The Morning Song

22 Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your Faithfulness!24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3: 22-24

Taking my dog out in the morning has become one of my favorite daily routines for the last year or so.  From the moment I open the front door, I breathe in the air of the new day and hope is renewed!  Especially when the weather is good, but even if it is rainy or snowy, I find great comfort in being outside early in the morning when life is still quiet and only nature is active.  It's my time to thank God for another day and to let my heart fill with the oxygen of the joy that the morning brings. 

I look up and seek the hues painted by the rising sun; and, even when the clouds threaten to mask it, I know the truth: the sky is always blue.

In the back and forth of my dog's curious pacing, my mind has time to wander to spaces of peace as these early-morning experiences bring a song to my soul.  It is the song is of God's love and faithfulness.  It is the song of gratefulness.  It is the song of humble acceptance of His mercies and of His compassions that never fail for they are, indeed new every morning!

In this simple routine, the Holy Spirit guides me.  In these brief encounters with nature, I'm able to witness the greatness of Our Lord.  In the company of my furry friend, I venture outside regardless of the weather and am able to have precious moments in harmony with My Heavenly Father.  In the quiet of the morning, I hear His whisperings saying: The Lord is my portion and I will hope in Him!

I remember not long ago, taking the dog out with the first lights of the day used to be a dreaded chore that I happily surrendered to whoever else would happen to pass by.  The problem was, nobody else was silly enough to venture downstairs that early (they knew they'd get handed the leash before their feet touched the last step on the stairs).  Now, everyone knows that's my job, and that I do it gladly.  Even the dog refuses to go out with any other than me.  The chore has become a joy, and for that I'm blessed.  The chore has brought a song, and for that I rejoice!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord onto me!

Mighty to Save!

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3: 17

Don't you love redemption stories, when the good guys win!?  I just can't get enough of superhero movies, when there is a clear-cut line between good and evil; and good is always victorious!  I think, the reason I love these storylines so much is because we live in a world where the lines are so blurred they have almost disappeared.  But superheroes and villains remind me that we are not of this world.  We are just on a journey.  And in this journey we will encounter many battles.  But the great war is already won, and it's won by the heroes...by the Greatest Hero ever to walk on this earth:  Our Lord, Jesus the Christ!

He is the Mighty Warrior Who Saves!  And He is with us...regardless of the hurt, the pain, the fear, the worry, the anxiety, the problems or the darkness that this world might bring us, Jesus is with us always, and "in His love He will no longer rebuke us, but will rejoice over us with singing!"  Can you imagine that scene?  Our Savior, rejoicing over us with singing!  SINGING!  What a day that will be when we see Our Lord sing!

Zephaniah tells us about the time when there will be a remnant who remains faithful to God; and how that remnant will see the rejoicing of the Almighty as fear disappears.  After a period of great desolation when the people of God have been disobedient, have cast Him aside, and have brought woe upon them, The Mighty to Save God will purify the earth and protect His remnant, who bring Him great delight.  In this day of victory, The Lord will no longer rebuke His beloved, but instead, He will bring restoration over all.  And He will sing!  

Like the movie scenes in which the faithful stands alone, and just when we think he'll be stricken one last time, the forces of good appear as if from heaven and the war that seemed lost is irrevocably won for the good of humanity, and as the credits roll the triumphant song plays on the background leaving the viewers filled with hope...that's the picture Zephaniah is painting here: after much trials, we win and we get to hear Our Great God sing in victory!

I can't wait to witness that day!

But for now, I pray I can remain faithful as part of the remnant, and wait for the redemption of He Who is Mighty to Save!  Amen!

 

Crossing the Jordan

It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31: 8

As I type the encouraging and uplifting Scripture of today, I realize how much I needed to hear this.  I'm entering a season of anxiety; therefore, the words that Moses spoke to Joshua, his successor are truly fitting for me today.  I too feel as if I'm about to step into my own personal Jordan.  So I imagine how Joshua must have felt when Moses passed on the staff to him as the new shepherd of Israel?? I figure he must have felt a bit of anxiety to say the least.

