Thankful Thursday: All of Creation

After seeing so much beauty in God's creation this past weekend - I thought I would just share some pictures and let you glimpse the glory of God's handiwork.  Romans 1 tells us that God has made Himself evident in creation.  I have to agree!  Michigan is a beautiful state.  Enjoy.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hands and marked off the heavens by the span and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance and hills in a pair of scales?

More than the sounds of many waters, 
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.
Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O Lord, forevermore.

The grass withers, the flowers fade but the Word of the Lord stands forever.

Add How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
 He will be like a tree firmly 
planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; 
 Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
 Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy

From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the LORD is to be praised.

Tuesday's Thoughts: Power

I got to spend the weekend in northern Michigan to attend the wedding of two sweet friends - Nik and Theresa.  Alan and I took an extra day to vacation up there - beautiful!

The water up there looks like the waters of the Caribbean.  Seriously, I could not believe it was Lake Michigan and other lakes that feed into it.  It was one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen.  We already want to go back!

I've been reading in the gospel of John this past week.  I love this gospel and the way that John sees things.  His perspective is unique.  Of all the apostles, John lives the longest and offers us so much insight into the life of Jesus.  I read the account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead this week.  Wow - what an event!  He was a close friend of Jesus'.  Jesus gets word that He is seriously ill and then He waits 4 days to go and see him.  By this time, Lazarus is dead and already buried in a tomb.  There are wailing mourners, upset sisters and puzzled disciples.  And then this happens . . .

"When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice,'Lazarus, come forth.'  The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"
John 11:43-44

There are a hundred lessons in this account of Lazarus' death, Jesus' response, the reactions of Mary and Martha and the questions and comments from the disciples.  So this time, as I read through the account, I was struck by Jesus crying out with a loud voice - Lazarus, come forth and the sheer power of that.

The same voice that brought creation into existence also brought a dead man back to life.  

Death shook in terror at the voice of Jesus.

The same thing is true of spiritual death.  When I was dead in my sin, Jesus cried out and called me out of death into life.  He unbinds me from a life of self focus, pride, emptiness and purposelessness and brings me into a life lived with Him and for Him.

There are times when remarkably enough - I find myself trying to climb back into that stinky tomb.  I grasp at dirty bandages and attempt to reapply them.  In those times, the voice of Jesus cries out - death jumps back and life returns.  The power of spiritual resurrection always prevails because Jesus conquered death.  Death has no hold on me physically or spiritually.

Whenever I get a whiff of that stench, I have the choice to grab hold of the resurrection power of Jesus.  I do not have to stay in that place where I am imprisoned by my old, crusty bandages.  Jesus offers freedom.  Not only are those bandages removed - but I am then let go.  I am free to respond to God's call on my life.  I am free to love others and move forward in a healthy, whole way.

How do you see yourself today?

Do you see yourself as free - or are you wound up tightly in old bandages?

Maybe you have never allowed Jesus to remove those things that bind you.

Maybe you have just forgotten to call on that 

freedom that is yours.

Maybe you are standing in the doorway of the tomb, seriously considering going back in there.  After all, a tomb is a dark, quiet, safe place.

It is also a place of death.

Grab hold of the power of the resurrection of Jesus.  

In it there is life.

In it there is purpose.

In it there is freedom.

Jesus said to them, 

"Unbind him and let him go." 

Thankful Thursday: My Refuge

I was reading in the book of Nahum this week and came across chapter 1 - verse 7.  I love this verse.  It reminds me of how thankful I am for my God.

The Lord is good
A stronghold in the day of trouble
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

I am thankful that the Lord is Good.
It is so important to know this and continually remind myself of this.  He is good - all the time - no matter what. 

He is my

safe place 

my stronghold 

my refuge.

No matter what is going on around me -- I can find safety, peace and mercy in Him.  He is my Retreat.

Turning to Him in times of trouble deepens my intimacy with Him.  It shows my dependence on Him.  It shows my trust in Him. 

Only in Him will I find help, strength and 

perseverance through the difficult times.

I love the promise that He knows those who take refuge in Him.  When I call out to Him - He recognizes my voice.  He knows my weakness, my struggles and my pitfalls.  He knows everything about me and He knows exactly how to help me.  

Do you know, beyond a doubt, that God is good?

Is He your stronghold in times of trouble - 

or do you turn to other things or other people?

Do you take refuge in Him?

I am thankful for a God who is available every hour of every day.  I am thankful for a God Who loves me just as I am.  I am thankful for a God Whom I know is Good.  He can not be anything else because He is true to His character.

I am thankful.

Monday Musings: Drink Up

"Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'"  John 4:26

I have always loved the account of the woman at the well.  Every aspect of this story stirs my heart.  She is a Samaritan.  She has been married multiple times and is living with a man at the time.  She is an outcast - coming to draw water in the afternoon when no one else is around. 

And then Jesus . . .

This woman who has lived a life wrought with disappointment meets the Giver of Life face to face.  A Jewish man engages her in conversation - What's up?  Not only that, but He seems to know everything about her life.  What?  Her spiritual curiosity is immediately peaked. 


So . . . she finds herself in a conversation at a well with God Himself.  

I love how Jesus reveals Himself to the most unlikely people in the most unlikely situations.  It was so unexpected.  It was so Jesus.

