The night hours

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (Psalm 16:7,11)

We can never underestimate the peace our hearts experience when we listen to and follow God's instructions. God's guidance isn't always "consciously sought", for there are times when he just comes to us within the stillness or peacefulness of our night's sleep. We may not even realize he has spoken to us, giving us that much needed direction, until we awaken and feel what he has done.

As David says, "You are my Master! All the good things I have come from you." (vs. 2) When we refuse to make ourselves comfortable with the pursuit of this world's treasures, aspirations, or alluring temptations, we might just find we hear God's voice just a little clearer. What does it mean to "be at peace"? I believe it means we aren't swayed easily, like a reed that bends with each wind that comes along. We await God's wisdom and actively seek his direction. 

Why do we so often hear from God at night? Maybe it is because we are finally quiet and alone with our thoughts. It is as though he takes all the muddle of the day and sorts it out for us so we can see it clearly. The things that caused us so much worry all day seem to become less troubling as he settles out spirit, engages our senses, and refreshes our soul.

You will show me the way of life - perhaps all we can ask for is to come to know him well. Maybe we need life's entanglements and frustrations to be worked out, or it could be that we find ourselves with doubt and fear because we don't know what to do next. No matter the cause of our 'need' for his wisdom and peace, he remains the only way we will find it. Know this: God's voice may seem the clearest in the night hour because all the other voices demanding our attention aren't. Just sayin!

Baby Steps

I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. (Philippians 1:6)

We can sometimes feel like we aren't going to get to where we hoped to get to, finish what we hoped to finish, or just accomplish that one big thing we set in our sights. What we do with those moments determines if we will ever direct our focus toward it long enough to see it completed. We cannot think of having to "rest" in between the spaces or seasons of "accomplishing stuff" as a negative thing. I think God purposefully gives us some seasons in our lives where we kind of "coast" for a while because he knows we'd be overwhelmed if he didn't. He knows our personality and our emotional make-up. Just because you need to step back for a moment, don't be defeated - God isn't finished!

The seasons of emotional, physical, and spiritual frenzy would be our undoing if they continued on and on. Don't you think it is reasonable that God gives us "pauses" in our growth? It isn't that we aren't still soaking in his nourishment and provision - it is just that we aren't growing at the same pace as we were when we were in that "push forward" kind of determination. We just want to be sure we don't stop growing all together! That would signify something we have come to appreciate as "death"! Slowed growth doesn't mean we are about to die - it means our bodies, minds, spirits, and emotions have been under enough "pressure" - we need to rest and renew.

God begins good things in us all the time. They are like the tiny seedlings I find springing up in my garden from the seeds planted there much earlier. They aren't strong enough to survive yet, but they are signs of life and of more to come. In examining our lives, we find lots and lots of signs of life - promises of more and more to come. We should not lose heart when we don't see those things coming at the pace we might have imagined! Focus on the small goals and they will mount up to help you realize the bigger ones. We can count on one thing - God isn't finished with us. He may be giving us seasons of rest, followed by some intense seasons of growth, but he won't stop until he brings us to the place he desires for us to be. We might want to focus on the fact we don't feel growth occurring right now, but he is focusing on getting us rested for the growth opportunity he has coming for us just around the corner! Just sayin!

Is this the right action?

John Wooden reminds us to, "Never mistake activity for achievement." We can all get wrapped up in the 'activity' and miss out on really achieving much in it. When we focus on the activity rather than the reason for it, the people involved in it, and the outcome we desire to see from it, we miss out on the moment. He also reminds us that it is the "little details that are vital...they make big things happen". There comes a time when we need to just 'make big things happen' in life. We need to buy that new car, move to a new house, start a new job, get involved in a new church, or learn to make new friends. Much activity doesn't mean we will accomplish any of these - it just means we may not sleep very well at night!

Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool. (Ecclesiastes 5:3)

As important as the activity may be, we need to be able to shut down and rest. We need that renewal for the health of our bodies and brains. If you have ever tossed and turned, unable to shut-off your thoughts, 'worrying' plans over and over again, you know how difficult it actually becomes to focus on the actual task. Your body did not rest well, and your brain worked overtime, but your task is no further along! Equally as important as rest to our bodies may be, sometimes there needs to be 'rest' to our words, as well. There are times when we have 'said enough' and just need to take a rest from saying anymore on the matter. Too many words to someone who has 'heard enough' and you may lose the moment.

The second verse of our chapter reminds us to 'let our words be few' - especially when we are bringing our plans before God. There are times when we bring our plans to him, kind of like an offering, and then expect him to bless them just as they are. We go on and on with him in prayer, telling him how it is something will be accomplished and then we walk away to 'tackle the plan'. We didn't take time to listen, and this will eventually show in the activity at hand, no matter how much we thought we had God's blessing on the matter. There are going to be those moments when God wants to show us the futility of our plans - we just may not want to hear that all that 'activity' isn't what he intended.

Let your words be few, your plans be 'flexible', and your rest complete. These are not just 'wise advice' given to us in God's Word - they are plans for our well-being. We need to listen well, be open to God's leading being different than what we may have originally planned and learn to shut-off activity so we can rest well. Restless nights might just be a good indicator that we are either 'too committed' in activity, too stubborn to veer from our plans, or too intent on sharing our thoughts way beyond someone's ability to hear them. Just sayin!

Inner Rest

 If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, God—you’re my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you’re my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland. (Psalm 143:8-10)

The sound of God's voice - do you know what that is? Do you recognize his still small voice? When we learn to recognize God's voice, there is a certain sense of peace that settles into our hearts. We begin to 'operate' on a different level because we know his guidance will establish our path. All God asks of each of us is that we be 'all ears' when it comes to his voice, and 'closed ears' when it comes to listening to the voice of temptation or evil. 

God's greatest delight is for us to desire to live in a manner that pleases him - allowing him to help us through difficult moments when we might not even recognize that we are being tempted to say or do something that wouldn't bring him honor. In turn, it doesn't bring us any honor, either. The simplest prayer for us to lift to his ears is the one that asks him to teach us how to live well - it can also be the hardest one to utter.

If we begin to pray that prayer on a regular basis, imagine what God could do in our lives. We might just see doors that have been tightly shut to us open up and unseen pathways become clear. There is just something about God being invited to show us where to step, how to take those steps, and when we should move forward that delights his heart. If we struggle with finding true 'rest' in our lives, it could be that we haven't really allowed God to become our 'resting place'. 

Trust is established where there is open and honest communication. If we lack trust in God, perhaps it can begin to be established by us opening up our hearts, sharing our inner struggles, and then just listening. As we await his guidance, we might just begin to feel the release that leads to that 'inner rest'. Just sayin!

