Glory Renewed

What is the biggest thing? What is the best thing? What is the most important thing? What are we supposed to pay the most attention to? These questions have always caused me a lot of distress. Maybe I’m weird but I’ve always thought if there was something I should be doing, I wanted to make sure I was hard at it. To not be would be bad and I didn’t want to be bad. I hope I’m not the only one.

As I’ve been around the block a few times, I’ve realized that I’m severely lacking in what it takes to be doing everything I deem important and when it is important that those things get done. Because the truth is, I’m only one, small woman. What difference can I really make in this world? And what part of this world am I supposed to make a difference in?

We all know that we have to prioritize things and hopefully we live in freedom enough to do so. The most important has to be able to float to the top and I think it’s interesting that the Spirit of God is a floaty thing. Even though the weight of His importance is compared to a Rock in Scripture, God’s presence is compared to the lightest, sweetest, purest experience this side of heaven.

God comes to the top. Or He should. No matter what the day holds, what time constraints we live with, the length of our daily to-do lists, He has to come to the top.

The Bible says in 1 John 4: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” So… all those “in the world things” are lesser things than God, who has taken up residence in you, the child of God.

The Scripture that has captivated my heart lately, which I have been writing out every day that I journal in my newest journal and what prompted this post…

John 10: 28-30: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

I’ve read those verses many times in the past, used them to claim the blessed assurance that comes from my salvation, yet never had the words “greater than all” jump out at me like they have lately. When I pray I tell Him, “Lord, you are greater than all” and when I am tempted to worry and fret over something I’ve already prayed about, I remind myself, “He is greater than all.”

Those words were spoken by Jesus, written in red. All the words in the Bible are important, but those words written in red, WOW!, they come from the mouth of Christ, the Son of God! Jesus tells us that His Father is GREATER than all. No room for wondering about what is most important. No room for procrastination or hesitation when it comes to setting our priorities. He is GREATER than all the other things that are pulling at your heart today. He is GREATER than any temptation you face. He is GREATER than any lack you feel in energy, in time, in finances, in intelligence, in skill or technique. He is GREATER THAN ALL.

This has given my prayer time radiant energy, quantum even. When I go to my God in prayer I proclaim to Him that there is nothing that is impossible for Him. I remind Him of Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” The angel Gabriel said this to Mary when he announced that she was to have a Baby that would be the Savior of the world. Talk about impossibilities. From this sweet, young, virgin woman who gently responds, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (vs. 34) comes this answer. This answer is all she needs to cause her to say “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (vs. 38) Oh that my faith would follow this example.

When Jesus was born, this world had no room for Him. He came into this world in a borrowed barn. The little Baby grew to be the Man that this world rejected because they had no room in their hearts for the Savior. The Messiah that bragged on His Father when He said His Father was “GREATER THAN ALL.” Those of us who love and cherish our earthly fathers and lavish on them our love and respect, cannot make the same claim. For truly there is only ONE who can be GREATER THAN ALL.

Crazy as it sounds, I love the feeling of sore muscles. They are like evidence to me that I was successful in my workout. I found those hiding muscles, called them out, made them work a little past what they were used to and now they offer me the proof of their obedience. Ouch, thank you very much. I can’t visibly see any results yet, but oh I will, if I keep at it, and I can’t wait.

As I live right now in the “hope” phase of a stronger body, I think of Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.” Isn’t it interesting how physical fitness can be related to spiritual fitness? All the things hoped for and all the things not seen… yet. Living in faithland can be difficult. There can be a lot of aching and groaning and moaning.

Just as we exercise our physical muscles and dig them out of hiding, trials in our lives cause us to dig deep into our resolve to overcome them. They cause us to pray more and seek the comfort and help we can only get from God. We delve into our stores of faith-related knowledge. We seek out those we can share our burdens with. We search the scriptures. Our spiritual muscles are not used to this, our heart complains. We ask “Why God?”

