A Gracefull Place

Our God cares about the tiniest details of our lives.

 

Yesterday I was due with our precious baby that I miscarried November 30.   I don’t sit around and dwell on dates, but obviously it’s there in the back of my mind.

 

We went to a graduation open house for the day and had a good time. 

 

Then God blessed me with one of those really sweet "hugs" He likes to give….when we least expect it and didn’t even ask for it.

 

My dear friend who’s birth I attended was in the area (with her family, of course!) as they are hoping to rent a house near here (well, maybe I am hoping more than they are!  )   We didn’t know if we’d be back from the open house in time to see them.

 

Well, we were.

 

And I got to hold that sweet little baby!

 

Isn’t God good, to care enough to orchestrate things to where I would hold a tiny baby right on the due date of my precious baby?!

 

I never cease to be amazed at His goodness towards me!

 

Thank You, My Wonderful Heavenly Father!!!

I just finished reading The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas.  (Christianbook.com says it’s no longer available, but Amazon still has it–Christianbook has a look inside feature, though!)

 

On the heels of the Ron Auch books I have been reading, this book is a good companion!  Now, Mr. Thomas may be a bit less conservative than me (I wouldn’t be taking my daughter to an American Idol concert!), but that doesn’t mean his thoughts on our relationship to Christ and truths about our Christian walk are off at all! 

 

One of the biggest things I’m taking away from this book is that we focus too much on the Incarnation, and not enough on the Ascension.  Yes, the Incarnation is what brought us salvation–Christ coming in the flesh and dying in our place.  BUT–it was when He ascended to His Father that the Father sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us and empower us!

 

He didn’t leave us to figure it out, to "try to be holy" in our own strength–praise God!  Because we can’t!!!!

 

I loved this quote:

 

The highest motivation for striving to grow in holiness is to honor the God who has saved us.   p. 176

A BIG hearty AMEN!

 

A few more quotes:

 

Jesus didn’t come to say, "Don’t worry about being transformed; I’ll love you anyway.’" That’s how some mischaracterize His teaching, conveniently forgetting His words, "If you love Me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15), and "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).  Instead, Jesus came to say, "I have paid the price for your past and future disobedience, and I have released the power for you to be transformed from the inside out.  What was once impossible has become possible.  What was once burdensome now becomes a delight.  You are no longer a slave to your sins.  I have set you free, and in my freedom you are free indeed."

The reason I like the word God-empowered is that it reminds me that we need power.  Christianity is not just about being forgiven; it is about being given the power to change:  "The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20).  ( pp. 229-30)

He shares the process of transformation in chapter 14 "What If It’s Not Easy?" on pages 208-209.   I won’t quote it at length, but I will give you the first sentence or so of each "step".

 

The process of transformation thus begins with the fear of God, recognizing that He is Lord and that, as Lord, He has the right to do whatever He thinks is best, regardless of our opinion, comfort, or complaining. 

Transformation then takes root with the virtue of humility, the constant recognition that we need to grow, that we never arrive, and that there are always further lessons to be learned.

Transformation is next strengthened with surrender, the joyful acceptance of God’s providential direction.

Added to this already difficult task is the essential requirement of perseverance.  Transformation is a longtime process requiring vigilance and rededication.

And then, finally, we must embrace gratitude–not just for what God has done but also for what He is doing and what He will do.

This book has been such a challenge to me to make myself pliable in the hands of my Potter, so that He can transform me into what He wills, what will best reflect His glory–"splashes of Glory", as Mr. Thomas calls it!  We are here to reveal Christ, not have a good time, not have all the comforts our little hearts desire, nor to have everyone praise and lift us up.

 

He has some rich quotes at the beginning of each section and each chapter….here are a few:

 

Sin is a ceaseless, undying power in our life.  A ceaseless, undying power must come against it.  And there is only one such power in the universe–only one, which has a chance against sin:  the power of the living Christ.   ~Henry Drummond

The greatest ethical challenge is so to live that men don’t glorify you for living that way, but God.  ~John Piper

 

 

I hope these glimpses have encouraged you today to continue the beautiful fight, allowing Him to transform you by His power!

 

 

Blessings!

 

Have you ever read Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard?   It is probably one of my absolutely favorite of all Christian books!

 

I first read it when I was in Strasbourg, France, for a study-abroad program while in college.  That was the year God totally turned my world around.  I had been a Christian for 3 years, but only started growing in the year leading up to this year abroad.  I didn’t do as well academically, but spiritually I soared.  Not without some pain, however!

 

God had to show me that all my grand plans for my life were not His.  That I was going to change from foreign languages (and therefore not be an interpreter) to music.   That I was not going to finish college (boy, did THAT raise lots of eyebrows!)   And at that point, I didn’t even have a boyfriend, so it wasn’t like I thought I was going to get married and have 9 kids or something like that!  

 

I am so glad I read this book early in my Christian walk.  If you haven’t read it, it really focuses on the relationship between a believer and her (or his!) Lord.  As a young girl of 19, who had already broken off a serious relationship and was willing to let the Lord be everything to her, I was still scared.   This was new territory!  What if God called me to be single?  What if I never had another boyfriend– never got married?  Could He really meet the deepest needs of my heart?   Remember, this was back in the dinosaur ages before "courtship" materials abounded at every Christian bookstore!  Homeschooling was in its gestation for the most part, and there was little out there to support a baby Christian like me in this new territory.  At least as far as I knew then.

 

A friend on the IU Study program loaned me her copy, and I read it.  And reread it.  When I came home for Christmas, I bought my own copy!  And marked it!  (I’m trying to find my original copy, but as many things in this house, no one seems to have seen it……it’s here, somewhere!)   It went back to Strasbourg with me.  It became my constant companion.  I memorized the beautiful poetic renditions Miss Hurnard did of verses in Song of Solomon.

