Friday's Contemplations

My Thursday turned out to be packed out - so I thought I would give myself until today to write.  I have been learning so much that it is actually hard to choose.  About a week ago, I read Psalm 19.  I love this Psalm and it is one of those that sings the praises of God's Word.


I have to tell you, I love my Bible (you may have heard that before).  If I had to name the one thing that the Lord has used to sustain me throughout my life, it would have to be His Word.  You know that age old question about, "If your house caught on fire, what is the one thing you would grab (besides the other people in the house)?  My Bible always comes to mind first.  I could get another Bible - true - but what I treasure about my Bibles over the years is the notes I have written in them, dates I have placed beside treasured promises and encouragement and all that underlining.  It is a testimony of the journey that the Lord has marked out for me and walked with me.


Here are the verses that I focused on:

 ⁷The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
¹² Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
¹³ Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. 

God's Word and my relationship with Him can not be separated.  He speaks to me in such a strong way through His Word.  It is like opening a conversation.

* God's Word is perfect.  It is exactly what I need.  It is sure, right, pure and enlightening.  It endures forever.

* It restores my soul - there are so many times that NOTHING could bring me peace or settle my heart - except for God's Word.  The way the Word impacts my soul can not be measured.  It restores me to that steadfastness of Christ.

* God's Word makes wise the simple (YEA) Anytime that I need advice and certainly, anytime I give it -- the Word is central.  There is no true wisdom apart from God.

* God's truth makes my heart rejoice - His words bring me deep, abiding JOY.

* God's Word enlightens my eyes.  I can only see rightly and clearly in the light of God's Word.  It has to be the lens that I see everything else through.

* God's Word is the only Righteous Judge.  Only God can truly judge with Righteousness.  Judgment is not my job.  All I can do is point others to the Word.

* God's Word is valuable.  It is compared with gold and the sweetness of honey.  Maybe today it would be compared with having stock in Apple or fine dining - you get the picture.  It is far beyond the most valuable thing that you can imagine.

* God's Word Warns - If I stay in it, read it, study it and commit myself to it, God will send up red flags when I am straying or when my thinking is being compromised by my own sin, my culture or my pride.  It points out my errors and brings to light my hidden sins (they are certainly not hidden from God.)

* God's Word keeps arrogance from creeping in - from my own sense of right to rule over me.  I only want God to have authority over my life.

* I long for my life to be pleasing to the Lord - in my words and my thoughts - and then evidenced in my actions and more importantly, in my interactions.

O Lord, my ROCK and my REDEEMER

I love the end of Psalm 19.  I am so thankful that the Lord is my ROCK and my REDEEMER.  He has redeemed me from a life that could have been completely selfish, self focused and sin driven.  He has redeemed my mistakes, my shortcomings and even my foolishness and used it for His good. 

Oh, how I love His Word.  

Keep me thirsty for it, Jesus.  

I want to know you more.

 
 

Monday Musings - Prisons

Well - that is a pretty interesting topic, don't you think?  Prisons are fascinating to me.  I like to watch shows on The History Channel about prisons and I've been to see Alcatraz.  I lived in Ossining NY where Singsing Prison is located, just up the river from NYC.  In fact, that is where that saying originated - to send someone "up the river" meant they were going to prison. There is a very chilling museum there where you can hear the sounds of prison life.  It is just an interesting sociological study on behavior and community. 


God has a few stories about prisons in His Word.  I think about Joseph being thrown in prison after being falsely accused by Potiphor's wife. There were prophets who were thrown in prison for sharing a word that the King or religious leaders of the time did not appreciate.  John the Baptist was put in prison by a political leader who didn't appreciate his observations either.  Two of my favorite New Testament accounts are Peter's imprisonment, recorded in Acts 12 and Paul's imprisonment in Acts 16.  I wrote about Peter's imprisonment in 10/24/11 (http://citychatchicago.blogspot.com/2011/10/monday-musings-unexpected-freedom.html).  I was reading in Acts 16 this week and came across an account of one of Paul's imprisonments.  


"But about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God and the prisoners were listening to them."


Paul is well known for his encouragements, maybe challenges, to be JOYFUL in all circumstances.  In this passage, we see him practice what He preaches.  He and Silas have been severely beaten with rods and then put in prison.  They were then thrown into the inner prison and their feet were fastened in the stocks.  Not only that , but the charges against them were false and motivated by greed.  It's one thing to be accused of something that you know you did (still not fun) but to be accused unjustly is truly gut wrenching.  If anyone had reason to complain or withdraw into a pouty silence, it was Paul.  But . . . here he and Silas are -- singing and praying -- at midnight no less.  They had the attention of the other prisoners and apparently the guards.


When the earthquake hit, their chains fell off and the doors of the cells opened.  But, unlike the earlier account of Peter's dramatic prison release, Paul and Silas did not leave the prison.


"When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.'"


Why did Peter get to walk out of prison and Paul chose to stay?  Well - God was up to something different.  The jailers life was spared and he came to know Jesus as his Savior - he and his household.  

So - it begs the question  . . . 

