'I Want to See You'

Photo by Daniel Schaffer on Unsplash

"The renewed mind is the canvas on which the Spirit of God can paint."—Bill Johnson

On top of everything else, Jesus was an artist, too.

He was continually painting pictures with words meant to awaken weary minds. Even if a thesaurus had been around in those days, there was no need for one, because Jesus, the Word made flesh, had all of the right words, at just the right time, and especially for every “I don’t get it" moment experienced by His followers — then and now. To help us see the Big picture through the fog and see life with a heavenly perspective, Jesus didn’t do boring lectures but told engaging stories by painting a bunch of word pictures for real people — farmers, homeowners, shopkeepers and people who liked fishing and being outdoors. People like us, and out-of-this-world words like these:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field…"

“The kingdom of heaven is like like a treasure a man discovered in a field. In his excitement, he sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and get the treasure, too!"

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls…"

“The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind…"

When all we see is what’s right in front of us and fret and wonder, Jesus is always thinking bigger picture. Much bigger. His purpose behind these multi-colored descriptions of getting a heavenly perspective on things is not to mindlessly float away into a la-la land that’s out there somewhere and ignore reality. Instead, it's to bring that right and perfect perspective of “the earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it” into the often unhinged craziness of daily responsibilities and decisions, and especially into headlines that would try to add fuel to fear and throw water on faith. To get us to think, to see in the midst of it all: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

And the longer I go on this journey, the more I desire that Lord's Prayer perspective above most everything else. It's not a one-and-done request, either. Just about every day, I am right there with blind Bartimaeus:

“Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man answered, ‘Teacher, I want to see You.’”

—Mark 10:51, New Century Version

I want to see what matters, because I’m blinded way too often by all the wrong things that relentlessly try to cloud “the Kingdom of God is like” big picture and distort the right perspective.

And so, I like to imagine that in reply to my plea, if He were to meet me and my Bartimaeus desire on that roadside today, and knowing how much I enjoy taking photos, just maybe Jesus would paint a picture that looks something like this:

“The walk of faith is like a man who went for a walk with his camera, looking for something beautiful. But he had no set-it-and-forget-it autofocus feature because it’s a walk that requires continual, hands-on (re)focus to bring clarity to confusing things, wrong perspectives, and loud distractions. It is a lifelong discipline that leans on Trust, and the Truth of who I AM, and My endless love for you, and not on your own understanding. It is like continually adjusting the zoom lens until what is fuzzy becomes clear and the Subject is in focus while the background fades away. Your eye’s attention is drawn to the one thing that matters. Beautiful! So, keep going, live your life well, never give up, and as you go, ’set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above—the heavenly things—not on things that are on the earth which have only temporal value.’”

It's a new day…and it’s really good to know that the Artist is still at work.

“We can, by choice and our actions, invite God to be present in our mind. Or, we can close the door to Him. It all depends on what kind of mind we want to cultivate. The goal is to have a mind in which the glorious Father of Jesus is always present and gradually crowds out every distorted belief, every destructive feeling, every misguided intention … God is never more than a thought away!”

—John Ortberg

What Really Matters

Timely words from more than half-century ago that I’ll stand on as I head to the polls on Tuesday…

“One thing must be kept in mind: We Christians are Christians first and everything else after that. Our first allegiance is to the kingdom of God. Our citizenship is in heaven. We are grateful for political freedom. We thank God for democracy as a way of life. But we never forget that we are sons of God and citizens of another city whose builder and maker is God. For this reason, we must not identify the gospel with any political system or make Christianity to be synonymous with any form of government, however noble. Christ stands alone, above and outside of every ideology devised by man. He does not join any of our parties or take sides with any of our great men except as they may come over on His side and try to follow Him in righteousness and true holiness. Then He is for them but only as individuals, never as leaders of some political faction. The true Christian will be loyal to his country and obedient to those in authority, but he will never fall into the error of confusing his own national culture with Christianity. Christianity is bigger than any country, loftier than any civilization, broader than any human ideology.”—AW Tozer

Yes, but wait. This year is different. “What would Jesus do in such a time as this?”

To which, He might reply, as He has always done down through the ages:

“The real question is, what will you do?”

The answer, of course, is right in front of me. Not easy, but absolutely perfect and right.

It looks a lot like humility and selflessness and seeking first the Kingdom of God.

It looks a lot like that narrow road He talked about.

It brings to life what He meant when He said “take up your cross daily.”

It looks a lot like…Jesus.

The answer is couched in ancient and timeless Words that will be much more important to my Walk and how I live with my neighbors—red, blue or in between—after election day than on it, no matter who wins:

“Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all He is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for He longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth:

That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving His life for all mankind.”

—1 Timothy 2:1-6, Living Bible

This, too, is worship.

