An Ending That's Just the Beginning

 

“For we are God’s fellow workers, His servants working together; you are God’s cultivated field — His garden, His vineyard — God’s building.”—1 Corinthians 9:10

This is the view that is smack-dab in my face each time I leave the church parking lot and head home. I can’t think of a better landscape to put there. It is a constant reminder of God the creator and that He really is our Shepherd who leads us daily to the peaceful green pastures of His presence, God the artist who is always at work in our lives, and God the majestic and immovable and trustworthy as the distant mountain range. Most of all, the gate is a reminder that you don’t just go to church and go home, but that whether you turn left or right, you are now entering the mission field. And though the weekly gathering may be over, it’s never over…

…Back in the day, a kid growing up in church was a picture of impatient endurance: Feeling like we'd be forever stuck on that first of four numbers on the hymnal board...Pew cushions so old, they were an oxymoron...Doodling on the back of the bulletin with a stubby pencil with no eraser...Wiggling and fidgeting, and fidgeting and wiggling, and getting "the hint" from dad's or mom's gentle but firm hand on my knee...Being bailed out countless times by sweet old ladies in perfumed fur coats sitting in the adjacent pew, who, with a wink, sneaked over pieces of hard candy...Totally frustrated from trying to sing out of the thing they called a hymnal, until that day you realized that the reason everyone had moved on to words you weren't singing is because you don't read all the verses on each line like a paragraph. 

Sundays were simpler, and the afternoons typically meant a big family dinner and then playing in your yard. No friends over. No places to go shopping or work or play youth sports, because on Sundays, everything in my little world was on lockdown. And it was good.

Which meant I looked forward with great anticipation on those mornings of impatient endurance in church to getting to that last item in the bulletin: The Benediction. I had no idea what that meant, all I knew was that it signaled "We're out of here!"...

"And just because we say the word 'Amen,'

it doesn't mean the conversation needs to end..." 

— Steven Curtis Chapman

...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. One definition calls that "holy joy."

But little did I know then that the speak-well-of goodness wasn't supposed to end there, that the ending was really supposed to be the beginning. The life-giving, encouraging, power of blessing spoken over me and those sweet old ladies and everyone else was supposed to be carried out the door and passed along to those on our path: 

"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)

…In "How to Worship a King," author Zach Neese drives it all rightfully out the parking lot whenever I turn left or right and see the goodness of God in the field smack-dab in front of me:

"In this one blessing, we find destiny, protection, the glory of God, unmerited favor, intimacy with God, and the peace that passes all understanding regardless of our circumstances...What a world we would live in if we all gave and received such blessings."

Selah…

Days of the Real Deal

(Photo: Congerdesign @ pixabay.com)

“Taste and see that the Lord [alone] is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”—Psalm 34:8

As a creature of habit, when it was time to buy carrots, my go-to had been the big bag of organic minis. The package promised that they hadn’t been washed in bleach, which is always a good thing. Carrots are really good for you. And you can’t get more convenient for snacking and stir fry than minis. 

Until one day, the store was out of minis. The only other organic choice was a bag of the kind Bugs Bunny would chomp on. Carrots are carrots, right? Until I took a bite, and everything changed. The texture was like the root veggie it was supposed to be, and the taste was nothing like those minis—there was almost a hint of clove. A sweetness but not sweet. Earthy but without the dirt. I was in love.

On another day and another trip to the store, the packages of minis were back. (Did I mention I am a creature of habit?) And when I got home and grabbed a few to go with a sandwich, an awakening: Convenient maybe, but compared to the bigger versions, the minis had no taste. And maybe they weren’t washed with bleach but my tastebuds clearly detected that they had been washed in…something. The bigger ones tasted like somebody’s garden. I had tasted and seen what was good, and this wasn’t it…

I hope that we are in a Bugs Bunny carrot season right now. All around, it seems to our natural eyes that chaos, confusion and evil are not only on the rampage but are winning. Which is not true, of course…

“God’s plans are made on the basis of His complete knowledge and control, which extends to all things past, present and future, that there can be no sudden emergencies or unlooked-for developments to take Him by surprise.”

