We are now settling in to our new home in California. We have enjoyed many things about our new location. We have been able to spend time with each of our three sons, and Bruce's dad. We have delighted in the cool mornings and evenings, and sleeping with our windows open. We have frolicked in our swimming pool and relaxed listening to its waterfall. The views from our back patio are even more stunning than we remember. Our new home is larger and more luxurious than the old. During our first visit to our new church we saw a number of familiar faces, and are looking forward to plugging in to ministry. However, we are definitely not living in paradise.
The prior owners took some of the window coverings we had expected to be part of our home purchase. When we arrived, the pool sweeper had stopped working, and algae had begun to form on the pool walls. The one room we were unsure of regarding its color turned out to be a very bright lilac (we have already begun repainting). We are having to adjust to the congestion, traffic, and high prices of living in California. We still aren't sure which box a number of things are in. We miss special people back in Texas.
All of this serves as a good reminder that there is no heaven on earth, and only discontent awaits if we try to find it. I don't think my mind can even conceive how wonderful heaven will be. That is where my heart needs to be centered, my mind and affections need to dwell, and my treasure needs to be deposited. But I thank God for the many pleasures He gives us in this life, family and friends that are dear, and I plan to gratefully enjoy each one of them.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Overcoming Fear
I have been reading Nehemiah this month, and the other night one verse really stood out to me. Nehemiah had returned to Jerusalem to encourage the Jews there to rebuild the wall surrounding the city. The people respond eagerly, and work on the wall begins. However, the work receives opposition. Enemies threaten to attack. The people become fearful. Nehemiah encourages them in chapter 4, verse 14. "When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people; 'Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.'" As I meditated on this passage, I saw how practical Nehemiah's counsel is for anytime we are dealing with fear--we must remember God, and we must take action.
So many times our fear is compounded because we don't remember God, that He is great and awesome. He is sovereign over the very situation which brings us fear. He has brought it about for our good and His glory. When we remember Him, and all that He is, and all that He has promised us, we need not fear. The Psalms reflect this truth in a number of passages. Psalm 16:8 says, "I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." When David is focused on the Lord, setting the Lord rather than his own concerns and anxieties continually before him, remembering that the Lord is with him, he is not shaken. David reflects a similar thought in Psalm 56:3-4, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?" Again the psalmist remembers God when he is afraid. He remembers the word of the Lord, and trusts in Him. He reminds himself that God is great and awesome. He realizes that God is big and man is small. (So often we get those backwards!) And his fear fades away.
But there is more to Nehemiah's counsel. He also exhorts the people to take action. They must be prepared to fight. They must do what God has called them to do. He goes on to say, "...then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates...those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon." Too many times this is where we drop the ball. Our fear may become crippling. We may try to deal with our fears on a spiritual level, but we don't take action. If I am a student anxious about an upcoming test, I need to remember the Lord, and diligently study. If I am a mother with a seriously ill child, I need to remember the Lord, and continue with my responsibilities. If I am getting ready for a big move, (no if for me), I need to remember the Lord and keep packing.
So the next time you are tempted to fear, to be anxious, to worry, remember Nehemiah's counsel. Remember the Lord. Focus on Him. Think specifically about His attributes, His character, and comfort your soul. But you must also take action. What does God want you to do in this situation? Are there regular responsibilities you are neglecting because of your fear? Be obedient to Him even if you don't feel like it, and you can find contentment, knowing you are making it your ambition to please Him.
So many times our fear is compounded because we don't remember God, that He is great and awesome. He is sovereign over the very situation which brings us fear. He has brought it about for our good and His glory. When we remember Him, and all that He is, and all that He has promised us, we need not fear. The Psalms reflect this truth in a number of passages. Psalm 16:8 says, "I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." When David is focused on the Lord, setting the Lord rather than his own concerns and anxieties continually before him, remembering that the Lord is with him, he is not shaken. David reflects a similar thought in Psalm 56:3-4, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?" Again the psalmist remembers God when he is afraid. He remembers the word of the Lord, and trusts in Him. He reminds himself that God is great and awesome. He realizes that God is big and man is small. (So often we get those backwards!) And his fear fades away.
But there is more to Nehemiah's counsel. He also exhorts the people to take action. They must be prepared to fight. They must do what God has called them to do. He goes on to say, "...then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates...those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon." Too many times this is where we drop the ball. Our fear may become crippling. We may try to deal with our fears on a spiritual level, but we don't take action. If I am a student anxious about an upcoming test, I need to remember the Lord, and diligently study. If I am a mother with a seriously ill child, I need to remember the Lord, and continue with my responsibilities. If I am getting ready for a big move, (no if for me), I need to remember the Lord and keep packing.