No rest for the wicked

I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well. I show you what to do, where to go. (Isaiah 48:17)

It is in this same chapter of Isaiah that we get our saying, "No rest for the wicked". The exact reading is: "There is no peace," says God, "for the wicked." The nation of Israel, delivered from Egypt to enter into a great land of prosperity and promise, chose to walk away from the one thing God asked of them - undivided and unchallenged loyalty to him. In the end, they knew no 'peace' - for they chose to live as the wicked of the land. We make good choices right alongside some not so wise ones, don't we? We do it all the time - choosing 'when' to be obedient and 'when' to live as we want to in the moment. Choice will always be ours - what we do when presented with the 'options' around us is 'learned' - it doesn't always come naturally for us to choose wisely.

God shows us what to do and where to go, but do we consistently listen to his direction? If you are like me, the answer to that one is a resounding 'no'. We know the right way to go - the right choice to make - how to deal with the struggle we are facing with right and 'not so right'. Yet, we choose to forsake the struggle in pursuit of the wrong way! In spite of 'knowing', we choose to go with our 'feelings'. That is how we get ourselves into compromise, isn't it? We lean into our feelings instead of relying upon the wisdom God is giving us. It is God's main goal to give us all we need to make wise choices - we just don't pay attention. Then we wonder why we find ourselves in a place of compromise - not really 'too far gone' - but 'gone the wrong way'. We need a course change.

Live right and well - in accordance with all that is good, proper, and just. When was the last time you were faced with choices that didn't quite measure up to 'good', 'proper', or 'just'? It is probably daily! With all these 'not so good' choices all around us, is it any wonder we need all the help we can get from God to learn to live right and well? We cannot do this on our own - we need to be instructed in how to choose well. Reject his urging and lean into those feelings - no peace for the wicked. Embrace his urging and lean into what he promises us in his Word - peace abounding for the obedient. Life with God isn't like one of those rides where we have tracks to follow that keep us from getting our 'wheels' outside of prescribed track, but we do have ample warnings along the way that indicate we are about to veer! Just sayin!

Rest now

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. (John Lubbock)

Lubbock also reminds us that a day of worry is worse than a week of work! We spend a great deal of time 'working on things', only to rework them a little later. We clean today, but by next week this time, the cleaning must be repeated. Why? Life happened and dirt came. As with our living environment, life happens and dirt comes into our lives in the areas of our emotions, thoughts, and even our relationships. We must constantly be aware that life will 'happen', but when we have prepared for it, we are able to face the challenge of the 'dirt' as it arises. I have extra cleaning products in the house - not just enough to keep it clean today. One way we are always ready to deal with 'life's dirt' as it comes is to be 'rested', for a tired mind, body, and spirit will succumb to the stresses of a 'dirty life'.

I stretch myself out. I sleep. Then I’m up again—rested, tall and steady, Fearless before the enemy mobs Coming at me from all sides. (Psalm 3:5-6)

Rest doesn't always indicate idleness, though. When I am resting, my mind is still working - as it does, I have given God permission to enter into that 'working' and give me insight, new ideas, and even sort out a bit of the muddle that exists in my inner man at times. Rest means we 'settle in' for a bit and actually take time to just breathe. Worry has no place in our rest time, but how many of us 'worry away' our rest? We ruminate on all the things not done, things done poorly, and the things we didn't need to do, but did. Then we wonder why our 'rest time' seemed a bit foggy and not all that restful. We didn't really rest - we just faked being in a 'restful posture'. When I go fishing, I rest. I observe nature around me, read a bit, listen to others around me, and share a bit of excitement at that first fish reeled in by whoever it is that brings it in. Rest isn't about the location as much as it is about the frame of mind and spirit we place ourselves in as we are resting.

Rest doesn't always involve a bed - it can be a great afternoon just hanging out with your BFF. It could be taking on a challenging crossword puzzle, or even reading a book. There might be food with family and ruckus laughter abounding. Rest isn't hard, but getting ourselves to the place mentally, physically, and emotionally where we can really enter into rest might be. I actually had to train myself to rest - something that seems to come much more naturally to others. I had to give myself permission to lay down all that caused me so much anxiety in life. I had to open myself up to the possibilities of missing out the good stuff in order to pursue the urgent stuff. Life will happen - dirt will come - we don't have to always be so focused on what happened and what came as much as we need to be concerned with what God wants us to realize in the moment. 

Rest is a state - not a location. It is a sense - not a fact. It is personal - but it also may be corporate at times. We all need it. We all crave it. The next time you see a group of clouds in the distance - stop - take ten short minutes to just watch them. Do that thing we did as kids and think about what each one resembles. It may seem frivolous at first, but it could just spur some sense of deeper rest you desperately require. If so, find time to explore that 'sense' of need and get that desperately needed rest for your spirit, mind, emotions, or relationship that beckons to be found. The enemy to rest is worry - the solution to the 'dirty problem' you worry so much about might just be found in the rest. Just sayin!

We need sanctuary

And me? I’m singing your prowess, shouting at dawn your largesse, for you’ve been a safe place for me, a good place to hide. Strong God, I’m watching you do it, I can always count on you— God, my dependable love. (Psalm 59:16)

A safe place - do you have one? I have a safe place where I can be me, unwind in the way I enjoy, and just get downright comfy in my space. It is called home. I also have a safe place spiritually where I can be myself, unwind in the way I enjoy, while being quite comfortable in that 'space' - it is called God's presence. I am privileged to have two 'sanctuaries' of sorts - one quite physical, the other spiritual. Both bring evenness or balance to my emotions, rest to my body, and peace to my mind. Although both can give me a certain sense of 'sanctuary', the only place of true sanctuary is in Christ Jesus - in the presence of God. While some view a place of sanctuary as a place of communion with God, others see it as a place of 'protection', 'shelter', or 'refuge'. They may not have that 'safe place' in the physical sense where they are able to escape to when they need to, but they will always have this 'safe place' of sanctuary in God's presence no matter what their outward circumstances may be in the physical realm. 

Do you know where your greatest sanctuary really is? It is your heart. Did you ever wonder why God focuses on the heart so much in scripture? He knows it is where we commune with him and where it is we 'understand' or 'interpret' life. The heart is made up of mind, will, and emotions. When the 'sanctuary' of our mind is whole, undivided, and without chaos, we see things clearly. As the mind is uncluttered, the will knows what to do and how to respond. The emotions are settled, focused by the mind, and balance is maintained. When the heart is under  attack from things that seek to bring disturbance or chaos, the balance is upset. We commune with God in the heart - bringing mind, will, and emotions into perfect rest and order. No wonder Satan does so much to disturb our thoughts, influence our emotions, and sway our will! He knows the power of us understanding and living within the sanctuary of God's presence and peace.