 

I have certainly fallen into my share of doing things out of duty or some sort of "religious" reason over the almost 30 years of being a Christian!   But God lovingly brings me back to my "first love"…..I think of my times at the ruins of Heidelberg Castle in Germany.  I meditated a lot on those poems and the message of the book.  In Switzerland it also accompanied me (which is neat, since Miss Hurnard originally received from the Lord much of the material for the book in Switzerland!).  I didn’t get to roam about much in Switzerland (ah, the life of a poor college girl!), but I still enjoyed what I did get to see and decided it must be the most beautiful place in the world to live!    Since I live in a rather flat area, and hadn’t even seen mountains in my own country yet, the Alps hold a special place in my heart!

 

It is probably the only book I own, other than the Bibles I had at the time, that travelled all over Europe with me!  

 

In reading several books by Ron Auch, I was reminded of Hinds’ Feet.   Mr. Auch’s books focus on…you guessed it!  Our relationship with Christ!   He has a ministry, Pray-Tell Ministries, but his thrust isn’t to get you to pray a certain way or even pray more.  He knows and teaches that we must deepen our relationship with God–we must want and desire HIM above all else–or prayer is just another religious "thing to do". 

 

I don’t want a religion–things to do.

I want a relationship–a faith–something to be!

 

It becomes a part of you.  But only as we spend time in His presence!   The marriage relationship is a beautiful picture of the relationship we are to have with our Heavenly Bridegroom.  It’s amazing that a few years ago, I happened to be meditating on that, and thought, "If ALL of marriage is a picture of our relationship to Christ, then what part does physical intimacy portray?"   I don’t think God just gave that part as a nice extra to our earthly relationship, with no spiritual correlation!   Our world has so degraded the intimate part of marriage, that we almost cringe to think that way.  Yet I truly believe that every part of marriage as God intended has something to show us.

 

God showed me it is prayer.  Not the sit down and give Him my list of things to do, like a "Honey-Do" list prayer, but worship.  Just adoring Him.  Wanting Him.  Needing Him.  Loving Him.

 

Amazingly, Ron Auch said the same thing in his books!   So, I’m not the only nutcase out there! 

 

I have just finished reading three of his books:  When He Appears, He Hears Your Prayers, and Prayer Can Change Your Marriage.  I’ve also read parts of the book I got for Dallas, Unshakable Man.   I highly recommend ALL of them!  Even the one for men has things we women can learn from!  Just don’t highlight anything in there trying to change your husband!  You’d be missing the point of the book!

 

One of Ron’s premises is that prayer isn’t to change our circumstances or those around us, as if we were using God to manipulate things to our liking.  It is to change us.   It is then through our changed lives, shining with His Shekinah Glory as Moses’ face did, that makes others thirsty for Him.

 

If the salt has lost its savor……and what is happening to Christians today?  We are being trampled! 

 

That’s why I wrote last week that getting involved politically, getting angry, and whatever other "action" we want to take will be in vain if we don’t start at the right place–

 

Getting back to our trysting place with our Heavenly Bridegroom and Lover of Our Soul.

 

Mr. Auch pointed out that a woman draws her security from her husband’s walk with the Lord.  If he is not seeking God, she will become fearful and try to control things so she can have that security.  (This is not what she should do, mind you!).   In the same way, when the Church stops spending time in her Savior’s presence, she becomes militant.  Trying to change and control things her way. 

 

Hmmmm…..

 

When we get back to our relationship, God can change things.  He can change us.  He can give us courage to face things that before would frighten us.  Because as you spend time in His presence, you get to know Him.  You know His character (and start changing to be more like Him), so you can trust Him.

 

Another profound thought Mr. Auch brought out is that we can be right in the center of God’s will with our prayers, but if our motives are self-centered, God very likely will withhold the answer because our motives are not pure.  He gave the example of a wife who marries a man just for the "goodies" he will provide.  A man desires to be a good provider, but if he senses his wife is just "using" him to get things, he may very well withhold the very things he desires to give her because he first wants her to want him.

 

Prayer has taken on a whole new meaning for me!   My husband and I both had been discussing how we felt more inadequate to pray than ever.   As you can see from "books I’m reading" and what I’ve mentioned in the past, I have been reading lots of books on prayer!  And they are helpful….to a degree.  I knew I didn’t want some "formula praying" book.  I have nothing against using books that take Scriptures and create prayers from them.   They can be from the heart as well as my own words.  BUT–what was missing was the time spent with Him just to be with Him.

 

Not that I’m not going to intercede or confess or petition Him during these times together.  But the bulk of my time should be in worship.  Then intercession.  Mr. Auch talks of how you could pray for 30 minutes for others–not so hard if you spend 5 minutes praying for 6 people you know!    I love that his books give you more about the relationship and why it is so important to build that before he gets to any "how-to".  In fact, he doesn’t want it to be a "how-to" book.  He tells you if you skipped to that chapter to go back and read the others first!   Otherwise, you will turn this into a method as we are so prone to do, whether in our homeschooling, marriages, parenting, churches…..

 

I have said before that God has had me in the school of relationships.  Back in 1995, He started showing me that I didn’t have what I call "true heart submission".  My motives were not always pure.   I wanted my husband to change into my idea of what a spiritual leader should be!   (Isn’t that kind of like trying to make God be the kind of god you’d like Him to be?!)   I thought I was doing pretty well, reading books like "Keep a Quiet Heart" by Elisabeth Elliot (highly recommended, by the way!).  Then in 1997, at a homeschool conference, a speaker read Debi Pearl’s article "Carnal Husbands, Cranky Wives, and Cantankerous Kids".   Surgery time!   I got a copy of that article and read it daily for months!  Evaluating my "true heart submission" to my husband AND my Savior!  

