Sacredness in the Mundane

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom 

His favor rests."

Luke 2:14

If there was somewhere to be, a moment to witness in history,  it was in the fields with the shepherds when the angels showed up to tell them about the baby lying in the manger. The Baby, their Savior, Christ the Lord. And then as if that wasn't enough, they heard a multitude of angels singing, praising God. They saw them, a host of angels filling the sky. The glory of the Lord shone all around them. THE GLORY OF THE LORD, the melody of angels! Imagine that!

These men, minding their business, doing the mundane job of tending sheep, day in and day out, were chosen to hear heavenly choirs in joyful worship. Those men, sheep tenders were some of the first to know our Great Shepherd, the Prince of Peace, had come. He had been born into this world. His arrival, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords landed Him in a barn. Everything was about to change.

These were not theological scholars. Not the best and brightest. They were common every day people. Like you and like me. Living out their lives. Putting in their time, doing life. And then every thing changed. God burst in. Oh the juxtaposition of high and low. Glory and the mundane. Human and divine. 

Joyous news displayed, proclaimed across the night sky. The stars twinkling in creation harmony. It was the beginning of a L-O-N-G awaited time. It was the first heralding of the Good News. The Kingdom of heaven had come. And those those shepherds were witness to it. 

God, Who created the universe, self existent, eternal, self sustaining, majestic, almighty, came as a babe. He came in the most humble, most mundane way possible. Completely dependent on a young man and woman to care for Him. This sacred, holy Life entered our world through the portal of a manger scene. He became one of us. 

How often does God do that? Burst in when we least expect Him. Isaiah speaks of his vision of heaven and says, "And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY.”     Isaiah 6:3

I read that passage not too long ago and I have been pondering what it means. I think it means the whole earth is FULL of God's glory! We most likely won't have an experience like the shepherds did but I am convinced that we can learn to be more attentive to His glory as we realize it is all around us. We can look for Him and His fingerprints as we go about our days, in the mundane, things we tend to take for granted. 

Our breath. Clouds dancing across the sky. A flower pushing through a crack in the side walk. A kind word. An inspiring word. Hope that defies circumstances. The privilege and ability to pray. A child's laugh. A Savior, named Jesus who came to rescue us, Who is Love, Who came down to set our hearts free. 
Make your own list!

God, give me eyes to see the wonder of your creation, your holiness everywhere. Forgive me for fixating on what is not right, what is not good. Those things are there but I want to focus on Your goodness. I want to recognize Your favor, Your beauty, Your good gifts wherever I am. Help me see these good things in others, even when they aren't at their best. Help me see others as you see me, Lord, through eyes of grace and of love. Thank You for coming, for resting Your favor upon us, bringing us Your peace. Thank You Lord for filling this earth with Your shining glory.

The Advent of Light

Because of and through the heart of tender mercy 

and loving kindness of our God, 

a light from on high will dawn upon us and visit us.

To shine  upon and give light to those who sit in darkness 

and in the shadow of death, 

to direct and guide our feet in a straight line 

into the way of peace.

Luke 1:78-79 amp

Advent begins today. We begin the countdown to Christmas. The celebration of the coming of Love. Love incarnate, Jesus, Who came and lived among us. 

This is a season of craziness, of consumer frenzy, of over the top busyness. I don't want to get sucked into all of that. I want to ponder about what this month can be about. If I am intentional.  And to start with I am drawn to the idea of light. 

The passage above speaks of Jesus coming from on high, from heaven, to bring a glorious dawn to a world tainted with darkness. Light came to us, born from the heart of a merciful and loving God. Indeed the world seems so very dark right now as horrific things are happening across the globe.  Evil seems to be unleashed in ways that are not unfamiliar if we look at the track record of mankind, but it seems to be more blatant, more widespread. World powers are flexing their muscles and it seems we are on a dangerous precipice. 

The good news about light is it always wins. Dark can not overcome light. When light is shined, even a tiny spark, it always dispels darkness. Light is powerful, hopeful. It is penetrating. It is also revealing. What darkness tries to hide is exposed in light. Light eliminates darkness. It can never be the other way around.

The promise of a light coming (see Isaiah 9:2) was something generations of God's people looked forward to. They yearned for it as they toiled in struggle filled lives. They waited for generations for this promise to be fulfilled. And then Jesus was born. 

