Keep on 'Roaring'

      “He makes the winds His messengers!…” —Psalm 104:4, NIV

JOURNAL ENTRY 1/5/17: Wind gusts this morning are making the house shake. Is it a coincidence that today’s reading is Psalm 8? “O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!” As I keep reading, the wind acts as a soundtrack; it keeps coming in waves, at times almost shouting like a stadium crowd. The pine trees bow and dance, oak branches are applauding wildly, and the poplars are getting so carried away in the goodness of the declaration that some of what was dead and decaying and weighing them down begins to fall to the ground.

Selah.

All of creation seems to be roaring its approval of this grand psalmist declaration. But as I read on, maybe that is not the only reason why…

"When I gaze to the skies and meditate on Your creation—

    on the moon, stars, and all You have made,

I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals—

    sons and daughters of men—

    specks of dust floating about the cosmos.

But You placed the son of man just beneath God

    and honored him like royalty, crowning him with glory and honor…”

(Psalm 8:3-5, The Voice)

O LORD our LORD!...So unparalleled in majesty, yet also consumed with love for mankind—for me, and for the people next door, my family and friends—that He would choose to come down and move into my neighborhood, my home, and occupy quite comfortably in my space, as not only Savior but friend like none other. No wonder the winds roar in joy and amazement! Here is a picture, complete with sound effects and right before my very eyes, of what the furious love of my Father must look like: Not angry furious, but relentless and tireless with Love energy and intensity in His pursuit of the ones He created.

Are there even words for that? Which, may explain the wind...

And as quickly as it began, relative calm. A typical routine winter morning settles in, with lots of clouds and an occasional cold breeze causing the pines to still sway a bit and the hardwoods to maybe snap their fingers instead of going nuts. Is that it? Is that all? Or, maybe another great picture, complete with sound effects right before my very eyes:

When there’s no roaring excitement to get caught up in, no crowds shouting encouragement, follow the lead of the pines and hardwoods—and for that matter, all of Heaven itself—and keep on praising anyway, breathing in and breathing out joy and amazement and wonder...even and especially on those typical routine winter, and spring, and summer, and autumn mornings when there very well might be more clouds than sunshine on your to-do list, in your mood and in your life circumstances. 

Doing the tree-swaying thing is for His glory, for sure, but it's also for our joy and strength, even when ours feels like the only voice. Simply because, as you know already but forget in the stress of the moment and all Creation has just reminded you…

“Let them neglect Thy glory, Lord

Who never knew Thy grace,

But our loud songs shall still record

The wonders of Thy praise!

We raise our shouts, O God, to Thee,

And send them to Thy Throne,

All glory to the united Three

The undivided One!

’Twas He—and we’ll adore His Name—

That formed us by a word;

’Tis He restores our ruined frame—

Salvation to the Lord!”

—Isaac Watts, “Hymn 35” (no known melody)

O LORD, our LORD!....

"I love the intensity of the Psalms. No one ever sounds bored about God or about life." — Matt Redman

'This Is Your Brain on God'...

"To believe a thing is to see the cool crystal water sparkling in the cup. But to meditate on it is to drink of it. Reading gathers the clusters; contemplation squeezes forth their generous juice." (Charles Spurgeon)

My friend Nate out in Michigan is as passionate about filling his mind with good things as he is about helping people live a well-fit life and walking with God as husband, dad, worship leader, and business owner. I know this because in the midst of all of that, Nate has committed to read a book a week (some of which he's designated to take two weeks to get through) pertaining to work, life, and the Walk, and at last count, he was up to 34 in his stack and looking for more.

Nate is hardly a not-do-much, stay-at-home kind of guy. His life is full and active. Making tons of book-reading a priority not only seems over the top, it makes you wonder if Nate knows about an eighth day of the week that we haven't heard of yet. But here's the thing, even while constantly on the move and with tons on his plate, and even while blending the best of modern business inspiration with the perspective of Heaven, Nate seems to be taking this Biblical command to heart uber-seriously:

"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]." (Romans 12:2, Amplified Classic)

Which, thanks to Nate's crazy-cool challenge, is how God graciously grabbed my attention.

Because this verse is not a suggestion or good idea. it would seem that God is serious about His kids renewing their minds not because He wants to irritate us or make our lives more challenging (e.g., one more thing to do) than they already are, but because He knows how good and essential it is for us to live well-fit Christ-one lives while renting space in this world on our way to a Better One. Cultivating mind renewal in a world filled with mind-blowing craziness can greatly influence, in a counter-cultural sort of way, how we think, and respond, and interact with others during the course of our day. And it seems God really wants that reflection we give to be of Heaven-sent goodness and hope, not grumpiness and a critical spirit.

