A message of hope

All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

There have been times when I have used scripture to beat someone over the head - oh, not physically, but metaphorically. I have picked the most inopportune times, used the harshest scripture I could find that applied to the issue, and whammo! Yes, I am guilty of causing a 'scripture hit and run'! I was young, not really aware of how God could intervene without 'all my help', and kind of stubborn myself at times. I have mellowed a lot since then and have even been the 'victim' of a few 'scripture hit and runs' from others. Perhaps those helped me to realize the folly of spewing scripture 'at' someone. Scripture is all powerful, but it is a tool best used in conjunction with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit prepares his Word for a particular situation, it rings true in the heart of the one hearing it. When the heart is ready, the Words might just bring conviction, but they also bring great hope and comfort in response to that conviction. We can use words to 'condemn', but we will never be able to use words to bring 'conviction'. God's plan was always to use his people to help one another walk in the light of his truth, but to do it with grace and understanding. There is no room in his church for 'hit and run' preachers! All scripture is useful - in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Holy Spirit can move through us to bring a word to one in need of understanding, but we must be sure it is his leading and not our own.

The difference in timing, delivery, and outcome is made when he is behind the words because he has prepared the heart to receive them. If all scripture did was point out what was wrong in our lives, we'd dread ever discovering the truth within its pages. Scripture might bring conviction, pointing out some area where our lives require some adjustment, but it always shows us a certain aspect of light and life as it does. This is where grace bring hope into our lives. Truth uttered by our lips and empowered by the Holy Spirit will always bring hope - even in the midst of conviction. Just sayin!

Exchanged birthright

The moment we begin to justify sin in our lives is the moment we need most to turn back to what God says about each of us. We were born to do wrong - sinners even before we left our mother's womb. Born with the 'birthright' to sin. We aren't born without a will, but rather with a will that is oftentimes opposed to the will of our Creator. As we begin to develop, we use that 'will' to get what we want. As I have said in the past, we don't need to be told to be selfish, self-centered, or self-directed. It comes quite naturally to want all the toys, attention, and permission to do whatever we want!

I was born to do wrong, a sinner before I left my mother’s womb. You want me to be completely loyal,
so put true wisdom deep inside of me. Remove my sin and make me pure. Wash me until I am whiter than snow! (Psalm 51:5-7)

If we have this 'birthright' of being born sinners, how do we overcome sin? There has to be an exchange of nature - our nature for the nature of Christ placed deep within our souls, spirits, and hearts. God relishes the moment we realize our need for his grace - for the removal of sin and the desire to be made pure before him. When we cry out for grace, his response is to lavish it - not in limited quantities, but in overwhelming 'quantity'. He is generous in grace - a gift we will never find anywhere else. As our psalmist cries out, he reminds God that he needs God's wisdom, not just in bits and pieces, but in ways that will affect him at the core of his being. Maybe we have been content with bits and pieces of God's wisdom in our lives, but the more we realize our 'bent' toward compromise in our life, the more we will recognize we need more than just dribs and drabs of his grace and wisdom! We need to only ask - he does the washing. We need only to cry out - he fills the void deep within our spirit that was made for him, and him alone.

Complete loyalty is something most of us yearn for in our walk with Jesus. Yet, sadly, we all seem to struggle with this on occasion, don't we? We get our eyes off of him, placing them squarely back on us, what matters to us, what will make us feel good, or what will fulfill some plan we have concocted in our finite minds. Then, when things seem to be failing with those choices, we find ourselves crying out once more. Someone once asked me if I thought God ever got tired of our ups and downs in this faith walk. I know he is disappointed when we fall into sin, giving into temptation in our lives, but his grace is never far away. His love never wanes. His hand never stops reaching. We may not realize the intensity of his love, the faithfulness of his grace, or the depths of his wisdom, but it is there even when we don't realize we need it! We may not realize we need to exchange one 'birthright' for another, but he does and the way has already been prepared for that to happen. We need only ask! Just sayin!

Things hoped for

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. (Epicurus)

While we don't always hope for the best things in life, we all have some form of hope that occupies our minds and somehow motivates our internal man just a bit. Hope for the 'right stuff' and you are praised; hope for the 'wrong stuff' and you are criticized. What is the 'right stuff' in life? Is it really 'stuff'? Or is the 'right stuff' really what another delights in providing in our lives? Who is that 'another' I speak of? You already suspected it - Christ! We cannot hope for anything greater than his presence within us, his purpose being worked out through our lives, and his provision sustaining us as we fulfill that purpose.

Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1)

If faith is what 'makes real' the things we hope for, why is it some hope for so much and really don't see the evidence of it in their lives? It could be the thing hoped for is the worst thing for us! We don't always have the purest of hopes, do we? Sometimes we hope for things God knows will bring us nothing more than increased anxiety, overpowering feelings of guilt, or 'debt' of some sort that burdens our minds and souls. Those things might become anchors that weigh us down when all God wants for us is to be free. So, can we hope for a new vehicle? Yes, of course, but it may be that the timing is not correct, the financial burden too great for us right now, as the price we are about to pay will actually come down in just a few short months. God's 'no' to what we hope for is not to hurt us, but to protect us from unwise choices.

Faith is what makes real the things we hope for - proof of what we cannot see. There is no greater hope than for our lives to be renewed - regenerated by the power of the living God within us. There is no greater pursuit than righteousness, but how many other 'hopes' get in the way of that pursuit? What we hope for may actually be good, but the timing may not be correct. God may be working on other things within our character that will prepare us for whatever it is we are hoping for. We have to understand God is in the 'line upon line', 'precept upon precept' business. He does a little here within our character, so that he can impact a little there within our character. All the while, we are hoping for the work to be complete within us, but there are a few more 'lines' that might need development before we can say it is complete! Just sayin!