—J.I. Packer

In the process of our crazy days, though, God has been more than just in control. It seems He is driving millions of believers like me away from the comfort and relative ease of mini-carrots discipleship and to our knees in prayer and to our feet in fervent worship, and service, and determination to walk out the Greatest Commandment as never before. It is an entirely organic season, raw and one both desiring and requiring deep roots. And what the enemy has meant for evil, God is turning for good in His Church, if we will only stay the course. Because with our backs to the wall in a pandemic and national upheaval, it seems He is removing the taste for the convenient way of walking the Walk and anything with artificial flavoring and content and replacing it with the raw power of the real deal, the pure Gospel.

We cannot gather (yet) as we once did, yet He has been stirring us to press in as never before wherever we are. We have become more aware of those in need, and online prayer chains are more active than ever. The preaching of the Word has become more passionate, and much more vertical and much less horizontal. And much of what we thought was necessary to “do” church? And the undercurrent of a gospel that was often “all about me”? These have been exposed as inconsequential and like the bag of mini-carrots are leaving a funny taste in our mouth.

We’ve been experiencing the fullness of Psalm 34:8 because we’re tasting and seeing in a revived, awakened sense, that the Lord alone—the Maker of heaven and earth and all that is in it, and the omniscient, all-knowing One alone, and no man or a human system—is our true refuge. Our true safety and shelter from danger or trouble, the unshakable rock of our faith and source of our trust who has never failed and never will.

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”—Psalm 118:8-9

Hopefully, there will be no going back. Because in the end, in these days of the real deal, it's becoming clear that only the big bag of carrots will do…

Proverbs and Prayers to Carry

From the craziest of years, 12 Vitamin proverbs and prayers for new beginnings in 2021 to help carry you forward...and slow you down once in awhile, too...

JANUARY
It’s not always pleasant or full of acceptance, but this Word, these Words, make a difference. And these Words of life that will come out of your pores from all that reading and listening matter. And will change you, bit by bit. This Life is not stuck in a Book. This Life is practical and for real, and fully meant to be lived…Way beyond Sunday.

—from “What Difference Does it Make?”

FEBRUARY
Remember that Jesus’ final words before ascending began with: “Go…” To remember that your mission field could be in a land far away but more likely it’s right in your own back yard, and in and through the things and interests and places and people that God has poured into your life for His purposes…

—from “Just Go”

MARCH
An essential calming, daily “to-do and to-be” list:
Keep an attitude of prayer
Keep being thankful
Keep in the Word of Truth, comfort and promise, and especially hang out in the Psalms
Keep singing, keep drinking in the lyrics, and let faith drive out fear
Keep at it because fear is persistent

—from “Living Hope”

APRIL
Even if I can’t swallow all the world’s problems, I can always start right here, I can always start praying where God has planted me. This little town, just like a lot of little towns—in the middle of nowhere…but it is somewhere to God, and God always notices, And I am not here by accident, even if only to seek its welfare.

—from “Start Here”

MAY
The most effective evangelism methods are often not the loudest or with just the right words or by randomly handing out a tract. They begin with listening before speaking. What the world needs now….

—from “The Power of Nothing to Say”

JUNE
Lord, help us to never underestimate the renewing, refreshing, re-energizing, hope-filled, comforting power of a simple spoken word of encouragement. There is no one who is exempt from needing one. Because You have urged, commanded, exhorted, reminded, and poked us — fathers, mothers, friends, co-workers, spiritual parents and mentors — from just about every angle, and more than 70 times in Your Word, to encourage one another. To make war against the darkness of negativity, hateful words and deeds, and the fear-induced spirit of the 24/7 news cycle, by speaking wonderful words of life into someone's atmosphere of weariness.

