Passion to Privilege

Ever been given something that caused you to be so excited; you could not wait to show and share it with someone?  Perhaps an object or even a new perspective you now have, an answer to prayer, or a triumph in your life. Our excitement in the Kingdom of God is not meant to be kept to ourselves.

We see this in David’s life. As he wrote with passion many of the Psalms, he couldn’t wait to tell of … ‘what he had’.  In Psalm 18, he begins with:

I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  (v.1-2)

This was not written as a teen skipping through the fields with his sheep.  NO!  David had come out of one of the biggest trials of his life ~ Saul was out to kill him!  Yet God delivered him, and he HAD to tell about it.  He declares:

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. (v.16-19)

Psalm 20  David takes his victories and shares them …

In times of trouble, may the Lord answer YOUR cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep YOU safe from all harm.  May He send YOU help from His sanctuary and strengthen YOU from Jerusalem. May He remember all YOUR  gifts and look favorably on YOUR  burnt offerings.  May He grant YOUR heart’s desires and make all YOUR plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of YOUR  victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all YOUR  prayers. (v.1-5 emphasis mine)

This week while at bible study, the Lord showed me something very personal; I sat next to a new gal, she in her mid 60’s, declared she is NEW to the bible and knows nothing about it, I found that to be true as I showed her where the book of John was.  As the study progressed I helped her fumbled through the pages to find the verses we were looking at. 

Then at one point I was driven to near tears.  It hit me, what an awesome privilege to sit next to this woman. She was so hungry and wanted to learn so badly.  Later, as she prepared to leave, she told me of her frustration of feeling inadequate when it comes to the bible and God things.  I had the opportunity to share with her my passion for the Word of God and how that passion grew from trials in my life and God meeting with me.  THIS encouraged her, she is coming back next week!  My excitement and passion ~ now a privilege!

Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.   (Ephesians 4:29 The Amplified)

I admit I have taken this verse ‘slightly’ out of context, yet the truth is so relevant.  May my excitement and passion be verbalized as to cause growth in others! 

What passion has or is being birthed in YOU that someone next to you could benefit from? Do as David did, share God’s truth, share it from your life.  What an honor and privilege to have God pour into our life as we in turn pour it out to others!

Passion to privilege.

In Him, DeDe  (Ps. 92:4 You thrill me, LORD …)

This morning at bible study, as the ladies walked down the small hall way to the door opening to our class room, they were met with – ‘obstacles’. They had to weave their way past 2 garbage cans, a large room divider on wheels and stacks of boxes. I wanted them to ‘work for it’, to enter the room. See what you are missing at bible study!  I enjoyed the looks, the comments, even the suggestions of moving the obstacles. At one point I had to leave the room, to find that our senior pastor had come in to greet the gals, and he too noticed the ‘stuff’ blocking free access to the room, and asked if we ‘needed any help’. (thanks Pastor)

I am always looking for ways to make a good point, to bring the gals something they can get their head and heart around. This week we studied the altar of incense in the Tabernacle, and the significance it paints of ~ prayer.

God has gone to great extent to make way for us to have relationship with Him. He longs for conversation. Not any conversation, He wants intimate one on One time with us. As we looked at the process to enter the Tabernacle it literally took alot of work, but since Jesus came, the work was and is DONE! As the veil was torn we now have complete access to the Most Holy God. YET, again YET, why do we still hesitate in our approach to God. Since the way is now clear, the obstacles are more likely of our own making. Hm …

I suggested to the gals that as they came in to class, they had to go past the garbage, (not pretty is it) past the dividing wall, and the stacks of stuff to get to their goal ~ the coffee and donuts AND bible study, (not particularly in that order). They ALL made it too. I then asked them how do YOU approach your time when you pull out your bible, homework, and prayer? Do you allow obstacles to hold you back, or hesitate? Do you keep going regardless? Does the garbage in our life distract us, or are the dividing walls erected to keep us from a full view of our God. The stacks of stuff, have you too noticed that if it is not properly dealt with, we just move the stacks from place to place.