Surprised by God

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! (Jeremiah 17:14)

God does nothing 'half-way' - he takes everything to completion. It may not be in our timing, on whatever terms we imagined in our minds, or even as someone else might think God should be working in our lives. He comes through each and every time - sometimes with blessing beyond measure, and sometimes with correction that is much needed. What he heals, he does unto completion. When God begins to work on an area of your life, don't be surprised when he continues to work time and time again until the mission is complete!

God's work in our lives is sometimes slower than we'd like, and he focuses on areas that we might have thought he was through with a long, long time ago. All of a sudden, he begins to speak to you about that area and you almost take a sudden deep breath as though you were surprised to find him tackling that issue once again. You actually knew it was 'better' than it had been before, but if you were honest with God and yourself, you knew he hadn't completed the work yet. So, he is back at it again - asking you to reveal a bit more, bringing things to the surface you had thought were finally gone, and then he sets out to complete what he began.

Why? We weren't ready for the completion of the work he began at that earlier point - we needed to 'adapt' to the change he began and get that 'settled' in our lives before he could do a bit more. When God 'begins again', it isn't because he didn't do a 'good job' the first time he spoke to us about what needed his healing, it is because we weren't ready for the depth of his work quite yet. It takes time for us to come to the place of obedience sometimes and God doesn't rush to 'push his will' on us. He gives us time to adjust to his will and find peace with his work within us. Then he works a bit more until the mission is complete. Healing isn't immediate - those are miracles. Healing is intermittent and consistent. When God begins 'again' what you thought was 'done' already, just go with it. He has much more for you! Just sayin!

A person of great privilege

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. (Romans 5:1-2)

We don't 'get right' with God - we are 'made right' with him. This work is accomplished by faith, never by our works. All that was needed to make us right with God was done by Christ Jesus. One of the things we may miss in this passage is this 'place of undeserved privilege' we each enjoy as a result of Christ's finished work on the cross. We might think a person of 'privilege' enjoys extreme wealth, social standing, and easy access to things they want or need. We wouldn't be far off with this definition, except for that part about 'social standing'. Being a Christian doesn't always elevate us to the top of the social charts, does it? In fact, there may even be a 'slippage' in our 'social standing' with friends or family just because we make the choice to be a follower of Christ.

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now,
for in due time you will laugh. What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. (Luke 6:20-23)

Will the followers of Christ choose him for the wealth and fame, or for some other reason? I believe it is the latter, for in choosing Christ, we make a choice to live a life of service, not one of being served. Am I saying a believer will not have earthly wealth? Not at all, but they will not be motivated by it, or live for the accumulation of that wealth. Am I saying the believer will not have 'easy access' to the things they need? Absolutely not - for Christ cares for each of our needs as though they were his own. What I am saying is that a believer is not seeking more from this world, but they are seeking to enjoy more of God's goodness and grace in their lives. Their focus is not on what the world affords them in the way of fame, wealth, or enjoyment, but rather on the peace, love, and hope God brings as we press into him.

We actually enjoy an 'undeserved privilege' right here and now, but we live far below that privilege in Christ Jesus. Why? We seek what the world offers us before we seek to enjoy more of this privilege. It all comes down to where it is we find our fulfillment - joy, peace, and hope. If it is in the things of this world, we will live very disappointed lives. If it is in Christ, we shall soar high above whatever this world affords. Just sayin!

Despair, Desperation, and Disgrace

When we have lost everything, including hope, life becomes a disgrace, and death a duty. (W.C. Fields)

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.
They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced. (Psalm 22:3-5)

Who would have ever thought a comedian like W.C. Fields would have been so wise? When we have lost hope, life leads us into despair, desperation, and eventually disgrace. Before long, we honestly think the only way to overcome these three haunting difficulties is death. When God is truly enthroned in our lives, we don't need to settle into despair - because God is our hope. We don't have to imagine the worst, leading us into places of deep desperation - seeking all those solutions to the problems our mind's eye can imagine. We aren't subject to disgrace because God ensures that all things are possible with him and him alone. 

Despair is really the absence of hope - it is the place of 'giving up' or 'giving in'. We might just find ourselves there when it seems like there has been the longest delay in seeing our prayers answered. We have petitioned God day after day, hoping for some answer, but it has eluded us up to this point. Without much thought about it, we allow that hope to drift into the place of disbelief and distrust. God reminds us that faith is not the absence of things that would make us doubt or struggle - it is the thinnest of threads that holds onto his hand in the absence of any other solution.

Desperation might lead us one of two paths - into his arms, or into the fray of trying to work things out on our own. I certainly know the disappointment of taking that latter course! Having decided it was time to take matters into my hands on more than one occasion, I have made a mess of things way too often to count. Desperation is just us acting kind of reckless and sometimes without much thought behind our actions. Despair does that to us on occasion - leading us into 'thoughtless activity'. When we allow our trust in God to be disturbed, we find something to replace that trust - like our own efforts. That rarely works out well, my friends.

No wonder disgrace is quickly on the heels of despair! The muddle we create when we place our hope in ourselves rather than God is certainly not a pretty picture. What can we do when our hope begins to be challenged by despair? It might be as simple as pressing in a little closer to God - through worship and praise. If you have ever been at the place where you think you are at the end of that thread of hope, then began to raise your voice in praise, a song coming after a bit, then raised hands and raw emotions, you know the strength that also came in that 'yielded moment'. God's presence surrounds you, his peace invades the despair of your heart, and his grace beckons you to hold on a bit longer. God is never going to leave or 'forsake' us - hope's embers might just need a little stoking. Just sayin!

As what her usual custom...

"Some things are so unexpected that no one is prepared for them." (Leo Rosten)

How is it we can have something so plainly before us and totally miss it? We aren't really looking? We aren't really interested? We think it couldn't be? We oftentimes 'miss' what God puts right before us. The woman at the well was there to draw water - do you think she was looking for the Messiah as she went to the well? Not likely - in fact, the Samaritan woman would have been condemned if her peers had of seen her actually talking with a Jewish man. We might not always see, but God can open our eyes so that we can comprehend what it is we are missing!