 

Again, I thought I was doing pretty well (let anyone that stands take heed……) when in 1999 I attended a Nancy Leigh DeMoss seminar, "Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free".  OUCH!  And to top it all off, I received her little booklet "A Biblical Portrait of Womanhood" and discovered that out of thet 32 statements in the second half of the booklet, I only passed FIVE! 

 

More surgery!

 

In 2000 I found Laine of "Laine’s Letters".    Now THERE is a woman totally in love with her Lord!  It’s infectious!  Makes you want to get up at 4 a.m., too!     Well, I’m trying for 5:30 for now!    Jesus working in her life changed her priorities, her marriage, her parenting, her homeschooling…..and now she is a well overflowing with the Living Water touching lives all around the world through her "letters"!  They have helped me keep that fire burning in my heart.

 

Through the past several years, there have been books here and there, but not as life-changing as the ones I mentioned.  Until now.

 

As I read these books (Ron Auch’s), I immediately thought of Hinds’ Feet on High Places!   If we have no relationship in a marriage, do we really have a marriage?  If we have no relationship with our Savior—do we really have salvation?  Do we really understand all He died to give us?  If we are only counting on Heaven and a little answered prayer here and there, we are SO missing out!

 

The enemy’s biggest tactic that works to get Christians ineffective is to fight him vs. pursuing Christ.  (from Mr. Auch).   I wholeheartedly agree!  I would venture to say that most if not all problems in our churches today, in our homes today, in our marriages, in our lives–boils down to not spending time with Him.

 

He wants to change the pray-er more than anything.  Because it’s as others see Jesus in us that they will become thirsty for a drink of the Living Water than only He can supply.   We don’t need to seek answers to our problems–

 

We need to seek HIM!

Here are some gems to whet your appetite for these books! (And more importantly, for a living love relationship with the Savior!)

 

"When the bride longs for the king, she is most beautiful.  However, if a bride is in love with herself and infatuated with her own beauty, she is no longer attractive."  When He Appears, p. 122

 

"Often the Lord refers to the fact that His hand is not short.  In other words, God can reach us with all of our needs.  Do not worry about His hands.  Do not worry about your needs.  Never let the bulk of your prayer life center around the cares of this life.  The Lord’s hand is not shortened. He can reach you with your needs no matter where you are.  Seek His face.

 

"The bride was being taken through the process of giving up more and more of her life.  She was being taught that seeking the face of her love would ultimately meet all the needs of her life."  When He Appears, p. 72

 

"This is why Jesus gives all His attention to the Church:  if the Church was fully developed and fully mature, then the whole world would be jealous of the relationship we have with God.  When our families are fully developed in the things of God, they will become a very powerful and effective evangelistic tool because this world has sought every means to save their families.  The world has tried everything from psychology to mysticism, and none of it has worked.   In fact, things are only growing worse.  And only the church has the answer:  a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The world should be literally breaking down the doors of the church saying, ‘We’ve noticed that your families have what we seek.’  If we would give ourselves to the developing of our families, it would be a tremendous force for completing the Great Commission.

 

"We have a responsibility to God, to our families, and to the world to reflect the glory of Jesus Christ."  Prayer Can Change Your Marriage, pp. 110-111

"It is only from a lack of prayer that you see through man’s eyes rather than God’s.  When you begin praying for someone, in this case your mate, you start seeing that person the way God does.  You start to love your spouse as God does:  for who that person is, rather than for what he or she does.  Hope does not disappoint us because God’s love is poured out in our hearts  Prayer changes the pray-er.  It takes the pray-er from brotherly love (called ‘phileo’ in Greek) to godly love (the Greek ‘agape’)….God wants us to love others the way He loves us. That can only happen when we develop His character in us, and that requires time in His presence. 

 

"But you can’t pray for this ‘agape’ love.  It only comes as a result of being with God."  Prayer Can Change Your Marriage, p. 105

 

"If I regularly spend time in God’s presence, I won’t be able to help loving everyone, even the most unlovely person.  But if I leave God’s presence for even a small march of days or weeks, I will love only conditionally.  If someone meets a certain criteria, I will love that person to pieces.  But if they don’t measure up, I won’t, all because I haven’t been in God’s presence.

 

"That’s why I said earlier that God is using your present situation, no matter how bad it is, to develop His character in you, if you will just let it drive you to prayer.  If it doesn’t drive you to prayer, then things will probably never change for you.  You will have to live with those same problems every day for the rest of your life here on earth.

 

"All this talk about praying for our spouses may make them seem bad, but remember that God uses what naturally interests us (like our mate, family) to get us to pray so that He can supernaturally change us. The change must happen in us first.  God has to first get me to the place where I can love others the way He loves me.  Then He can begin to work through my prayers for them and begin to change my spouse."  Prayer Can Change Your Marriage, p. 106

 

"So when we face tribulation, we go to prayer.  Prayer causes us to spend time in God’s presence, and that causes us to become like Him in character, which in turn causes us to have great hope in even the most devastating situation."  Prayer Can Change Your Marriage, p. 107

 

"’Test me and know my anxious thoughts.’  (Ps. 139:23)  The word ‘thoughts’ in this verse means ‘desires’.  The idea behind this is that anything that is really a desire of our heart, will occupy our thoughts.  So David is saying in essence, ‘Test me by examining what actually occupies my thoughts.’"  Unshakable Man, p. 104

 

"Preparing your heart for prayer can be summed up in one word:  surrender.  Surrender your heart to Christ.  Give Him your will.  Give Him your plans. Give Him your talents.  Give Him your heart."   Unshakable Man, p. 108

 

"Anything we love, we long to be with."  The Heart of the King,  on Ps. 119:165

 

I think you get the picture!  Oh, to love Him, spend time with Him and become like Him!!!  "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness:  I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness."   Psalm 17:15

 

I have always loved hills and mountains, especially since reading Hinds’ Feet.  I envision being there with my Lord, receiving His love, being filled with Him, so permeated with His presence that I anoint all I touch in my day.  Too often I rush off into the day without that symbolic "trysting on the mountain" first.  I must be filled first to be able to love others as my Savior does.