Heavenly light came in such a humble, unobtrusive, and vulnerable way. The way the Light of the world came was unexpected. Many missed it. A tiny child. One of us. But this was God's plan from the beginning of time. This child's coming was the dawning yearned for by the hearts of so many. John 8:12 confirms Jesus is the Light. "When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

We begin this season of Advent in anticipation tinged with joy as we celebrate Love that has come to us. We can share this love, this light with others, our hope, with those who walk in purposelessness, pain and confusion. 

We don't have all the answers. There is still much darkness all around. But Jesus promised to come again to usher in a time when light will be everywhere. No more darkness.

This time is spoken of in Revelation 21:23-25. "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates be shut, for there will be no night there."

All of these verses are filled with hope. They talk about following Jesus now, about walking "in a straight line into the way of peace."  Since the birth of Jesus, people have been able to live in His light until the fullness of light comes, when all things will be put right for good, as we see in the Revelation passage. 

We can live in gratitude for the Light that has broken through. We can follow Jesus, Who illuminates our way, day by day, through the ups and downs of our lives. We can look to Him to direct and guide our feet through this often dark, yes, but also hope-filled world.

May we all be blessed in this Advent season as we ponder the wonder of Love, the Light of the World that came and lived among us.

His Grace Ahead of Us

Jesus said to them, 

"My Father is always at work to this very day, 

and I, too, am working." 

John 5:17

There are so many things we just don't understand; things that happen, things that are difficult, heartbreaking even.  The world seems to be drowning in suffering. Hard times aren't unique to modern times. We can look at scripture, put ourselves in the shoes of those who walked long ago, and see they too lived through tragedies of their times. How they grappled with the difficulties thrown their way, how they behaved in the midst of it all can be very instructive for us. Some chose to believe God was there, in the midst of it all, and chose to walk in truth and integrity. And some chose to take matters in their own hands. Esau giving away his birthright for a bowl of stew comes to mind. Some learned from their trails and sadly some didn't.

We see Jesus' patience with Mary and Martha when they accused Him of abandoning them when Lazarus died. He told the mourners, the crowd, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"  And Lazarus rose from the dead. Jesus knew the outcome of the situation, what God had in mind. How much do we leave outcomes to God?

We need to have faith. Faith is not necessary except when circumstances bring us to our knees. Faith is choosing to believe God is always at work when we don't see it.  We might not understand what in the world is going on, but we can choose to believe God knows what He is doing. We can choose to trust His promises.

Prevenient grace. This is the concept of grace that goes ahead of us. I love that idea. Grace with a plan. A plan that reveals God's heart for His creation. It is a heart of love and compassion. It is the heart that came out of the garden after the first wayward choice was made, the first time mankind chose to not trust God at His Word. God came out of the garden and pursued His creation in spite of their folly.   

He provided a path for us. A way back to Him, our Father, Who loves us and wants to be with us. His is a path of love and grace. He sent His Son, Jesus, to walk that path in order to make a way for us. Jesus is the One Who offers us His companionship on this path of grace so we are never alone. 

I know there is much, MUCH debate about prevenient grace. I don't wish to get into that. But I do want to remind myself, that whatever my day holds, wherever i go, God is there. He has gone ahead of me. And He is at work. Always. For my good. 

I can anticipate His presence with me. His Presence enables me to trust Him, even if I am confused and don't know exactly what to do. I can trust Him to sort out things that seem overwhelmingly complicated. In His timing.

Ours is a walk of faith. Faith enables us to stand. To stand strong. Faith enables me to live in confidence and freedom from worry. Do I do that all the time? Not even. But I am learning. He is at work in me. Always.

Lord, help me to lean in and listen, to trust what You are doing in me  and also what You want to do through me. This is a moment by moment thing. I am so thankful You are waiting for me when I arrive, whenever and wherever I go. My mind can hardly conceive of that. 

Help me to be present in the moment, cognizant of the fact that You are at work, especially in puzzling circumstances. I don't want to be tossed to and fro by the things that go on in my head that cause worry and confusion. Help me live in the peace and security of knowing You love me and want the best for me and You are working that out.

Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a Voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:20-21

Cast Your Net

The disciples had seen the resurrected Christ. They experienced the joy of seeing Jesus after His defeat over death. Yet they still didn't know the part they would play on the world's stage. They didn't understand  the direction of their lives would be completely rerouted by His resurrection. They were headed back to their old lives, to what was familiar.

Simone Peter said to them, "I am going fishing!" They said to him, "And we are coming with you!" So they went out and got into the boat [Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, John, his brother James and 2 other disciples], and throughout that night....they caught nothing. John 21:3 So off they went.

They came in after working hard, all night long, tired and empty handed. And there was Jesus, standing on the shore, waiting for them. And as is often the case with us, they didn't recognize Him at first. 

Jesus knew exactly how they felt, what they had been doing the night before. He knows us so well. Our circumstances, our challenges, our bent. He calls out to them, "Hey guys, have you caught anything?" Like He didn't know?! They answer no. One can imagine the despondency they felt as the man on the shore asked them the obvious.

Still not recognized, Jesus tells them to throw the net out again...and precisely where to throw it. He promises them they will find fish this time. Of course He knows where the fish are; He knows the names of the stars and how many hairs are on our head. He is God.

Their catch was overwhelming. They connect the dots and recognize Jesus. They come ashore and see Jesus had breakfast waiting. It was time to do serious business with His disciples. They didn't know it but they weren't going to go back to the fisherman's life, the life they knew. They were about to become the first of many generations of men and women whose lives were all about representing the Resurrected Saviour to our lost and hurting world. He had work for them to do. The mission Jesus began was to continue through His beloved disciples, His followers. This was the plan. We are the plan.

Around the campfire, over a warm meal, He tells them they are to tend to His sheep. They  were to be about the business of God's Kingdom. I'm pretty sure this was news to them.

Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. As believers, we can expect our lives to be rearranged by the Lord, as He has His own plans for us. Sometimes we aren't sure what to do. The future can seem vague or confusing as we attempt to live into new ways. I am so thankful for God's patience with me as I struggle to understand the way He wants me to go, where to cast my net.  I am also in awe of how He seems to break through the messiness of life and accomplish His ways, in spite of us, as He leads and guides us.

Lord, help me to recognize and carry out the plans You have for me. I want to come to You so You can tell me where to cast my net and not spend hours in fruitless search. Thank You for Your tenderness towards me when I go back to the old familiar ways of living. Thank you for leading and guiding me to the meal that awaits me, fire burning, all ready to go. And mostly I am in complete awe that You are here with me so I don't have to eat alone.

In the Garden

It all began in the garden. Our fellowship with the Almighty God. Genesis 2:15 says the LORD GOD took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden.... But then we know what happened. The man and the woman were tempted. They gave in. This was the beginning of trouble. Lots of it.

There was the sound of the LORD GOD walking in the garden, enjoying the cool of the day. That is when Adam and Eve hid. But it is worth noting, they knew that sound. We can imagine the many times they enjoyed the garden, the delights of it, the beauty of it with God. 

God cried out to them as they were hiding. Of course He knew they were hiding, what had happened. But He cried out to them none the less. Their fellowship had been breached.

So God had to put them out of the garden, where there was more temptation, more opportunity to bring more evil upon themselves. Yet once banished, we see God making the first blood sacrifice for mankind. He Himself, made garments of skin to cover their nakedness, their shame. This is a preview of His  great love and His provision for all of mankind.

I am reading about the culmination of God's love and  provision in the Book of John. I can't help but notice it was a garden Jesus was led from after He was betrayed by Judas. Many translations refer to this place as a garden Jesus often met with His disciples in. It seems to mirror Genesis. The garden. The place were God met man and they enjoyed fellowship.  

In John 18, Jesus was bound up and led away from that garden, the one He often met His disciples in. He went out just as Adam and Eve did. He did not nothing wrong yet out He went. Willingly. His supreme sacrifice was set into motion. Not another animal sacrifice, but the once and for all sacrifice was going to be made. God provided once again. He was going to get rid of guilt, shame, and death once and for all by sacrificing His One and Only Son.

After His death, Jesus body was laid to rest in a garden tomb. He had re-entered the garden. His work on earth was finished. And a way for us to have fellowship with God was made. Once again we can walk with God in the garden. The garden of His love.

