her wedding day. Please have a listen to Psalm 119:105 in Amy Grant's (along with Micheal W. Smith), "Thy Word" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig8dO3VVayw

"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:47-51

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b

B.U.S.Y.

Life is in "full swing"... with spring/summer commitments and end of the school year activities. Yesterday was crazy busy. The Lord gave us a gorgeous day where I just wanted to sing "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 OK, let me clarify... I wanted to sing that while I was casually wandering around the morning track and field events, in the sun, watching just one of my four children and visiting with teachers and parents.

I was then blessed with a nice hour and a half lunch with a good friend and some yummy junk food. Back to the track for more events in the afternoon. Life was good. Scheduled pretty tight... but manageable, peaceful and good.

As soon as those activities finished up, the war began. It was a scramble off to get errands done and to the grocery store for something good and quick for dinner. Back at home (for less than an hour) while trying to juggle too many balls at once, the youngest insisted I look at his report card, help him fix his broken 3-D glasses, all while he continually whined about how he didn't get an award that he "reeeeally, reeeally, sniff, sniff" wanted. The door bell rang right as I was about to quit my job (ha ha... like a homemaker, wife and mother of four can just quit her job). There was a period of about 25 minutes that were pretty intense and ugly. Mama lost her focus, her peace, her temper. I had completely forgot about my rejoicing over Psalm 118:24 earlier in the day. Ugh.

I once heard it said that the definition of busy is... Being Under Satan's Yoke. Amen. The Father of Lies had his way with this weak one yesterday evening before dinner for sure. Ouch. I was just like the Israelites under attack by their enemies. Weak and oh, so forgetful. My mind was so focus on how little time I had, how rushed I was, how I, I, I wasn't comfortable with the situation at hand that I forgot to ask for help from the One that is Always with me. All I had to say was, "Jesus, help me." Unfortunately, this time, I didn't do that.

Thankful that today is a new day, I am able to reflect on yesterday's mess, repent of my failure, and ask the Lord's forgiveness. I am so very thankful that God's mercy endures forever and that He is ready, willing and able to deliver us from our enemies.

Today's verses of thanks come from the beginning and the end of Psalm 118. This psalm is a hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance from enemies. It begins and ends with the same words... words that we are becoming very familiar with. And the verse of rejoicing (from above) just so happens to be sandwiched in between.

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 118:1 and 29

I find today's entry in Jesus Calling rather ironic. No... so God.

Welcome challenging times as opportunities to trust Me. You have Me beside you and My Spirit within you, so no set of circumstances is too much for you to handle. When the path before you is dotted with difficulties, beware of measuring your strength against those challenges. That calculation is certain to riddle you with anxiety. Without Me, you wouldn't make it past the first hurdle!

The way to walk through demanding days is to grip My hand tightly and stay in close communication with Me. Let your thoughts and spoken words be richly flavored with trust and thankfulness. Regardless of the day's problems, I can keep you in perfect Peace as you stay close to Me.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds" James1:2

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

Lord, help me to remember that I am never too busy to seek your face. Amen.

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b