 

"The High Places, " answered the Shepherd, "are the starting places for the journey down to the lowest place in the world.  When you have hinds’ feet and can go ‘leaping on the mountains and skipping on the hills,’ you will be able, as I am, to run down from the heights in gladdest self-giving and then go up to the mountains again.  You will be able to mount to the High Places swifter than eagles, for it is only up on the High Places of Love that anyone can receive the power to pour themselves down in an utter abandonment of self-giving."

Jesus came to serve.  To be our example.  This is what we are created for–to give–to serve–to love.  But we can only do it in His strength!

 

One of my favorite poems from Hinds’ Feet is The Water Song. 

 

Come, oh come!  Let us away–

Lower, lower every day,

Oh, what joy it is to race

Down to find the lowest place.

This the dearest law we know–

"It is happy to go low."

Sweetest urge and sweetest will,

"Let us go down lower still."

 

Hear the summons night and day

Calling us to come away.

From the heights we leap and flow

To the valleys down below.

Always answering to the call,

To the lowest place of all.

Sweetest urge and sweetest pain,

To go low and rise again."

 

 

This was my dearest treasure from the Lord last weekend–a beautiful little waterfall that flowed across the trail.  I have a picture on my phone of where it leaps from a precipice and flows into a creek.  If I can figure out how to get it off my phone, I’ll post it later! 

 

 

 

 

It just flows out of the rock–from under the ground.

 

 

 

 

And then on down the hill….

 

 

 

 

Here I am standing right in the middle of the stream and right in the middle of the trail!

 

 

 

 

And here you can hear (and see)  "The Water Song"–just a 48 second video of the little waterfall!

 

I pray you will fill yourself up with Him today…..and every day.

 

 

 

 

I read this yesterday, from Ron Auch’s book, The Heart of the King.  This is a devotional on Psalm 119, with one page per verse.   This particular quote is from verse 153.

 

153.  Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.

In this verse, David is seeking deliverance.  He is using his remembrance (practice) of God’s law as his premise for asking for deliverance. Obedience is a symbol of love.  Our love for God is directly related to our obedience to Him.  If a person declares his love to God but does not follow God’s law, his declaration of love is considered false by God.  We read of this in Ezekiel 33:31, "My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they DO NOT PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE.  With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain."  Devotion is measured by our obedience to God, not by our statement of love.  It is one thing to tell God how much we love Him; it is quite another thing to live in obedience to Him.  Obedience is the measure of love.

In Psalm 34:4 we read, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."  Deliverance comes through seeking God, not necessarily from seeking deliverance.  We find God in our obedience to Him.  Therefore, if we are truly seeking God, we will live in obedience.  David is praying, "Deliver me on the basis of my obedience, which signifies my love for You."  The presence of God is our deliverance.

The New Testament puts it this way, "God is love" (I John 4:8).  Later in that same chapter John says, "But perfect love drives out fear" (I John 4:18).  Perfect love (God) is what delivers us.  it is our love relationship with God that delivers us from fear as well as from suffering.  If we live in fear, it’s because our love relationsip with God is not what it should be.  We are not spending adequate time in His presence.

 

This is quite powerful!   "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me:  and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."  John 14:21

 

We need to be measuring our love by HIS standards, and not just what we say or think!  

 

Isn’t it that way with everything about our relationship with Him?

 

A few days ago I read verse 151–"Yet You are near, O Lord, and all Your commands are true."

 

Just a few thoughts from that page:

 

When the wicked seem to be overwhelming us, the presence of God becomes all that much more powerful……We can put our trust in God’s plan. 

 

A command is an uttered expression of God’s will, which is to be obeyed.  When we obey His commands, we no longer have to live any fear of the wicked.  Some may ask, "Why does God demand so much obedience?"  The answer is He wants to protect us from the schemes of the wicked…. Obedience to Him works to our benefit. It becomes our protection.  All the promises of God are coinditionally based on our obedience to God.  When we come to the full revelation that God’s commands are true, we need never live in envy of the successes of the wicked. 

"You are near, O Lord."  David knew the true fountain of life came in the form of God’s presence.  The presence of God is experienced through following the commands of God.  Whether or not we obey God is determined by our love of His presence.  Are you content with the presence of God, or must you have more?  When you MUST have more, you are in danger of falling into the schemes of the wicked.

Are you seeing a pattern here?  This book was written in 1995, yet it is totally appropriate in all we are facing in our world today.

 

Are you fearful with all you read and hear? 

 

"And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. 

And He said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship,he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous; he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."    Matthew 14:28-30

 

It is very tempting to get our eyes off Him and onto the turbulent waves and wind around us, but when we do, then, like Peter walking on the water–we’ll sink!

 

And even when we do sink, isn’t it comforting to know He still will catch us and help pull us back up?!

 

"And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

 

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."   Matthew  14: 31-32

 

Have you let Jesus into your ship?  Only then will the wind cease!

 

Are you keeping your eyes upon Him?

 

 

2 Chronicles 20:12  "O our God, wilt Thou not judge them?  for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do:  but our eyes are upon Thee."

 

We MUST keep our eyes on Jesus!!!!

Only then will we be able to walk on the turbulent waves around us!

 

I have actually fasted from the news and radio for awhile.  I will catch a bit here and there, but I decided I needed to be spending far more time in God’s Word and in communion with Him than reading all that’s wrong and all that we should have been doing and should do now as if it all depended on us.  I am NOT saying don’t call your congressmen and women or write letters or sign petitions.  BUT–if your hope and trust is in all you can "do", and not in getting on your knees and becoming more like Him….if you think getting back to the Constitution will save us yet you aren’t spending time in His presence…well, quite frankly, I think that is what is wrong with America today.  And the world.   Christians have lost their savor, and if the salt have lost its savor, by what shall it be salted?  "It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

 

To regain our savor, spend time with the Savior!