Being with God is an oasis in the midst of the trials of life we all face.  This metaphor of the garden, God's desire to be with us in beautiful fellowship, His tenderness and love, His provision, even back in Genesis is deeply moving.

Thank you LORD, for making a way for us to walk with You. Forever in sweet fellowship. Thank You that you pursue us. Relentlessly, persistently, patiently and faithfully, because You are loving and kind. Thank You for Your all encompassing provision. 

Beyond Locked Doors

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”   After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!                                            As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  John 20:19-21

Jesus had been crucified. A brutal murder. He had been laid to rest in a cold tomb. His disciples were locked up behind closed doors overcome with grief, fear and confusion. Paralyzed and traumatized, not knowing what to do next. The future they perceived was a shattered dream.  Hopes dashed. Death was lurking. Were they next?

All of a sudden Jesus Himself appears. He tells them "peace." Twice He tells them as He knows they are in a bad way. Now it was time for them to understand this was always the plan. Brutal as it was, it was what needed to be done. Jesus overcame death by dying on that cross. He did it for them, for all of mankind. He wanted them to know He had it all under control. He knew what He was doing. Always did and always will.  He want them to have peace knowing they could trust Him. There was no need for fear. No need for grief. Jesus was (is) alive. This changed everything. Joy filled the room.                                                             

We get ourselves behind those closed doors don't we? Paralyzed with fear, with grief we just don't know what to do next. Anxiety, grief, fear, all of those emotions that try to grab ahold of us and strangle the life out of us. They rob us of joy. They rob us of peace.

There are times when we struggle for good reason. Bad things happen in life. No one is immune. Yet Jesus breaks through. We don't have Him physically, yet He somehow makes Himself known to us. Maybe it is when we read a verse in the Bible that reassures us like, "I will never leave or forsake you" from Hebrews 13:5. Or "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." from John 14:27. 

He actually warned the disciples the night before he died, to prepare them for what was about to happen. But they just didn't understand. He knew they wouldn't get it. We are so slow to understand sometimes. Yet joy was just around the corner. It came when Jesus appeared in that locked room. 

Isn't that us too? We just don't understand. Why is this happening? What am I to do? Yet we too can trust Jesus. We can trust He will bring us through. We just need to let Him in, behind our locked doors. Will life be perfect? No, not in this lifetime. But He will be with us in it. There are no locked doors for Him. 

He has a way of letting Himself be known when we need Him, in ways that are deeply transformative. Ways that build our faith. Ways that assure us of His great love for us. Ways that shatter the lie that life is meaningless and we are alone. Ways that guide us to that next step. The step out of the locked room.

He had plans for those first disciples. He wanted them to share the joy! He wanted them to help bring about God's Kingdom of love and grace to others who were hiding behind closed doors. Men and women who were living in rooms of pain, addiction, disease, of loss and despair. 

These disciples had work to do. He was giving them His assurance, His peace so they could leave that room and go out and live lives infused hope, faith and love. He wanted them to share what Jesus offers everyone. His peace, with joy.

I thank You Lord that there is no door You can't penetrate. There is no corner You can't see around. I thank You that as I open the door of my heart, You bring healing and peace. You help me step out into the sunshine of knowing You love me and You are with me. Always.

Hidden Beside the Brook

Go from here and turn east and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. 

You shall drink by the brook, 

and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. 

So he did according to the Word of the Lord; 

he went and dwelt by the brook Cheirth, east of the Jordan.

1 Kings 17:3-5

The amazing Elijah enters the scene. This is our first look at him in the pages of scripture. And what we see is a man who hears from God and does what He says. I believe this is the secret of his "success," why God could use him in such mighty ways.

In these verses, God directs him to hide himself by the brook. This is where he is to find water to sustain him during a time of drought (which God told him was coming in verse 1). Drought, which always leads to famine, was coming but the man of God was directed where to go, in order to survive. He was in survival mode. He had a life line.

Elijah's story unfolds from here with incredible highs and devastating lows, but this is where we see the bedrock foundation of Elijah's life. He hid himself by the brook.  

We too can hide ourselves by the brook, the brook of God's Living Water.  Jesus says in Matthew 4 :4 "It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God." We have opportunity to greet each day, knowing that it is Him Who sustains us, Him who directs us with His tender care. We can go to the scriptures. We can listen and hear what God has to say to us day by day. 