We looked at being life-long learners yesterday - disciples of Christ. Consider this - a disciple is only possible when there is a teacher. We have lots of 'teaching choices' in life, don't we? We can embrace all manner of 'culturally relevant thought processes' or we can remain true to the ones proclaimed over and over throughout scripture. How do we sort out what really matters most in all these invading thoughts? It is in the sanctuary of our hearts. If God reigns in that sanctuary, the ones that should be embraced, believed, and lived will become clear, while those that will lead us astray will begin to be called out so they can be discarded. We need 'sanctuary' in God's presence - it is not optional. We find and enter into 'order' there. Just sayin!

Just rest

You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me. I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence. (Psalm 119:114)

Whenever we declare God to be our 'place', we are saying we are 'positioned' within him. We are not just in the region of him, but we are in close intimate contact with him. When I ask you over to my 'place', do you go to my neighbor's and declare you are 'at my place'? No, you come right up to my front door, ring the bell, or come right in because I have opened the door for you. We are 'placed into' Christ's presence and it is there we are to dwell as a quiet place of retreat from all this world demands of us.

I enjoy a quiet afternoon just kicking back and doing nothing from time to time. Why? It renews me a bit. It creates a calm within my life and it helps me unburden from the stuff that normally puts a weight upon my shoulders. Laundry done, floors vacuumed, bathrooms scrubbed, and trash in the bins - I kick back. I might listen to music, or catch up on a movie or two. Whatever it is I choose to do in 'my place' of quiet retreat, it is meant to renew me. Think of God's presence of such a retreat - a place of constant and much needed renewal.

Does renewal happen automatically just because we are in 'the right place'? I think we might expect it to, but there are times when the renewal process occurs in being open to discovery. Discovery means we are in a frame of mind to experience something new - what better thing to renew us than the Word of God. I know there is nothing 'new' in this good book we call the Bible, but I have never been disappointed in what is discovered within the pages as I begin to explore it with an open mind and heart. Being in the right 'place' with God means we are also going to receive from him what it is we need the most - truth that exposes any element of misguided trust in our lives.

His presence does more than renew - it regenerates so much that there is a new vigor produced. An excitement is created where truth is revealed - where the presence of God speaks into our lives. That 'thrill' of receiving his truth should truly leave us speechless with reverence. Too many times we get a little touch of his grace and a little insight into his truth and we go off without really relishing it as we should. Come into his place - get up close and personal with him. Then just relax there until his Word renews, regenerates, and reinvigorates your soul. Just restin!

Whew, I am tuckered!

I am not a 'runner' like some are - simply because my knees cannot take that stress. I do enjoy a good brisk walk, though. In a spiritual sense, we all 'run' a race, so to speak - just as in the natural sense of running, we need to learn the spiritual principles that help us to run so as not to hurt ourselves. Some of us will run in a direction all of our own choosing, but when we do, we run alone. As a believer in Christ, we run in a race alongside the greatest runner of all times - Christ himself. If having his example (pace-setting) before us is not enough, he left us with a huge crowd of "models" who also ran the race and won. We can learn much by considering how they ran.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG)

Strip down! In the military, we learned to run in combat boots, full fatigue uniform, and sometimes even with our packs on our backs. If you have ever tried to run any distance in combat boots, you know this is not an easy feat. They are just not built for running! Let alone carrying a pack and in a uniform not intended to keep us from sweating!  It is amazing to consider just how much "stuff" we want to carry into the spiritual race we run each and every day. We have burdens we just don't want to let go of because we are too stubborn or think we somehow 'deserve' those burdens - serving only to weigh us down. We have covered up our sins with ill-fitting facades that don't let us 'breathe' at all - adding extra weight and discomfort all around. We are to have our feet shod with the gospel of peace - - yet we plod along in "combat boots" of our own doing! We hold onto anger and bitterness as though they were attached to our very soles (actually they are attached to our "souls"). The instruction to us is quite simple, but oh so hard to do: STRIP DOWN!

Start running! No race is ever won until we actually begin running, but a runner will likely tell you there is advantages in building endurance in walking first! I have been both the observer on the sidelines and the runner in the race. I no longer can run in the natural sense due to the damage my knee has suffered over the years, but I can still cheer on those who do. In some senses, I miss the ability to run (at least with any grace and semblance of knowing that I know what I am doing). There was something in the adrenaline rush of running alongside others -- pushing beyond your perceived capacity to run any longer until you got that second burst of energy that helped you go just a little bit further and push a little bit harder. You don't get the energy until you run! Have you ever seen a runner out at 2:30 in the morning? I have. Why are they out there at that hour? Their body craves the run. I wonder how much we actually crave the run in the spiritual sense? We likely barely crave the walk, much less the run!

Keep your eyes on the finish line! If you run, there must be a destination in mind - you cannot just head out into the wild and run - you have to plan for pitstops and places of rest. If you just set off running without a goal in mind, you might not ever make it home. I think of the character from "Forrest Gump" played by Tom Hanks. In the movie, he sets out one day to "run". He has no destination in mind -- he just runs without really considering his starting point or his end point. When he gets to the opposite coastline, he stops, turns around, and runs again. He does this several times until one day, he just stops. He is finished running. This is similar to us running without a goal in mind. We set out, run a long time, then just stop. We really don't have much to show for our running, but we can say we "ran". How much better would it be to have run a race in which the goal was clearly in mind?

Study how Jesus ran! A good runner studies how others endure the race. He looks at how they pace themselves, where they rest, when they take nourishment -- how they have run stands as an example for us to follow. Imagine learning how Jesus "paced" himself. You don't see him arriving on the scene (earth), taking over local governments, clearing the temples of all sinful characters, and announcing "I am God", do you? He allows himself to be "paced" by the one who knows how the race should be run (his Father). He had dedicated times of rest and solitude. He took nourishment (both natural and spiritual) because without it, he'd not be able to continue on. Why do we attempt to run any differently?
You will get weary! Running fatigues the one running. What we do with the weariness determines if we will end the race well! Do we rest a while, regrouping our spiritual strength, renewing our stamina to run hard again, or do we just give up?