We can be fearful (which is not of God–see 1 John 4:18), or we can be faithful (which must come from God–again–spend time in His presence!)

 

The way we become like Him is not in our striving, but in our resting in Him–beholding His face in His presence!

 

Lovers spend a lot of time looking into each others’ eyes.

 

When’s the last time you just spent time gazing into His eyes?  Not come with your shopping list of needs or complaints or panic-striken cries?   Just to gaze upon Him Who is altogether lovely?

Here are some verses to meditate upon:

 

Psalm 16:11  "Thou wilt shew me the path of life, in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

 

Psalm 17:15  "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness:  I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." 

 

1 Chronicles 22:19  "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord"   (in your heart!)

 

Song of Solomon 2:14  "O My dove, that art in the cleft of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let Me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely."

 

He longs to see us!  To hear our voice!  Just as a bridegroom rejoices to see his beautiful bride and to hear her voice! 

 

Isaiah 62:5  "…and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee."

 

Zephaniah 3:17  "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;  He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy;  He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."

 

 

Oh, do come into His presence!  Spend time there, just soaking Him in!  In these turbulent times, it’s tempting to fear, to be angry, to feel helpless….spend some time meditating on Psalm 37.   Note verses 4 and 5 are in the midst of commands such as, "fret not" and "cease from anger"!   Those verses say:  "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."  (which have become His desires because you have spent time in His presence, hearing His heartbeat!).  "Commit thy way utno the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."  HE will do it.  Not you.  What are you to do?  Rest in Him.  Trust in Him.  Commit to Him.  Delight in Him!

When all around makes you want to despair–heed His voice!  He says to "come away" with Him!  Song of Solomon 2:10  "My Beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up,My love, My fair one, and come away."  and again in verse 13–"Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away."

 

I leave you with Hannah Hurnard’s beautiful poetic rendition of Song 1:1-6.

 

"The Song of Songs,"  the loveliest song,

     The song of Love the King,

No joy on earth compares with His,

     But seems a broken thing.

His Name as ointment is poured forth,

    And all His lovers sing.

Draw me–I will run after Thee,

     Thou art my heart’s one choice,

Oh, bring me to Thy royal house,

     To dwell there and rejoice.

There in Thy presence, O my King,

     To feast and hear Thy voice.

Look not upon me with contempt,

     though soiled and marred I be,

The King found me–and outcast thing–

    And set His love on me.

I shall be perfected by Love,

     Made fair as day to see.

 

 

Is He your heart’s one choice?  Will you heed His call– to come away with Him to a quiet place, so He can impart His loveliness to you, and His strength?   So you can rest in Him and let Him do the work, while you rest content to be His handmaiden or servant?

 

Will you keep your eyes on HIM?   For then you can walk on those waves around you!!!

 

May you blessed and refreshed by His presence today! 

 

 

 

 

I know we all say it, "I canNOT believe it’s the end of the year!  Where did the year go?!"    I think you, like me, probably find yourself wondering, "Did I accomplish what I planned a year ago?   Did I accomplish God’s will this past year?"   I know I’m notorious for putting wonderful plans and schedules on paper (I’m afraid I’ve caused the demise of  many a tree over the years!!!  ), but not so famous for carrying them out!!!

 

There is nothing wrong with writing down plans, dreams, even maybe assigning a time frame for certain goals.   I have Type A tendencies, but I don’t carry them out!  LOL!!!   Seriously, I really do like to have a plan, and work the plan, and all that.

 

But I also know life doesn’t always fit into nice, neat calendar or Daytimer boxes!

 

How do you schedule in chicken pox?   Or going to TN to get your mom, then helping her sell her house, go through her stuff and move her?  Or a miscarriage?   A barn fire?  (Um, yes, I think we’ll schedule that next Friday at 4 p.m.—!     )   

 

I probably go a little to much with the flow of things, but I’ve learned that I need to let go my agenda if I’m going to have peace!   When I’m so intense on accomplishing my goals, however wonderful and even spiritual they may be;  when I rush to get back "to the plan" after a crisis, major or minor;  when I focus too much on getting things done and crossed off my list and depend on that for a sense of accomplishment—I am in danger of missing the most important thing.

 

Life.

 

Have you read the book,  Keep a Quiet Heart  by Elisabeth Elliot?   In the Introduction, she has a quote by Annie Keary that has resounded with me all these years since I read it in 1995.

 

"I think I find most help in trying to look on all the interruptions and hindrances to work that one has planned out for oneself as discipline, trials sent by God to help one against getting seflish over one’s work.  Then one can feel that perhaps one’s true work–one’s work for God–consists in doing some trifling haphazard thing that has been thrown into one’s day.  It is not a waste of time, as one is tempted to think, it is the most important part of the work of the day–the part one can best offer to God.  After such a hindrance, do not rush after the planned work, trust that the time to finish it will be given sometime, and keep a quiet heart about it."

 

Ahhh!  That is the hard part, isn’t it?  To not rush and get our plans back on track after an interruption, to trust, to keep a quiet heart?

 

It truly is offering our schedule and agenda to God.  Even when we think we have gotten our plans from Him, remember, He is quite at liberty to change your course midstream!   We like to have it all planned out, to know the starting point, the ending point, and all the rest stops in between.  God often asks us to chuck it all and says, "Just follow Me!  I will take you down paths where you will see beauty you couldn’t see on the freeway.  I will make sure you get to your destination just when it is right for you to be there.   In the meantime, won’t you enjoy My presence and My path for you?   It may seem to be a detour, but you will be richer for it!"