We see the reality of God's provision lived out in the Elijah's life as he listened to God. His circumstances weren't always easy but he lived day to day, with his ear inclined towards the Lord, listening and then doing as God asks him to do. As we live by the brook, listening to God, we find He reveals Himself to us too. In His mysterious way, He speaks deeply to our hearts, guiding us through the challenges of life.

Thank you Lord, that you are here. Drawing me close to You, where I can be refreshed, guided and strengthened by You. I don't always do life perfectly, but You are there regardless. Endlessly, eternally flowing as a river, sustaining life along your banks.

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

They feast on the abundance of Your house;

You give them drink from Your river of delights.

For with You is the fountain of life;

in Your light we see light.

Psalms 36:7-9

But Even Now...

John 11. Back to the story of the three siblings Jesus loved. Lazarus is dead. In the tomb for a few days now. Jesus finally shows up. Mary is too distraught to move. We've all been there.

But Martha. She sees Him and runs out to meet Him. She approaches Him with, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." I imagine she is saying this with frustration. Confusion. Deep sorrow. That is how it is when things seem to be falling apart all around us. Our hearts ask, "Where were You Lord? How could this happen?" I love her honesty with Him. She knew she could take her questions, her frustrations, her grief to Jesus.

But she goes on. But even now... "But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Such faith. So Jesus answers. But with a bigger answer. He revealed truth about Himself that transcended the here and now of the situation. Yes. He could raise the dead. But He IS the resurrection. He IS the life. Those who believe, though they die, will live again. Eternal life through Jesus. This is why He came. To reveal this. And He did to this women who came to Him.

Jesus so often answered questions with the bigger answer. Martha went to Him and she learned more than she asked for. And so it is when we stay with Him, when we don't hang back in utter despair like Mary did. Martha wanted something from Jesus and in classic Jesus style He gave her so much more than she even knew to ask for.

He wants us to teach us too, even in the difficult, painful times in our lives. He wants us to learn to grasp and keep in mind, the bigger picture. He wants us to operate out of a Kingdom perspective that goes beyond the trivial and mundane issues of our right here, right now lives, no matter how earth shatteringly important they seem to us now.

It is the but even now that I love. Martha went to Jesus knowing He could do more. She knew that with Jesus the impossible was possible. 

Jesus spent His time on earth working at getting the message across that we need to believe. We need to trust. We need to have faith. We need to come to Him with all that concerns us. 

He seemed so frustrated at times over  His follower's lack of faith. Martha was the one who came out and nailed it. She acted out of her understanding that, even now Jesus was the One to look to, the One Who could change everything. Jesus knew Lazarus would be walking around again, real soon. Martha was the one who dared to believe.

I want to dare to believe too. I want to live in that audacious belief that not only trusts but finds peace of mind knowing that Jesus takes what is dead, all that is messy and ugly, and bring His life to it. He is the God of resurrection. He is the One Who makes all things new. I want to walk closely with Him so I don't miss what He has to say to me as I live in this lost and broken world.

Thank You Lord, that I can run to meet You. That you are here, right now. You are the One I can trust to bring life to all that is broken and bereaved in me and all around me. Life is messy. We are messy. That is why you came. Thank You that I can trust that it will all work out and that my life is safe in Your Hands. Thank You that you are the God of even now....You have in mind better things than I can ask or imagine. Thank You for being the God of resurrection, of life.

In the Meantime

Then Jesus came from Galilee

to be baptized by John.

But John tried to deter Him, saying, 

"I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now;

it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."

Then John consented.

Matthew 3:13-14

Jesus came. He was present with John and with the people being baptized. John knew He was the One. 

But Jesus wanted to be baptized. What? John thought that was pretty much wrong and told Jesus so. Seriously, why would the Messiah need to be baptized? The Holy One of God? And then John, knew he was just a man, and not a perfect one at that; he didn't feel qualified to baptize Jesus. Not at all. This seemed like a bad idea.

Jesus didn't argue with what John was seeing as improper. Instead He answered, "Let it be so now." This seemingly improper thing was proper for the now of that time and that place. Proper for the big picture plan God had in mind for Jesus' mission to rescue the world. It was the right thing to do even though it didn't seem right. And John got to be part of that plan. 