One gal said, she came in and through and didn’t even notice the obstacles. We all had a good laugh, cause we are all moms, and at times, that IS our life, FULL of things we have to crawl past, step over, and climb around. But we don’t give up do we, we don’t use it as an excuse.

I gently posed the challenge that the next time we are tempted to stop and pay attention to the ‘obstacles of distraction’ in our life, keeping us from time in God’s presence, that we think of entering the door to bible study ~ we wanted in, and moved past, regardless. I am not saying we don’t deal with our garbage, walls and stuff, we do, we just don’t use them to keep us from GOD! Get in His presence, turn and then take them on. Go God!

The door is WIDE open, come on in!   Enjoy!

In Him, DeDe

                             Speak Lord!
“What? What was that, did you call me?” Have you too experienced thinking you heard your name called. Troubling isn’t it? The world is so loud at times; to hear your name called, and being assured you heard correctly, can be a challenge.

I am suppose to be studying the altar of God, in the court of the Tabernacle of Moses, but keep coming back to an assignment given to me by a pastor, ‘how God choreographs our lives through relationship, the Holy Spirit and His word’. Perhaps, I am still standing at the altar on this one; BOTH are relationship, the Holy Spirit, and His word.

I was taken to 1 Samuel chapter 3, the boy Samuel is in the Prophet Eli’s care. One night Samuel hears his name called. Little Sam was being ‘trained’ to hear the voice of the Lord. Notice how patient the Lord was, He could have sent another prophet to Samuel and Eli saying ‘look here, little proph in training, God wants you to know …‘ proceeding to share the word of the Lord with him. Or, Eli could have just said, ‘here’s the deal ...’ continuing with a tough, confrontive lesson. No, God is gentle. He wanted SAMUEL to hear and receive the word, personally.

The Lord comes at night, in the quiet and speaks Samuel’s name. I find it interesting that at first Samuel mistakes the voice as Eli’s. He goes to him, trying to discern the voice. Either way, Samuel acted, even in his ‘not-so- assuredness’. He got up and inquired.

Eli the wise teacher is used in this process of learning. Sending Samuel back to bed, then provides opportunity for Samuel to REALLY hear God. Verse 9, “if the Lord calls to you; say ‘speak Lord, for your servant is listening.’” To me, these are some of the most life changing words of advice ever recorded in the bible. “Speak Lord, I am listening”, what an invitation!

To hear God, and want to listen to what He actually has to say, is quite daring, I might add. The God of the entire universe speaking to ME, whooo!  I LOVE what happens next, just as Samuel says the words God was looking for, “I am listening …” the Lord came and stood there, (v. 10) Presence is accompanied with listening. LOVE IT! God knows, He REALLY has Samuel’s attention now, saying “Samuel, Samuel“. There is another place that God repeats a name, remember “Abraham, Abraham …” just as Abe’s hand is raised ready to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22). God KNOWS when He has our full attention. Again Samuel says, ‘speak, for I am listening’. Then God shares with him His word.

In this we learn ~ hearing God’s voice:

First, God’s voice requires a trained ear, we will hear Him. Jesus says, “My sheep listen to My voice’ (Jn. 10:27) This ‘listening’ means to give ‘an audience to, to understand’, but most importantly, the opposite of this listening is ‘to talk’, meaning WE stop talking and are quiet while HE speaks, we ‘shut up and listen up’. (smile) Often I have heard folks say, “God doesn’t talk to me, I can’t hear Him”. My response would be, ‘are you quiet long enough to allow Him room to … talk.‘ There is a time for dialogue, but also a time for quiet.

Second, He will come again and again. He will continue speaking until He gets the answer He is looking for. Ever felt you are hearing the same thing, over and over again. Everywhere you turn, ‘there it is – again’. In His speaking, He may use the radio, TV, books, people, His written word, and the pulpit.

Thirdly, others may help in the process of hearing God, go to them, go to those whom God has entrusted to you through relationship; one who you know already hears God’s voice.