—from “A Snapshot Worth Remembering”

JULY
God’s guidance, protection, wisdom, discernment and direction are gifts, but I also need to walk them out every time I step out the door. I have a purpose…I carry the Light wherever I go because He is the Light that lives within me. I have a weapon of praise…My Light breaks through fear of the dark and all the unknowns of life. I have the world’s most reliable GPS…He is the Light that helps me see and trust for what is ahead, even on those days when I can’t see one step in front of me. And my Light never goes out—He never loses power, He is always true and right, always faithful, never changes, always shines for my good…

—from “Lessons from an Old Red Lantern”

AUGUST
The next time there is a meteor against a canvas of the night sky, or a spectacular sunset, or cloud formations that make your jaw drop, or the flight of an eagle overhead, remember that these are more than things of beauty to admire and then get on with life. They are a reminder that while God may have finished creation in seven days, He is still speaking forth wonderful and amazing things that are best seen rather than heard, that He has never stopped, and He never will, and that no matter how the day has gone, no matter the challenges ahead, God isn’t finished painting you yet, either…

—from “A Pandemic Blessing in Disguise"

SEPTEMBER
“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,”said D.L. Moody. So let the praises ring. Remind yourself all over again. 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. You know this. You just need to put on the garment of praise all over again.

—from “Open Wide Your Mouth”

OCTOBER
“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.

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

—from “Take the Back Road”

NOVEMBER
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.” Still. He is not in the stands watching the game unfold, wondering if the players will ever get it right as the game seems to get out of control. He is the unseen Captain on and in the field, from the rising of the sun to its setting, unfazed by wind and cold and storm. Often calling plays that are not in our playbook and that don’t make sense. Until at just the right time, they do. They always do. And they always will.

—from “The Captain in the Field”

DECEMBER
Reset: Seek first the Kingdom of God and not human logic or expert advice…and worship. Seek first and keep on seeking Him at the start of each day, one step in front of the other, even if you aren’t sure where it all leads…and worship. “Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength His power, His might; seek…and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.” (Psalm 105:4. Amplified) Keep looking Up…and come, let us adore Him.

—from “Heading in the Right Direction”

“Often, you can see the power lines running alongside the street. Unless current is flowing through them, there is no light. The power line is you and I! The current is God! We have the power to allow the current to flow through us and thus generate the Light of the world: Jesus—or, to refuse to be used and, thus, allow the darkness to spread.”

—Mother Theresa

Three Words for the Road Ahead

 “The point of your life is to point to Him.”—Francis Chan

“What Would Jesus Do?” often sounds heroic — too heroic, in fact, for just a WWJD wrist band. It can also be subject to “but what if?” hypothetical situations, and suggest a sense of keeping a safe distance, of observing rather than engaging in His first call to every disciple: “Follow Me.”

But “What Did Jesus Do?” gives you something you can wrap your arms around, something tangible, something you can model, something that can deepen the greatest relationship of them all and help eliminate a lifestyle built on someone else’s quotes and bumper sticker slogans. And not only that, as 2020 has taught us, the very idea of WDJD can cut to the heart of what really matters faster and better than a million good ideas, books, programs, the latest and greatest worship songs, and the implication that everything happens on Sunday morning in a building. 

So, what did Jesus do? A lot of things; so many, in fact, that the disciple whom He loved wrote: “There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.” (John 21:25, The Message)

But here’s one, maybe a little less obvious than others, to carry into the new year:

“Each day, Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening, He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives…” —Luke 21:37

Each day. Each evening… What Jesus did was give us the blueprint for cultivating good habits that will help point our lives to His, both before we head out the door and after a long day. They are things we know but quickly forget — regular healthy rhythms in the Father’s presence that will buffet a world filled with the pressure of people demands, conflicting messages, and non-stop noise, and will build our faith, strengthen our resolve on the Journey, and brighten our reflection to those around us.

Some days, some evenings, the cultivating is like plowing through soft soil, and is refreshing if not powerful. Many days and evenings, though, the cultivating feels like plowing through rocks. Life happens. But WDJD says, in so many words...

 “...Forward, never give up, fix your gaze steadily on Me just as I looked to My Father, for lo, I am with you always.”

Each day. Each evening.

And don’t forget the WDJD importance of place. Jesus had a go-to place called Mount of Olives — a place to get away, to reconnect, to refuel. It’s a reminder that cultivating good habits in the new year also means tapping into those places where you know you regularly meet God in a special way — a mountain trail, a roaring ocean or still lake waters, a woodworking shop, a favorite chair in a quiet room. The Mount of Olives places in our lives are not just beautiful, or peaceful, or energizing, they are sacred places of Encounter. This year, like Jesus did, I want to be more intentional about not taking these sacred spaces lightly, because they have been designed for me — for us — before time began when God knew just how each of us would be wired to best connect with Him.