So the next time you are tempted to fear, to be anxious, to worry, remember Nehemiah's counsel. Remember the Lord. Focus on Him. Think specifically about His attributes, His character, and comfort your soul. But you must also take action. What does God want you to do in this situation? Are there regular responsibilities you are neglecting because of your fear? Be obedient to Him even if you don't feel like it, and you can find contentment, knowing you are making it your ambition to please Him.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
The Unchanging One
We are in the process of moving. At the moment our house is filled with boxes, and more are yet to come. Moving involves saying goodbye-to our home, to our city, to friends and fellow believers who are very dear to us. Moving involves saying hello-to a new home, new neighborhood, new church, new everything. Moving is nothing but change.
In this move, many of the changes will be drastic. We are moving from Texas--home of cowboys and rednecks, conservative values, and a low cost of living. We are moving to California--home of surfers and the cool life, liberals, and an exorbitant cost of living. We are moving from a church of about 300, where I know almost everybody, to a church of about 8,000, where I know almost nobody. My husband will have a new job with new responsibilities and a new commute. I will be going from a calendar full of commitments and ministries to a transitional phase of no responsibilties (besides unpacking all of the numerous boxes we are now packing!). In addition to the changes from moving, our youngest child will be off to college and we will enter the 'empty nest' phase of life. We are soon to become grandparents. Change is everywhere.
What an encouragment to know there is One who never changes. My circumstances may change drastically, but God remains the same. Listen to what the following verses say about our unchanging God:
Malachi 3:6--For I, the Lord, do not change
Numbers 23:19--God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
James 1:17--Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Hebrews 13:8--Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.
Psychologists would tell us that a time of change is a time of stress. On a human level, all of the factors I mentioned earlier would give me a high score on a stress evaluation. What a comfort to know that I can take refuge in the Lord, my Rock, the Unchanging One.
Psalm 18:2--The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 62:6--He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
Isaiah 26:4--Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.
Psalm 46:1-3--God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the
sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
My life may seem one of total change at the moment, but it certainly doesn't compare with the mountains slipping into the sea. I need not fear, I need not be shaken. I can trust in the Lord, my everlasting Rock, and will find Him to be an unchanging refuge and strength.
In this move, many of the changes will be drastic. We are moving from Texas--home of cowboys and rednecks, conservative values, and a low cost of living. We are moving to California--home of surfers and the cool life, liberals, and an exorbitant cost of living. We are moving from a church of about 300, where I know almost everybody, to a church of about 8,000, where I know almost nobody. My husband will have a new job with new responsibilities and a new commute. I will be going from a calendar full of commitments and ministries to a transitional phase of no responsibilties (besides unpacking all of the numerous boxes we are now packing!). In addition to the changes from moving, our youngest child will be off to college and we will enter the 'empty nest' phase of life. We are soon to become grandparents. Change is everywhere.
What an encouragment to know there is One who never changes. My circumstances may change drastically, but God remains the same. Listen to what the following verses say about our unchanging God:
Malachi 3:6--For I, the Lord, do not change
Numbers 23:19--God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
James 1:17--Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Hebrews 13:8--Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.
Psychologists would tell us that a time of change is a time of stress. On a human level, all of the factors I mentioned earlier would give me a high score on a stress evaluation. What a comfort to know that I can take refuge in the Lord, my Rock, the Unchanging One.
Psalm 18:2--The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 62:6--He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
Isaiah 26:4--Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.
Psalm 46:1-3--God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the
sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
My life may seem one of total change at the moment, but it certainly doesn't compare with the mountains slipping into the sea. I need not fear, I need not be shaken. I can trust in the Lord, my everlasting Rock, and will find Him to be an unchanging refuge and strength.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
A Passionate Relationship
Yesterday morning during my quiet time I read Psalm 63. I was challenged by the psalmist's passion for the Lord. In verse 1 he says, "O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh years for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." David's intensity for the Lord is evident; he desires God above all else. I prayed that God would continue to grow in me that same intensity for Him. I also looked in the psalm for some specifics that might help me develop this same passionate relationship.
Vs. 2 begins with the word thus. Because of his fervent passion for the Lord, because of his desire to seek the Lord earnestly, David says, "I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and Thy glory." If I am to be passionate about the Lord, I need to be passionate about His church. When I worship in a church where God's Word is clearly preached, I can behold Him. Whether through sermons, music, small group Bible study, corportate prayer, or personal relationships, God uses the church to give me a better understanding of Himself, that I might better see His power and His glory. We have been hosting a weekly college/career Bible study in our home for the last 4 years. Last night was the last one, since we are moving. As I reflect on the different topics and books we've studied, and the way we've seen God answer prayer over and over again, I am reminded of how awesome and faithful God is.
Vs. 3 reflects the psalmist's values. He mentions that God's lovingkindness is better than life. His focus is clearly on the spiritual, the eternal, rather than the material, the physical, the temporal. When my focus is on my circumstances, my desires, my needs, the things of this life, my zeal for the Lord is easily diminished. When my focus is on Him, when I am valuing Him, when His lovingkindness is better to me than life, than I will be praising Him, rejoicing in Him, passionate about Him.