Can you imagine having to fill Moses' shoes?  I mean, talking about feeling inadequate! Joshua, however, had a very important thing in his favor: his faith.

Remember, he was one of the two spies that were optimistic after 12 of them had gone into the land of Canaan.  Joshua and Caleb where the only ones who figured they could take the giants of Canaan...the other 10 felt like grasshoppers, fearful and disillusioned.  Joshua had become Moses assistant and for years he lived by the leader of the Israelites, preparing for this moment where he would be the one leading God's people across the Jordan.  Therefore, despite his nervousness, Joshua counted on God's reliability and faithfulness...and so did Moses when he officially presented Joshua as the one who would lead them from then on:  "It is the LORD who goes before you..." Moses said.  In other words: you need not be afraid...for the actual burden of leading is upon God's shoulders.  He is the True Shepherd...He goes before all of you!

I take those words at face value.  I believe they are spoken to me and to all of us all these many millenia later.  "The LORD goes before you..." when you face the current in front of you, be not afraid, He is already in the water.  Step in faith, He leads you...and He will not leave you or forsake you.

So, it's OK if the Jordan awaits.  I know who goes in front of me!

May these words become part of us as we prepare to cross our every-day-Jordans.  May we not be dismayed, for His strength sustains us, in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!

Biblically-Inspired, Uplifting Message!

Nicole (front right) Ileana (front left) and me during this year's girls-only trip in May.

"Do you like that devotional?" Nicole asked me as she saw me pulling out my pink copy of one of my favorite morning readings.  "Yes...but...why do you ask?" I replied, remembering I had sent her a copy a while ago.  "I don't know...I like it too...but...don't you think that way too often the readings start with things like:  'you have a very rough day ahead... or ... a plethora of problems will arise as you wake up' ... and stuff like that which leave you like...man...should I even get out of bed today?  You know what I mean?  Doesn't it bring you down to read that?"

hmmm...

I couldn't do much more than to quietly agree as I remember myself thinking the same thing a few days before...and an idea sparked: perhaps, I should write a series of Biblically-inspired, morning readings that would carry us through a month with uplifting messages that help us set our minds in all things joyful and victorious!  I could write it and send it to Nicole so she could read it and feel the negativity vanish with the morning fog! It's a perfect summer project! Yes! I'll do it!

This was during our yearly girls-only-trip this past May.

I have yet to write the first line of this grand enterprise.  

Sigh...

Today, however...after what seemed like the roughest, most draining Labor Day holiday...totally due to my lack of self-control and zero parental skills, and as feelings of guilt piled up in my heart, making me appear as the most wretched human being the world has ever known, I've decided it's time to start.  

So, rather than beating myself on the head over and over and over again with the guilt of my Mommy-Hulk behavior, I will take a different approach: instead of hiding in shame from God, I am going to sing His praises!  I am going to embrace a challenge.  The next 30 postings (however long they may take me to write) I will write biblically-inspired, uplifting messages that will speak of the victory we have in Christ!

There!

Challenge accepted!

Oh...dear...what have I done? Mrs. negativity, Mrs. drama, Mrs. woe-is-me is actually going to stay uplifting?! How is she going to do that?

By the power of the Holy Spirit, of course!

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8: 26

And that's exactly what my posts might be like: wordless groans...but I know that He will help me in my weakness and give me what He wants me to share, so Nicole and I and all who would read them would be inspired to find the joy in the everyday, to hang on to His promises and to walk in trust by the Hand of the One who makes all things new and everything work out for the good of those who put their trust in Him.  Amen!

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19: 14

to be continued...

September Attitude

As I open the windows and let in the cool breeze in this gloomy Labor Day morning, I can't help but think on how much I want summer back!  With a deep sigh I realize no matter what I do, however, summer is coming to its inevitable close to usher in fall with its melancholic hues...and I want to protest!  Everywhere I go, pumpkin spice is in the air already, while the cheerful flip-flop-themed store displays sit clumsily on the corners of a forgotten clearance aisle.  And I can't stand it!