Fourth, expect God’s presence. Where His presence is, He is speaking. And lastly, God’s word is personal. He knows us by name, and calls us by name. Keep an attentive ear, for YOUR name. Be seated and ready, as an audience on opening night, excited. When you hear it … be oh so quick with “speak Lord, I am listening“.

This week, may we listen . TRULY listen, offer times of quiet.

Speak Lord!

In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 You thrill me, LORD …)
 
you can view my personal daily blog at http://butgod.blogspot.com

                         Awed By God
Title, achievements, wealth even appearance, these are the qualities that we look for to be amazed by another. We are so captured by what we read in the media and hear through the air waves, that without the awe of people or circumstance, we tend to slip into a stupor, a daze of ‘blah’. We desire, long for – even pursue to be found . .. marveled. We seek the BIGGER, the more grand to keep our senses alive.

With all this stimuli, are we found awed by God? Do we see the same excitement when we read His word? Do we pursue it, position ourselves for it?   hm ~

Joshua told the people “Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5). They were preparing to cross over into the Promise Land. It had been YEARS of waiting, years of telling of the promise, now they were going to experience it. There was great anticipation.

They were called to ‘consecrate’ themselves, this was the call to ‘make oneself holy’, in that, they were to set themselves apart, separate from the norm, prepare, position. In their preparedness, God would do amazing, ‘awesome’ things in their midst. Fascinating, that the Hebrew wording is the same for their part as it is for God doing His part; consecrate, separate from the norm, where ‘amazing’ is to be separate, distinguished, to be extra-ordinary! See the pattern? They prepare to be amazed, and God just shows up. Are YOU awed by God?

Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God“, LOVE this verse! It is translated ‘cease striving’ in other versions. Cease striving, means ‘to release’, but not only that, it means ‘to become weak, to let drop’. We are releasing those things as if in a tight grip of our hand, as we do – we will know God, letting God BE God.  It is not merely the ability to gather information; it is a ‘knowing by experience’, this experience is done through relationship. Relationship with God, what an awesome, extra-ordinary opportunity. Are YOU awed by God?

In the New Testament, it says that people were amazed, and marveled when Jesus healed the sick, calmed the storm, and taught with such wisdom. There is a time also; that Jesus just appeared, and show His nail scarred hands.

Thomas, he was known for his doubt. I appreciate his honesty. He said, what most of us may have been thinking and feeling. John 20, Jesus appears to the disciples following His resurrection, it says that Jesus stood among them, saying “Peace be with you” and then said to Thomas “Put your finger here, see My hands … stop doubting and believe”. Thomas responds, “My Lord and my God“. It doesn’t say it, but I would believe this was said as he falls to his knees. Thomas was awed by God, the revelation of WHO He is. Are YOU awed by God?

Are we found feeling ‘blah’? What is it that would cause us to ‘awe’, be in wonder, marveled? Do we allow ourselves the permission to release what we hold so tight, and experience the Lord? Do we seek relationship? Do we prepare for the extra-ordinary of God? Do we listen to the wisdom of Jesus? Do we allow Jesus to step up to us and show us His nail scarred hands?

God is BIG, bigger than anything that Steven Spielberg can create or even image. This week, allow the opportunity to be awed by God.

May we stand with hands lifted high, eyes closed, and quote the words of David ‘For Thou are GREAT, and doest wondrous things; Thou art God alone! (Ps. 86:10) May our attitude be “Nothing and no one comes close to You! I start talking about You, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words..” (Ps. 40:5 The Message)

Awed by God.

In Him, DeDe (‘You thrill me, LORD …’ Ps. 92:4)

Trim Your Wick

The CANDLE . Warm glow, dancing of the flame, the slow drip of the fragrant wax.  Soothing isn’t it?  One could sit for hours in its shadow, just admiring the affect it has on us.

At bible study, as the women enter they are greeted with a white linen covered table; with two tapered candles burning in long stem crystal holders.  The atmosphere is warm and elegant, inviting.  There is something about … a flickering  flame.