There are physiologic reasons why our muscles get sore when we workout. Taxing them past what they’re used to tears them up a little bit. They rebuild, bigger, better, stronger. So worth it, right? There are also reasons why suffering yields spiritual strength. Trials remind us that we are not in control here. We wouldn’t bring them on ourselves, knowingly, yet they find us, and we realize that in order to work through them we need help. The upside down way of God says that in weakness we are made strong. Just as when our muscles are torn down and rebuild stronger, when we are cast down by whatever bad stuff we’re going through, we can call on God and be rebuilt stronger. Those spiritual muscles get taxed and He turns our weakness into strength.

We must choose to exercise our faith. But, what is faith? Where do we go to find it? Faith is like the wind, impossible to see, but we know it is there because of how it effects everything it touches. Through faith we can see things as if they are already accomplished. Even when they are not actually… yet. Through faith, we are living between the now and the not… yet. We can tell when faith is taken out of the equation, by the lack of its effect. The language of unexercised faith sounds like, “This is never going to get better.” “You will never change.” “I will always have this problem.” “I will never have enough.”

Let’s say this again, Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.” (NKJV) “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV)

The dictionary defines substance as “actual matter of a thing, as opposed to the appearance of shadow; reality.” Substance is reality – faith is the reality of things hoped for! If I have faith for something or in something, I see myself like a little child in line. Waiting her turn at the water fountain. I know I’ll get my turn. I can already taste the water because I will have it when it is time for me to have it. I can wait. The thing I am hoping for is as good as mine.

The dictionary defines evidence as “that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.” Through faith in God, the proof is in trusting Him. If you say you have faith in God and don’t trust Him, watch out – there is a problem with that. The evidence does not have to be seen during the hoping time because we know the God we trust has got this. We can wait and have the assurance that what is promised will happen. Faith carries us until all promises are fulfilled. You will see this throughout Hebrews 11.

This is such a good chapter to camp out in if you have been faithfully, patiently waiting for God to answer your prayers. You may be praying for something or someone for a long, long time. Not getting the answer you seek and most likely causing you a lot of pain and hardship. Me too. It is hard to walk by faith and not by sight. God never said it would be easy. He did say however, that it will be rewarded. It will be worth it.

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

We have to dig our heels into His promises and refuse to move into the land of hopelessness and despair. Faith-filled women don’t belong there. No matter what we see or if the land we dwell in is not yet what we know we are promised, we hang in there. And not just hang in. We flourish. We exercise our physical muscles and our spiritual muscles and keep hope alive because He lives. And He can be trusted.

James 1:2 has a recommendation that makes me kind of think that I’m not crazy to love sore muscles. It says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” I believe he knew that going through trials that test our faith builds spiritual strength, just as the workouts we’re faithful to do build our physical strength.

Sisters, look differently at those things that challenge you to step out of that comfort zone. Step up to those things that used to send you into hibernation. Dig deep knowing that you can do anything through Christ, seriously, you can! Thank Him for the broken places in you that are evidence of a faith under construction. They will be built up, stronger than they were before. And you, more faithful than you ever imagined you could be.

(Scripture References: Hebrews 11, Philippians 4:13, James 1:2, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

This was more than a “deer in the highlights” look. It was a “scared deer in the bright daylight look.” She looked at me with the fear of surprise, turned with a leap, and headed into the woods. A doe, on her morning walk, came across a human on her morning walk and that was not expected.

Some of us don’t like surprises because we don’t like to deal with anything unexpected. It causes us to think that we may not be in control of things and this is unsettling.  We plan our day, make provisions for our plan and charge into it. I’ve tried that more than a few times and more than a few times I’ve been surprised as the expected crashed into the unexpected and disappointment ensued.

More than having my plans changed, I hate disappointment. I hate it so much I decided that I would just not expect anything to work out as planned, so I’d stop planning anything. If I had a few minutes here or there I’d dust the furniture, or do the dishes or read a little farther along in a book I wanted to finish.  I believed that if I didn’t plan, didn’t expect anything, if I didn’t hope for anything, I would be safe. Not!

