To Relish Him

And as I begin this morning nothing wants to come to mind for a title, but still, I write, and so often (as with so many other things) I figure whatever it is that needs to be said will be said. Strange but true.

But what do I feel the need to say? Not much really except, I want to find a way back to God. I’ve missed Him and I’ve especially missed writing about Him. Sort of a feeling of needing to dig my way out and back. Like, I’ve been buried under some giant pile of laundry (metaphorically speaking) and for some reason… it’s heavy. But somehow I need to. Somehow it seems that the only place I feel true peace, for me, is when I’m writing about God because it’s then that I’m actively seeking Him. I’m listening, “God, what do you have to say?” And this, this is what I’ve missed.

But this morning I pulled out some of my older writings, journalings, whatever you want to call them, and as I read through them what I seemed to notice most was… there was joy in my voice and the joy came from God, from pointing to Him, and I could hear it as I read, that old me. And you know what? I decided, “I want that back.”

Now, I know some of you as you read this might be thinking, “wow, she’s really fallen off the band wagon,” or maybe, “oh no. She’s a prodigal!” But, that’s not what I’m talking about at all here. What I’m talking about is finding and doing that one thing that seems to be, “what?” That one thing, and you know God’s given it to you for a specific reason that makes you, “what?” Could it be… inexplicably happy? Joyful? Even at peace? Could be. For me it’s writing, and more importantly, when I use that writing to point to God. Yeah, for some reason this makes me happy (and don’t ask me why this is, because as you can tell I’m no prodigy) but yeah, this, this brings me joy, and for some reason, this, this definitely brings me peace. And again, I think this has something to do with how when we use our gifts to point to God, it causes us to draw closer to Him, which is always a good thing.

So, “now what?” All I can say is, if God’s called you to do something, do it, and stop making excuses. You know, I’ve spent far too long searching for a voice I thought I’d lost. Or maybe… I preoccupied myself with other things because I didn’t know how to find it. Skipping quiet times with God because I was letting in too many distractions, when instead, I could just drop them at His feet and… relish Him. You know, that’s it exactly. That’s what I’ve forgotten, that’s what I’ve missed, and that’s what I want to get back to… to relish Him!  Again.

To keep working…

Can we see a bigger picture that only benefits others? A bigger picture with nothing in it for us, whatsoever? Can we be so selfless, expecting nothing in return? Can we do the things you call us to with no promise of something more, without asking or expecting, “what’s in it for me, Lord?” Can we go unnoticed, unthanked and unseen, and can we and will we keep on going? Working only for you, Lord, knowing only you see? Would that be enough to sustain us in this life, Lord; your approval only? And knowing this only by faith and faith alone, could we day in and day out continue to toil, turning heavy clay soil, in hopes that one day it might be ready? That one day might come the seed, and then the rain? That one day we might see the harvest or… will we? And if not, would we keep working? Would we keep plowing? Would we be able to keep our eyes on you and you alone? And would the knowledge of your beauty be enough to satisfy our insatiable appetites and keep our wayward souls?

Lord, strengthen the weak hands and feeble knees of your servants and all those who grow weary, and may your Holy Spirit renew us, causing us to see the need… to keep working.

“Check!”

And as I look at the title now I suppose it could convey a number of different things really, but for this post I’m thinking about flying. Yes, flying, and I actually have a fear of flying (don’t ask me why) but I think I’m getting better about it. I figure if I’m going to go and be it in a plane, then I’m going to go no matter what so when it comes to flying I’ll just close my eyes (through the take off’s and landings) and let God do the rest. So ya, for this post it’s flying that I’m thinking of when I think of “check!”

You see, growing up my Dad was a pilot, not a commercial pilot but a private pilot. He had a private plane and so instead of taking road trips we would all jump into the airplane and fly to wherever it was we were going. Ya, you’d think with all of my experience that I would love to fly or at least not mind it, but no, I still, to this day dislike it.

I remember all the preparation that had to take place before we could take off: walk around the plane, inspect the flaps, rudder, wheels, turn the prop. If that all looked good then “jump inside!”

My brother and I were always in the backseat. We’d have our headsets on (with a mic) and so ya, I guess compared to driving it was pretty cool, plus, as we all know with flying you can cover a lot more distance in a lot less time.

But anyway, my Dad would turn some knobs, pull some levers, and I think there was an ignition key but now I don’t really remember, but before I knew it he would have the plane up and running and planes, or at least small ones buzz. It’s the propeller, and it feels like, oh I don’t know, like those little wooden planes that you wind up, the ones with the rubber band? and before you know it you’re about to be slingshoted.

But my Dad checks some more buttons, levers, the gauges across his instrument panel and if that all looks good we then taxi out to the runway, his communication with the tower occasionally breaking the eight track tape that’s currently playing over our headsets, (and ya, this is the 70′s so, we were probably listening to something my mom picked out like Olivia Newton John or Helen Reddy? I think it was Helen Reddy). Ya, music to fly by; “must be soothing.” But anyway, we taxi out to the runway, and before taking off we pause, because it’s here we always pause, and then my Dad pulls out “the list.” The “check” list and every time he does this, every time before we fly.