 
The Lord revealed Himself many times in the flame, the bush with Moses, where he was commissioned, and Yahweh gives us His name, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3).  The pillar of fire at night to the Israelites, extending His guidance, warmth and protection (Ex. 13).  Solomon dedicating the Temple, fire came down from heaven as God’s glory filled it (2 Chron. 7). One can not talk fire, forgetting to mention the show down on Mt. Carmel, Elijah and his God against the prophets of Baal (I Kings 18).  

  
Oh, we may not be calling God down from heaven these days to consume our sacrifice to prove a point, but the use of the flame on a smaller note, we can understand.  The theme of the candle or lamp in the bible is strong.  In Psalm 18:28 David writes “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness”.   Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path“.   It is God that burns, His presence, His word that lights our way; it is in our very next step we desire Him to be present.  Light our way O God!

With the joy and privilege of the candle comes responsibility, tending.  The priests DAILY tended to the lamp in the Tabernacle.  Along with the sacrifice, the water, the light, these needed daily attention.  When God gave strict instruction of the articles for the Tabernacle, He included the ‘wick trimmers’.  Exodus 25:38, the wick trimmers were made of pure gold. 

As I researched this, I was amazed to find ~ the need that as we trim the wick short; we ‘cut off yesterday’s fire.’  It was described that the wick begins to have a small build up, causing the flame not to burn pure, and too fast.  This is the black soot that flows from the flame; it is drowning in a large pool of melted wax.   This soot seems to fall and attach itself to those things closest to the candle.  Hm… think on that.   We trim for a fresh, even, pure, lasting flame!  Fresh Fire!  Does that stir something in you?
 
The Lord spoke to me about the need to come DAILY, seeking His presence, His word, that FRESH  FIRE, depending not on yesterday’s experience!  As I trim my wick and prepare for a fresh word from God, His presence comes.  As He did with Moses, He will reveal Himself to me, commissioning me for the day.  As the Israelites, He will guide me.  As His temple, He will fill me.  Just like Elijah He will do great things in my midst. 
 
How is your flame burning?  Is it yesterdays fire, or has it gone out completely?  Seek as David did,.. ‘light my candle O God!
 
Fresh Fire. trim your wick, for a pure, even, lasting flame, Go God!  (wouldn’t that look great on the Yankee candle label)
 
Have a God loving, burning bush week.
 
In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 You thrill me, LORD .)
 
*  You can read my daily blog at http://butgod.blogspot.com/  (copy/paste to your search bar)

                  God is Our Initiator

I have the privilege of doing research for pastors.  I LOVE it!   I get to do what I call … play.   I dig around in the original language, cross reference and put the puzzle pieces together.  This last week, I worked on God is Creator. This pastor gives me just the title and I run with it.  This was not only fun, but impacting. 

I began at the very beginning.  Genesis 1:1, ‘In the beginning God created …’   Created is bara (baw-raw) in the Hebrew.  Lovely word, it means to create, select, and choose.  It expresses creation out of NOTHING.  Genesis is an awesome display of creating out of nothing.  It is also to engrave, carve.  Paints a wonderful picture doesn’t it?

Bara is used ONLY in context to God as the One who creates.  Many other words are used for create, such as– to make, to form, establish.   All are qualities of God, yet ‘bara’ emphasizes the ‘initiation’ of an object.  God initiated the world, He initiated man/woman.  He initiated covenant with man.  He initiated a love relationship, “We love, because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19)

There are other places God initiates.  David says in Psalm 51:10 ‘Create [bara] in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me’.  David goes to the One who could do such a thing.  He isn’t asking God to take and use what is already there in his heart, but to create something completely new, use new materials, God materials.  THAT is our God!  As bara is the initiation of something, may I suggest, David cried out ‘start something here, right here in my heart God!’

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)
God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Have we found ourselves frustrated, because we may do or even ‘be’ what we don’t want?   We attempt over and over to change, but to no avail. What do we want – NEED God to start, create, even carve in us?  Place there for the very first time.  God is the God of start, the God of firsts.  God is our Initiator!