I have noticed in my own life, and that of others I know, that satisfaction, or contentment is a very elusive commodity. I can seek for it in many areas--money and possessions, relationships, good works, but I never quite get there. In this case the Rolling Stones were right when they sang, I can't get no satisfaction, cuz I've tried and I've tried and I've tried and I've tried. However, when I seek my satisfaction in the Lord alone, I can echo the psalmist in vs. 5, "My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips." I can find contentment only in Him.
I found another key to the psalmist's passionate relationship in vs. 6, "When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches." If you've noticed the timing of this post, that is exactly what I'm doing now! The middle of the night, if you can't sleep, is a great time to meditate on the Lord. I could be thinking through all of the things I need to do tomorrow, or I could toss and turn and wish I was sleeping, but to take advantage of this time to reflect on the Lord is precious. Several years ago I had been praying for God to deepen my relationship with Him, and He answered that prayer in part through some health problems that kept me awake at night. I spent that time in His Word and reflecting upon Him, and my relationship with the Lord did become more passionate. Now you may have guessed that this was not at all what I had in mind when I prayed that prayer, but God was faithful to answer as He saw best. But I had to be faithful to remember Him and meditate on Him in the night watches.
If I am to have a passionate relationship with the Lord, I need to turn to Him first and often. We see the psalmist doing this in vs. 7-8, "For Thou has been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me." We see a pattern of David clinging to the Lord, of taking refuge in Him, and finding Him to be a help, to uphold him. It is easy to turn elsewhere, to seek refuge in entertainment and relaxation, human wisdom, other people, personal fulfillment, but these rarely cause us to sing for joy. We must continually seek refuge in the Lord, to cling firmly and solely to Him. When we do, He will be faithful to help us, to uphold us, as He did the psalmist.
As I return to my bed, I will continue to reflect upon the Lord, to take refuge in Him, to cling to Him, and He will never disappoint. Sleep may be elusive, but God is ever present.
Vs. 2 begins with the word thus. Because of his fervent passion for the Lord, because of his desire to seek the Lord earnestly, David says, "I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and Thy glory." If I am to be passionate about the Lord, I need to be passionate about His church. When I worship in a church where God's Word is clearly preached, I can behold Him. Whether through sermons, music, small group Bible study, corportate prayer, or personal relationships, God uses the church to give me a better understanding of Himself, that I might better see His power and His glory. We have been hosting a weekly college/career Bible study in our home for the last 4 years. Last night was the last one, since we are moving. As I reflect on the different topics and books we've studied, and the way we've seen God answer prayer over and over again, I am reminded of how awesome and faithful God is.
Vs. 3 reflects the psalmist's values. He mentions that God's lovingkindness is better than life. His focus is clearly on the spiritual, the eternal, rather than the material, the physical, the temporal. When my focus is on my circumstances, my desires, my needs, the things of this life, my zeal for the Lord is easily diminished. When my focus is on Him, when I am valuing Him, when His lovingkindness is better to me than life, than I will be praising Him, rejoicing in Him, passionate about Him.
I have noticed in my own life, and that of others I know, that satisfaction, or contentment is a very elusive commodity. I can seek for it in many areas--money and possessions, relationships, good works, but I never quite get there. In this case the Rolling Stones were right when they sang, I can't get no satisfaction, cuz I've tried and I've tried and I've tried and I've tried. However, when I seek my satisfaction in the Lord alone, I can echo the psalmist in vs. 5, "My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips." I can find contentment only in Him.
I found another key to the psalmist's passionate relationship in vs. 6, "When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches." If you've noticed the timing of this post, that is exactly what I'm doing now! The middle of the night, if you can't sleep, is a great time to meditate on the Lord. I could be thinking through all of the things I need to do tomorrow, or I could toss and turn and wish I was sleeping, but to take advantage of this time to reflect on the Lord is precious. Several years ago I had been praying for God to deepen my relationship with Him, and He answered that prayer in part through some health problems that kept me awake at night. I spent that time in His Word and reflecting upon Him, and my relationship with the Lord did become more passionate. Now you may have guessed that this was not at all what I had in mind when I prayed that prayer, but God was faithful to answer as He saw best. But I had to be faithful to remember Him and meditate on Him in the night watches.
If I am to have a passionate relationship with the Lord, I need to turn to Him first and often. We see the psalmist doing this in vs. 7-8, "For Thou has been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me." We see a pattern of David clinging to the Lord, of taking refuge in Him, and finding Him to be a help, to uphold him. It is easy to turn elsewhere, to seek refuge in entertainment and relaxation, human wisdom, other people, personal fulfillment, but these rarely cause us to sing for joy. We must continually seek refuge in the Lord, to cling firmly and solely to Him. When we do, He will be faithful to help us, to uphold us, as He did the psalmist.
As I return to my bed, I will continue to reflect upon the Lord, to take refuge in Him, to cling to Him, and He will never disappoint. Sleep may be elusive, but God is ever present.
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