We know things like that really well but don't always do something about it. So, while it's not a stack of 34 and growing like Nate's, what follows is the start of a monthly goal for taking in some mind-renewing goodness from saints and admired authors, many of whom have motivated and even discipled me on this Journey over the years. The goal is simply more quality "this is your brain on God" food in the coming year, to put the phone out of sight and earshot early in the morning, and practically seek to live out Romans 12:2 instead of just applauding it from a distance.

Maybe some of these will encourage you to build your own stack, of any size, be it of print, Kindle or audiobook, and "squeeze forth their generous juice" a few pages at a time for a well-fit life in the year ahead:

1. "The Wisdom of Stability: Rooting Faith in a Mobile Culture," by Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove...Because this might be the most important thing to pursue right now on a day-to-day basis, lest the day overwhelm me with information overload.

2. "The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential," by N.T. Wright...Because Wright is right, because the psalms are entirely practical, raw, and honest, and because there is always a need for a greater glimpse into all 150 of them.

3. "A Praying Life," by Paul Miller...Because it's the most practical book on prayer I've ever read and deserves an annual revisit.

4. "Desire," by John Eldredge...Because the author of "Wild at Heart" and "Waking the Dead" unwraps an essential question: can we find a life filled with passion without being overwhelmed by it?

5. "Heroes," by Iain H. Murray...Because it profiles heroes of the faith who were just regular guys.

6. "Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes," by Kenneth E. Bailey...Because it explodes the goodness of the  Gospels through the lens of the ancient culture and not our American/Western perspective.

7. "Fire and Fragrance," by Sean Feucht and Andy Byrd...Because I've always wanted to know what drives regular guys like worship leader/songwriter Sean Feucht to live such a passionate life.

8. "Delighting in God," by A.W. Tozer....Because a year without Tozer's wisdom is a sad year indeed.

9. "A Spiritual Field Guide: Meditations on the Outdoors," by Bernard Brady and Mark Neuzil...Because here is clearly my sweet spot for physical and spiritual recharging.

10. "Inside Out Worship," by Matt Redman...Because, well, see response to #7.

11. "Dirty Glory: Go Where God's Prayers Take You," by Pete Greig and Bear Grylis...Because Pete is another #7 and has been up front about the fact that he's not very good at praying, and yet God (and wow, Bear Grylis?!)....

12. "The Furious Longing of God," by Brennan Manning...Because God is not angry but His unfailing love for us is wide, wild, and relentless.

And for daily nourishment in 2017, "Spurgeon's Devotional Bible"....Because good books are just good books without the Word and the Person of the Word as the driving force of everything we do, think, and say.

Even if you don't have a stack, are there books (any format) that you'd recommend or are hoping to pursue as part of renewing your mind for this fantastic Great Adventure? If you can, include the all-important "Because....."

A Backyard Revelation

"When God promises, He's not saying, 'I'll try.' He means, 'I can and I will.'" (James MacDonald)

In New England, ringing in the new year can look a lot like yesterday morning: a cold, rushing wind blowing through the ship's bell in the backyard.

Depressing? Hardly. Just hearing that low chime resound [Clang-clang!] as if for the first time brings an imagined aroma of the ocean when the breeze is warm and refreshing. It is the sound of hope for the promise of summer, even when the evidence all around says 'no way!'

Not to rush a new year and life along, but moments frozen in time such as these are a reminder how God can show His creativity (and even sense of humor) in telling us a really important story...like letting us know He is with us, and will be with us, in every season over the next 364 days. Resolutions can be good and goals are great, but in the pursuit of fulfilling those, the clanging ship's bell is a reminder that there will be no greater treasure to pursue, discover, and hold tight to your chest all over again this new year than the unshakable, faithful, good and loving promises of God. 

Especially on those cold days of doubt and discouragement when everything around seems to be unraveling, even in the middle of a sunny, humid New England heatwave.

Better still, it's a reminder that the promises aren't just words, powerful as they are. The promise is a Person, who longs to hang out with us wherever we go...

"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing, through the experience of your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope."(Romans 15:13, Amplified Classic)

For all who come this way today, so be it, Lord. [Clang-clang!]