At Just the Right Time

 (Photo: Pexels.com)

“Faith is acting like God is telling the truth.”—Pastor Tony Evans

When everything in our world seems upside down, it’s good to think of this:

“When the right time arrived, God sent His Son into this world …”—Galatians 4:4, The Voice

And…

“When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for Him.”—Romans 5:6, Living

And if that is so, we can be encouraged by this, even in 2020:

“His destiny-plan for the earth stands sure. His forever-plan remains in place and will never fail.”—Psalm 33:11, Living

And…

“There is no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord.”—Proverbs 21:30, Amplified

Trusting in God’s “at just the right time” timing in our day isn’t always easy when our natural eyes and ears see and hear things that try to convince us otherwise...

...But, if “faith is acting like God is telling the truth,” then it means something we know well but forget quickly—the need to stir up an active trust that determines each day to acknowledge the mess as real while remembering that our God is still in the business of “at just the right time.” 

...To remember His promises made and fulfilled, to stand firmly there when “all other ground is sinking sand,” and to fight to look at it all from a Heavenly perspective instead of our own …

“The issue is not what is God doing or going to do; the issue is are we going to see it, agree with it, and be part of bringing it? What will wake you up and become your food for thought, your foundation for emotion, and your confidence for what is possible? Will we continue to be a people who deconstruct, criticize, and dwell on what is wrong? Or will we become a people who believe in the promises, join with the petition, see with the perspective, and fulfill the prophecy that God’s glory is already and will continue to cover the earth? [Habakkuk 2:14] Kingdom now, kingdom coming, kingdom here!…This is the perspective that can birth revival in the face of any circumstances, and any society, at any depth of depravity.”—Andy Byrd and Sean Feucht, from “Fire and Fragrance”

Our “at just the right time” Savior drives it all home…

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:14-16, The Message

Selah.

Take the Back Road

 

(Photo: Good News Magazine)

More timely words from the journal…

Maybe not every day, but often enough, I come to a crossroads in my decision-making with two paths to choose—one, the well-worn, comfortable, tempting path of the world’s way of doing things, the other one much less traveled and with a One-way rougher but incredibly beautiful route of faith that seems to disappear into who-knows-where over the horizon.

And at each crossroads of life—whether the biggest decisions or the littlest ones— the anthem I keep hearing ringing in my ears is the same: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15). 

Choose for yourself things not to be checked off but to be walked out over and over again.

Things Jesus said and did.

Things He said and did only because His Father was saying and doing them.

Things His first followers saw Him do in the routine of their days, and then sought to do likewise,

And then wrote down for our benefit some 2000 years later.

A roadmap for the much less traveled path.

Things like this:

"Love others well, and don’t hide behind a mask; love authentically.

"Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it.

"Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers.

"Be first to honor others by putting them first.

"Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work.

"Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord.

"Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner.

"Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer.

"Share what you have with the saints, so they lack nothing;

"Take every opportunity to open your life and home to others."—Romans 12:9-13, The Voice

At every crossroads, then, take the back road and choose Life as it was meant to be lived.

And as you go, stay the course.

Keep listening for the still small voice of Wisdom and lean not on your own understanding.

Listen, even, to the confirming words of the great New England poet Robert Frost, who probably didn’t even realize he was speaking prophetically when he wrote…

“Two roads diverged in a wood,

And I—I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

—from “The Road Less Traveled” 

When It's Always Sunday

 Photo: Daniel Alexander @ stayalfresco.com

“…Day and night, they never stop saying [singing]…” (Revelation 4:8-11)

Let my worship be at any and all times

Anywhere

And not confined to Sundays

Or, even wrapped up in the definition of “singing”

Let my worship be at any and all times

Everywhere

Because, look!

A foretaste of heaven is all around us:

People from every tribe and shape who You love and long for everlastingly…

What it will look like around Your throne

And landscapes that declare Your hugeness and majesty and beauty

Like those tiny, fragrant flowers that bask in the glow of a field that few notice

But You see them all…Because nothing and no one is too small or unimportant to You

And sunrises and sunsets that declare Your faithfulness

Even when my internal weather may be unsettled...

Everywhere I look (if only I will),

I see Your goodness in the land of the living

All things are Yours

Even those things, like black flies and stink bugs

That make me go, “Why, God?”

Maybe, just perhaps, so that I would simply ask You

And keep the conversation going

At any and all times

About any and everything

Anywhere

Everywhere

To remember over and over and over again:

This life and breath You’ve given me is by You, and from You, and for You

And to remember that I can rest in this promise over and over and over again:

In You, "all things hold together”

(Whew!)

You are the glue of my life and of a world that seems totally unglued

Seems

So let my worship be at any and all times

Anywhere

Everywhere...

A worship that grooves to a regular rhythm of

Looking Up, looking all around at what and who You made for Your pleasure

Even in the routine of the day, whether difficult or smooth-sailing

And think good thoughts, yes,

But also, let it out!

Loud, even

Your will be done on earth, in me and from my lips,

As it is, and is being said and sung right now in heaven

24/7

To remind myself that going to church is good...

... But it’s not my destination

It’s a launching pad to bring Sunday with me

Anywhere

Everywhere.