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” (John 4:21-26)

When he comes...

She didn't recognize him as the Messiah, but somehow, she knew there would be a Messiah from among the Jewish nation. Was she looking for him to come? She knew he would 'bring answers' - explaining things in a way so she could understand them - but was she really 'seeking' him? No one really knows, but she must have had at least a bit of faith to speak those words so clearly, suggesting she trusted that the Messiah would come.

What is it you are trusting God for today? Are you really looking for his intervention, or just 'hoping for' something to be 'different'? We can be 'hoping' for a long time if we are never really looking along with that hope. Seeking is part of faith - it isn't that we just believe something will happen - it is that we go about doing whatever God asks of us while we await that which is about to happen. 

She went to the well - drawing her water for the day. She made the journey, knowing it was her 'usual custom' to do so. Did she expect to meet the Messiah there? No, but she knew he was coming. She went about what she knew to do, all the while trusting in the hope of his coming. Perhaps what we need most is not more 'hope', but to just trust while we are going about our 'usual custom' of whatever it is God has tasked us to do. Just sayin!

The temperature is just right

I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains. (Anne Frank)

After you have suffered a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you his eternal glory. He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place, and make you stronger than ever. (I Peter 5:10)

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." (Corrie ten Boom) For those who are not familiar with Corrie, let me give you just a little background. She came from a family of Dutch watchmakers during the time of Hitler's regime. She and her family did much to protect the Jews fleeing the concentration camps and the horror that awaited them - hiding many in their attic space and providing for their daily needs. The motto of their household: "In this household, God's people are always welcome." She endured hardship upon hardship, including her arrest and detention in a political concentration camp. Yet, in all she endured, one theme comes through repeatedly in her writings and in her personal testimony. 

I had the privilege of sitting with her one night in a small group and seeing her faith. I didn't just 'read about' or 'hear about' her faith - I observed it living and breathing before me. One of the most profound things she said has stuck with me over the years and given me much insight into my own struggles. She told us, "Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open." We hold on so tightly to things we should not be so attached to, especially bitterness - the root of it being unwilling to let go of a wrong another has done to us. She always reminded others that the human 'will' may not want to forgive, but the 'will' is driven by the heart. The 'temperature' of the heart can be changed by the presence of God in your heart.

Herein is the hope we need to latch onto - God may allow suffering for a while - but he will not abandon us in it. The 'temperature' of our heart may grow colder and colder as the suffering becomes longer and longer but know this - the embers of his grace and love can rekindle that flame of faith. How? The answer lies in something else Corrie said, "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest." The 'rest' comes when the temperature of our heart begins to change, and the attitude of our spirit begins to reflect his grace and love once again. We cannot always avoid suffering - even when we are doing the right things. When it comes, WHO we face it with will determine the 'temperature' of our hearts. When that is Jesus, the temperature will be 'just right'. Just sayin!

Enthusiastic?

Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; impatience will get you into trouble. Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord. Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn, and you will prosper. (Proverbs 18:2-3, 8)

Zeal without knowledge may just lead to you and I acting a little too quickly on occasion. Act too quickly and we may just charge ahead when it would have been wiser to stay behind. Zeal is the energy we put into the pursuit of anything or anyone. Too much can get in the way because it messes with God's timing. Too little can get be just as difficult to manage because it makes it difficult to be in the right place at the right time with the right resources in hand. Whenever we move into areas where we do not have personal experience (first-hand knowledge), we might do so with great enthusiasm, but what happens when our movements are just 'enthusiastic'? We don't do very well. 

Knowledge is designed to be shared, but until it becomes personal, it is of very little value to the one exposed to it. If you build Legos for a living and make all those instruction books included in the box of building blocks, you likely have first-hand experience with those designs. Until we follow the specific diagrams and examples given, we don't have either. We can only envision what our pile of blocks will look like, but if we plunge ahead without following those instructions to the letter, the instructions were just paper in the box. They were included in full color and nicely organized for our understanding - our impatience to get from a pile of blocks to a finished airplane did not produce an airplane even remotely resembling what the designer had in mind. We need to apply the knowledge we are provided.

We move into territory all the time where we have very little personal knowledge - creating many an opportunity for us to be exposed to things we'd never imagined possible in the journey. Moving without knowledge might be considered faith to some, but even faith is based on some truth. We have an element of knowledge we hang our hats on and then take the first steps forward. Beware - any steps taken without applying even the minimal knowledge we have been given may just lead to a whole lot more "exposure" than we'd like. God wants us to have passion in our pursuit of right living, but he also wants us to exercise wisdom in that pursuit.

To wrestle with an unfamiliar enemy without any knowledge of that enemy would spell disaster for anyone attempting to do so. People ruin their lives, not so much because they intend to, but because they come up against all kinds of unfamiliar enemies and have no idea how to deal with them. We might call this foolishness in action, but in reality, we have all been there. What is unfortunate is when we blame God for our failure in these battles instead of seeing the folly in our having plunged ahead without any knowledge for the battle ahead. Truth is, we are often given at least one or more warnings before heading into these battles - we just don't pay attention to them. If we'd learn to listen to the warning(s), we might just avoid the missteps. Just sayin!

Now faith is...

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark. (Rabindranath Tagore)

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

For some, the days may seem like they are a little 'dark' - nothing good seems to be in visible sight at all. For others, they have just come out of their darkest place to date, glad to be 'done with it', but ever so grateful for all they learned as they leaned into Jesus throughout that darkness. Faith isn't born in the 'lightest' places of our lives - it is most frequently found growing leaps and bounds when the 'darkness' comes into our lives. Why do you think that might be? It could just be that there is no other 'resource' quite as good as Jesus and his intense love for us. Trust in God is built - it isn't just 'given'. It isn't inherited from our parents or a good mentor in our lives. It isn't a result of reading our Bible from cover to cover as we would a novel. While the teachings of our parents and mentors may help us see faith in action, it doesn't 'create' faith within us - it just spurs us to look for that same faith by going to Jesus to understand for ourselves how it is faith is born and grows. Reading our Bible may give us an understanding of how God works, but just understanding how he works doesn't build our faith.