See Amid the Winter's Snow

From my home to yours: An illustrated 2016 'Vitamin' reflection for remembering God's faithfulness and goodness past, present, and future. The card begins with a "benediction" — a blessing for Christmas Day to you and those you love, and especially for all the days of your new year to come...

"The LORD bless and keep you — protect you, sustain you, and guard you. The LORD make His face shine upon you with favor and be gracious to you — surrounding you with lovingkindness. The LORD lift up His face upon you with Divine approval, and give you peace — a tranquil heart and life."

(Numbers 6:24-26, Amplified)

JANUARY

A benediction is a grown-up word that simply means "to speak well of." It begins with hearing and receiving what God speaks well of us — how much He loves us in spite of our prone to wanderness, and how much He wants us to savor a life that comes from sticking close to Him. (When the End is Just the Beginning, January 17, 2016)

Noone Falls, Peterborough

FEBRUARY

Sometimes, we feel pressured to do something to “help God out” and speed things along—anything but wait. Except waiting on God has little to do with being passive and everything about cultivating a relationship of holy friendship, of every-situation conversation, of trust, of believing even in the face of everything that wants logic and clear-cut answers...and especially of being faithful in the routine rhythms of life. (Living Large in the Routine, February 7, 2016)

                                                                                                                                                  

MARCH

"Reduced speed zones along the journey are My idea, not to tempt you to the sidelines but to recharge your batteries. You have been hand-crafted and hand-gifted by Me for one purpose: My glory and pleasure, for this time in history, in this place.” (Voice of the Image Maker, March 13, 2016)

An early spring flow meets winter's stubborn resistance near the junction of the Contoocook and Nubanusit rivers.

Moody Beach, ME

APRIL

What is this magnetic attraction to see the sun rise over the horizon—a sandy beach, a mountain top, a back yard? It might just be because God has implanted the magnetic attraction of His creation into everyone’s heart, to enjoy for sure, but even more in hopes that what we see around us every day might draw us to the loving heart of God Himself. (Magnetic Attraction, April 24, 2016)

"I have yet to encounter an unfriendly, grumpy hiker. I can't imagine why. — at Pack Monadnock Mountain."

MAY

The next time someone (including the accuser's voice in your own head) tells you to “get your head out of the clouds,” put it right back in. Because, as Jesus modeled, it is Above where perfect power, goodness, friendship, and life have their headquarters, and when we fix our hopes there and get our perspective from there rather than the tangled mess that's right in front of us, all things are possible. (Get Your Head in the Clouds, May 22, 2016)

JUNE

Contentment may be about being satisfied with having just enough of just about anything, but maybe more importantly, it is not about "stuff" but about being satisfied with place and purpose — where we are in actual location, career, relationships, or in station of life at any given time. Because that is where Jesus has us at the moment, and the greatest sense of contentment that I could ever know is that, no matter what, wherever I am, He is already there, and that is enough. (The Stuff that Matters, June 5, 2016)

"Prepare the way for him who rides through the desert on the clouds as on a chariot whose name is the Lord. Rejoice before him. God is in his holy abode. He is a father to orphans and he defends the widows . God gives the lonely a home. He leads prisoners out with joy..." #psalm 68 #alwayslookUp (Old Sharon Road, Peterborough)

JULY

Above all else, everywhere I look, in everything my eyes and senses take in,

I see just what I need to see most, one more time: Your faithfulness.

Even in the silence, it shouts:

‘If I AM faithful in the beauty of creation, know that I am even more faithful in working in and through every situation, and especially My beautiful creation of you.’

Help me never to take such jaw-dropping goodness for granted… (Above and Beyond the Noise, July 17, 2016) 

"Sundown storm clouds part at a strangely-wonderfully still Dublin Lake...except for the sound of dinner guests at a cottage singing the Doxology in harmony. Perfect."