There is comfort in the words, let it be now. This assures me that in the messy, uncomfortable, even painful places of my life, things can seem wrong. Terribly wrong. Yet He is with me. There is a "let it be for now" in my life. In all of our lives. My job is to lean in and trust God knows what's going on. He has things well in hand, even in the now of my life, just as He did back then.

So the big question is, am I willing to trust Him without fully understanding? Do I consent to doing things His way (as best I can) even when it's hard? I know He hears me when I come to Him and ask about these things but often the how and the why are so shrouded. The future is concealed. I only see the way through, day by day. How it all comes together is foggy. Those are the places to hone my faith. Places where the rubber hits the road.

There is comfort in the words, "Then Jesus came...." He was there. And He is here too. He is with me in the now of my life. And for that I am so grateful. And I am learning that that is enough. His Presence with me.

Help me Lord, to have a heart like John's. Willing. Trusting. He was able to identify things that weren't right. They weren't as he imagined them to be when Jesus showed up. It is the imagining of how I think things should be that gets in my way. John did what God asked of him. He got to be part of the plan. That is what I too want.

Help me to walk in faith, trusting that You are at work and there will come a day when we will see the ultimate fulfillment of righteousness. In the meantime, thank You that You are with me in the now. Day by day. I am so thankful!

The Broken Pieces

When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples, Gather up now the fragments  (the broken pieces that are left over), so that nothing may be lost and wasted. So accordingly they gathered them up, and they filled twelve [small hand] baskets with fragments left over by those who had eaten from the five barley loaves.       John 6:13

More lessons from lingering on the hillside with Jesus.  
From their "not enough", they were instructed to gather the leftovers so they would not be wasted. Leftovers! 5 loaves, 2 fish and 5,000 hungry people. Jesus' life in and through us is so amazing that from our "not enough" He gives us more than what we started with. This is only possible through the Hands that created something from nothing. Creator. Life giver. Life sustainer. 

Where do I go with this? I can only marvel that I come to Him hungry and needy. I clamor for His attention. Desperate at times. I lay everything down, at His feet. My little loaves. My few fishes. As best I can anyway. This is what I have. That's it. Not much. It never seems enough. 

Yet He has things in mind. Always. Good things. It may not feel like that in the crucible of the challenges of life. But looking back I can always see how He multiplied nothing and got something. I always have pieces to pick up from my brokenness. A basketful.

Today as I read in the Psalms, I came upon a verse that used to be a prayer. A heartfelt prayer for someone I deeply love who was in trouble. Someone who was lost in a world of hurt. Reading that verse I realized that this verse is now a memorial. It is a remembrance of God doing something incredible. It was a miracle. The miracle of His intervention. The miracle of new direction,  new life and hope. Not an overnight thing but something of great substance. Something that has born fruit over time. Overflow. A basketful of leftovers, broken pieces being used for the glory of God.

That is what God does. He takes our lives, our broken pieces and makes them more. When we take the time to recount what we learned, how we grew through our trials and most of all how He was with us always, we can see that we end up with so much more. Our souls are enlarged. More of His life is formed in us as we have learned little by little to live His way. 

Our pain is not squandered. Only in His Hands, is this possible. He can create abundance out of our losses, our heartache, our trials. The pain is never wasted if we surrender it to Him.

Lord help me see what You have done in my life. To see the basket FULL of Your grace in my life. The big things yes but more, help me see the little things. The daily miracles, the moments of grace tucked in to the corners of my day. I thank You, that with You, all things are possible. With You there is  overflow. More than enough. Abundance.

He Knows What He is Doing

John 6:4-6 The story continues. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do."

He already had in mind what He was going to do. If I could only really wrap my mind around this, and know deep within me, that God knows what He is doing and that He is working for my good. My heart would rest in peace. Yet I struggle and strain in the not knowing.

Our journey as Christians is a walk of faith. It is the crux of the matter when it comes to our relationship with God. We must believe things we can't see. We must trust Him enough to follow Him in all we do. Therein lies the challenge. Yet this walk of faith can be so freeing as we know with God all things are possible.

This morning I read in the Psalms, Psalm 115:9 amp O Israel, trust and take refuge in the Lord! [Lean on, rely on, and be confident in Him!] He is their Help and their Shield.