Can you be in a prison inside 

or outside of the prison walls?

Paul and Silas were free whether they were inside or outside of the prison.  The guard, who had the freedom to leave after his shift, was actually the one who was captive.


Paul's willingness to stay in prison and share the message of the gospel brought freedom to this guard and his household.  


I love how the Lord turns things upside down and inside out.  I love that captive men can be free and free men can actually be captive (and then be set free).  

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted and to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners."  Isaiah 61:1

Are you captive or free?

Are you captivated by Jesus or a prisoner of this world?

Are you in a prison of your own making?

Are you a little too comfortable in those chains? 

Perhaps you are in a prison that is not of your choosing - whether by circumstances or an illness.  Maybe you, like Paul and Silas, have to choose to praise the Lord even in that hard place.  Be guaranteed that the Lord will use that, just as He did in this account.

No matter the answer to these questions, 

Jesus can set you free.  

Not only can He, but He longs to set you free.

Life awaits you . . . just outside those walls.

Thankful Thursday - Feet

 Feet - we all need them - most people don't love them!  They start out so cute and small when we are babies and then life happens . . . and well, feet don't always stay so cute!  I am an observer of feet.  I always notice when someone has cute feet.  

I do not have cute feet.  I'm one of those people who just knows that all that chatter in the nail salon, that I can't understand, is about my ugly feet!  Okay, maybe a bit paranoid, but it is a real possibility!

I had a doctors appointment today with my foot dr. - Dr. Kaleta.  She is such a cool lady and I feel really fortunate to have her.  She was making plaster molds of my feet today for some orthotics to battle my foot problems resulting from standing on ladders for many, many hours!  She took the plaster material, got it wet and molded it onto my bare feet.  After they set, her assistant came in to take them off and clean my feet off.

I don't know about you, but there is something a little unsettling about someone having to touch your feet.  Some people are very ticklish and others just can't handle the idea.  Others love pedicures and foot massages.   Because of the bone fracture in my left foot, I was a little tense about this whole process.  Dr. Karleta's assistant was very careful as she gently cleaned off the plaster.  I didn't think a lot of it at the time, but later, it struck me how like Jesus she was as she knelt down and washed my feet.  I was very humbled by that.  Let's face it, cleaning off someones ugly feet can not be fun and yet she took great care in that job.  

So, today I am thankful for plaster molds that promise pain relief in the future - for Dr. Kaleta and her assistant, who took the time to wash my feet.  

I am most thankful for a man named, Jesus, who washed His disciples feet with love and care.  Jesus, who modeled what it means to serve others. Jesus, who calls me to walk in a manner worthy of my calling.  

There are two young women in whom my heart is ever intertwined who have a tattoo on their left foot that references the verse that follows: 

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion, "Your God Reigns!"  

Isaiah 52:7  

I am thankful to my Savior who sees my 

feet as beautiful.

 

Monday Musings - Got some skills?

I have been journeying through Exodus and have come to the point where Moses has been given the instructions for the tabernacle, including the structure, furnishing, utensils and clothing.  If you have ever wondered if God is a God of detail . . . wonder no more.  There are a lot of specific instructions here!

In Exodus 35:10 it says, "Let every skillful man come and make all that the Lord has commanded."
35:21 says, "Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord's contribution for the tabernacle."
36:1 says, " Now, Bezalel and Ohdiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the tabernacle, shall perform it according to how the Lord commanded it."

A lot of materials and skills would be needed to build the tabernacle itself, the furniture, utensils and garments. 

This is what I love . . .  

God could have spoken all of this into existence, but He chose to use the offerings and the skills of His people.

They needed to own it -- not just attend it.

He gave each craftsman the ability to do what was needed - painting, carving, building, forging, sewing and more.  He gave the people the desire to give of their resources.  There were very specific plans, specifications and order that had to be followed.  It would take everyone doing their best work and being willing to work together for this to happen.

Isn't that so like the church today?

God is still gifting individuals to serve the body.  He gives particular skills and gifts and He expects us to use them.  He even gives the gift of giving.  When all those gifts come together, the body works.  Needs are met.  Ministry happens.  Lives are changed.

We need to own our church -- not just attend it.

What has the Lord given you to contribute to the building of His church?  Do you really think He has gifted everyone except you?  

I DON'T THINK SO!

These craftsmen did not do this on their own.  The Lord equipped them to serve and He is doing the same thing in  your life.  If you are sitting on the sidelines, you are missing out and depriving others of your gifts.  

Are you going to own your church?

OR

Are you only going to attend it?

Invest 

Embrace

Serve

Give

Love

Honor God

Thankful Thursday - The boot

Well - I got the boot today.  No, I wasn't kicked out of anywhere.  I literally got the boot.  I mentioned in my last blog that I fractured a bone in my foot when I took a tumble down the stairs.  The doctor put me in a boot to help the healing process and keep me from having to have surgery if that piece of bone decided to move around.  I said, "Absolutely" to that one.  

How does this figure into Thankful Thursday?  Let me list all the things that I am thankful for in this predicament.