I like how Tagore put it - faith is 'feeling the light when the dawn is still dark'. When you at that darkest place, does light seem to trickle through that deepest darkness? Fear seems to be put down, we rise to our feet in some unknown faith, and we stand with a strength not our own. How? God comes alongside us in that darkness, allowing us to 'feel' his light long before we see it. While God doesn't want us to depend upon our feelings (emotions), he made our emotions to help us 'sense' things around us - including his presence, power, and peace. This might be the greatest thing we learn in the time of darkness - nothing replaces his presence, power, or peace - shadows may come and forces may be at work to replace them in our lives, but they will never be overcome by any opposing force. Darkness actually isn't darkness when we have the light within us. Just sayin!

Opposites attract

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. (I Peter 1:18-19)

I listened as my pastor shared the moments in his life where he had struggles with doubts - something we don't expect a pastor to share with his congregants. I understood what state of mind he could have been in when he was experiencing these doubts. I was fully aware of my own doubts along the way - times when I wondered if God 'really said' or 'really meant'. It is never wrong to have doubts - it is always wrong to not bring those doubts to God. He wants to sort them out for us - not because we need a good trip to the woodshed to deal with them, but because as we sit in the confines of his presence and just let them out, he meets with us and settles them for us. Indeed, we need to have a deep consciousness of God - to understand where our doubt and fear collide with faith and hope.

Faith and hope both grow in the presence of their opposing forces - not in the absence of them. Would we ever feel the intense desire and passionate pursuit created if we never knew the absence of hope? At the end of the rope, we consider life just a bit differently, don't we? We see things from a different perspective. When all seems to be collapsing around us, we reach conclusions about what it is we have put our trust in, don't we? We begin to feel the push and pull of faith, working feverishly against the push and pull of our doubts. The opposing forces are at work in our lives, not to take us away from God, but to move us closer into intimate relationship with him - settling once and for all whatever needs to be settled within us.

It is because of Christ's sacrifice - on our behalf even before we knew we'd need that tremendous gift - that we now stand assured that we have a future in God's presence. Why do we doubt this at times? If we are honest, it isn't that we doubt our future with him as much as we doubt our 'worthiness' to be in his presence for all of eternity. We have 'done' things, 'thought' things, 'said things', and they make us feel as though we don't 'deserve' his presence. Truth be told, we don't! Thank goodness our present and future ability to stand in his presence unashamed and whole isn't based on what we do, think, or say, but on what he has done, thought, and said on our behalf. The doubts may not diminish immediately, but given space in the presence of God, they will soon be replaced with an ever-increasing faith. Don't resist the opposing forces, but allow them to drive you closer into what God has prepared for your life. Just sayin!

Handle life properly

Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in. (C. S. Lewis)

We all have those moments when we are thinking about what WE want. We get lonely and desire the closeness of another. We feel anger over things that bug us and want revenge. We have messed things up so badly and see no way out, but desire it so greatly. We find ourselves in the pit and want a ladder to climb our way out. We look all around for any other answer, but we know the one and only answer to each of these issues is Christ Jesus. We seek answers, but we don't go to the one who knows the answer ever before we pose the question.

I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. (Romans 7:22-25)

We know that reality of the 'war' within - the one that pits self against Jesus. 'Self' demands its own way - Christ is right there asking for us to just look to him for his way. We don't realize that we are slaves to our 'self' nature - the thing that poses demands and demands over and over again. Our mind can be the greatest place of our struggle - thinking one thing but knowing another. Yup, we KNOW the right thing to do, but we struggle with doing it because our minds want something else entirely. All because WE think it will be better.

Looking to Christ when we are struggling with this walk with him may not be the easiest thing for us to do, but the more we look to him, the less our 'self' will demand its own way. We all have questions about how to live this Christian life, so ask them. There is no room for doubts within us, but they exist - be bold to share them with Christ. There is no room for unforgiveness within us, but it exists - only Christ can help us let go of that hurt and pain that leads to that desire to hold onto the bitterness. God doesn't want us to be unthinking - he wants us to bring our thoughts to him so he can rightly order them.

Doubts handled properly can become a stronger faith. Refusal to hold onto what only becomes a cancerous growth within us actually helps us to become more loving. We don't get to these points in life without Christ. WE want to be free, but WE don't move from the place where we are bound. It is only as WE get up, turn around, look squarely into the Word of God, listen to the voice of Christ, and take step after step that we can be free. We doubt we will ever be free but let me assure you of this - without taking the first step forward, we will always be bound. Just sayin!

We get there by going there

Dr. Seuss reminds us, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." So many times, we focus on the 'end' of things and forget all that happened in between the beginning and the end - the 'going through' part. We get through something, look back a bit, celebrate or mourn, depending on the occurrence, and then we commit to our memories something from that experience. It won't be the full details, but we will latch onto some part of it as the memory we will keep. If it was a happy occasion, we may not have wanted it to end. If it was just the opposite, we are probably grateful to have it over once and for all. Either way, it isn't the end that made the difference for us - it was the 'going through' that did.

If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God. (I Peter 3:13-18)

Do you think you can stop what you are going through? You might be able to devise an escape, but in the end, you will likely face something quite similar again. We can celebrate the toughest of things all because we 'go through' them with Christ. We 'get through' with attentive hearts, not side-tracked minds. We celebrate the beginning, middle, and end because we kept Chris central in it all. We were vigilant, determined, and obedient. We continually allowed the cleansing of our hearts, ordering of our thoughts, and balancing of our emotions - and we got through. Christ already went through it all - came out the other side of that tomb - celebrated the victory. 