Refuge: a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. Originating from a French word meaning "to flee" and it is a place to flee to in order to get away from people or places that are unsafe.

When I don't feel safe or protected, when I face an uncertain future or am suffering in any way I can have peace knowing God is my Help and my Shield. Jesus in this case, had in mind to feed 5,000 hungry people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. I can trust Him with the outcomes of my life too, regardless of the limitations I see and feel about my self, my life.

Philip  only saw the problem. His reply was, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" His was a reply of not enough. 

Jesus was trying to teach him that He could be trusted. He could take what they had on hand, their not enough and make it more than enough. The point here is Jesus, the Bread of Life, is enough. 

Lord, You are enough. You are my Help and You protect me. You know what You are doing. Help me to move past just seeing the problem and move toward living in the anticipation of how You are going to work things out. Help me let go and trust that Your ways are so much better than mine. You have the perspective of seeing beginning to end. Forgive me for my impatience, my worry. You know what You are doing. Help me know, really know deep within me, that knowing You is enough. You are my Refuge, my safe place where my heart can rest secure, as You are about the business of accomplishing Your good purposes for me and even through me. 

Even to your old age and gray hairs

I am He, 

I am He Who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4

The Bread of Life

The Jewish Passover Feast was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do." John 6:4-6 niv

It amazes me how this story of Jesus feeding the multitudes is so rich with lessons. Every time I read it there seems to be more tucked away in it. It is obviously a significant narrative as all four gospel writers tell a version of it, each with their own lovely and unique insights.

Jesus had taken His disciples away to be alone with Him for a bit of time. This alone time with Him was part of the rhythm of life He was developing with them. He desires this rhythm of "life with Him" for us as well. 

Passover is mentioned in this passage. So easy to miss this fleeting reference but this time I asked myself, "Why mention  Passover?"  I was also drawn to the word bread. He asked them where they could find bread. Enough bread for the hungry crowd. 

They had no idea that Jesus, the One sitting on the grassy hillside with them, was Himself, the Bread of Life. He would soon be the One Who would fulfill all that the Passover feast meant to them. 

Isaiah 55 then came to mind and I was reminded of the greatest invitation of all time. And a free invitation at that. Once again I read these amazing words.

1Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! 

Come to the waters; and he who has no money, 

come, buy and eat! 

Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine 

and milk without money 

and without price 

[simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

2Why do you spend your money 

for that which is not bread, 

and your earnings for what does not satisfy? 

Hearken diligently to Me, 

and eat what is good, 

and let your soul delight itself in fatness 

[the profuseness of spiritual joy].

3Incline your ear 

[submit and consent to the divine will] 

and come to Me; 
hear, and your soul will revive; 

and I will make 

and everlasting covenant or league with you, 

even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David. 

Isaiah 55:1-3 amp

This passage, written hundreds of years before Jesus was even born mentions bread. "Why spend money on that which is not bread?" We do that. We spin our wheels in pursuit of all kinds of crazy things trying to find satisfaction.

This is an invitation to come to the LORD! The invitation is ongoing. Satisfaction, delight for our souls. All we have to do is come. Slow down and linger with Him. Lean in to listen. Ah! This is how our souls are revived. 

I have been thinking about hearing/listening. God seems to ask His people often, to listen to Him. Might it be because we want to do all the talking? 

I think there are levels of hearing. We hear with our ears and sometimes it stops there. In one ear and out the other. And then there is hearing and processing with our minds only. This gives us much information which is satisfying to our intellect, our egos even. And that can be okay.

But then there is listening with our hearts. That is how God wants us to listen to Him. He wants to penetrate our lives and pour into us, all He desires us to know about love and life in Him. His way. His truth. His life. And from this place we are able to pour out. It is the Kingdom way.

Back to John 6, later on in the chapter, Jesus declares, "I am the the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty." 

Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah 55. He is God Who came. The Bread of Life, Who lived, died and rose again. We remember this every time we take communion. Yes, there maybe heartache, trouble and toil in this life but He is the One Who sustains us through it all as we come to Him. 

There is much more from these few verses. Tomorrow is another day. In the meantime, Lord, help me to turn to You. To come but also to listen. Thank you that You are the Bread of Life. Bread which represents Your precious body, broken for me. Thank You for Your willingness to come to me, that I may come to You.