I was born in Colorado Springs. I can’t remember the event but my birth certificate proves the date and location. Whenever I return to the Springs I feel like my batteries are getting recharged. Does that make any sense? Somehow, being in Colorado rejuvenates my spirit and I always look forward to a visit to that state. Yet, as beautiful as the state is, if I try to get in a workout by running at that high elevation, (lack of oxygen), I am quickly winded. After just a few days, my sinuses are affected and my lips quickly chap in the dry air.
Meditation
Psalm 73:24,25—You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory. Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You.
In Philippians 3:19-21, the Apostle Paul describes the enemies of the cross by stating: “Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things.” He then goes on to share:
but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
We live on earth in a temporary home. If Jesus is our Lord our longing should be to be with Him. Our best dwelling will be the place He creates for us in our redeemed bodies. If there is a lack of yearning for Him, a reluctant pining to reach home, we have a serious problem. This is not to say we cannot enjoy where we live or visit but certainly that our pleasure for any earthly place should pale in comparison to our desire to reach our permanent address. There trumps here or our love is corrupted by a spoiling of . . .
If our focus is on earthly things, we have a sick contentment and a mouth disinclined to proclaim Christ. If our eagerness is to unite with Jesus, our conversation should be expectant, pregnant with hope and shared with those whom we would never wish to miss eternal glory. Ambassadors work on behalf of their true homeland and represent the intent of their appointed leader. May those who are around us see our true allegiance and long to know the One we follow and reach the home where He is present!
Inspiration
If the disposition of the Son of God is in me, then heaven and God are my destination; if the disposition in me is not the disposition of God, my home is as obviously certain with the devil.—Oswald Chambers in The Shadow of an Agony
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Forgetting
Not long ago a woman walked up to me and said, “Do you remember me?” Her face looked familiar but I was at a complete loss as to her name or where I had served with her! The Indians have a proverb, “A good memory is fine—but the ability to forget is the true test of greatness.” Obviously the writer was not thinking about forgetting someone’s name unless he knew something we don’t!
Meditation
Isaiah 49:14-16—Zion says, “The LORD has abandoned me; The Lord has forgotten me!” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you. Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”
Dan was over visiting and shared that his grandmother in an assisted living home forgets each day that she is home and asks, “Do I have a room here?” Truly that is an insightful picture of what can happen to us as we get older. So how blessed we are to commit to memory two things about God:
• He will never forget us. He did not make us to abandon us. He loves us with a permanent love—promising to abide forever with us who choose to trust in Him for our salvation!
• He will forget our sins. Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.”
As humans, it is easy to forget names yet to remember the injustice committed by another against us. So quick we are to make commitments and then forget to do what we said we would do. We are so unlike God! Os Guinness reminds us in The Call, “Ingratitude and forgetfulness are ultimately moral rather than mental; they are the direct expression of sin.”
Dear Lord, please fortify my mind to retain what will honor you and edify others and let go of what would dishonor You or cause another to stumble. Thank You for never forgetting me, for forgiveness and for not holding my sins against me. Amen
Inspiration
Forgetting in the Divine mind is an attribute, in the human mind it is a defect, consequently God never illustrates His Divine forgetfulness by human pictures, but by pictures taken from His own creation.—Oswald Chambers in Run Today’s Race
Meditation
Isaiah 49:14-16—Zion says, “The LORD has abandoned me; The Lord has forgotten me!” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you. Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”
Dan was over visiting and shared that his grandmother in an assisted living home forgets each day that she is home and asks, “Do I have a room here?” Truly that is an insightful picture of what can happen to us as we get older. So how blessed we are to commit to memory two things about God:
• He will never forget us. He did not make us to abandon us. He loves us with a permanent love—promising to abide forever with us who choose to trust in Him for our salvation!
• He will forget our sins. Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.”
As humans, it is easy to forget names yet to remember the injustice committed by another against us. So quick we are to make commitments and then forget to do what we said we would do. We are so unlike God! Os Guinness reminds us in The Call, “Ingratitude and forgetfulness are ultimately moral rather than mental; they are the direct expression of sin.”
Dear Lord, please fortify my mind to retain what will honor you and edify others and let go of what would dishonor You or cause another to stumble. Thank You for never forgetting me, for forgiveness and for not holding my sins against me. Amen
Inspiration
Forgetting in the Divine mind is an attribute, in the human mind it is a defect, consequently God never illustrates His Divine forgetfulness by human pictures, but by pictures taken from His own creation.—Oswald Chambers in Run Today’s Race
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Affliction
I flew from Louisville, Kentucky to Chicago on Wednesday afternoon. My neck hurt but I suspected it was just from reading too long. The next flight was from Chicago to Portland. As I got off the plane, both my shoulders ached and I could hardly turn my head or lift my luggage. By the time I reached home, the joints in my wrists hurt. Pacing the living room at three in the morning, I wondered if perhaps this was not just some medical condition but a spiritual attack. I asked the Lord for His help and to bring healing. By that evening, the pain moved into my knees to the point that I could hardly walk. My parents urged me to go to the emergency room. I called a retired Navy Seal who served as a corpsman and he offered advice and then joined my family in praying for me.
Meditation
Psalm 4:1—Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
On Friday, I visited a doctor and a chiropractor. Both concluded that a virus probably was responsible for the acute pain. It will take days before blood work comes back but by late in the afternoon, I was already feeling better. Talking to my friend, David, on the phone, we reflected on how little it takes to incapacitate us. Truly, the body is wonderful yet vulnerable.
Affliction offers God-believers the opportunity to have heartfelt conversations with Him. Words tend to be quite meaningful when pain holds us by the neck. We should be glad that we can call out to our Father when we are under assault. He gives us hope in the midst of suffering.
Affliction offers those who have strayed from God, the opportunity to run back to Him. Pain is a reminder of who is really in control. But what does affliction teach those who don’t believe in God? Who vindicates, frees, provides grace and listens to the one who worships None? The same David who pled with God to answer him, later asked his afflicters, “How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie?” Despite his suffering, he could see their deeper dilemma—ignoring God. Affliction has a way of doing that—bringing clarity to what matters and doesn’t matter . . . something to think about . . . in reveration.
Inspiration
The agony of a man’s affliction is often necessary to put him into the right mood to face the fundamental things of life.—Oswald Chambers in The Shadow of an Agony
Meditation
Psalm 4:1—Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
On Friday, I visited a doctor and a chiropractor. Both concluded that a virus probably was responsible for the acute pain. It will take days before blood work comes back but by late in the afternoon, I was already feeling better. Talking to my friend, David, on the phone, we reflected on how little it takes to incapacitate us. Truly, the body is wonderful yet vulnerable.
Affliction offers God-believers the opportunity to have heartfelt conversations with Him. Words tend to be quite meaningful when pain holds us by the neck. We should be glad that we can call out to our Father when we are under assault. He gives us hope in the midst of suffering.
Affliction offers those who have strayed from God, the opportunity to run back to Him. Pain is a reminder of who is really in control. But what does affliction teach those who don’t believe in God? Who vindicates, frees, provides grace and listens to the one who worships None? The same David who pled with God to answer him, later asked his afflicters, “How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie?” Despite his suffering, he could see their deeper dilemma—ignoring God. Affliction has a way of doing that—bringing clarity to what matters and doesn’t matter . . . something to think about . . . in reveration.
Inspiration
The agony of a man’s affliction is often necessary to put him into the right mood to face the fundamental things of life.—Oswald Chambers in The Shadow of an Agony
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