There's much more to living in the land of What Did Jesus Do, and a lot of it is challenging to the sensibilities if not costly. But the longer I walk this highway, the more I realize that the simplicity of regular rhythms of Presence and places of Encounter are what God uses to carry us through even the craziest of times. It's a simplicity that needs continual recalibrating, but it is where the foundation of all that really matters can be found. Words from Martin Luther drive the point home:

“What more would you know? What more do you need, if indeed you know Christ, if you walk by faith in God, and by love to your neighbor, doing to him as Christ has done to you? This is indeed the whole Scripture in its biggest form: That no more words or books are necessary, but only life and action.”

Thursday night, when the calendar moves forward to a clean slate, my list of “the point of your life” goals and resolutions will probably be short. Behind them will be an anthem of just three words, but a weighty theme song for every 24/7 ahead…

...Give me Jesus.

Traditional Spiritual; sung by Danny Gokey, from the album "Christmas Is Here"

[Updated from 12-31-17]

Heading in the Right Direction

 (Photo: enriquelopezgarre @ pixabay.com)

We say, “If I could just figure this thing out.”

The Christmas story says, “Maybe you’re looking in the wrong direction”...

...The Mary and Joseph in our nativity may look older and wiser but they were just teens.

And nothing made sense about the birth of their son. If anyone deserved to say “If I could just figure this thing out,” it was these two. And yet Mary said: “Be it unto me according to Your Word,” and after some wild and crazy dreams about it all, young Joe “did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.”

Those shepherds may be known for watching their flocks “on a cold winter’s night that was so deep,” except the actual time of Jesus’ birth was closer to September than December, when it is hot by day and in the 60s at night. Even so, here were the low end of society’s totem pole being visited by and shouted to by angels of God. And perhaps like us wondering...

“Wait. You? You speaking to me?”

The shouting, the singing, the blinding light of Glory, the mysterious declaration of some child born in Bethlehem.... “If we could just figure this thing out.” But instead of just shaking their head and carrying on with their sheep watching, they said: “Let’s see for ourselves what the Lord has told us about.”

The “we three kings of orient are” wise men from Persia may have been three…or not. They may have been kings…or not. No one knows for sure. They were sure about a lot of things when it came to figuring out astrology and what the alignment of stars might mean, but when they looked up at this star, even they wondered, “If we could just figure this thing out.” Wise as they were, they didn’t have all the answers to life, but they set a simple tone for all who would follow Jesus ever since: “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2, NLT)

Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise Persians, all had the same response to the age-old question of wanting to figure things out when life doesn’t make sense — the same response the grown up baby in the manger would urge His first followers and those of us following 2,000 years later:

“But first and most importantly seek, aim at, strive after His kingdom and His righteousness, His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God—and all these things will be given to you also.”

—Matthew 6:33, Amplified

Seek first the Kingdom of God and not human logic or expert advice…and worship.

Seek first and keep on seeking Him at the start of each day, one step in front of the other, even if you aren’t sure where it all leads…and worship.

“Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength His power, His might; seek…and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.” (Psalm 105:4. Amplified)

Keep looking Up…and come, let us adore Him.

Wisdom doesn’t have to be deep, or old, or well-educated or complex to be powerful for living well.

It doesn’t have to have all the answers.

It just knows that all that God has ever said has been true.

We just need to remember that, and the response of the Nativity characters,

And go, and seek Him first, and rest...

Especially in days like these.

“The supreme need in every hour of difficulty and distress is for a fresh vision of God. Seeing Him, all else takes on proper perspective and proportion.”—G. Campbell Morgan

No Fist Bumps

(Photo: skitterphoto @ pixabay.com)

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!”—Jeremiah 32:17, NLT

The baby Jesus in my nativity isn’t just laying there sound asleep. His arms are fully extended upward, tiny and tender but yet stronger than that of any man who ever was, seemingly lifted toward His Father and our Father who art in heaven. Arms of One-ness and dependency and love that were with God in the very beginning. And through Him and those arms, “all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:3-4)

His arms, reaching toward us, are everywhere.