If we allow weariness to keep us from running hard again, the race beats us! God warns us of the weariness which will come upon even the best runner. His advice to us -- review the race from the viewpoint of the winner! That will shoot adrenaline deep into your soul indeed! So, are you running today? Have you stripped down? Is your goal clearly defined, or does it need some refining? Who are you holding out in front of you as a "pace-setter" in this race? Are you finding yourself weary? Maybe it is time to refocus, renew, and re-engage in the race. See you on the "track", my friends! Just sayin!

The dreaded 'recliner coma'

Do you ever have a hard time staying awake when you finally kick back in that recliner or favorite spot on the couch? It is like some mystical thing happens while you are watching TV or reading your book. Slowly, but ever so slowly, your eyes get heavier and heavier, until there is no resisting the urge to just close them for what you believe will be 'just a moment'. Then...without notice...you are snoozing away! The worst part about it is that it is only 6:30 p.m.! The sun has just set behind the hillside and the darkness has crept in - and somehow your body interprets that as it is time for a little slumber! If I happen to drift into one of these 'recliner comas' at that hour of the night, I am usually not able to get to sleep at my regular bedtime because my body will have found rest and 'recovery' after about 30 minutes! As hard as it may be to get up from the recliner and take a few laps around the house, it is what helps me to maintain alertness and to avoid the dreaded early evening 'recliner coma'. 

Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour. Stand up against him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being laid upon your brothers and sisters throughout the world. (I Peter 5:8-9) 

I used to think it was just 'old people' who suffered from the attack of the 'recliner coma', but I have come to realize it affects my younger children, so I am reassured that it is not an 'old people' thing! All kidding aside, there is a danger in allowing 'slumber' to come into our lives where alertness is really required. The more we fight 'slumber' from the place of 'rest', the harder it is to resist, isn't it? That is why I have to get out of the chair and walk a few paths around the house. I am forcing myself out of the place of 'rest' so that I can again make my body alert. There are times I think God is asking us to rise up out of our places of rest in order to again regain a full and consistent alertness about us in our spiritual lives. We could try to regain our alertness from our place of rest, but it isn't always possible until we 'rise up' and take the steps necessary to get the juices flowing again!

Do you know what happens when I don't maintain my spiritual alertness? I give into temptations, finding it a whole lot easier to compromise than to resist. As important as rest is to our bodies, it is equally as important to our spirit. But...God never intended for his kids to just 'rest' - we are called to do battle and battle requires us to be alert - on the watch - paying close attention - free and ready to move as movement may be required. I have an electric recliner, so to get up from it requires me to be patient while the footrest returns to the retracted position. If you need to respond quickly to something, you almost have to hurl yourself over the end of the footrest - not making for very solid footing as you move into action. Maybe there is a lesson there - in our ease and rest we don't always have the quickness to respond with the steadiest of 'standing' to life's 'urgent needs'. 

I don't think it is by accident that God reminds us to stay alert and to be on the watch. On occasion, we need to stand, take a few laps, get our bearings and footing solid beneath us, and then refocus our 'guard'. It is okay to enjoy the rest God brings into our life, but it isn't the best place to resist temptation. Resistance is by definition a place of opposition - we are withstanding some force moving against us. There will always be opposition in life - it is the nature of living on this earth. We don't resist by remaining at rest, though. We resist by allowing the energies within us to come to life - providing the force moving against us some form of opposition to that movement. As important as rest is, resistance is equally as important. Just sayin!

It is fine - rest for a while

Life comes at us hard and it comes fast. The journey gets a little rough - too hard to handle alone. We get fatigued - worn out by the constant pressures and worries. Sometimes we just need a break because the battle has been long and hard - that moment of solitude when we just sit back and let the worries of the battle pass from us. Notice, I did not say we let the battle pass us by, but rather we 'regroup' and 'repair' for what is next to come. Regardless of the reason for needing to be "carried", there are times when we just cannot go it alone.There are times in life when we just need a little "carrying". I find encouragement in this passage today. The "unchanging" GOD is ALL strength for his people, AMPLE refuge for his chosen, SAVIOR of his people, and the one who BLESSES his heritage. In him, we find CARE and the open, welcoming arms to be CARRIED for a while. The one who's promises to us never fail - he has us in his care. The one who is consistent today and tomorrow will be the one to bring us through the battles of both today and will not be caught off-guard by the battles of tomorrow.

God is all strength for his people, ample refuge for his chosen leader; save your people and bless your heritage. Care for them; carry them like a good shepherd. (Psalm 28:8-9 MSG)

He is the GOD of ALL strength. At best, I have quite limited strength and it is getting more limited as I age. My strength is based on my general health and body conditioning. It is consistent with the amount of rest my body gets (for in rest, my body finds restoration). It is dependent upon what I put into my body (only being built up to the degree I give it the good stuff it needs). It is dependent upon my position - I am stronger standing up than I am laying down. It is dependent upon my 'use' of various body parts (only becoming stronger as I use the muscles I have been given). God's strength is unlimited. He is not bound by the things which limit us - in fact, he is able to give "boundless" strength to those who ask. As with my physical body, the amount of "rest" I engage in spiritually determines my spiritual strength. So does what I "put into" my mind and allow to affect my emotions. In looking at the position I assume spiritually, I can evaluate the degree of "strength" I will have to endure the battle. The more I use what I have been given, the stronger I become for the battle. The closer I am to the arms of Jesus - the "stronger" I am for the battle.

He is the GOD of AMPLE refuge. If you understand the meaning of ample to be "more than sufficient for your needs", then you understand the "ample-ness" of God. No need exists for which he has not already made provision! Did you get that? NO NEED exists for which he has not ALREADY made full and total provision. Things don't catch God off-guard. Our need is known to him far in advance of us ever realizing it in our lives - and he has already set out to be "more than sufficient for the need". He is the GOD who SAVES us. Some of us struggle with this one because we don't see any need for "saving". We think we are pretty okay on our own. We don't see ourselves as sinners - so we don't see ourselves as in need of a Savior. In the simplest sense, a savior is one who rescues. There is not one individual on this earth who goes through life without one moment or another in which they will require some form of rescue! In the most literal sense, we will always need someone to be "on-guard" to come to our rescue when we realize the need for rescue. A lifeguard at the pool of an Olympic event might seem like they are there for looks - because everyone swims so well. No one can be assured they will ALWAYS and consistently be able to "rescue" themselves when they get into trouble. Hence, the purpose of the lifeguard. He's there when the need arises. In the spiritual sense, we have one who stands guard continuously to be there when we finally recognize we have a genuine need for a Savior.