I used to make daily, “To Do” lists. Not anymore. At the end of the day so few of those “To Do” items were checked off, with the disappointment being in myself. There were too many little or big surprises tucked into my day, I couldn’t accomplish it all. There just had to be a better way to look at my day, know what was expected of me and reach it. What was I doing wrong?

Some of us like to be surprised, some of us do not. I have surprised people before and found out, by surprise, that they didn’t appreciate it very much. The very word surprise can have a fun annotation. All I have to say to my two-year old grandgirl is “I have a surprise for you” and her face lights up! But as grownups we know a surprise can mean a sudden feeling of wonder, or an unexpected disappointment. Depending on the situation, surprises can be very good or very bad.

Before I write this blog post, I pray. “Lord what do my readers need? What is it that I could possibly write that they could take the time to read and be helped in some way by You?” Sometimes I start in one direction and feel led by the Lord to go somewhere entirely different. This is one of those latter days. “But I don’t have any answer for this yet” I told Him. “I still struggle.” He says, “That’s okay, share it.” So here it is.

I pray. I pray for wisdom in knowing which things need planned, especially those things where others are involved. I do not want to waste their precious time or throw anything unexpected at them. I love to plan women’s events, VBS, Church Programs, family get-togethers. I can still do this and feel planning is necessary and even fun. Seriously –  to not plan leaves things open to disorder and that is not God’s will. I plan to work, when I’m on the schedule, for my employer. To not do that is to not be a good employee.  I plan to stay committed to whom and to what I made a commitment to. To do what you say you will, if you have the power to do so, pleases God and is a good testimony.

“Many are the plans in a man’s (woman’s) heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21, NIV

But in the day-to-day, life as it comes, I toss the planning out the window. I have a “master list” of what needs done and prioritize it according to deadlines, or not, and work at those things when I can. I try to welcome distractions as opportunities to see God at work in my life and minimize any expectations. If I get surprised by an invitation to babysit or run an errand for someone or pray with a friend, it’s a glorious wonder that holds a blessing I would never have experienced if I had stuck to the “list.”

I would like to leave a verse with you, “Many are the plans in a man’s (woman’s) heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21, NIV

So, to you mommas out there who are cleaning up mess after mess, kissing boo boos after boo boos, all the while just trying to get something “done”, I get it, I’ve been there. Look for the blessings. For all you grandmas who were just waiting until you had some “free” time to get something “done” and wish you had those little ones back, I get it, I’m there right now. Look for the blessings. Let life surprise you and give up the thought of control that you have really NEVER had in the first place.

And whenever you experience that “deer in the headlights” moment, pray, even if it’s just saying His name, (but not in “vain” if you know what I mean). Give Him first place and enjoy the wonder of living every moment for Him.

I got startled awake by this cowboy screaming, “Drop the reins! Drop the reins!” You see, there was this wagon train and there was one disgruntled, fearful member of the train that wanted to cross the river one night because the Apaches might attack.

The cowboy I heard was the wagon master and he knew that there was quicksand and whirlpools in the river and they could not be seen well enough to avoid during the dark hours, so they had to wait till morning. This grumpy traveler could not wait so he makes his wife and kids get in their wagon and off he goes into the river. The wagon master wants to rescue this man and his family, but first he has to get this guy to drop the reins and stop driving his team into the dangerous waters.

Whenever I need a power nap, I turn on my husband’s favorite TV channel, the western station. If I’m not at work in the late afternoon, and I’ve been up since before the break of dawn, it really helps to get a few zzz’s to recharge before the rest of the day hits, if you know what I mean.

Usually I can sleep through the gunfights and saloon brawls but this day “Drop the reins!” really got me. It was like a Carrie Underwood “Jesus Take the Wheel” moment. And it hit me hard because I’ve been having many anxious moments lately caused by worrying about a situation that I can’t fix.