We know life will not always be easy, but we can always find something good in the worst of circumstances when we have made Christ our focus through it all. How do we keep Christ first when the times we are facing are less than 'celebratory'? It requires a very 'conscious' effort on our part to remove our focus from what we are 'going through' and to place it squarely on his having 'gone through' it all for us already. When the emotions want to drift into dread, doubt, or distrust - ADORE him. When the mind wants to constantly rehearse the difficulties - ADORE him. When the spirit grows weary and the body weakens with each new day - ADORE him. 

ADORE him - delight in him; celebrate his goodness; relish his grace. ADORE him - treasure his guidance, honor him by using the wisdom he brings, and revere his truth. ADORE him - center your thoughts on his love, open your arms to his embrace, and settle into his peace. The way we 'get through' is by 'going through' WITH him - worshiping (adoring) him each step of the way. It may not look like we are ever going to make it, but by trusting in his grace, we shall. Just sayin!

Anyone facing adversity?

A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed? (Proverbs 18:14)

To be pressed or squeezed with such a force so as to destroy or deform - anyone know what that feels like? It feels like you are being forced out by pressing, so that you will eventually break. Sometimes people don't see my fascination in the study of words, but when we take a little time to explore the various meanings of a word, we often begin to ponder things we might have missed before. This is especially true when it comes to understanding the Word of God. The "words" God chose to share with us in the pages of our Bible are not by chance - they are selected for their meaning. Therefore, getting the most out of the Word of God often requires us to be open to considering the meaning of the words chosen to express a certain matter of thought or instruction. I have some friends who have been through tremendous pressures this past year, and others who are beginning this next year with some of the most terrifying decisions they will have to make in their lifetime. Some have known the death of a family member. Others have faced the all too fatiguing venture into chemo and radiation treatments, fighting for just a few more days on this earth with friends and family. Catastrophic events - painful decisions - still more painful courses ahead. Yet, in it all, one of the things I have seen in each of these individuals is the "extracting" of something from deep within. They have been transformed by the events - not just in a physical sense, but in a deeply spiritual sense, as well.

Some of us think of a crushed spirit is that which cannot bear up under the weight of the pressures exerted upon it. I beg to differ - for in the crushing process something is extracted. I know the passage really speaks to the idea of keeping your spirit healthy - so you stand strong and face all this adversity well. Yet, in the moments of crushing there is something once hidden from view that comes out into the open. Some call this hope or even faith. Regardless of what you call it, the crushing process is what caused it to rise to the surface. I don't think God gives us a load that will completely crush us - pulverizing us, destroying us completely. I do believe he allows some times of "crushing" in order to extract from us what he knows is deep within. The spirit of man is a resilient thing - made to connect directly to the Spirit of God. There is a dynamic effect of connecting man's spirit with that of the divine Creator God's. In fact, when the connection is made the pressures we are faced with have a way of strengthening this connection. Don't get me wrong - the tremendous physical adversities, emotional turmoil, and intensity of making the right decisions that must be faced are real. We cannot trivialize the crushing weight of the issues at hand. Yet, in the midst of the crushing weight of the issue, there remains one thing the enemy of their soul did not count on - faith! He banked on the weight to crush even the most fragile faith - but God counted on the crushing to extract that faith - bringing it to the surface for all to behold! When something is extracted, it is pulled or drawn out to the surface. There is an effort required - but in the pressure exerted - the bounty is beheld.

I do not know the battles you face today, but I do know with a certainty - God's in the midst of the battle and he is allowing just enough pressure to be exerted that will manifest what is hidden deep within. The pressure is real - it shall not utterly crush you - but it shall reveal the depth of your faith, the intensity of your love, and the intimacy of your connection with the Creator of all things. My heart is with you today, dear friends. As you "bear up" under the crushing forces you walk under today, I am praying for the beauty of his grace to be so evident in your lives. Just prayin!

Are you evangelical?

The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. (Psalm 16:8)

I have been asked why I am not a bit more 'evangelical'. What is really being asked is why am I not a bit more ardent in my message, or zealous in the presentation of the gospel truth? Why is it I am not 'shouting from the rooftops' the hope that dwells deep within my heart? Why am I not 'out there' more? Truth be told, it isn't about the 'forwardness' or 'religiousness' one exhibits, but the ability for others to see Christ in your life and want what you have. I haven't had too many positive responses to 'hell fire and damnation' sermons - but I have seen others develop an honest hunger for Christ because the 'thing' I have made them more than a little curious how they could have the same thing!

I am probably going to step on a few toes today, so hold on. We don't need to shout the gospel message from the rooftops, nor do we need to have our TV tuned to TBN 24-hours a day. God isn't impressed with our 'religiousness' - he is captivated by a heart intent on loving others as he has loved us. We don't have to 'cram' Jesus down the throats of everyone we meet - we show them Jesus in our actions and trust God to develop that desire to know him as a result of what they observe. Jesus didn't preach - the taught. He didn't just lay out scripture - he lived out scripture. When others see the gospel lived out, they are drawn to the love, hope, and peace they see and feel - they 'know a good thing when they see it'.

I listen to Christian music most of the time, so there is nothing wrong with tuning into those things that uplift your spirit. I know there are great gospel teachers on the TV each week and I even attend church online. I don't make a steady diet of every message they teach on those TV programs, though. There is just something about getting into the Word myself and discovering what God will speak to me in those quiet times that does a bit more for my soul and spirit than I might get from listening to non-stop gospel teachers on the tube. God's hope isn't for us to become 'religious' by all the things we watch, listen to, or observe. His hope is that we will develop a genuine hunger for more of his grace and love. 

