From Mountain Peeks-Psalms 80:7, 9-10
7 Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us,that we may be saved… 9 You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. Psalms 80:7, 9-10
A friend of mine drew a picture once of a mountain–a stick figure mountain, with a stick figure person. On the mountain she drew lines, each line represented a layer of grief and problems. The stick figure was initially drawn at the bottom of the mountain, looking up to the sun from under all the layers. I could only imagine how little sun one would see when seeing through layers of a mountain to find it. Chances are, such a view would only be the evidence of the sun, or in this case, Son*, not actually the sun/Son itself. From this view the problems look huge and monumental.
Then she erased the stick figure and drew it again standing on top of the mountain. The point was clear as day–when we join Jesus where He is, our problems, our grief, are not so big. They still exist but they are seen within the context of a larger picture. The point is not how many problems we have or how much grief we might experience, but from what point or place are we going to view them and who we’re going to view them with.
Many times people take time away for vacation or a spiritual retreat and they feel like they are on a mountain top for a while. When it’s over they feel like they have to go back to the valley (which can also feel like a pit!) where the problems seem huge and the Son becomes unclear again. I’ve been to the Alps where the top of the mountains are even above the level of clouds! Imagine seeing your world from there? From the top of the mountain we can join Jesus and see clearly. From the top of the mountain, the Son shines down upon us and filtrates our problems.
This is an art, one practiced, prayed for and learned. Where shall we live, where will our hearts dwell–on the mountain top or in the valley? By finding jesus, we’re given an invitation not to dwell where there is no suffering but to dwell where the Son is and see our world (personal and otherwise) with His eyes.
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
Shadows-Hebrews 10:1
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The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Hebrews 10:1
When we see a shadow approaching from behind a wall, we know that something is coming. The shadow sometimes perfectly indicates what is coming but sometimes the shadow is not clear enough to determine all that is approaching. Either way, we don’t get excited about the shadow because it is not the important factor–the object is.
So it is with God’s story. The laws of the old testament were shadows of what was to come, helping us realize that we can’t be who we were created to be simply by being good or doing things ourselves to get right (like sacrificing animals year after year after year for our sins to be forgiven). Jesus* came to be the one final sacrifice so that all who believe He took our sin upon Himself, put it to death with His own death and then came back to life would be able to do the same–live as a new creation, not by our own doing but by His! Jesus is the real deal that makes it possible to discover and become who were made to be–made holy to be living and walking a life with a Holy God.
But we are also given shadows in God’s word about what’s to come in the pages of God’s story not yet been turned. We are seeing some of the shadows in these days shadows as described in the Scriptures indicating with each decade that we are approaching those end times. We cannot make out all the details of the story with perfect depiction, and God’s Word doesn’t describe every detail either, but we can see shadows of things we were told would come indicating that a new time is approaching. We don’t know when but we are certainly closer than when Jesus spoke these words 2000 year ago!
As we see the shadows of things to come, we need not fear. They are just shadows only made visible because there is Light shining. If it weren’t for God’s light ablaze in the heavens we would not even see the shadows, or what’s coming. Be encouraged! God’s plan is perfect and is born not only out of love but out of His deep desire to enjoy His presence with us and ours with Him. The ultimate experience of this will be known in that final chapter when all of God’s adopted children will bask only in the light of His glory forever!
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
Lilac-Matthew 28-29
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“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”
It’s interesting that Jesus* tells not to worry about clothing, that His creation, the flower, is dressed better than the wisest and wealthiest king, and Paul tells us later on in Galatians 3:27 ., that we are clothed in Christ, the King of Kings! (“for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”)
While it’s God’s plan to shape His people, like a potter at the wheel, making us more like His son Jesus for our good and His glory, He sees us clothed in Christ while in the process of perfection! God is Holy and cannot be with us if we are unholy, not even a little tiny bit. So He clothed us in Christ, when we believe in the saving work on the cross, so we may know His intimate love and presence as He intended us to experience in the beginning of time.
When we see the beauty of God’s creation as lovely as a field of wild flowers, we can remember that if God provides for them, the water and air and sun they need for their grand appearance, so God provides all we need to be in His presence, clothed in Jesus who provided the way for us to be with our Maker.
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
Old Barns-Psalm 144:9-10, 12-15
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“I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David. Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; our oxen will draw heavy loads.There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.”
For those who sings praises to God because He’s so worthy of our praise, He showers His love and blessing on their lives. Blessings do not always mean wealth–in God’s economy, blessings come in a variety of ways. Blessings are any and all that God has for our lives that, if we continue to praise Him, brings us greatest joy, greatest lessons in life, greatest acknowledgement of His love and a life filled with Him. In the times when it seems we are “without”, but praise Him because He’s worthy of our praise, we will find His blessings are over abundant. Jesus* alone in our lives is a blessing beyond measure!
The old barn reminds us that there may be things in our lives that are aged, worn down in some respects but filled with God’s mercy, love, peace, joy and wisdom and is surrounded by abundant life. Ever have days when you just feel beat up, worn out and without the energy to sing praises? But when we praise Him because He’s worthy, even if we don’t feel up to it, we’re filled with blessing, power and energy! And we praise Him because He’s worthy of our praise!