Sometimes you have to just “Drop the Reins!” so God can reign.

When you’re in the dark, and you just don’t know how and where to go or what to do. When you want to be in charge and you realize that you don’t know enough to charge through the situation without sinking. When you realize that you really aren’t the one in control and that scares you to death.

Have you had those nights when sleep won’t come because you replay “stuff” in your head, over and over and you can’t seem to stop it?  This can’t be what God wants. He wants us to live trusting Him for the answers that we just can’t seem to find. He wants us to remember that He’s there, working things out for our good and His glory. He wants us to know that when we think about things that worry us and we have no solution for them, we have to “Drop the Reins!” He wants us to realize that He reigns from a throne so high that there is absolutely nothing that escapes His view and with a heart so loving He will  allow absolutely anything that He knows will cause us to become all He created us to be.

But how do we do this? How do we let go of the reins when we think that so much is at stake that we think we might be able to control? Here is what He told me for the umpteenth time last night in the after midnight hours when sleep wouldn’t come. I went to that part of my brain that houses Philippians 4 and pulled out some of my favorite verses.

6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

This is only one of the reasons why scripture memorization is so worthwhile. There is nothing as powerful as God’s Word when we are in those places where we are too exhausted to even read. His teachings and His promises can be merely a thought away.

At some point, after replaying His Word in my mind, I drifted off to sleep. I dropped the reins, I got out of my wagon, took the cares I had with me and allowed Jesus to rescue me. I remembered the wagon master and how he tried to save that family. I remembered my Lord, my Master, and His gentle words through scripture and I gave up the reins so He could reign. Is there anything you might need to just drop so He can reign in your heart and rescue you today?

I hate to get mail back, don’t you? You took the time to write a note or send a card or pay a bill and something was not right with the address. It comes back to you a few days after you thought it made it where it was supposed to go. Now the thank-you is delayed, the encouragement ungiven, the payment overdue.

I’ve done some inviting lately, by what is now known as “snail mail,” to our church’s Vacation Bible School. I’m old fashioned and I like to imagine the excitement on a child’s face when they get mail with their name on it. Something they can hold in their own hands. It made me sad to get some of them back because they couldn’t find those kids at the address I had on file.

To get something back, unopened by the person you intended to give it to, hurts a bit. It hurts to know that you wanted to share something with someone and they either couldn’t receive it or didn’t want it.

When I was in the sixth grade, I saved my money and bought an I.D. bracelet for my “boyfriend.” (Those things were popular back then.) He gave it back, unopened, because he said, “I didn’t get you anything.” That hurt. Sometimes we can just close up and tell ourselves it just isn’t worth the effort anymore.

I think of Jesus and all He offers to us and we either keep the door to our hearts closed or we send those blessings back. “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. An invitation to dine with someone is an invitation for friendship or fellowship. The Son of God wants to share Himself with us in a way that nourishes us like no one or nothing else possibly can. And He is not knocking on the wrong door. He says if any man (woman)…

“Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20.

He is not expecting us to give Him anything in return for all He offers us. He just wants a relationship with us that is based on faith. Faith alone saves. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9. By faith, we open the door and He comes in, no strings attached.

To say faith is free doesn’t mean that it came without cost. Jesus died for it. He also rose from the grave for it. He paid the price required to settle our sin debt so we could be redeemed and reconciled with God. He did the work so we could be saved from this fallen world and have eternal life.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9.

Knowing that I have the gift of salvation, in itself, can cause me to think that I’m safe so why not live like I want to. Live for me. But there is no peace there. Jesus’ love won’t leave you where you are. His love prompts us to desire what He desires. Love whom He loves. Serve where and whom He knows needs served in His name.

If you have even an inkling that God is speaking to you and you ignore it, it is just like saying “return to sender.” And I confess, I have done it many times. I hate to think of how many invitations I have ignored all the time thinking that what I was doing or what I had planned was more important than what He had planned and prepared for me.