His hope - that we will 'stick with it' when the tough times come - that we won't allow our hearts to be captivated by another. His way of doing things has always been to give us examples to follow - not just words that convict us of our sin. Yes, he wants our sin dealt with and for us to realize when our choices aren't the wisest. His hope is that we will know him and then desire more of him because we have come to know him. We come to know others because there is a connection - we spend time together. Jesus was all about spending time with people. He didn't just preach the message and drop the mic. He held hands, touched wounds, and embraced the curious. 

I want others to know Christ because they see I have a 'good thing' that they desire. I don't work to convince them they need Jesus in their lives - that is his work, not mine. I just share the hope I have by living out that hope day after day. I guess I may not be very 'evangelical' to some, but trust me on this - I know him deeply and I want you to know him as deeply as I do. I have a good thing going and I am not letting go! How about you? Can you say the same? Do others see that similar hope in you? If so, you are being more than just a bit 'evangelical' my friends! Just sayin!

Know what NOT to fear

Plato reminded us: "Courage is knowing what NOT to fear." We all probably have those things that we are fearful of, don't we? Last night we had one of those horrendous dust storms with winds up to 70 mph and the many noises you hear when those gusts rip through your neighborhood can send your heart into palpitations! Thuds from pine cones and branches hitting the roof tops, clinks and clunks as small branches and leaves are driven into the windows at speeds that make them mini-missiles, and the noise of wind whipped lawn chairs skidding across the patio. Add to this excitement the timing of the storm at well after bedtime and you get the idea that sleep was not to come easily. Cell phone alerts blaring one out of slumber and then the horrific noise of those winds - my heart took a bit to return to normal rate and rhythm! Did I need to fear the storm? Not really, but I knew enough to appreciate the gravity of it. The yard would be left littered with all manner of debris and the roof stood a chance of shingle damage with that forceful of wind force. There was danger, but did I need to fear it? My house is built well, the trees are kept trimmed, and the things in the yard were fairly well secured. So, not really. Knowing what NOT to fear is most important, isn't it? So many times we think about what we should fear and forget about what we don't need to fear!

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. (I John 4:18)

There is no room in love for fear - God is love, therefore if we are in him and he dwells within us, love resides there, as well. There is no room for fear to exist because love exists there first and foremost. Let that one sink in a bit today - God is love, you are embraced in that love, saturated in his grace - therefore there is nothing we should fear because love dispels all fear! If you weren't aware - fear cripples - it paralyzes us. Maybe not physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. We don't want to step out or step up because we are bound by the fear's hold. Emotions get the best of us at times, don't they? How many times have your emotions left you in a place of feeling really silly when you come to the final realization what they told you to fear was not really something to be fearful of after all? I have to be honest here - my emotions have told me to fear many a relationship, opportunity, or challenge - only to come to the realization neither were to be feared at all. I 'bought into' the fear because it played upon my emotions. Fear has a way of doing that - it builds and builds until it consumes our every emotion.

God isn't going to let us 'reside' in fear. In fact, he provides a residence that is free of fear - his presence. Our 'standing' in this world changes the moment we say 'yes' to Jesus. Our stand against the things we had come to fear apart from Christ also changes at that moment in time. Will our emotions seek to convince us there are still things we should fear? You bet - because they haven't learned to trust God yet with the outcome of all things. This is why God tells us not to rely upon the heart's direction - it will hold onto unrealistic and unfounded fear way too long. He tells us to trust him - the feelings follow the faith of trust. That is probably the hardest lesson for us to learn in this lifetime - feelings follow faith, not the other way around. We want to 'feel' something is 'right' and 'good' before we engage in the pursuit of that thing. God oftentimes wants us to engage even when we aren't 100% sure - because he knows our faith is built when we take those steps forward into those places we aren't all that certain about yet.

Hope and despair are two opposed emotions. Hope suggests we aren't all that fearful of the next steps to take. Despair indicates we are a little less secure in our steps forward. We might even feel like our feet are planted in cement because the fear that is inherent in despair is really rooted in us believing we have lost all hope - there will be nothing good to come of any steps forward. Despair makes us want to give up - to not even try. God isn't concerned with our 'trying' though - he is concerned with us 'doing'. Hope directs us to 'do' even if the 'doing' is uncomfortable, venturing into areas that we haven't explored before with God. Know WHAT to fear - know WHEN to fear - know WHO to fear. We never fear God. We never fear his timing. We never fear the outcome because he is in control. He is our sustainer and our strength - our defender and the one who will cause us to stand, even when we aren't 100% sure about the next steps we are to take. Just sayin!

I have 'green hope'

So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance: Then I’ll join outsiders in a hymn-sing; I’ll sing to your name! And this one: Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together! And again: People of all nations, celebrate God! All colors and races, give hearty praise! And Isaiah’s word: There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse, breaking through the earth and growing tree tall, Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope! Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! (Romans 15:13)

I want to focus on that last statement this morning because it really connected with me right where I am at right now. God is the one who gives hope where there seems to be little hope, just as he is the one who fills us to overflowing when our peace is vanishing in the midst of chaos and discomfort. I don't want to miss something - God gives 'green hope' - in other words, he gives us seeds of hope and then he nourishes them until they grow into the full growth of hope within us. He gives us seeds of hope because he is desiring to see a harvest of 'full joy', 'peace overflowing', and 'life-giving energy'. God doesn't just give us 'hope' on a silver platter and then send us off filled to overflowing all the time - sometimes he gives us just a glimmer of light, then in time that glimmer begins to become a more constant glow, until one day the entirety of our life is filled with the blazing brightness of his full hope. 