He is the GOD who BLESSES his heritage. Do you know what a heritage is? It is something that comes to a person because of birth. It is something that has been "reserved" for the one who will receive it. WE are God's heritage - the idea is of us being "reserved" for his pleasure. In turn, we receive a heritage of our own - by being "born into" his family. A heritage "reserved" specifically for us - as his kids! No one is without family if they are part of the family of God and no one is without a heritage - both to enjoy today and to pass on to others. He is the GOD who CARES for us. He is watchful over us - even when we don't feel we need anyone to watch over us! As a teenager, I remember wanting my independence. Then I grew up a little, realized I did not like being alone and on my own so much as I thought I'd like it. I married, finding some sense of peace no longer being "independent" anymore. Soon, children were added to the relationship, and my independence was indeed a thing of the past. In all these transitions, I struggled with the literal "sense" of dependence vs. independence - trying to figure out who was in charge, who controlled the activities of life. In a spiritual sense, I think we also struggle with the "transitions" we make in life. We have to determine if we will yield our independence for the safety of dependence upon one who is more reliable than us in determining the course of our "transitions". There is something quite "restful" about being "cared for"!

He is the GOD who CARRIES us. Most of us don't admit it, but we need to be carried once in a while. We wear out! We get tired! We bog down in the mully-grubs. What happens to one of the shepherd's flock when they get tired? They begin to lag behind, don't they? This places them in danger because stragglers are easy pickings for the ones who would want to prey upon them. So, the shepherd is always watching for the stragglers - not to focus on the fact they are "behind" the others - but to pick us up for a while, carrying us high above the rest until we can again keep up! When we are carried, it is across his shoulders, secure in his care. We rise above the circumstances that only served to tire us out in the first place until we are strong enough to once again join in! There are times we need to be carried - in those times, we just need to allow him to do his part. Just sayin!

Be at peace

So many today are exhibiting some 'social behavior' that is contrary to what I'd have to call 'trust'. Look at the shelves in your local grocer and you will find it is almost impossible to buy even the 'thin and cheap' kind of toilet paper! The hoarding of toilet paper is very real thing - if you don't believe me, look on Amazon right now to see how many brands are sold out with a 30 day 'expected delivery' date on them! The panic is real - somehow making it impossible to purchase basic necessities - but creating havoc for those who might actually have trusted there would be cold medicine on the shelf when they awoke feeling a little punk this morning! Workplaces are shutting down, meetings are being cancelled, and you know there must be significant panic if the national and professional sporting events all cancel their season! God has a message for those who are panic-driven: "Be still, listen, and trust in me. I am your shield, your protector, and your provision."

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. Romans 8:28

The virus is real. The illness can and has claimed lives (so has cancer, car accidents, faulty wiring, and overeating). There are 'right' and 'wrong' things we can, and certainly must do to reduce the likelihood of the spread. Panic is not one of those things! Panic buying is not one, either. You don't need to steal the hand sanitizer out of hospital lobbies, nor do you need to grab fistfuls of face masks from their dispensers. What you likely need to do more of is use good old soap and water to wash your hands, cover your sneezes and coughs, and be diligent to stay home if you are ill yourself. Reason should not go out the door just because a new strain of the flu manifests! God didn't stop being God just because a new virus emerges! You and I did not stop being under his protection just because the Governor, President, or world leader declared a 'state of emergency'.

Do you know what panic does? It causes us to limit our perspective - giving us a form of 'tunnel vision'. We only see what we focus on the most - we only trust what we focus on the most, too! Focus on God and panic isn't a very practical response to life's difficulties or uncertainties. Focus on the uncertainty and your mind can get carried away in all kinds of imaginary scenarios of 'what if's'. The more we panic, the less we listen. The greater our inability to listen well, the more we allow the scenario of fear to continue. Whether it is a virus we fear, or the loss of a job, relationship, or financial well-being, God wants us to remember the way out of fear is also the way into trust. If we focus on his Word, his presence, and his will, we find we enter into his peace. Remember - panic is an 'unreasoning terror' that we feel. Reason leaves us and is replaced with all manner of emotional upheaval. This is not the way God wants his kids to live - be at peace my friends. Just resting in him!

Not chiseled in stone

Back in caveman days, the hammer and chisel were employed to record specific details that may have needed recording for others to see. The stone would be carved out, or perhaps a large section of fallen tree. The use of such rudimentary tools to communicate are a thing of the past. In today's electronic age, we seldom resort to "snail mail" as a means of keeping in touch with others in our lives, much less the use of hammer and chisel on stone. It is the "immediacy" of email and instant messaging which makes it all the more appealing to us - the ability to 'get the message out' to the intended audience in record speed draws us in. In the past, the "news" we'd share about changes in our lives would come via the postal service, arriving to the recipient days after the "news" was indeed "news". In the military, we had mail call. It was a time when we'd all gather around in hopes of one link to home in the form of a small envelope filled with "news" and maybe even a little token of love. In turn, our loved ones would hurry to the mailbox when they'd see the familiar mailman's truck passing by, hoping from news from their loved one stationed so far away. We all want to know the "news" of another's life - but we forget just how this 'news' is really recorded.

Does it sound like we're patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we're not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you or from you. You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it. (2 Corinthians 3:1-3 MSG)

We are all "writing letters" of a different sort - the letter written on a human heart touched by the hand of a forgiving and loving God. These are letters which are "read" by many, oftentimes without us even knowing we are 'being read'. The "news" of a changed life is indeed something to be heralded. I want to challenge us for a moment. Let me pose a couple of thoughts about what is perhaps being "written" in our hearts today - news we may not even realize is being recorded there. "News" is the report of something recent - a new event or occurrence. What can you point to in your life today which reflects the hand of God writing on your heart something which is new or fresh? If you are having a little difficulty with this one, then maybe it is time to seek him out - taking some time to allow his touch to be felt almost always assures us of seeing the evidence of his "writing" in our lives.

It may not be understood, but "news" is usually a collection of things - not just one point or idea. In order to "frame" the "news", one has to "tell the story" - from various angles and vantage points. When God sets out to write his story in us, he "frames" the story. There is something about God's writing that points others to see the trail grace has made as it traces over our souls. In the reviewing of the various "points", one begins to see a clear picture of who and what God has done in our lives - drawing them in to have God do similar things in theirs. "News" is something written and expressed - it is not "news" if it is kept to oneself. It is simply "new" knowledge if we keep it to ourselves. God's purpose for "writing" on our hearts is so others can see and enjoy the story. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that he did not need all kinds of letters of endorsement from others - his greatest letter of endorsement was his changed life. Our lives are evidence of God's "re-creative" power. They are "news" worthy of expression. So, really there are various forms of "mail" we read in life - the instant electronic type, the snail mail type, and the ever-present "mail" of a life touched by his hand. Others are "reading" us each and everyday. I wonder what "news" they will see today by looking upon my life? How about yours - what "news" will you reveal to others today? Just askin!