“The blessed and inviting truth is that God is the most winsome of all beings, and in our worship of Him, we should find unspeakable pleasure.”—A.W. Tozer

[Updated from 4-30-17]

On Being Well-Seasoned

(Photo: Justin Meckes @ unsplash.com)

Some timely words from the journal…

If you are an old-fashioned New Englander, this truck is a great image for this time of year. Whether it is firewood or harvested fruits and vegetables, fall is for “putting up” — for storing up fuel and nourishment for cold weather months when it will be greatly needed and appreciated. And when it comes to canning, “putting up” is done in such an intentional way as to “kill off organisms that would create spoilage.”…

“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.”—Proverbs 7:1, NIV

…This truck is a good reminder that every day, and every time within a day, that  I pick up the Word that I don’t just try to read it like a novel. It's unlike any other book ever written, and so it is vital to ask the Holy Spirit to “open my eyes that I may see wonderful truths in Your Law.” (Psalm 119:18)… to help not just to read good words but to harvest some Truth that God is speaking to me at that moment — and He will if I will just ask. And then, storing it all up inside for fuel when I will need it most, and to help “kill off” the lies of the adversary that are whispered in my ears.

Yup, nice truck. But "putting up” isn’t just for autumn—it’s for every season of life.

Therefore, be well-seasoned, because...

The atmosphere may be thick right now with hateful words, anger and division

But there’s a light for that:

So speak Life.

Speak encouragement to someone along your path today.

Speak value into someone’s humanity.

You don’t have to be great with words or with speaking.

Some of the quietest people you know seem to be best at speaking “the right word at the right time.”

God has appointed each of us for such a message, for such a time as this.

And today is always a good time for that kind of good word, 

And good Word.

To maybe hear, “thanks, that’s just what I needed.”

A simple word, even one stored up from the Word, that may be the one to break discouragement, depression, fear, or hopelessness.

And who knows what larger door for conversation of Light may open after that?

And to remember...

That though all seems bleak, Hope has a Name, and He is still at work!

And He still reigns, no matter what the headlines try to say,

And He is coming again soon to take us Home—maybe sooner than ever.

So, therefore, be ready and watchful ... 

“…let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever. So, encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

—1 Thessalonians 5:8-11, NLT

And to remember most of all…

"We are indeed the light of the world ... but only if our switch is turned on." — John Hagee

'Open Wide Your Mouth'

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

“The Lord makes us strong! Sing praises! Sing to Israel’s God! Sing, accompanied by drums; pluck the sweet lyre and harp. Sound the trumpet! Come to the joyous celebrations at full moon, new moon, and all the other holidays. For God has given us these times of joy; they are scheduled in the laws of Israel. He gave them as reminders of his war against Egypt where we were slaves on foreign soil.”—Psalm 81:1-5, Living Bible

On the way to church (sometimes this is my story, but thank God, not today. But it might be yours)…

I like to sing, but sometimes I don’t like the sound of my own voice.

I am a musician, or at least I like music, but sometimes the song within can seem silent.

I am tired. Who isn't?

All the more reason to let this new day remind your soul all over again what God says:
“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to Your Name, O most high.”—Psalm 92:1

“But good for who? God has everything, does He really need my praise?”

Good for you!

It's true—God doesn’t need it, and certainly doesn’t need it to make Him feel good

But He really wants praise—your praise, even this morning.

Because you need it.

Not to go through the Sunday morning motions, or follow a neat and tidy program

But to wake up the wonder again within you...and then stand back and see what God does!

To be filled up again with what is True and good in a world gone mad.

Because, as Dwight L. Moody once said…

“If a man just stops to think what he has to praise God for, he will find there is enough to keep him singing praises for a week.”

So let the praises ring. Remind yourself all over again.

And while you’re at it

Fight to engage your heart with His—even if it’s only your first cup of coffee

Fight against the adversary’s lie: “Pft, it doesn’t matter.”

Because he knows that it really does.

Since ancient times, God has ordained praise from His people to confound enemies, make darkness flee, lift heavy hearts, fuel amazing signs and wonders, and most of all build up His Church.

You.

And not just when you're in church but for your everyday crazy life, and for those He brings into your everyday crazy life.

You know this. You just need to put on the garment of praise all over again.

As the psalmist says in Psalm 81: “The Lord makes us strong! Sing praises!”

So sing and don’t hold back, because God says it is good.

And let the praises remind your soul, and the accuser of your soul, that God through Jesus Christ has forever set you free when He brought you out of Egypt from the bondage of sin:

“I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.”—Psalm 81:6

You can sing your heart out about that forever!

And let your praises remind you that it keeps your focus in the right place of true satisfaction in life and off the cares and idols and temptations of this world:

“I AM the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it!”—Psalm 81:10

And that is just the beginning, because as you know but may have forgotten in the insaneness of this world's events:

Praise is the Song that will never end and cannot be contained.

Not even by darkness or unrest or pandemic. So…

"Doth not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Doth not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Doth not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Hath not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?"

—Charles Spurgeon