I am guilty of asking God to just 'do something' in my life circumstances something - somehow expecting that he will set things that are out of order back into perfect order. How foolish of me to think God would always make 'everything better' at the blink of an eye. What I have observed is this idea of God planting seeds of hope - eventually nurturing that hope within me until I am certain the 'everything better' I had believed possible will not only come to pass, it will be better than I imagined. We are filled up when we allow the seeds to take root - but we first have to embrace the seed. Too many times we see a seed, or a glimmer of hope, and then when it seems to not be growing, we give up on that hope. I have planted seeds to start my summer garden and for weeks it seemed like nothing was happening beneath the surface. As I opened those packages of seeds, I trusted there would be a harvest. When I planted them, I trusted there would be a harvest. When I watered them day after day, I trusted there would be a harvest.

 

The seeds have broken through the surface and do I have a harvest? Nope....but I still trust! I have hope that what has shown signs of growth will continue to grow, and then mature, and eventually multiply - making a harvest possible. Hope is perhaps a simple word to describe faith - we trust in something outside of our own ability to produce something outside of our own imagining. Faith isn't given in 'silver platter' fashion - it takes some work - the work of trust. We have no faith to endure if we don't trust we will see the end result. We have no faith to share if we don't trust what we have to be the very thing that will set another free. Trust feeds hope - hope feeds trust - the cycle is never ending. We may feel like we are all alone right now - like hope isn't really revealing any great harvest, but don't give up on the seed that has been planted. We may not see the growth, but there was a glimmer of hope when we received that seed and when we saw it planted into the core of our hearts. Now, nurture it - allow it to be nurtured by his hand - and then trust in the harvest. It is coming - I am sure of it. Just sayin!

Even in our rebellion

I just want to take a moment or two to remind each of us that God isn't done with us, even when we find ourselves in worst of places in life, our choices perhaps not the wisest. In the midst of our disobedience, God never stops finding ways to get to our heart - he uses all of this earth's and heaven's resources to reach the recesses of our hearts. The many and varied ways he uses to get the message of his power and protection across to his creation is not limited by the finite because he has access to the infinite. We often don't realize the means God will use until we look back "after the fact" and realize how much God was displaying his power, purpose, AND his protection in our lives. It is in the "hindsight" where revelation occurs - where our mind begins to comprehend what God has been doing in our hearts all along.

Then they prayed to God, "O God! Don't let us drown because of this man's life, and don't blame us for his death. You are God. Do what you think is best." They took Jonah and threw him overboard. Immediately the sea was quieted down. The sailors were impressed, no longer terrified by the sea, but in awe of God. They worshiped God, offered a sacrifice, and made vows. (Jonah 1:14-16)

The seas are out of control, even for the most skilled of sailors. The sailors, all skilled in their task of steering and controlling the ship, tried desperately to return to shore - but to no avail. They had "discussed" their circumstances with Jonah, being told by him that he was clearly the "cause" of their present danger. Yet, they choose to attempt any other alternative than what he proposed. His proposal was that they throw him into the sea - essentially allowing a man to drown - something tantamount to murder in their eyes. I don't know about you, but I have been asked a few time to "throw someone under the bus", but I find the internal struggle with this whole concept just a little unnerving!

In all their efforts to escape whatever calamity awaited them if they remained in the storm, they return to Jonah one more time. His answer is the same - throw me overboard. Not exactly the answer I am sure they hoped for - they were looking for any alternative to this life-ending action, but they weren't being offered anything by Jonah. They are in a quandary and the only option they have is to PRAY!!! Imagine that! Prayer didn't come naturally to these fellows, but in the midst of the storm isn't amazing just how many find themselves 'given to prayer'? They turn to the one they "think" might be willing to listen - the God of Jonah - although they didn't know him or serve him personally, they were willing to 'give it a shot'. After all, it his God who is responsible for the sea's upheaval - at least according to Jonah.

They turn to the God they really don't serve, but who seems to be in control of their present situation. Even in Jonah's running away from God, God is still using him to touch the lives of people who need to discover the power and grace of the one true God! How is it God can use even our disobedience to speak to the lives of others? I don't really fathom how he does it, but I see it recorded for me over and over in scripture, not to mention what God has done through my own life. They still don't want to throw their newest acquaintance overboard, but he seems to insist there is no other way to 'manage their fate'. They actually seek to be forgiven even before they take their next step. Jonah could have told them to turn the ship around, and then head for Nineveh like he was supposed to. It is quite possible his repentance could have calmed the seas. Instead he insists they throw him into the crashing waves. Why do we find our rebellion such a stronghold? I don't imagine Jonah is alone in his "firmness" of rebellion.  

In our rebellion - we don't see any way of escape but to be consumed by that which is a result of our rebellion! Don't lose sight of this last part of the passage - they trust Jonah's God to do what "he thinks best". Heathen men, praying to the divine God of the Universe, a God they did not know until now, trusting him to "do what he thinks best"! Do you know how God responds to their faith? God immediately calms the seas and they all stand on the deck of the ship, totally amazed at the power of Jonah's God. I wonder how many actually had the seed of salvation "planted" that day? The power of God on display - the hearts of men changed forever! 

I will never encourage our rebellion, but I am encouraged God can even use our rebellion as an instrument of grace in the life of another. In the openness about my own rebellion (running from God), others have been touched by the grace of God. I can only imagine how many times God has used our "cumulative" rebellion as an evidence of his grace! We cannot lose sight of what comes next - the sea does not consume Jonah - in spite of their fears and their reticence to throw him in, they do. Here's our hope - our sin may get us into some pretty wicked messes, but it need not consume us! In our rebellion, God even provides for OUR protection! Run as we might, God still watches over us! Just sayin!

