Invade my space

If I had not found joy in your teachings, my suffering would have destroyed me. I will never forget your commands, because through them you gave me new life. I am yours, so save me! I have done my best to know your instructions. The wicked tried to destroy me, but your rules made me wise. Everything has its limits, except your commands. (Psalm 119:92-96)

The remedy for life's challenges is to lean hard into God's promises and commands - to find direction, solace, and strength within the instruction laid out there. Find joy in God's teachings and you will find the "remedy" which sustains you even when there seems to be no deliverance or end. It is more than memory of scripture (although there is merit to hiding God's Word within our minds). It is more than frequent time in the Word (although we cannot learn from God's Word without the sacrifice of time). It is more than a Bible-reading plan for the year (although it might focus us a little). It is the deep, intimate, act of drawing close to God's heart that gets God's Word into us in such a way it will keep us when life's challenges head our way.

As a mother, I used to enjoy those times when I would sit and read a story to my kids, them drawing up to me close and listening intently. They'd run their toes up and down my back, twist their hair around their fingers, nuzzle their teddy, and run the tiny truck back and forth across the bed. Something happened in those moments of just "connecting" with each other. We found closeness and bonds which cannot be broken because of this connection which occurred often and with regularity. Now I continue this with my grandsons - although we may not read as much anymore, we can talk about the latest welding or leather creation, the other creative ideas they have, and the observance of things they saw that day. In those moments, connection is made - connection which cannot be broken despite the pressures, pulls, and prevailing winds of time.

We don't recognize the importance of just sitting to enjoy God's presence until we haven't had it for a while. We don't miss what we have not realized is missing until we finally "miss it". The adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", is indeed true. To "miss" something, one has to have drawn close and experienced it in the first place! Too many times we have a cursory appreciation of God's grace - but when we experience the depth and breadth of his grace fully - we don't want to ever be separated from the way that makes us feel. God's plan is for us to experience him - so that his words get deep into our being - affecting the depths and crags of our inner man within those places the world has tried so hard to affect with the pressures it brings. The world adds rocks, sand, and even immovable objects in our path - but even with those present, there is room for grace to invade the spaces those things cannot! Grace has no limits - there is no space his grace cannot invade! Just sayin!

His 'opulence'

The lifestyle of good people is like sunlight at dawn that keeps getting brighter until broad daylight. The lifestyle of the wicked is like total darkness, and they will never know what makes them stumble. (Proverbs 4:18-19)

Ball players from major leagues, actors and actresses, and a myriad of other rather insanely rich people have opulent homes and properties that make eyes pop and people dream about what it would be like to live with such luxury. Nothing screams for attention more than the "gaudiness" of trying to "put on the Ritz" like so many do with their 'oversized' homes. Nothing shows the shallowness of life quite like the need to "show" what one has. What we have is one thing, who we are at the core of our being is quite another! What we have may be on "display" for others to admire and drool over; what we display from the recesses of our heart is what really speaks the loudest though!

The closer we draw to Christ, the brighter our lifestyle shines. The evidence of his presence begins to "ooze" out of the recesses of our heart - we cannot contain what he creates within us - it is meant to be shared. It may not be the same "opulence" other display in their homes or leisure pursuits, but it rises above even the most elaborate of those! Our lives are mirror images of what we spend time facing long enough. Turn toward sports frequently as something that consumes your attention and you will find your home begins to reflect this "affection". You will decorate in the team colors, display a few team memorabilia, and even begin to talk stats about team performance. This is just part-and-parcel with being a "fan" or "devotee" to the sport! Think about considering Christ in the same manner. If we are dedicating just as much time to him, we might see a little bit of him reflected back to us in all we say and do!

We sometimes think the more we focus on something the closer we will be to obtaining it in our own lives. So much of what we spend time focusing on is just an elusive object, position, or scheme. The truth of the matter is pretty plain - we focus on the wrong stuff and then wonder why we don't see more of Christ manifest in our lives. Unless we spend time looking into the mirror of his face, we won't see what he sees! Even when we spend just a little time with him each and every day, we become more and more like him because we begin to see reflected back some of his glory and "brightness" in our lives. It is impossible to behold the presence of God and not be affected by it! In much the same way as "big dreamers" are affected by what they see others 'have', we can be affected by time with Jesus. Many think it has to be dedicated time on our knees, long hours in church, and the like. I am here to challenge that a little bit today.

It isn't the "quantity" of time - it is the quality. Do we spend enough time in the Word? To answer that I would have to ask you if the Word is having an effect on you, regardless of whether you read a verse or two, or an entire chapter. The quantity isn't the issue - it is the quality. Do we spend time in prayer in the "right" way? I am not a "kneeler", so I pray on my feet, sitting in the car on the way to somewhere, and while just sitting reflecting on the beauty at lakeside. Prayer is just talking to God about the regular stuff of life. It isn't always this structured, totally organized methodology. I won't win any points on "organization" as it comes to my prayers. I just let them flow and let God take care of putting "organization" to them. Do we spend enough time with his people? I guess this is up for interpretation for most. There is a balance which must be maintained between it all. The most telling part of walking with Jesus is the evidence of us having walked with him. This is the focus of my life and the hope I have for each of you. When others look upon your "lifestyle", my prayer is that they don't see the "opulence" of the world, but that which comes from having beheld the face of Jesus! Just sayin!