The outcast gets to share a drink of water with God Himself.  In this brief conversation, Jesus reveals much about Himself.  He tells her that He is Living Water - that He is All-Knowing and that He is True Worship.  He actually reveals Himself as The Christ - which He rarely did in such emphatic terms.

Why?  What was it about this woman and this encounter that was so different?


Maybe that the depth of her need was so great?


Maybe because her curiosity was peaked?


Maybe her brokenness?


Maybe the fact that her heart was still tender in the midst of her sin and suffering?

I'm not sure, but this encounter was life changing for both her and her whole village. 

I think it was important for the disciples as well. 

It served notice that everything was about to change.

It was a sign that the gospel was about to burst forth and break down multiple barriers.

They needed to know this.

I love that Jesus chose to declare His deity to a woman in Samaria who hadn't a friend in the world.

He is still doing this today . . . will you be His hands and feet in this radical revolution?

Thankful Friday: Jana

Well, if you are following my posts, you can tell that this week has been a little crazy!  It has also been really good and for that, I am very thankful.  My sweet friend, Jana Harwell, arrived in Chicago yesterday afternoon for a visit.  

This was taken when we got to share time in Colorado.

I love Jana.  I like to call her my "hippy" friend because she is fun and funky and super creative.  She has such a great sense of style and she is the one and only, unique and wonderful Jana.


She is also a godly woman who encourages me and challenges me.  She has such a heart for people - an amazing heart for worship and gifts and talents to do both.  She sings, plays the piano, writes music and teaches voice.  She is heading back to school this fall to get her masters.  I am a BIG FAN of hers.


We have shared some really amazing times and also helped each other through some very difficult times.  Our souls and knit together and our friendship is eternal.  


Thank you, Jana, for being my friend.  You are an amazing gift to me - straight from the Father Himself.  I love you!

Tuesday's Thoughts: True Satisfaction

I was reading in Isaiah this week, which I love.  Isaiah is so rich with good words from the Lord.  I am always challenged and encouraged by this book.  I was reading in chapter 55 and camped out on verses 1-3


“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
“Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
“Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies shown to David.

There is so much good news in this passage that encouraged me and a lot that brought up a list of questions to ask myself.  First - the good news.

Every one is invited to come to God  

EVERY ONE  

No exceptions  

That means you and me and every other person in existence.  Now that is a wide open invitation.  When you look around yourself, remind yourself that everyone you see is invited to partake of God's riches.  

Yep - even that person.

This message is free.  You don't have to have a certain balance in your bank account or live in a house or drive a nice car.  In fact, your bank account balance is irrelevant.  It could be plenty and it could be small.  It just doesn't matter.

There is no satisfaction apart from the Lord.  

NONE  

Everything else will fade away.  The thrill of getting whatever it was you wanted it short lived.  It simply isn't enough. When we seek satisfaction apart from the Lord, we find ourselves seeking more and more.  Once a goal is reached - we still hunger for more.  One we fill ourselves up, we quickly find ourselves empty again.  

There is no satisfaction apart from the Lord.

The Lord wants to covenant with me.  His faithful mercies are the binding agent.  He is committed to me.  His end is always held up.  He always keeps His promises.  Only in Him will I find what I need - what indeed I crave.

Because when you get right down to it - what we need is  

love, 

security,

grace,

mercy 

and the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father.  

We need relationship.  

We need to hear His voice.  

We need Him.

So - that leads me to ask myself (and perhaps you can ask yourself) the following questions:


How am I trying to purchase satisfaction?

Am I snacking on the fare of this world while the Lord is inviting me to a banquet of His abundance?


How and I trying to buy what the Lord wants to freely give me?


Am I really listening to Him?

Am I delighting in what He chooses to give me?


Am I delighting in the abundance of my relationship with Jesus?

I so want to "get it".  I want to embrace the richness of my relationship with Jesus and live it out in a way that will truly impact those around me.  I want to invite my neighbors to this banquet and enjoy sitting next to them.  I want to bring light to the dark places around me.  I want my delight in the Lord to spill over onto my world.

Come to the waters . . .

Thankful Thursday: My Boys

I worked with teenagers for many, many years  . . . and I loved it.  Every student holds a special place in my heart.  One of these special ones - Justin Elis - is getting married this weekend.

I had the privilege of having a group of boys in different groups or youth events for a span of three years.  Their senior year, we spent a lot of time together.  They came over to lunch at my house every Tuesday and then we were together every Sunday.  I also spent a great deal of time at their events.  In other words, we got really connected.  As they went through college, I visited their campuses and got to see them grow up into truly fine men.  They have graduated from college and one by one . . . they are getting married.  Justin is the first, with Joey following closely behind.  I feel like one, proud momma.

 

Here are all 6 boys at graduation.

Joey, Chris, Justin, Nick, Grant and Evan

 

Evan, Joey and Justin cheering on the Warriors.

 

I should mention that I'm not sure if any of these boys would have made it to graduation without Courtney.  She kept them in line.

 

Justin, Joey, Grant and Chris

 

Justin, Grant, myself and Nick

 

Evan and Justin one Halloween

It has been such a privilege to watch these boys grow into such amazing men.  They have blessed my life in numerous way and boy have they made me LAUGH.


Justin - I am so proud of you and so happy for you and Darryl.  She is such a perfect choice for you.  I am praying for the Lord's very best for you both as you begin this new journey.  I am so thankful for you!