"A great perspective (from a larger work) on what it means to "wait on God" when you generally hate the idea of waiting for just about anything...'Think of waiting for a train. When you wait you may be still, standing or sitting, but you are not passive. You are watching, listening. Your eyes follow the parallel lines of the tracks into the distance looking for the train to come chugging in. You listen for the roar of the engine, the clanking of the cars, and the tones of the train’s whistle. Even as your body rests on the platform your senses are alert and your mind active. This is what it should be like to wait on the Lord too. Sometimes it is stillness, but in the stillness there is alertness and heightened sensitivity.' (Barnabas Piper)

AUGUST

We think paths and highways to the goal line; God is more into steps, one at a time. (The Goal of ‘Now’, August 14, 2016)

SEPTEMBER

Sometimes, being in God's presence is a quiet sense of wonder, like gazing at creation and realizing you don't have to talk yourself out of the possibility that all of this maybe just exploded onto the scene one day eons ago and just so happened to sort itself out in unspeakably beautiful colors, landscapes, and innumerable unique flying, crawling, swimming creatures. (In His Grip, September 11, 2016)

"#happyplace"

OCTOBER

Let this new morning, the smell of the earth

Remind you to dig daily into the rich soil that is the Gospel 

Let your roots go down deep and feed on the nutrients

Of what Jesus said and did

And still says and does (Anthem for Resurrection Day, October 9, 2016)

"It's already a beautiful day. @cunningham03458"

NOVEMBER

It sure would be a lot easier, or so it would seem, if our conversations with God were always direct and to the point, like some sort of supernatural FAQ. But there wouldn't be much faith in that. And faith is strengthened not by microwaved answers to every dilemma but through trusting when the wind is blowing you backwards. (Letters from Heaven, November 13, 2016)

"My vote's with this guy on a beautiful day like today: keep on walking and soak it all in. ... — at Arm's Park Manchester, NH"

DECEMBER

"See, amid the winter's snow,

Born for us on Earth below,

See, the tender Lamb appears,

Promised from eternal years.

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,

Hail redemption's happy dawn,

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem." (Edward Caswall)

Wait, Easter? Most people don't like to rush through one season to get to the next, unless it's a New England winter. Instead, here is the fantastic tension of the now of Bethlehem and the not yet of the glories to come. It's an explosive reminder that on a silent night also came the dramatic downbeat of full-on Redemption. It is the best good news ever given… (O Little Verse, December 11, 2016)

Merry Christmas to all, and may the "best good news ever" be yours in abundance in the New Year

Simply Priceless

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will instead give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will instead give him a snake? If you then, sinful by nature as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven—perfect as He is—give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him?”—Matthew 7:9-11, Amplified

When a child tells his parents what he really wants for Christmas, unless that thing is harmful in some way or would blow up your entire holiday shopping budget, you can’t help but want to come through. A parent’s beating heart for his children is unlike any other.

Except for One.

It is good to know that whenever the words “God, please give me ___________” cross our lips, He not only hears, He loves to bring that which is “good and advantageous” to our souls in our time of need. Patience. Hope. Wisdom. Guidance. Faith. Understanding. Discernment. Whatever is in your “top ten.”

Even better to remember that while God’s best gift-giving moment was sending His Son to be born for us, it was only the opening pages of the full Love Story yet to unfold. It’s a reminder that God’s gift-giving is not confined to a day in December, and that there are many gifts that He wants us to open over and over again in January, April August, and September, and all the days in between. Gifts that are good and advantageous 24/7 because they counter the adversary’s lies and accusations we may have begun to believe about ourselves.

And if there is one gift above all that we Christ-ones need to open every day, it is the gift of assurance—to receive and embrace our true identity as a child of God against a daily tide of accusation and doubt, loved unfailingly and locked in place forever, even with a prone-to-wander heart:

• “…But whoever did want Him, who believed He was also who He claimed and would do what He said, He made to be their true selves—their child-of-God selves.”—John 1:14, Message
• "Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us—He calls us children of God! It’s true; we are His beloved children….My loved ones, we have been adopted into God’s family; and we are officially His children now. The full picture of our destiny is not yet clear, but we know this much: when Jesus appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is.”—1 John 3:1-2, The Voice

Lord, thank You that Your simplest and best gifts are not just for a season but for a lifetime. Thank You for becoming flesh and blood and moving into our neighborhood to stay, and for Your parent’s beating heart for Your kids that is unlike any other. This is amazing grace! This is amazing love!

“God makes us happy as only children can be happy. God wants to always be with us, wherever we may be—even in our sin, in our suffering and death. We are no long alone; God is with us! We are no longer homeless—a bit of the Eternal Home itself has moved unto us!”—Dietrich Bonhoeffer

O Little Verse

"...[He] gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager—energized—to do what is good."—Titus 2:14

This little verse probably won't show up in most Christmas pageants and candlelight services, but maybe it should. It's the Bethlehem story in all of its fullness: God with us, because He is for us, wants to dwell in us, so He can flow through us.