But, I can't stop it either...

Summer with its carefree days in the heat and fireflies at night is behind.  The time for fun trips and family vacations is over.  The anticipation of exciting places to visit and embracing loved ones that we see only once a year has passed.  The wonder of discovery and the relaxation of lazy afternoons on the deck are all gone.  Bathing suits, movie projector for night-time flicks under the stars, outdoor furniture...are all stored away. And the relentless spin of Earth, with its unstoppable cycle of the seasons continues, forcing sad goodbye-rituals to my favorite time of the year, as the one I most fear is already knocking on the door. 

As I select the fall wreath that will hang on the front, and think of colorful mums blooming in pots at the bottom of the steps, I'm reminded there's nothing I can do to stop the passing of time.

Sigh...

Medical tests loom in the horizon, and I cringe; work piles up, and I fret; High School Senior-year commitments approach, and I tremble; Middle School struggles slap us on the face, and I snap; car problems, dirty house, uncooked dinner, unanswered e-mails, dog needs a bath...Mom comes undone...

Is there anything I can do to stop the madness? 

Yes! There is something I can do to face the avalanche that comes with the new season: trust that the One who created them, walks with me, guiding me and giving me the strength I need to face what's ahead.

The fear that grips me reminds me that I am weak.  There's no way I can do it by myself.  But that same fear and weakness also remind me that I don't have to, because: 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56:3

In my fear and in my weakness, the Holy Spirit reminds me that it is precisely there, where My Heavenly Father finds me, and whispers in my ear:

  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

In my despair, He guides my every step:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Yes, it is a gloomy, September morning.  And even though, we might still have some days that might resemble summer, gone are the golden, not-much-to-do moments with kids laying on the couch, and Mom fixing lunch in the background.  It's time again for rushed breakfast, catch the bus, make sure there's money in the meal accounts, leave for work, pray we didn't forget anything at home moments that take our breath away.  But I can still make it a point to find the beauty here, right where I am...as I change more than the wreath on the door, I have to change my September attitude!  I have to change my perspective and believe in the plan of the One Who Holds my Days in His Hands!

 

Lord, may Your Holy Spirit always remind me that in every season, in every moment, in every circumstance You are with me and Your strength, grace and power are, indeed, sufficient! I hang on to Your promises and I choose to trust You.  In the Precious Name of Jesus. Amen!

When Will I Ever Get This?

Today's devotional reading hit it right on for me.  It combined two concepts I am struggling with at this moment of my life:  trust and stillness. 

As I am entering the busyness and craziness that comes with the beginning of a new semester, medical tests, homework, senior year, driver license tests, teaching at two universities, planning events, deciding what to cook for dinner or what to wear, finding time to get to the store to buy a new leash for the dog and picking up my pills...being intentional about setting time aside to be still and just trust, becomes a great challenge for me.

Trusting that the world is not going to collapse, that opportunities are not going to be missed, that people are not going to vanish, that love will remain, that everything is going to fall into place instead of apart while I take time to spend in quiet, one-on-one communication with God is rather difficult.  And it is difficult because I don't trust.  I don't fully trust that God is the One in Control.  I don't trust that He, and not me, is the One who takes care of things.  I don't trust enough to let go, even for just a few minutes, to dedicate to "sitting quietly in His presence."  I don't sit quietly in His presence often enough, because I don't trust that the world will continue its relentless spin if I'd do... as if it were me who makes it spin, right? ... when will I ever get this?!

Sigh...

What I need to realize is that my approach is completely wrong.  It is, precisely, in that act of setting time aside to be still before the Lord that I demonstrate my trust, and, like my devotional reading suggests:  "By waiting with Me before you begin the day's activities, you proclaim the reality of My living Presence.  This act of faith - waiting before working - is noted in the spirit world, where your demonstration of trust weakens principalities and powers of darkness."  (Sarah Young, Jesus Calling)

It takes faith to wait in the Lord...it takes trust to have faith...it takes love to trust.