I am so thankful that He doesn’t stop when He gets the invitation back stamped “Return to Sender.” He still loves, He still invites, He still is there for me. He gives me another chance and another. As long as I’m here on this side of heaven, He gives me another chance to accept His invitations and receive His blessings when I am obedient. His blessings, which are innumerable. I don’t understand it, but I am so grateful that He doesn’t close up and stop knocking.

Heavenly Father,

Forgive my unfaithfulness. I’m sorry that I have returned many invitations unopened. I’m sorry that I haven’t always listened. I’m sorry that I’ve closed up at times and dared to think that my efforts weren’t worth it. I’m sorry that I have not put You first. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. Cause me to remember that anything You invite me to do, You will equip me for, and there will be blessings and peace when I obey. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

I didn’t want to do it but, when I started to settle into my comfortable warm couch, a whisper from somewhere said, “What if this is the last one?” Meaning, maybe tomorrow might not come for me. I didn’t feel morbid, just aware that in the blink of an eye sometimes, everything as we know it can change. That thought took me out to the deck and the cool fresh air, the brightening sky. Where I could hear the thrills, the chirps, the drumming, the coos, even the turkey gobbles. A morning feast of sights and sounds. I meet with God in the morning.

Mornings are a gift that God keeps giving. The sun keeps coming up, even when we may feel knocked down and have trouble getting up to witness it. Even when we feel really settled where we are and desire to stay there. Why do things have to change anyway? And why do we have so much stress related to it. Can’t some things just stay the same?

Things can change because the One who holds it all together never does. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 is a promise you can firmly stand on.  We can deal with change because we have a God that created a dynamic universe and He never changes. He is the true Force that makes and sustains all life. And we have to keep changing and growing in His direction or else.

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

There’s this church sign in Belpre, Ohio, that says “Where growth stops, decay begins.” Summer brings with it some glorious aromas, but decaying roadkill is not one of them. Decay has a stench that is just intolerable to the living. Every cell in our bodies has to renew itself, slough off the dead and make way for new life. There is nothing more positive than accepting the truth that we can keep growing towards the best version of ourselves. And that the best version is the one that chooses to attach closely to the Creator through a relationship with Jesus. This is truly what is the best for us and brings the most glory to God.

“Where growth stops, decay begins.”

How do we do it? How do we keep not merely tolerating change, but embracing it? This may look differently for you than me, but I attach myself to my dynamic Creator by taking the time and making the effort to. There is nothing wrong with it, but “5 minutes with Jesus” just doesn’t cut it for me. It takes time to read His Word, The Bible, it takes time to pray with focus, it takes time to worship and wait on Him. It just takes time. Think of it as an exfoliating session for your soul. When you emerge from it, you walk in newness. And I can’t even begin to tell you how taking that time will be rewarded in many other ways.

The struggles that would have knocked you down and kept you there for the count, don’t have the same effect on you anymore, because Jesus shares the punch. That change in your life, that you never thought you would be able to face, you’re facing it, and oh, so bravely. That new process you have to learn for work; the new definition of family that you didn’t ask for. The diagnosis that threatens to define you as someone less than you used to be. Those aging signs that remind you of the years you’ve journeyed here. Changes can chase us down, but they don’t have to defeat us.

How do we keep handling the changes? By reminding ourselves of the truth that if everything we know and think we have to have to be happy gets taken from us, Jesus will always be with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Just before the Hebrews 13:8 truth, we read in Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.” That, in itself, will be enough. Because He is enough. And He never changes.

Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Heavenly Father, I know that today will bring about some changes that I may not want to welcome because I just don’t want the stress of them. Cause me to remember that You took on flesh and You know how unwelcome change feels and You will walk with me through mine. I am not alone, and even though I have changeable moods that affect how I handle things, You are always the same. You can always be trusted to be just what I need, when and where I need it. Even if You are all I have, I will have all I need. For the glory of Your Name, Amen