Tossing and Turning

Restless nights, busy days, more restless nights - does this describe any of our lifestyles? I know I can run so hard that I am exhausted at the end of the day, only to be too tired to actually get a good night's rest. My body yearns for a little rest, but my mind just won't shut down. I toss and turn - hoping to drift into a restful slumber - but realizing it evades me more than I thought it would. There are all kinds of definitions for 'being tired', but not all of them end with us getting the rest we actually desperately need. 

Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.” (Matthew 11:28 TLB)

Weariness of soul really has no other resting place until we are willing to let go of the burdens we feel we must bear alone. It was George Bernard Shaw who told us, "People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them." We must willingly put down what we are carrying - God doesn't force it out of our hands. This is where we most often fail - we just cannot let go. Why do we hold on so tightly to what gives us so much pain, anxiety, or weariness of soul? I think it is perhaps because we have become so 'used to it' that we cannot imagine life without it!

Some have no trouble letting go - either because they are so 'over' carrying it all alone, or perhaps they realize God means what he says when he says he will take us out from under what we cannot possibly bear up under any longer. Is it that they have 'super-faith'? Their faith is not likely to be much different from our own, but they are just willing to let go of the burden. Maybe they have had enough of it, or they just want to finally understand rest. Perhaps they are hoping for some other burden more easily born. It all starts with the obedient step of laying down what we were never meant to carry.

I wonder if God's 'yoke' fits so perfectly because he is right there teaching us how to live within the confines of the yoke? Maybe we have tried so hard to live within the confines of our own yoke for so long we cannot imagine a life of boundaries as very liberating. It can be when the boundaries come with the instruction for both how to live within them and why it is important to do so! We might not see another 'yoke' of any sort as very promising, but let me remind you there is no other who will be as gentle and loving in his care over our lives. His 'yoke' only produces rest - the rest we so desperately long for in the first place. Just sayin!

Circling the drain?

I have some friends who are cool, calm, and relaxed no matter what comes their way. I have others who seem to get more and more frazzled by each mounting stress in their lives, until they are 'spinning' in absolute frenzy. We all have times when our days just seem to spin out of control. It is not an easy thing for many of us - we don't like to have the control of our days in the hands of anyone else! Whenever control shifts, we feel "out of control" - anxiety creeps in, frustration mingles with our anxious thoughts, until we end up on the edge of wanting to just scream, "Give me back the reigns, fool!" Okay, if this has never described your day, don't read on! If it has...maybe you'd benefit as much as I do from pondering the words of the 23rd Psalm.

God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (Psalm 23:1-3)

The 23rd Psalm - most of us associate the 23rd Psalm with a portion of scripture frequently read at funerals - it is probably the one most commonly read at the graveside. So, why am I directing our attention to a psalm about "death" or "graveside" testimony today? Well, the very first three words say it all! "GOD, my shepherd." GOD - you may remember as I have taught before of the meaning of these names of God in our Bibles written in all caps. LORD and GOD both stand for the name Jehovah, the name Israel knew referenced God Most High. In the simplest meaning, it is translated, as "The unchanging one". In fact, whenever we see the name GOD or LORD in scripture (in all caps), we can count on the passage speaking something of his being totally unchangeable in his promises, permanent in every way, and becoming all we have need of in that very moment. In fact, it is his intense compassion as a loving and unchanging God which moves him into action within our lives. This should be something that helps us find comfort when our world seems to be 'spinning'.

As this psalm opens, it starts with what we all have need of in our lives when things seem to be spinning out of control - a shepherd to watch over, guide, and protect us from any and all harm! When things are spinning out of control - we need not only wise guidance, but we certainly need protection from what others can do to us and what we can do to ourselves. As our psalmist says - "I don't need a thing". We stand in need of so much...but when we recognize the Shepherd of our souls is in control...we can confidently say, "I don't need a thing". Did you really catch that one? When WE stand in need, things in chaos around us, we don't NEED a thing - not one thing! All we NEED is found in Jesus! As if being in control is the aim, the next part of the passage settles this little misconception. It is God who "beds us down" - puts us to rest. I don't know about you, but as a mother, whenever I managed to rein-in the kiddos, get them all washed up and ready for bed, those first moments of peaceful sleep I'd observe as I looked in on them before I called it at night absolutely melted my heart. Those peaceful little ones, all innocent in their rest, just took away my breath. I imagine this is a little of what God feels whenever he finally gets us to settle into his rest!

He provides lush meadows - because we don't know our lack of comfort until we experience it as he provides it. He gives quiet pools to drink from - simply because we don't know how parched life leaves us until we drink deeply from something so satisfying. Spinning out of control takes its toll on our physical bodies, but also on our spiritual reserves. No one appreciates comfort until the pain gets too great to handle. We don't appreciate a cool drink until we experience thirst. I guess pain and thirst are really early warning signs of needing to look for the Shepherd in the midst of our 'spinning'! Don't forget the purpose of the rest and the refreshing - it is in order to catch our breath so we can "live to fight another day". But...we fight from a new vantage point when we find our rest in God alone! As we let God take us into his rest, we learn from the master planner of our lives - the one who knows the ins and outs of the chaos we face. The next step we take is one with him in control. It is in yielding control where we find the best "control" we could ever bring into our circumstances. Spinning? Maybe it is time for a little rest. Just sayin!

Overdue?

If it has been a long while since you have been able to get away on vacation or to a quiet spot on a beach, high in the mountains, or just alone by a pool somewhere, then you know there is nothing more renewing than a little retreat. I used to think of times of retreat as something along the line of a "forced withdrawal". I really just did not enjoy time away from what I was doing everyday. Some would have called me a little too retentive to let things go and let others take the reins for a while so I could enjoy time away. I have come to recognize that "retreat" is sometimes the most strategic thing you can do!

You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me. (Psalm 119:114)

The very act of withdrawing into a place of quiet and safety is often the best move we make - even when we know there are a whole lot of other 'movements' that need to be made. That very movement into a place of what appears to be a lack of movement is actually bringing us to a place of refuge. Within that refuge, there is privacy for the planning of the next movements we will make and for the clarity that can come when movement ceases for a while and we can just stand back and look. The opposite of retreat is advancement. There are very specific times when we need to pull away, step back, and allow God to change our focus long enough to impact our plans for the next steps we take. Advancement may not be possible until we have had a moment of retreat!