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
Psalm 14:12-Sunset by the Sea
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May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. ” Psalm 14:12
The evening sky often looks like it’s on fire, blazing radiantly across the horizon, the power of its radiance splashing a glaze of color over all the land. Blue turns gold, waves glisten like diamonds under its command, and the deepest things of earth melt into darkness. The clouds of the fiery sunset rise up as if to praise the Lord, the Majestic One who created it all and paints the evening sky different every single day and in every land watching!
Why wouldn’t we praise the Lord our God, our Maker, Creator of all things? What blocks the light of the Lord from shining to spur on our respectful reply to join the heavens in raising our hands and giving praise to the One* who is most High? Is it sadness, anger, bitterness, envy, discouragement, depression… what blocks our praise when we don’t have the energy or motivation to look to the Lord, or to be reminded of all He is through the masterful hand of his artistic creation? Is He not worthy of praise no matter what we might be feeling today? Rise up like the Sun, or perhaps like the Son, and praise His name, His nature, His character, because He’s worthy of our praise.
When we chose to praise even when we are feeling low about our life or about ourselves, keeping our eyes looking up, the heart eventually follows and we find body, mind and heart rejoicing in harmony for joy in the Lord–exactly what we were made for and the Lord will say, “It is good.”
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
Lighthouse-Matthew 5:14
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“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
To the best of my knowledge, there were no lighthouse as such in Biblical times but light shining in high places was as essential for fisherman at sea in Biblical times as it is now. And light that shines on a dark night stands out far more brightly than one that shines in broad day light yet the beauty of a light house is equally lovely day or night.
People love lighthouses. Endless pictures of lighthouses plaster google images on the Internet, shine on stationary in every Hallmark store, gleam the covers of books in every Barnes and Noble and LifeWay store across the land and tourists spend hundreds of dollars every summer visiting them, if only but to take a photo?
What’s the fascination? Light permeates all space, instantly! We don’t like darkness. It can hurt us, even harm us or kill us if we can’t see where we’re headed. Jesus called Himself the Light of the World, shining light in the dark corners of the hearts of man who struggle to understand the purpose of his existence. And if we believe in Jesus*, who shines light on all things, we too are called to be light in the world, giving hope to those who seek Him, even being a light on a hill like that of a lighthouse. The stature and light of a lighthouse gives us hope to find our way!
The next time you see a lighthouse, reflect on the beauty of its stature and the life saving light it provides for both sea and land venturers and be encouraged–there is both Light for us and Light to shine from us by simply accepting and believing in Jesus.
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
Charleston Sunrise-Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
No matter what we’ve done, where we’ve been, what we’ve been thinking, the grace, mercy and forgiveness of the Lord* for His children is new every morning. While the Scriptures encourage us not to use this grace to keep sinning, we are in fact, sinners that cannot exist in the sight of our Heavenly Father without His mercy!
Every morning when we watch the sun rise, even on a cloudy morning, we can be reminded of the glory of the Lord and His mercy on us. Each day is a new day to get a new start, a fresh start, to be forgiven and to be made new. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy lasts forever.
When we don’t accept His forgiveness, we are in fact saying our sinful nature is too big for God. It’s basically thinking that Jesus can take on everyone else’s sin but not our own. Totally not true! No matter who you are, God is not too small or unmerciful to forgive us, change us, renew us. Give thanks. Ask forgiveness, and each morning let the rising of the glorious sun (rising of the Glorious Son) remind us of His mercy on us and then… LIVE!
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
Resounding Sea-Psalm 96:11
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Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Psalm 96:11
The light of the moon directs the baby sea turtle, the sea mist moistens the flowers along the shore. The rocks make a home for sea creatures and all this is God’s perfect harmonious design. Why wouldn’t the heavens rejoice, the earth be glad and the sea resound? It’s under the masterful and Sovereign hand of its Creator! God’s creation understands the death of winter, the dark of night and the mess of a rain storm. All works to bring an end to the old and birth to new life day in and day out.
But human beings, since the Fall of Man, live for their own desires and fail to remember or even acknowledge the Creator and the rhythmic and His perfect orchestration to maintain it and allow it to play its role for ‘today’ in God’s big and ultimate plan–to restore the earth and His people back to Himself! For those who know this, it is easier to acknowledge the death of winter, the dark of night and the mess of all kinds of experiences that fall on us–it’s part of God’s plan, His great Big, ultimate plan for His creation. Knowing this, the whole earth should rejoice, daily, along with God’s people*, because our Creator is Perfect, Good, He loves us and His creation and He knows exactly what He’s doing for our good and His glory. He’s worthy of our praise!
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
All Things Under Heaven–Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
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There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
*We are adopted in God’s family when we believe that we can’t earn our way into holiness; we can’t ever be good enough on our own to go to Heaven. This only comes when we understand that Jesus took our sinful nature to death on the cross with Him, and like Him, rise again into a new life (born again) to live eternally with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit that will live with us to guide us and our prayers and counsel us all our days on earth.
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