Down the list he reads. “Flaps?” he asks and then he turns the appropriate handle to make sure that it’s working and if so we then hear him call out “check!” Next on the list, “Rudder?” he asks and again he checks to see if it’s working and if so, again we hear over our headsets, “check!” Continuing on down the list until lastly he turns to look at all of us, “seatbelts?” he asks and everyone nods, “check!” Only until everything clears his list, the “check list” does he then proceed onto the runway, the engine running full force, the sound deafening and speeding forward, the propeller whirling, we take off. Yes, we’re airborn, yes, we’re flying!

I write this because I was thinking about this just this morning. Thinking about how everyday I need to have the same kind of spiritual check list before heading out into my day. Asking God to form in me His character and His ways of thinking. Asking Him to weed out of me anything that to Him is displeasing and most importantly, surrendering all that I am to Him that I would do nothing in my own strength.

So often God reminds me of this; that it has to be a daily thing. That daily we have to form our own spiritual check list because then and only then will we be able to fly with Him on the wings of His Holy Spirit!

CHECK THIS OUT!
To see what God is doing through men and women who want nothing more than to fly with Him! And while you’re there don’t forget to sign “The Guestbook” because on God’s plane there are always enough tickets!

Nothing But a Blip!

“A blip!” Your watching a radar screen and then you see it but only for a second and then it’s gone; “a blip!” Now imagine if you will that blip is what your life here on earth is like; “nothing but a blip” that lasts for no more than a second. But the radar screen what does it represent? Eternity.

Your life here on earth in comparison to where you will live out eternity is this; nothing but a blip. Watch it; a blip is pretty short lived isn’t it? No wonder Paul could say with all assurity even in the midst of suffering:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Do you like Paul have an eternal mentality? Are you looking at your life here on earth as but a moment in comparison to where you will spend your days eternally? The prophet Isaiah said:

“All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Are not our very lives but as a flower or the grass of the fields? Here today yet gone tomorrow? Nothing but a “blip! on a radar screen? But… how we live it, yes, how we live it will determine everything.

We must have the mindset of Paul; eternal thinking. But for our light affliction. Are you suffering? Are you struggling? But for our light affliction. Your life here is only temporary. You are only sorjourning to a final destination. Yes, how you live it will determine everything.

For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)

If you have received Christ as your personal Savior, if you have been born again, then your new life has already begun.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3)

Yes, eternal thinking; “our life on earth is nothing but a blip!” Why then should we worry about it? Why then should we live only to please it; our flesh? It is nothing but a blip. Rather, should we not live our lives to glorify our Father in heaven? Run the race as if to win it? Pass every test our enemy, Satan throws at us? Then great will your reward be in Heaven (Luke 6:20-23). For then we will get to spend all of eternity with the only one who truly completes us; Jesus. Yes, Jesus.

All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead , even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day that Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1: 3-9)

“A blip! Nothing but a blip!” So pass the test and run to win!

“Good Grief!”

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Charlie Brown. I don’t know why. For one, maybe because it’s Christmas time, that, and it’s A Charlie Brown Christmas was one of my all time favorite holiday specials. One wonders though with the current state of things now, “do they still allow this to be shown on tv?” Afterall, the words “Merry Christmas, the nativity, and unto you a Savior is born!” are all mentioned during its airing.

Yes, what does Charlie Brown represent to me during this holiday season? And I think Linus says it best; Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas! Yes, Jesus. “For unto you a Savior is born!” A Savior. And I do just want to say that again, “a Savior.”

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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

A gift. And that’s exactly what Christmas is; a gift. That Christ came and died for us, in our place that we might live. “A Savior,” who if we call upon will reconcile us to God, transforming our sinful nature into His glorious righteousness. A gift, and to the world God has extended it. To every man, to every woman; this present. The question is; will you accept it? “Good grief!” it’s Christmas.

Taking Inventory

And sometimes this is a good place to be; taking inventory. When God hands you a clipboard and says, “let’s see, shall we?” And I think even for myself that’s what God’s been doing with me over these last few weeks; taking inventory, “what’s really going on inside of me?” Those places God still has yet to get at, or areas He wants to bring to healing, or maybe even places I have yet to surrender, so, I guess that’s what I mean by taking inventory, “What’s really going on inside of me?”

There are always places in our lives that God wants to get at. Places that perhaps are barren wastelands, or maybe they even used to be gardens now over grown with weeds. Places of deep hurts and woundings, of disappointments and longings, places maybe even we ourselves have closed the doors to, “I don’t even want to deal with that!” we say, but God? He is never like that. Oh, He may for a time let us ignore things but then eventually (and perhaps He knows it’s when we’re ready) He comes back to that place, that place He wants to transform in us, that place He wants to free us from and then He says, “now what about this?” and we might respond as we try to stand in front of the mess, “what are you talking about God?” “This,” He says pointing, “now, what about this?” And God is so funny like that, with Him it really is a parent/child relationship.

Taking Inventory; what to keep, what to throw out, and “what do I need God’s help with in changing?” Trust me, there are always areas in our lives that if we look at honestly we could all say, “God, weed this out of me!” and then, “in it’s place, plant something that is pleasing,” because it’s when I’m taking inventory it’s then that I’m looking. Looking at those areas of my life that still aren’t “Christ reflecting,” or those areas of my life that He still isn’t Lord over and really, isn’t that what we should all be seeking? Or maybe it’s asking? “Lord, are you really Lord over all of my life?” “Have I really given you everything?” It’s then that He hands us the clipboard and says, “well, let’s take inventory, shall we?” Because with God it’s all about illuminating; what to keep, what to throw out, and “what do I still need God’s help with in changing?” It’s a growth process, so grow with me.