We might find we have a tendency to make others our place of retreat. When things aren't going as we'd like, we sometimes find ourselves gravitating to the comfort of sounding off to another individual. There is nothing wrong with having a trusted friend. Yet, there are times when the best person to hear about"our issues is not our trusted friend, but God himself. We have to guard against using our trusted friends to be what God deserves to be in our lives. If we really desire the clarity for our next move, God will use our friends to help us by giving us the confirmation of what he gives us when we seek him first. Be careful, though, because we have a tendency to make God operate on our schedule and that may not be his schedule for the issue. The fact is, times of retreat may be necessary long before we feel we are ready for them. We often don't realize how "ready" we were for the benefits of retreat until we have enjoyed the blessing of that time away from what it is that had us all wound up so tight in the first place!

We often don't understand the joy of quiet until we have stepped away from the chaos of the daily battles. In the midst of the fray, we seldom realize that we have no real sense of peace. I am not just referring to the absence of noise, but the real sense of inner assurance that comes from knowing that what you are engaged in is exactly as it should be, in the exactly correct timing, and with the exactly correct steps being taken. In the times of retreat, there is often a "re-ordering" of our steps. Until we enjoy the quiet place, we pretty much won't see with clarity the next steps we need to take. We have a hard time with the waiting part of retreat. Just as soldiers pull back into periods of planned retreat, we need to do the same. In the retreat or pulling back, time is given for healing, fortification, and just enjoying each other a little. To be at our best, there are times when "waiting" is the best "action" we can take!

Not sure where you find yourself today, but if you have been hitting it hard, you may be ready for a little retreat from the chaos of your circumstances. The fact remains, no one can run at full speed forever - we all need times of retreat. It may take some doing, some adjusting of your priorities, but you will find the benefits of retreat far outweigh the constant plugging away under the pressures of your day. I don't believe "retreat" times always need to be extended weekends away from home in some cabin on the mountain top, long vacations away from phones and emails, or periods of sabbaticals from your professional pursuits. I do believe they need to be frequent, dedicated times of rest. Times when God is able to renew us at the very center of our being. Wherever, and however that is accomplished in your life - do it! You don't realize the benefit of retreat until you have taken the opportunity to experience it! Just sayin!

Keep him as your closest friend

Have you ever awakened from sleep only to feel a little MORE tired than when you went to bed? Just because you 'slept' doesn't always mean you 'rested', does it? Sometimes our sleep is restless, because of the burdens we bear or the interruptions in life that seem to interfere with that 'rest'. For some of us, it is the company we have been keeping that keeps us from resting more than anything else. Maybe that company is us! It doesn't have to always be anyone else - we can be our own worst company at times! No one knows the Father unless they know the Son - keep company with him and you will get to know God. That is the basis of Jesus' teaching - know me, the Son of God, and you will know the one who sent me, my Father God. Why is this important? Jesus tells us that no one really knows the Father like the Son does. Our kids know us so well - it stands to reason Jesus would know his Father very well, too! Since he knows what impedes our rest, isn't it wise to learn to keep company with the one who knows who stands in the way of us really being 'at peace' and at 'rest' in our lives?

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Three questions are posed for us to consider - questions that help us to realize what close union with him produces. 1) Are you tired? Tiredness comes from exertion - sometimes it even comes from over-exertion. He is asking if we are exhausted by all the self-effort we have been putting into "being righteous". If we are truly tired, we will desire rest. 2) Are you worn out? When we run for so long, we become depleted of energy. As our energy wanes, we soon lack enthusiasm in what it is that we are doing. He is asking if we are tired of just doing things by the books, doing them from memory with no real heart behind it. The energy behind our work is often directly linked to where our heart finds rest. If there is no rest in our heart, there will be very little energy in our work. 3) Are you burned out on religion? That which is burned out is usually totally consumed - there is no effectiveness in what it is we are doing any longer. He is asking if we are tired of living ineffective lives. Tough questions, but if we answer them honestly, we are likely on the verge of finding the solution we need!

We can probably associate will all three of these questions at one point or another! Exhausted by our efforts to be righteous, lacking enthusiasm because all we do is sucking us dry, and totally ineffective in our testimony, as a result. The answer to these three questions: 1) Come to me. Plain and simple - go to the source of energy, to the supply of sufficiency. Stop wallowing around in your own efforts to be righteous and take up new company - company with Jesus. 2) Get away with me and you will recover your life. He is offering us the ability to bring balance back to our lives once again. Balance is not found in the "doing", but in the "being". When we are content to just "be" with Jesus, we find our greatest balance. 3) Walk with me and work with me. Jesus does not present the life of laying around in a field of wildflowers, just consuming the air and taking in the beauty. These are action words - walk with him and work with him. Walk suggests "keeping current" with Jesus - keeping pace with him. When we "walk with" someone through life, we are involved with them daily, moment-by-moment. Work suggests that "keeping current" involves us being right there with him in the day-to-day activities he engages in (reaching out to the rejected of the world).

Jesus concludes that we "learn the unforced rhythms of grace". The UNFORCED rhythms of GRACE. Grace is not earned - it is given freely - nor is it forced. Grace is not crammed down your throat - it is extended willingly for the taking and enjoyment. The idea is that we come to a place where the 'grace-filled' company we keep brings us to a place where we come out of the FORCED rhythms of religious pursuits and into the UNFORCED rhythms of his unmerited grace and favor. The final invitation he extends - keep company with me. He invites us to make him our "usual" companion in life. We all favor certain individuals in our daily life - walking closer to some than others. He asks that we keep him as the closest! Just sayin!

True to your word....

There aren't too many of us who can honestly report we are 'true to our word' all the time. We might intend to live with integrity and not make empty promises, but truth be told, we all struggle with saying things we will eventually forget or not find significant enough to focus our energies on any longer. The commitment may have been made, but that promise kind of takes the backseat when something more 'urgent' comes along. It is a good thing God doesn't get distracted by the 'urgent' and forget his promises toward us! His word is true and consistent - not moved by the distractions of life. One of the most significant ways he keeps his word is when he gives us space to just breathe a little in life. Space to catch our breath comes in many forms, even when we find the going is tough and the way seems to be riddled with all manner of things trying to get us down or off course.

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (Psalm 23:1-3 MSG)

God's delight is to lead us straight into those places where we can 'bed down' and recover. We all need 'recovery time' in life. Not all of life is going to go as we had planned, nor as we would even imagine. Sometimes life will send us a curve ball and we will not see it coming. We cannot plan for all the inevitabilities in life. The moment we think we can, that is the moment we most need to come away and just enter into that place of rest and 're-centering' - because we have lost sight of who is actually to be in control of our lives! God gives us time to catch our breath, not to hinder our progress in life, but to ensure we have what we will need in order to continue to make progress. 