May we implore of God as David did, ‘Create in me ________ O God’ (you fill in the blank) Be honest!  Watch as God does His handiwork in YOU!

Have a God-loving, allowing God to create, week!

In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 You thrill me, LORD …)

There has to be a verse in the bible SOMEWHERE, giving the call to … upgrade. Hezekiah 7:3, yes that is it … ‘those of sincere desire to accomplish much, will seek to improve that which is already possessed.’ (Totally kidding! no such verse, sounded good)

Last night, I sat horrified starring at the computer screen; soon my head was in my hands, as tears stung my eyes. It’s GONE!  ALL GONE!  To upgrade my bible software to the newest – fastest – BETTER program, I had to ‘uninstall’ what I did have. So I began the process. Bible Explorer vaporized, Wordsearch 7 only a memory.  ALL the commentaries, dictionaries, 18 bible translations now lost. Oh, the pain!

Confident I had pushed the right buttons, that 5 letter word, that sends chills down even the geekiest neck, flashed across my screen ‘ERROR’. I could NOT install the new version. Mind you, that for some this is a minor event in one’s life, but for a bible teacher, this is my Kitchenaide, (which I have no clue how to use) my industrial vacuum, all the gadgets most swoon over.

I sat starring into the black abyss of the screen. Then it dawned on me, I reached forward and laid my hands on the computer screen – “in JESUS NAME, come out of there!” Obviously I do not have enough faith, the screen did not fall as if under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, or scripture begin to run across my screen in neon lettering, NOTHING.

Then I resorted to plan B. CHOCOLATE!  That was it; I hadn’t had any in 3 days. So, I drowned my sorrows in a bowl of fat free chocolate frozen yogurt. I felt better, but the program still didn’t work! Being the teacher that I am, thought there IS a lesson in this.

‘Wait on the LORD, be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart, wait I say on the Lord.’ (Psalms 27:14) real verse.

So, I wait ~ until Monday morning when I call the tech support for the installation challenged morons – that is me.

Is there something you are waiting for? It is NOT all gone, restoration is on the way!

Waiting in the upgrade …

                                        The Mis-used Gift
 
 
This last week I have been studying in the book of Exodus, preparing for our new ladies study of the Tabernacle of Moses. I NEVER get tired of the story of God delivering, guiding, providing and dwelling with His people.  I am in chapter 32.  I love the heading of this chapter, so to the point, tells of the whole sad scenario in 3 words… The Golden Calf.  
 
While Moses is up top on the Mountain getting the instructions for the materials and the building of the Tabernacle, the children of Israel were down below… ‘playing’.  
 
Chapter 25:1-3, 8 (NIV)
 
“The LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze… “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”
 
Fascinating!  While God was telling Moses to have the people bring HIM their gold… the gold HE provided for them, when leaving Egypt:
 
And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. The LORD caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!  (Ex. 12:35-36)
 
See what the people were doing with a portion of the GOLD.  The gold they were to offer to HIM.  GOD’s gold. 
 
The people grew extremely impatient waiting for Moses.  Moses was their leader, the spokesman for their God.  No leader, no God was their mindset… we can’t see our God, we can’t touch our God… so what did they do … ‘make their God’.  Isn’t that so true today!  We want… we make to fill and feed our insecurities.  
 
The people went to poor Aaron, (yes, I like this dude) telling him, ‘make us gods, who will go before us’.  So Aaron told them ‘take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing and bring them to me.’
 
They did so, and the golden calf was made… Aaron built an altar in front of the calf, and sacrifices were presented by the people.  They continued on as mentioned in verse 6 ‘they got up to indulge in revelry’.  The King James says ‘they rose up to … play’.  They were mocking, and as verse 25 says ‘they were running wild’.  You can imagine what ‘running wild’ means – they were being ‘naughty’.
 
God sends Moses back down off the mountain, and Moses finds this MESS!  In his anger AFTER he throws the tablets to the ground… he melts down the golden calf and grinds it into powder, then adds it to the water and makes the people drink it.  It was the only way to ‘completely’ destroy the idol. 
 