Even in Isaiah’s fantastic vision, where the train of God’s robe filled the temple, it is good to remember that under that robe are the hands of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creation, reign and authority, and the strong arms that laugh at the barbell workouts of this world's so-called mighty men and women. His arms are howitzers of howitzers and cannons of cannons—and while God is holy and glorious beyond imagination, He is zealous in making it clear that He doesn’t just float around out there somewhere in His ginormous robe. He has always been, and always will be, a totally hands-on God.

The baby in the manger with outstretched arms is a reminder that:

God doesn’t do awkward elbow or fist bumps. Never has, never will…

• His arms are never too far away and always within reach. (Isaiah 59:1)
• His arms, especially His right one, are victorious (Psalm 98:1) and strong (Isaiah 63:12) and mighty. (Isaiah 52:10)
• His arms are outstretched in love and longing to offer redemption to all who will believe. (Exodus 6:6, John 1:12, Romans 5:)

And especially in a year like this one, when big stuff and little stuff alike are beyond figuring out, it is good to remember that none of it is, or ever has been, beyond the reach of God’s outstretched arms. They are arms not confined by time or space but come to us and with us in peace and assurance on this journey of ups and downs. And often, they come with words like these that seem to be hitting home in a fresh, wonderful way even now…

“I don’t even begin to get involved in matters too big—matters of faith, state, business, or the many things that defy my ability to understand them. Of one thing I am certain: my soul has become calm, quiet, and contented in You. Like a weaned child resting upon his mother, I am quiet; my soul is like this weaned child. O Israel, stake your trust completely in the eternal God—from this very moment and into the vast future.”—Psalm 131:1-3, The Voice  

…Not to become oblivious to the reality of things, not to be uncaring or un-praying, but to actively rest in His arms like that baby, to exhale, and to be still and know that He is exactly who He says He is—strong enough to carry the weight of the entire world yet tender and compassionate enough to hold the smallest, weakest, most helpless child of His in His arms. 

That baby in the nativity? His Name is "God with us!" And even in 2020, He’s got the whole world in His hands.

No fist bumps.

"The God who lives forever is your safe place. His arms are always under you….”

—Deuteronomy 33:27, New Life Version

Taking Sides

 

“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”—Abraham Lincoln

I have heard it said many times, often in a somber, frowning tone:

“God is not on anyone’s side.”

“God does not play favorites.”

“You need to be on His side, not Him on yours.”

I have heard Abe Lincoln’s quote over and over again used as proof for all of that.

Except I don't think that's what Abe meant.

Because my Bible also says this:

“If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say—if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us…” (Psalm 124:1)

God IS on someone’s side!

“Yes, but Israel is God’s chosen people, of course He’s going to take their side.”

Except even God’s chosen people have a choice who they will follow and trust to guide their lives. He is on their side, as Abe says, under one condition—when they put their trust and hope in God alone, no matter the outcome, circumstance or situation. And that’s why these ancient travelers to Jerusalem could say this shock-and-awe statement, because they also declare:

“Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!” (Psalm 124:8)

And no one else. And no other option.

“Yes, but things don’t always go well. What about when there are, say, Christians on one team and Christians on another—someone has to win and lose—then whose side is God on?”

He is not on the side of teams, He is on the side of the Believers, regardless of their team or mission or organization, regardless of the outcome—for reasons well beyond a fleeting game-of-the-week.

When our help and hope is in the Name of the Lord, the same can be true for us even in crazy 2020, A very familiar passage explodes with fresh Light:

“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. From the distant past, His eternal love reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God and share in His glory. So what should we say about all of this?

If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear?

If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don’t you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him?”—Romans 8:28-32, Voice

Maybe not everything perfect, not everything pleasant, or not everything the way we want things to turn out, But always, always when our help and hope is in the Name of the Lord, He is on our side to carry us through…whatever. And one day, that carry-through will mean no more tears, no more death, no more hatred and injustice, no more fear.

Our help is in the Name of the Lord!

The Name of the Lord! 

But what is His Name?…

“‘Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and He shall be called “Emmanuel” meaning God is with us.”

—Matthew 1:23, Living

Nothing could be more “on our side” than that.