 

I love the story of Much-Afraid in Hinds’ Feet on High Places.  Many times there are detours and even seeming reversals of her path!   But through the journey, she learns to trust the Shepherd to lead her in the way He deems just right for her.   I think one of my New Year’s "resolutions" will be to reread that book!!!

 

Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord:  and he delighteth in His way."  I take that to mean that when I rest in His "ordering my steps", I will delight in His way!!!   But when I’m fretting, stewing and plotting how to get my way, there is no delight!

 

It was nine years ago today that I found Laine of Laine’s Letters.  I truly felt like "cool waters for a thirsty soul"!!!   She is so in love with our Savior, you can’t help but catch it!   I confess I don’t get up at 4 a.m., but I am again convinced I need to get up earlier than I have been.  I need that time alone with my Heavenly Bridegroom!   Just this morning, in my quiet time, I read in 2 Chronicles 22:19, "Now set your heart and soul to seek the Lord your God;  arise therefore,and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God…"  I have read how the home is to be a "little sanctuary" (miqdash me’at, from Our Father Abraham by Marvin Wilson, pg. 214)  That is why I take the verse from 2 Chronicles to mean that first, I must set my heart and soul on God, to seek Him.  The next part of the verse tells me to arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God…..I believe that means to arise early (whatever "early" is–basically a little while before the rest of the family!) and  arise to build up my home. 

 

Here is a meaningful description by Marvin Wilson how the home, as a small sanctuary, was to operate (this was in the time following the destruction of the temple that the rabbis taught this–so it is not "Biblical" in the sense of out of the Bible, but I believe there is nothing that contradicts what God wants for our homes here!)

 

"As a small sanctuary, the rabbis taught that the home, like the Temple, was to be set aside for special purposes.  These included the worship of God (a ‘house of prayer’), the learning of Torah ( a ‘house of study’), and the serving of community needs (a ‘house of assembly’).  Just as the shekinah (the abiding presence of God) filled theTemple, and as light, a symbol of the Divine, brightened the holy place through the menorah (the seven-branched lampstand), so each home was to reflect God’s glory through prayer and praise.  In addition, just as the golden table for the bread of the Presence in the Tabernacle contained loaves of bread set in two rows (Ex. 25:23030; Lev. 24:5-9), so on Sabbath eve in the home two loaves of  hallah are set on the table to symbolize God’s sustaining presence among His people."

 

What a beautiful picture of what we are to build our homes to be!  This "construction", if you will, is not done with boards, nails, siding, and windows, but with prayers, praises, study of God’s Word and meeting the needs of others (serving first in the home, then outward to the community).  Can you imagine the difference in the world if each Christian home truly became a miqdash me’at?  And if every woman worked to "build her house", serving her family by "setting her heart and soul to seek the Lord her God" and then "arising to build the sanctuary of her Lord God"?

 

What a beautiful oasis to the weary ones around us it would be!

 

Oh, that is my prayer!

 

To confirm my readings in the Scriptures, when I finished my quiet time, I read a page in The Heart of the King by Ron Auch (remember I told you this book is worth its weight in gold!!!).  I will share a few tidbits.

 

"Man can help you know about God, but pursuing God through prayer can help you know God.  There is a world of difference between knowing about God and knowing God.  Jesus said, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God’ (Mt. 22:29).  You are in error because you do not know.  Once again we are dealing with the heart knowing, rather than head knowledge.  You err because you do not know the Scriptures.  This does not mean you have a wrong interpretation of the Scriptures.  It means you do not have a knowledge of the one who inpsired them. Subsequently, you do not know the power of God; you merely know of it.

 

"To have more insight than your teachers, you must understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  That will only come through a pursuit of Him.  Does your heart throb at the thought of spending time with Him?  Can you identify with Isaiah when he says, ‘My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you’ (Is. 26:9)?"  (I like the KJV rendering of Is. 26:9, "With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early…") 

 

"Does your heart throb at the thought of spending time with Him?"

 

Oh, that is what this is—a true and holy love!   He wants to spend time with us!  He desires it and is anxiously awaiting our coming to the private trysting place. 

 

Does your heart beat to love Him more?   To hurry to get to that blessed spot alone with Him for a few moments to commune with Him, to look into His dear face? 

 

Often when I struggle to get up in the earlier hours, this quote by Thomas R. Kelly from The Spirit of Loveliness (by Emilie Barnes) runs through my mind:

 

"Hasten to Him who calls to you in the silences of your heart."

 

He is waiting.

 

Let’s not disappoint Him!

 

Shall we run to Him now?

I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me, thinking of me, and posting your words of comfort here and in e-mails!

 

Everything was over around 6:30 yesterday morning.   This is the first miscarriage where the baby was really big enough to see, and in the midst of our sorrow, it was an incredible blessing to see this very tiny baby–and it was definitely a baby, not a blob of tissue!  At only 6-7 weeks from conception we could see eyes, the nose, mouth, arms, legs, fingers forming, and we could see through the transluscent skin to the heart, brain and spinal column!  Truly a marvel to behold!    One thing I’ve read is there is a difference between seeing them alive in utero vs. out of the sac when they’re gone.  So it could be likely the baby’s fingers were more developed than they looked to us, as the baby was out of his/her water environment.

 

This is very much what our precious baby looked like, only the arms and legs didn’t seem to be quite as developed, but more than just buds.   Again, some of that could be the difference of this picture depicting a baby in its natural water environment.

 

This is 6 weeks after conception, or when we say we’re "8 weeks pregnant". 

 

 

 

I share all that to show that from conception, this baby was a precious life.  In fact,  Baby is STILL a precious life, beholding the face of Jesus even now.  I have blessed hope that I will get to see this little one again, all perfect in form!