Under God

Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? God’s my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies. Far better to take refuge in God than trust in people; Far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities. Hemmed in by barbarians, in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Hemmed in and with no way out, in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in; in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt. I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me. God’s my strength, he’s also my song, and now he’s my salvation. Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved? “The hand of God has turned the tide! The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!” (Psalm 118:5-6 MSG)

Sometimes I feel like I have been 'pushed to the wall' - pinned in, unable to move, kind of feeling a little helpless. It has been that way for a while with all this ups and downs in our country during this quite unsettling election year. I don't want to get 'political' today, but let me just say - God is in control, no matter the 'party' affiliation you proclaim - he hasn't lost control. It isn't a 'Republican' or 'Democratic' country we live in - it is ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Do you ever feel 'hemmed in' in your personal life, with little to no hope of ever breaking free of whatever has you right there in this moment? God hasn't lost control - never forget it is ONE LIFE UNDER GOD'S CONTROL. The bigger our 'dilemma' or 'life shattering issue' at the moment - the same answer applies - God has never lost control. It is indeed UNDER GOD that the walls will fall, the enemy will retreat, and the tide will turn within your life, your home, your career, and even within our nation!

I called to God - this is the crux of this passage. When we feel like we cannot possibly go on any longer, we don't just stop, sit down, and give up. We steel our spines, dig our feet in, and remember it is not over, it has only begun. Why? God isn't done! I remember someone telling me we never really see the light until it is quite dark around us at times. I live in a home that will emit some creaks and pops from time to time. You know when I hear them the most? In the darkness of night! Do you know when they can freak me out the most? In the darkness of night! Do you know what I do if I get freaked out? I turn on a light! Why? The light dispels the darkness. God isn't done in your circumstances today, my friends. He isn't capitulating to the enemy of your soul. He isn't going to let you just flounder and fail. Repeat this with me: I am ONE LIFE UNDER HIS CONTROL. 

Some of us are at the 'cliff's edge' right now, ready to fall, just barely balancing there. A strong gust of wind would be all it would take for us to lose our balance! God isn't going to let you fall - he will steady you right where you are, but he may call you back from the edge. He may also reach out and rescue you in the midst of the fall! The hand of God isn't 'ill-equipped' to rescue - we just need to recognize his hand is at work. You know that I pay attention to things repeated in scripture - if it was good enough to say it once, I listen, but if it was repeated time and time again - I sit up and take particular notice. It is meant for me to truly 'get' the lesson being taught when something is repeated. How did I learn my multiplication tables? I repeated 2x2 = 4, 2x3 = 6, and so on until I got it. 2 apples plus 2 apples gave me a bowl with 4 apples. 2 apples laid side by side 2 times gave me a fuller bowl! Pay attention to what God is saying.

We are his and he is ours. We have been redeemed, made whole, new breath placed within our lungs. Now, live as thought you are HIS. He is in control. He is what UNITES us in his family. He is what will UNITE us as a country. He is what UNITES because he has never lost control. God's purpose in our present pain? I am not sure, but I know this - he hasn't lost control. Just sayin!

Why fear?

Light, space, zest— that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. (Psalm 27:1)

Wow! Three simple words, but pretty all-inclusive of the character of God if you ask me! Light, space, and zest - what could he possibly have meant by using these words? We all have probably tried our best to describe God to someone at sometime in our lives. It is harder than you might think, isn't it? We launch out into some kind of lengthy explanation of what God does, how he moves among us, or even how he makes us feel. All the while, we are really struggling with giving anything truly "concrete" in our answer - we have an idea of how he 'acts', 'moves', and even how he makes us feel, but are we really describing God? What God declares about himself in this passage is simple and to the point! He is LIGHT, SPACE, and ZEST. 

Light - the very message we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in him there is no darkness at all (I John 1:5 NIV). In him we find all glory and majesty - the two things that can be said to represent 'light'. No wonder scripture repeatedly refers to God as "light" - it is not something that is so much "in" him - it is that he is the perfect and purest LIGHT that exists. There is no darkness within him because he is holy and his absolute holiness reflects in the purest of Light. If we were to describe God's holiness, we could use 'light' and we'd be 'spot on' in our descriptor.

Space - John 4:24 tells us God is "Spirit". Perhaps this is the best way for us to understand just how he can be with everyone at one time, knowing all things, and being all powerful to boot. He transcends the limitations of our finite human nature, making it hard for us to comprehend God because he doesn't fit within 'space' - he is space itself. He is above all, in all, and creator of all. As such, he is like "space". Unlimited and totally uncalculated in greatness. Try as we might, we cannot "box" God in - he is not an equation - something we can sum up! He is not limited - therefore he is beyond explanation.

Zest - he gives liveliness to all he animates and that includes each of us. In him is the inherent ability to impart the truest form of energy - that which animates and gives abundant life to a lifeless or dead soul! Sin robs us of this "animation" of spirit - God's touch restores it! I guess we might describe God as a 'life giver', but also we could describe him as the very thing that gives life that 'oomph' we all need. No wonder David stands so assured when he considers the one who is "on his side" in his daily walk! The purest of the pure - able to push back all darkness. The limitless one - powerful beyond our calculation. The one full of life - imparting life with each passage of his breath over our lives! 

Afraid of no one and nothing! Why? We fear the dark, but it is time for us to recognize fully that God's light exposes what is hidden. We fear the unknown, but God's limitless supply of all things that we could ever need is ours. We fear death. but God's life is assured to those who actively choose him. Therefore, why fear? The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid? (New Life Version) Whenever we are afraid, we are filled with apprehension, sometimes unknowingly giving into that apprehension even though we know better. When we describe ourselves as fearful, we are saying we are filled with a dread of the impending danger, evil, or pain we perceive is awaiting us.

The Lord is MY light - the one who saves ME. He is the "grip" we hold onto in the midst of impending doom - MY light, the one who saves ME. In the words of an old hymn: His eye may be on the sparrow, but he watches over ME! He is a personal God - he walks WITH us. In his carefulness over us, light dispels darkness, perceptions are enlarged, and we are reanimated again! No wonder David proclaims God as Light, Space and Zest - there is nothing quite so appropriate as those three words. Try as I might, I am at a loss to add anything else to those descriptors! Just sayin!