To Praise Without

Having a place to go 

at the end of the day,

is called home.

Having some one there 

who loves you,

is called family.

Having a constant, 

understanding friend,

is called blessing.

Praising God when 

none of these gifts exist,

is called trust.

copyright 9/26/2015

Waking Up To Reallity

 "That's so cool, isn't that sweet; I wish I had a relationship like that. It's no secret that he loves her. He talks about her all the time and they've been married for years now. It seems the longer they are together the more they love each other."

Those of us who are watching such couples applaud them. We cheer them on and have a desire to replicate such a relationship. Even though such a devoted relationship is a rarity in this world, we wish for such a blessing to be ours as well. 

It is not considered weak to love another with such devotion. We would never consider them trying to draw attention to themselves or entering into this relationship to make themselves feel good or even that they are just faking it. You can only fake love for so long. True love is an internal thing. Fake love is an external effort that is impossible to maintain forever.

Why is it, then, when one falls in love with Jesus with this same devotion, some in the world view it with disbelief, disdain and mockery? Why does the world see a love affair with Jesus as a weakness, or an embarrassing spectacle? They want to know: How can you devote so much time to this religious stuff? They say: There are far more important things you could be devoting your time to. According to a world's point of view, to step out of "normal" pursuits of this world is just plain stupid!

They just don't get it!

The love relationship Jesus invites us into doesn't mimic the relationships we experience with each other. It is the other way around. God gave us the ability to love each other here to help us see what a relationship with God might look like. But even if it may be similar, there are vast differences as well. Our relationships here on earth are temporary and often dependent on circumstances, whereas our relationship with God begins here, but carries on throughout eternity with far greater benefits and unhindered by circumstance. 

Inconceivable? Not at all. Just like the Matrix, we need to wake up to what reality really is.

copyright 9/19/2015

The Tower

I heard the story of the last survivor who was rescued after 27 hours in the rubble of the collapsed towers on 9/11. Realizing she was going to die she started talking to an unfamiliar God. She had heard about Him and how He had performed miracles for others so she told Him she did not want to die.  She was a desperate mother calling upon Him to help her. 

After a time she realized someone had found her. A man had moved close enough to touch her, encouraging her that everything was going to be okay. He even reached out His hand and held hers for support. He invited her to keep hold of His hand until help arrived. She asked him what his name was and learned that it was Paul.

Finally, the fire-fighters cleared away the rubble enough to set her free and bring her out of that dark place and  into light and safety. As they were loading her into the ambulance, she ask them to stop so she could thank Paul, the man who had held her hand through the awful 27-hour nightmare. They said that there had not been anyone else with her and there was no fire-fighter present whose name was Paul.  

Proverb 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.” This precious lady called out to that name and He came to be her fortress and hold her hand. 

Man-made towers crumble and fall, but the name of Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus can take on the form of maybe Paul or Dick or Jane.  But one thing is for sure: He will hold your hand for however long it takes to bring you to the light and to safety.

The love of Jesus changed her that day and now she proclaims that name because He became her fortified tower.

copyright 9/12/2015

  

Dark Corners

The light of God's presence illuminates

the dark corners of our lives.

For those who wish them not revealed,

the light becomes an offense.

copyright 9/1/2015