*I didn't hit my head - pretty miraculous really. When I see where I fell and where I landed, I really do not know how I didn't hit my head.

*I didn't break anything - just a fracture.  My legs and my arms are good to go. 

*I can still somewhat get around in this boot.  It is protecting my foot.  That is a good thing.

*I have met some really nice people at the doctor's office and they have given me excellent care.  I have a new internist, foot doctor, x-ray technician, blood drawer and many really nice nurses.

* I have had some amazing time with the Lord since this happened.  I am forced to be still (at least more so than usual) and I have used that time well.  I have enjoyed long, lingering, quiet times, prayer times and Bible study. 

*I love having people over to my house . . . perfect.

*I am having to carefully measure my steps - every step counts -- maybe I should do that all the time (maybe?) 


No matter what the circumstances, there are always many things to be thankful for.  Sometimes, we are just thankful for what didn't happen.  

I am eagerly anticipating what the Lord is going to do with this time.  He is whispering to me that He has some things to tell me and to teach me.  I'm embracing that with everything I've got.
 

I'm thinking that what I learn during these next few weeks will be really important for all those things I will be getting back to when I have two well functioning feet.

I will have to agree with Paul, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."  Well, maybe that should be "I am learning . . ."

So - this Thankful Thursday - I am truly thankful for the boot.

Monday Musings - Help, I need somebody

I'm reading through Exodus right now.  There is so much to learn from this journey that the Israelites made through the desert.  And then there is Moses - a seriously amazing man, with a somewhat sketchy past (this endears me to him) who is given a seemingly impossible task to manage this rowdy group.  As we all know, anytime you are traveling with a group, there are problems.  There are people who go along to get along - people that are always unhappy with everything - people who complain about the food - people who are tired - and those that enjoy every little thing.  The most helpful people on any trip are the ones that remember the purpose of the trip and keep their eye on that goal.


In Exodus 17:11-12 we find Moses in this predicament:


Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 

It is hard to even imagine how overwhelmed Moses must have felt!  The victory of this particular battle was dependent on his ability to hold his arms up!  Even those of us who have been working out would be put to the test if we had to hold our arms up all day.


In Exodus 18:18 and the following verses, we find Moses overwhelmed again.  Any time that the people had a dispute or were in need of advice, they would come to Moses.  I picture him with a long, as far as the eye can see, line of people with problems standing outside his tent.  His father in law, Jethro, gives him some very good advice to follow.


You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone . . . Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” 



God sent the help that Moses needed in each situation.  When Moses grew weary, a stone was provided for him to sit on.  When his arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur held them up.  When Moses was overwhelmed with the counseling needs of the people, his father in law advised him to train and delegate responsibility.

I feel a bit overwhelmed right now.  I fractured a bone in my foot and it is keeping me from working out, walking Quincy and painting.  My heart is aching about a situation that a close friend is in.  In all these things, the Lord has been so caring and compassionate.  People at the schools have been so understanding and kind.  The Lord has given me encouragement and prayer partners to "lift my arms" in this emotional situation with my friend.  As my arms grow weary, the Lord sends people along side me.  He encourages me with specific scriptures and in Bible study.  He assures me that as I share His truth, He is at work.  I can rest in that.  I can trust Him.

Are you weary today?  

Do you need someone to come along side you 

and hold up those arms?  

Do you need some help?

The Beatles have long been known for their theology - okay - maybe not.  But this song kept coming to my mind:

Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help.

When we cry out, the Lord hears.  He knows every detail of our lives and what we are feeling, responsible for and exhausted from.  He not only knows, but He cares.  He walks these days beside us.  Matthew 11:28-30 says:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

We were never meant to do it all, 

be it all or have it all together. 

Praise God. That is some good news right there.

He is ENOUGH.

His arms never TIRE.

His wisdom never ENDS.

His love endures FOREVER. 

Thankful Thursday: For the rest of your life

I got an email from Ann Taylor Loft.  It beckoned me to enter for a chance to win LOFT forever - a $500 shopping spree EVERY SEASON for the REST of your life*




 *Prize is limited up to 30 years.

WHAT?!?!?!?!

Last time I checked, for life was for life.  I laughed out loud when I saw that.  Now, I love Ann Taylor Loft and I will continue to shop there, but seriously - how can you limit "for life?" 


There is often a catch, isn't there?  Gas stations here in Chicago like to advertise a low price per gallon (this is a very relative term) and then in teeny-tiny, almost imperceptible writing, it says WITH the purchase of a full price car wash.  Hmmm . . .  the car wash is somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 so this is really NOT a good deal. 

Free gift with purchase . . . is that really a free gift?

When God offers the free gift of salvation - He means it.  It is completely a gift.  Jesus paid the price.  All I have to do is accept it.  I couldn't earn it, even if I wanted to.  I can't pay enough or do enough to earn it.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no no one may boast."  

Ephesians 2:8-9

Here is the really great news.

  

It is not only good for life . . . 

it is good for eternal life.

No strings attached.

It is the real deal.

Eternal life in the presence of Jesus.

Really.