 

The baby was too tiny to tell gender, but with all my miscarriages, God has given either my husband or me a sense of whether the baby was a girl or a boy.   We have chosen to name them, which further makes them a person and not a number (miscarriage # ____ )    I have no doubt that He will this time, too. 

 

I was once asked, when I shared that, what happens if I get to Heaven and find out I was wrong?  What if the "boys" are really girls, or vice versa?  I smiled and said,  "Well, when I’m in Heaven, it won’t really matter, will it!"   But for now, it gives us a name to call the baby, to refer to him/her by, to grieve over.   And to look forward to when we’ll be together again!

 

The baby is encased in a very strong sac filled with water.   It is protected quite well!

 

And right now, I am encased in a "bubble" full of grace.   I am protected quite well by my Heavenly Father’s love and care!

 

Some might describe it as "numb" or "in shock".  (I was referred to being "in shock" during the induced labor of our stillborn son.  The nurses apparently had never before seen someone who had a truckload of grace being poured out on them!)

 

I call it grace.   And peace.

 

I felt it during Noah Ross’ labor and again during his funeral.   I felt it during many of my miscarriages.  I especially felt it during Dallas’ time in the hospital following his accident.  I even told people, "I’m in my bubble right now!"   God knows there will be times to "face reality" later.   But for the moment, He encases us in a strong bubble filled to the max with His matchless grace and love.

 

Unlike the baby, though, we can choose to get out of our bubble.   It’s a cruel world out there.   Cold.  Dark.   I have had times where I did this.  It leads to bitterness.   That is like biting the hand that feeds you and cares for you!  It’s lonely, dark and cold.  

 

I choose to remain in my bubble for now.  Basking in the abundant peace He bestows.  Oh, there are tears!   I cried so much when Baby finally arrived, telling him/her how much he/she was wanted and loved!   Of course Baby was already in Heaven, but we needed that "goodbye" time.

 

After it was all over, and since I had been laboring most of the night, I went back to bed.   I felt such incredible peace cover me!  When I awoke, it was the same.  Warm.  Light.  Comfort. 

 

It was the reverse of the first verse of "It Is Well"–first the sorrows that like sea billows were rolling over me.  Then the peace like a river.  Incredible, Grace-filled peace.

 

Of course, it comes from THE Prince of Peace.  

 

I am not sharing all this to make anyone think I am some superspiritual person.  I still have my questioning times (God, haven’t we been through enough of this?) and my sorrowful times.  My times when I just don’t want to think about it all and bury my thoughts in something else.

 

But ultimately, down deep, I know I must keep my eyes on Him.  II Chronicles 20:12 says (last part) "….neither know we what to do:  but our eyes are upon Thee."

 

Psalm 141:8  "But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord:  in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute."

 

I know I posted this verse in Saturday’s post, but it is so comforting to me.  Psalm 147:3  "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds (sorrows)."  

 

But we have to let Him.

 

It means letting go of our pain, our hurt, our bitterness, and, in the words of Charles Spurgeon,  

 

"God is too good to be unkind, too wise to be mistaken, when we cannot trace His hand, we can always trust His heart."

 

I’m sure you’ve heard of the poem called "The Weaver".   I post it here, because truly, it is a beautiful description of our life here, and our inability to fully understand the place of pain and loss in our lives.

 

The Weaver

Grant Colfax Tuller

My life is but a weaving, 
betwixt my God and me,
I do not choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes he weaveth sorrow,
and I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper,
and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent,
and the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas,
and explain the reasons why.

 
The dark threads are as needful
in the skillful weaver’s hand
As threads of gold and silver
in the pattern He has planned.

 

 

Whatever your pain today, your situation, whether it’s a fresh wound or a past hurt, please give it all to Him.  Yes, you will have to do it daily.  Perhaps hourly.  Perhaps second by second.   But it will get you back into the Bubble of Grace He has for you.  

 

Remember, it’s safe there.  Warm.  Light.  Comfort.  Sweet Blessed Comfort!

 

His presence is there, and His presence sets our hearts FREE! 

 

May His peace enfold you, His grace overshadow you, and His everlasting arms of strength and love uphold you today and every day.

 

Bless ye the Lord, O my soul,

And all within me His holy name.

Do not forget all His goodness

Which He hath done for you, Amen.

 

Bless ye, bless ye the Lord;

Bless ye the Lord, O my soul!

Bless ye, bless ye the Lord;

Bless ye the Lord, O my soul!

I just got my new issue of TEACH Magazine (which I highly recommend, btw!), and the theme is Serenity.   How appropriate!  If you read my Saturday Psalm and Praise for September 20, you already know that seems to be where the Lord has me!

 

I have felt, for most of the time during our quarantine, a profound sense of peacefulness.  I was a bit concerned for the young lady whose wedding we were to play for, but deep down, I knew it would all work out (she was able to find someone else, thankfully!).   Other than about 4 times, when different children were at their "peak itchy" point and nothing would help, I felt a calm that almost seemed unreal!   It reminded me of the calm when we lost our first little boy, as well as the calm when Dallas had his serious accident.  Now, chicken pox has not been NEARLY as serious as those times were!  Yet the peace that settled on me seemed to be like being in a "bubble", where the cares of life didn’t seem to touch me like they usually do. 

 

According to the Random House College Dictionary (1988), Serenity means:

 

The state or quality of being serene, calm, or tranquil;   synonyms:  composure, calm, peacefulness

 

serene:

 

calm, peaceful, tranquil; unruffled

 

Ah!  What beautiful qualities to have, yes?

 

The Webster’s 1828 has some of the same ideas, but a few more that really help round it out:

 

serenity:  Calmness; quietness; stillness; peace; calmness of mind; evenness of temper; undisturbed state; coolness

 

serene:  calm, unruffled, undisturbed

 

Here is a quote from Dr. A. T. Pierson that, for me, really portrays this meaning:

 

"The peace of God is that eternal calm which, like the cushion of the sea, lies far too deep down to be reached by any external trouble or disturbance;  and he who enters into the presence of God, becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm."