I find my trust when I remember that I am dearly loved.  Regardless of what the world might show me or what I might go through or the lies of the enemy, the truth is that I. AM. DEARLY. LOVED. and that's all I need to know.  I rest in His love.  I give thanks to the God of Heaven, for His love, surely endures forever! (Psalm 136: 26) And I pray that the Holy Spirit allows me to remember every single moment of my day, that I can trust Him enough to draw near Him.  That the "most effective way to resist evil is to draw near Him." And that sitting in His presence is the best action I can take when I feel like there isn't enough time in the day. Thank you, Lord Jesus for Your Faithfulness...

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! Psalm 36:7

Praise as Sacrifice

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13: 15

Has it ever happened to you that, even though you know...you KNOW you've read a passage or a verse many times as to become very familiar, all of the sudden, one day, you read it again and it is as if you've never read it before?  That happens to me quite often.  I know...perhaps, it is that I have so many things running through my mind all the time, that what I thought was familiar is only superficial, at best.  But...I truly believe that God speaks to us through His Word which is alive.  Therefore, it is always fresh and He can use it to send us different messages at different times even with the same words.

At ary rate, that happened to me on Sunday.  Pastor Doug was going through his third sermon on Hebrews 13...or something like that :) I can't keep track...Hebrews could be a challenging book, especially if you still have a toddler climbing all over you at church...o wait...I don't have a toddler anymore.  I just have a very sluggish teenager who acts like one.  But that's beside the point.  The thing is that, all of the sudden, I saw the supersized words of Hebrews 13: 15 projected on the wall and it was as if I had never seen that verse before, especially the part where it says: "a sacrifice of praise..."

The combination of words seemed so odd to me.  Sacrifice and praise should probably not be on the same sentence, I thought.  Praise is not a sacrifice, or is it?

I was reading through someone's commentary on this verse, I can't remember whose, and he offered the idea that praise is easy, when things are going well, that is.  But try to praise God when the detours come, when the going gets rough, when the valley gets dark and the shadows of death cover us and fear entangles us...that's a whole other business we're dealing with then.

The challenge is contained in one of the words that precede:  "continually."   "Let us CONTINUALLY offer to God a sacrifice of praise..."  That is when praising becomes a sacrifice: when we realize we must do it continually in order for it to be considered a sacrificial offering that would replace the blood offerings that the jews were required to give to God on a continual basis.  This is the Christian equivalent of the blood of bulls and rams and birds: our continuous praise.  Even when the phone rings and you hear the words you fear; even when the door slams one last time; even as the last shovel of dirt falls on the casket; even as the light switch just doesn't seem to ever turn back on; even as the sense of falling never seems to end; even as we are rendered powerless and we just have to submit...those are the moments when praise becomes a sacrificial offering which fragrance ascends to the heavens to delight Our Almighty God.

And the praise must also be pronounce as the "fruit of lips that openly profess His Name!"  Saying it aloud is how we seal it.  It's not that He can't hear us as we say it in our hearts and minds.  But we must proclaim it with our lips so the enemy hears it and flees.  The enemy can't penetrate our souls for we have been claimed by Christ and the Holy Spirit lives in us.  So, we need to say our praises aloud for the prince of darkness and deceit to hear that we are faithful and that through our pain we are offering our song of love to the God who Rescues us.  The enemy needs to hear that we are not going to fall for his schemes and that we are not going to run away from God just because our situations are not ideal.  The enemy needs to know that he is not going to separate us from Our Father and that WE know our ability to praise is not determined by our circumstances.  Just saying the name of Jesus aloud is praise!  So even when that's all we can do, let His Name flow out of your lips in Praise. There is much power in doing so!

As I walk through my own valley of shadows, I want to offer my special sacrifice of praise:  I praise You, Lord for another opportunity to trust You.  I'm afraid and I'm nervous, but I choose to trust You and I offer you thanksgiving.  Praised be Your Holy Name, now and forever! Amen!