Want to be in a place where you honestly find yourself saying you don't need a thing? What a place that would be, huh? To be in a place of contentment so deep that you cannot even think of one more thing you need! That place is in his presence. When we finally stop long enough, get quiet enough, and just begin to enter into that rest he has prepared for us, we find ourselves not looking at what we can gain, gather, create, etc. We find ourselves just easing into the enjoyment of being enveloped by his presence and love. We find the waves of grace bring renewal - the strokes of love's gentle hand begin to heal us.

Not all is known, but somehow it doesn't matter when we enter into that place of rest he has prepared. We stop 'mulling' those thoughts that have haunted us and we just turn our eyes fully into his. There we find his heart ministering to the complexity of anguish our minds manage to create. The Lord's wisdom becomes known and we walk away with our anguish lifted. Truly there is no other place where we can find rest for our bodies, renewal for our spirits, and regeneration of our minds. Why resist such a place - why resist his love? Never forget this - God is true to his Word. He will give us time to catch our breath, but we need to enter into that place he has prepared for that rest! Just sayin!

Out of THIS you will bring WHAT?

Times come when we might just feel like things are spinning a little out of control - or at least out of our control. Those times can be disconcerting and might just send us into a tailspin if we don't maintain the right focus. There are always moments in each day when I cry out a short prayer to Jesus just because things seem to be creeping in that are capable of disturbing the control which has been maintained - because I don't want that control to go to anyone else other than him!

Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. (Psalm 5:2-3)

Some days just seek like chaos is created wherever we go. Yet, if we look closely, the very thing that is the same in each of those situations is US. Where we are, there is chaos. True that it may be that God brings good stuff out of chaos, we don't want to be the thing creating that chaos. Some of us feel like all that God is up to in and around us is chaos. King David was no exception. He frequently conversed with God about the "stuff" that just seemed to surround him with all kinds of challenge, busy-work, and unknown outcomes. Every morning you'll hear me at it again! These words reflect his response to the mounting chaos around him.

I honestly believe we might think God gets tired hearing about our lives. After all, how many times does he need to hear that we are frustrated with our pain, or disappointed with the loss of our youthfulness? How many times does he need to listen to the "stories" of our waywardness? How often has he heard the same story of repentance, only to hear us at it again in a short matter of time? The "chaos" just seems to keep coming - and we just seem to keep bringing it before God. Why? Because we can!

Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. Remember we are to come EVERY morning to God. There is to be no fear in our heart that God will get tired of hearing from us or be put off by the continual struggles we have! Lay it all out before God...holding nothing back. That is how a sacrifice was prepared in Old Testament times - it was laid out for all the pieces to be seen. Sometimes, we'd like to hold a little back, but it is in laying it all out that it is available for God to affect.

If that doesn't paint the picture, we need to see that it is in the laying of the pieces on the altar that that we express our hope for the changes we desire to occur. Why is this important? Simply because the altar is the ONLY place we can actually be altered! It is the laying out of our lives that God is able to affect change - to bring order out of what looks like nothing more than chaos! Do it and then wait watchfully for God's fire to descend. This is the hardest part of bringing it to God - waiting watchfully for his move! Nothing is more of a struggle for us than waiting. In the waiting, we want nothing more than to retrieve a few pieces off the altar and tuck them carefully away for "another time". The sacrifice is only consumed if it is whole!

So, if life seems a little like CHAOS right now...don't lose hope! It probably is! In that CHAOS God is at work bringing something beautiful out of it. CHAOS is really Christ Having Authority Over Sin in our lives. CHAOS is really Christ Honoring Abandoned Obedient Service. CHAOS is Christ Healing And Opening Spirits. CHAOS is simply God at work! Embrace it! It has a purpose far greater than you'd ever imagine! Just sayin!

The unforced rhythm of grace

There are lots of invitations that come our way. We get invited to birthday parties, sometimes celebrating huge milestones in one's life. We receive invitations to social events such as the grand opening of an art gallery, new theater production, or movie premiers. We are encouraged to attend small events that honor someone who has done a great job, or larger ones that celebrate their heroic efforts. Invitations some in all shapes and sizes, for small and big events, celebrating great and small achievements. One invitation rises above all the rest - the one that invites us to recover our lives.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28 MSG

I get tired at times, almost 'over-tired', making it harder to get any rest for my weary body and worn out 'thinker'. I have a hard time 'shutting down' when I have been running at break-neck speed all the day long. I have accomplished much, but there is much more I'd like to accomplish, making it hard for me to actually 'turn off' the day. I can honestly say there have also been times when I am just plain 'worn out' and even 'burned out'. The truth is that all of us reach this point from time to time, but it is what we do at those times that matters. If we continue to drive, drive, drive - we wear out - especially when that 'driving' relates to us trying to 'fix ourselves' in some respect. The 'fixing' isn't all that easy sometimes and we are best to leave it to someone who actually knows how to do the fix right!

Jesus makes an invitation to us that we really should consider - walk with him, work with him, and watch how he 'fixes' lives - ours included! There is no better invitation we could receive, but look at the posture we must assume to fully appreciate all that is included in that invitation. The first this is to get away with him if we want to recover our life - we have to accept the invite. Next, we have to actually take steps with him - walk with him. We cannot move toward an invitation without taking action upon that invitation. We need to get up out of the mully-grubs we find ourselves in and just take some steps in the right direction - toward him. When we do, we find we begin to shed some of the stuff that has been weighing us down, keeping us right there in the thick of the mully-grubs!

Then if that is not enough, Jesus reminds us there will be a little 'labor' in the pursuit. We must work with him - we have to do what it is we can do and then he will come alongside to do the rest. I cannot say this enough - it isn't us 'fixing' ourselves - but we all are asked to take certain steps that are within our 'power' or 'ability' to do. One such action might be to reconcile a relationship by taking the first steps toward reconciliation - actually reaching out to the one we have been at odds with. It might not seem like much, but that little step of 'labor' is all he asks to begin to set in motion big things within our lives - big things that lead to restoration and renewal on so many fronts.

As we begin to walk with him and work with him, it will become apparent how the 'unforced rhythms of grace' actually begin to play out in our lives. I like how Jesus describes grace as an 'unforced rhythm' - reminding us that grace is something given freely on his part and it is 'rhythmic' in nature - repeating the paths of renewal until full and total renewal has occurred within each of us. The rhythmic and unforced passage of grace over and over those worn areas of our lives can actually 'put back' more than what was originally lost - sometimes without us even realizing it has! Just sayin!