 

Yes, as I stated before…..the Prince of Peace can come into our troubled seas of  life and calm the storm, but He extends His peace another way, too.   He might, instead of calming the storm, take you deeper–deeper into Him and His presence, away from the turbulent seas.   The hurricane boiling on the surface doesn’t affect the ocean floor.   Near to the heart of God, we can weather the storm because He is letting us partake of His peace, His serenity.   All it takes (all!) is a heart surrendered and at rest in Him.

 

If I’m not resting in Him, then I am saying, in effect, "You can’t take care of me!  You don’t know what’s best for me!  I just can’t trust you!"  Listen to to that!   WHAT am I saying?!  The God of the universe, Who sacrificed His life for me….I can’t trust Him?!    When you put it like that, well!   It’s so easy to see it for the lie it is, and to run to Abba-Father’s arms.   No matter the storm, close to Him is the safest place to be!

 

One of the thoughts in TEACH this issue was that serenity is not something we seek after.  It’s "not something we go looking for, because where we will find it is in our response to and in the middle of the fires of life." 

 

It all goes back to:  What is my choice?   Philippians 1:18 says, "What then?  notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."  Paul was responding about those who were preaching Christ out of their own vanity.   He could have been hurt, displeased, angry–but he chose  to rejoice!  "… and will  rejoice"!   Do I choose to rejoice, even when circumstances collaborate to anger, displease or hurt me? 

 

Being in "quarantine" means we haven’t been to church for a few weeks.  Dallas had a cd he borrowed with a message by Dr. John MacArthur on….contentment!  (Hmmm….I see a theme developing here!  )

 

He was mainly in Philippians 4, and it was rich!   The actual title is "An Encouraging Call to a Contented Life"  based on Philippians 4:1-9

 

I won’t write out ALL my notes (that started on my infamous sticky notes and went to a bigger scrap piece of paper….), but here are some highlights–think of this and how it applies to "serenity"!

 

"It’s not about what I have, but about Who has me!"

 

"Discontent is sin because it denies the right of God to do with us as He will, and it ignores the fact/promise that God will not give us more than we can handle.  It fails to believe that this is God’s best for us."

 

"It saps our joy and peace."  

 

"Contentment rides over our circumstances."

 

Here are his points–but trust me!  You will get a LOT MORE from the cd if you can listen to it!  He also pointed out how many of these went along with the fruits of the Spirit–I found all the fruits could be incorporated.   His are in italics, mine in parentheses.

 

1. Cultivate Love for Others (in the fellowship) 

Love

 No circumstance of life could strike a blow at Paul’s contentment because his contentment had nothing to do with his circumstances!

Contentment grows in the soil of selfLESSness.

 

2. Cultivate a(n) Attitude/Spirit of Rejoicing 

Joy

v. 4  Rejoice in the Lord, not circumstances!  Our primary source of joy is obedience–training the heart to rejoice in the glorious truth that the Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want!

 

3. Learning to Accept Less than You’re Due

Longsuffering  (Meekness; Gentleness)

Facing life with a patient, humble, reasonableness that demands little. 

v. 5 "Let your ‘forbearing’ (KJV-moderation) be known to all."  The word for forbearing actually means:

a sweet reasonableness, generosity, magnanimity;  meekness and gentleness in the face of hostility

 

It gives the picture of one who demands nothing!  No "I got my rights" attitudes!  This reminds me of a quote from Stormie Omartian’s book on praying for our husbands–about longing to do right more than be right–to give life rather than to get even.

 

4. Confident Faith in the Lord

Faith

 

v. 5 The Lord is nearby–close–His personal presence!  He is your true security!

 

 

5. Reacting to Your Problems with Thankful Prayer

(Peace)

v. 6  Ask with thanksgiving…"I thank You that You will do what is best".  Just leave it there with Him–you can trust Him with ALL of it!

The answer is not the issue–taking the burden to Him and leaving it with Him is.  Peace is resting in the wisdom, power and purpose of God.  Peace protects the heart and mind thought patterns from discontent

 

6. Think on Godly Things

(Self-Control)

 

v.8  To keep your heart focused on Him.   If you rehearse all that’s wrong, you’re feeding your discontentment!  What’s there to worry about?  Don’t carry God’s burden, especially the burden of the future.  You can sleep in peace because God doesn’t sleep….ever!

 

7.  Follow a Good Example

(Goodness)

v. 9  Paul is as good as any!  The same Shepherd that guided Paul will guide us as well!    May our contentment be a testimony to Him!

 

 

And finally, some absolutely beautiful words from Andrew Murray’s Holy in Christ:

 

"….where God enters to rest, there He sanctifies."  p. 23

 

"God rests only in what is restful, wholly at His disposal.  It is in the restfulness of faith that we must look to God the Sanctifier; He will come in and keep His holy Sabbath in the restful soul. We rest in God’s rest; God rests in our rest."  pp. 25-26

 

"Rest.  What a simple word!  The rest of God!  What an inconceivable fulness of life and love in that word.  Let us meditate on it and worship before Him, until it overshadow us and we enter into it–the rest of God." p.26

 

"And teach me, Lord, to understand better how this blessing comes.  It is where Thou enterest to rest and refresh and reveal Thyself that Thou makest holy.  O my God, may my heart be Thy resting-place!  I would, in the stillness and confidence of a restful faith, rest in Thee, believing that Thou doest all in me.  Let such fellowship with Thee, and Thy love, and Thy will be to me the secret of a life of holiness.  I ask it in the name of our Lord Jesus, in Whom Thou hast sanctified us. Amen."

 

AMEN!