We need still-life creches and Nativity scenes as a reminder to slow down in the chaos of the season and ponder the wonder of something so miraculous and history-making. But at the same time, this little verse is a reminder that the story is so active and timeless, it almost shouts at everything but the Babe in your still-life creche or Nativity scene: “You have no idea how awfully-triumphantly wonderful this scene is going to play out for millions upon millions upon millions.”

Wait, Easter? Most people don't like to rush through one season to get to the next, unless it's a New England winter. But A Very Titus Christmas isn't trying to do that. Instead, here is the fantastic tension of the now of Bethlehem and the not yet of the glories to come. It's an explosive reminder that on a silent night also came the dramatic downbeat of full-on Redemption. It is the best good news ever given, and probably explains the volume of the multitude of angels as they hovered over shepherds in a field: God fully committed to regaining possession of His kids in a very troubled world, in exchange for the payment of His only Son’s life willingly given, clearing a debt none of us could possibly pay on our own.

But the Titus Christmas account is one more thing: a reminder that just as the Bible is full of good and powerful surprises in sometimes unlikely places, it's good whenever we can this season to find the gold that's in the third, fourth, and sometimes sixth verses of some of our favorite Christmas carols:

• "O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go." (O Come, O Come Emmanuel, verse 3)
• "No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found." (Joy to the World, verse 3)
• "Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word that should set Thy people free; but with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary...O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee!" (Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, verse 4)
• "Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings. Mild, He lays His glory by; born that man no more may die; born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth." (Hark the Herald, verse 3)
• "Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord that hath made heaven and earth of naught, and with His blood mankind hath bought." (The First Noel, verse 6)

And for many, perhaps this littlest of verses resounds the most right about now, and is worth singing like never before...

"And ye beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low; who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow; Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing." (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, verse 3)...

...That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven,” they sang, “and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.” (Luke 2: 8-14, Living)

"Don’t try to explain the Incarnation to me! It is further from being explainable than the furthest star in the furthest galaxy. It is love, God’s limitless love enfleshing that love into the form of a human being, Jesus, the Christ, fully human and fully divine. Was there a moment, known only to God, when all the stars held their breath, when the galaxies paused in their dance for a fraction of a second, and the Word, who had called it all into being, went with all His love into the womb of a young girl, and the universe started to breathe again, and the ancient harmonies resumed their song, and the angels clapped their hands for joy?"—Madeleine L'Engle

"Wait Up!"

“O kneel me down again here at Your feet; show me how much You love humility…” —Brenton Brown, “Humble King”

One of the many good things about Advent is that it helps slow you down when all around seems to be screaming forward at breakneck speed. Four Sundays when you put the chaos on pause even for a few moments to remind your heart all over again the true meaning of God with us—and not just in some storybook or historical sense. But, "with us" in a promise made to Isaiah some 700 years earlier, with us in Bethlehem just as God promised hundreds of years before it happened, and with us even now through the resounding words of God-with-us Himself: "I will never leave you or forsake you."

The faithfulness of God. The preciseness of God. The Love of God. All simple things too easily taken for granted (yes, it’s OK to admit that), which is why Advent can be so awesome. Advent is like the third base coach who waves the emphatic “wait up!” signal when we’re determinedly running full speed ahead with our head down. It gives us pause for what really matters. It clears misconceptions, doubts, and small-God ideas that have crept in unnoticed during the past 11 months. Things that try to discourage and make your attitude reek of “what-ever.”

And, sometimes, it does so with a shock treatment. Advent needs no black Friday hype to remind you, in the process of tilling the soil of your heart one more time so that it remembers what truly matters, that Jesus said and did some shocking things that were meant not to be just observed but duplicated. 

Things like living in humility.

In our culture, many think that being humble is being “soft.” But search the scriptures, and nowhere will you find anyone accusing Jesus of being a wimp about anything. Jesus is Savior, Jesus is shepherd, Jesus is Redeemer and King and comforter, and truth and life and hope and healing and so much more—but all of it was wrapped in a strong, loving cloak of humility. In the words of C.S, Lewis, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

Lord, there are tons of things on our minds as we round the bases of our daily routine this season, some of which are not at all trivial and really, really matter. But as we do so, help us not to run by Your “wait up!” sign on something that was lived out by the One who came to us in a manger and who handed us the baton when He returned to Glory:

“Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interest first. In other words, adopt the mindset of Jesus. Live with His attitude in your hearts.”—Philippians 2:3-5, The Voice

[photo credit: San Francisco Giants]