What a stinkin waste of good GOLD!  Gold that was provided for the people for a specific purpose!  The Tabernacle, a place God’s presence would dwell, a place of worship.
 
After I got over the chuckle of Aaron’s response to Moses… ‘I threw in the gold, and looky there, out came a calf’ – HA!   The Lord spoke to me in this.  We do the same thing today… God provides something, someone, even a circumstance intended to be used for HIM, His use… His presence –  His glory… and what do we do with it… we make it into something for … US!  Once it is made, we worship, we play, run wild…
 
May we seriously consider what the Lord has given us… gifts we have (are) mis-using, that is intended for HIM.  To be direct and specific… do we have talents, skills, finances, time, relationships (the list goes on), are we taking those and making for US?
 
Personally, I don’t want God to make me ‘eat’ or drink something that was meant for a blessing, because I mis-used it!  I get enough of humble pie!  How about you?
 
Have God-loving, don’t mis-use the gift, week…
 
In Him, DeDe (You thrill me, LORD …) Ps. 92:4

                           Yielding to the Yoke

Many times as I prepare to write a study or devotion, I have PAGES of research.   There are  yellow stickys slapped all over my hand written notes, definitions, scripture verses, cross references,  and yes a few doodles here and there.  I believe as I began to actually write this particular devotion it would be out of my own personal spiritual journal entries that I glean from most.  My head is bowed as I consider those things He has whispered in my ear these past couple of weeks.  Thank you Jesus.

Yes, I will quote from the original Greek, steer you towards some awesome principles, but it is the heart of what God is saying that I ask you to keep in mind.  We will spend the next few weeks considering what it means to get strapped in with Jesus, and go for the wildest ride of our lives!  Yielding to the Yoke.  Let’s begin…..

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30  (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and
learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.

This is an invitation.  It is personal.  It does not come at a more perfect time.  The invitation is on going.   It is however, one that requires a R.S.V.P.  How many times we procrastinate in our R.S.V.P. because we are just not sure that we can commit or actually wait for a better offer to come along.  Well loved one, it doesn’t get better than this.

The context of what Jesus is speaking to is that of the traditions of the day, the forced customs of carrying the burden of the law.  There was so much ‘do’s and don’ts’ that they actually lost sight of ‘being’.  Sound familiar today?
The Pharisees called obedience to a program (religious duty) – Jesus calls obedience to a person (relationship – discipleship).
 
Often we read something, and it is quick and we pass over it.  Not this time.
I spent nearly 2 days on the phrase ‘come unto Me’.  But first, we look at what Jesus was talking about just before He said this, it was in His prayer that He says (verse 27) “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”  Can you see the holy huddle?  This is close proximity- intimate fellowship between the Father and Son.   It is as if, they are embraced.  I can see Jesus drop an arm and reach out … to you and I, saying “Come here, be with US”.  Oh the US of God.  Remember the ‘Let Us’ of the book of Genesis?  “Let Us make man in our own image” (Gen. 1:26). “Let Us go down and confuse their languages…” (Gen.11:7 – Tower of Babel).

“Come unto Me”.  This request is a statement of ‘belonging’.   I love the word picture described here in the Greek.  It was NOT a casual “Oh you-who, when you have a moment, could you venture over in this direction”.  It literally means, ‘come HERE, move forward, come near – right here, beside … Me.’

Oh you may think “so what’s the big deal?” 

Consider this. You are in a crowd, there is so much activity it is difficult to even concentrate,  your shoulders sag because the demands placed upon you are too great, from others AND (or) yourself.   You are weary, tired, one could even say ‘overwhelmed’.   You look over, and Jesus catches YOUR eye.  He speaks directly to YOU.  What do you do?  Do you move?  Do you go to Him?  Hm….  There is NO better place to be, then near, right there – beside Jesus. 

What will it take, to get you to go to Jesus?  If weariness is not enough, do you have to reach complete exhaustion, the sense of defeat, or even a fallen state, before you attempt to move? 

I would offer that position is everything.  Due to the fall of man, there was a dividing line between us and God.  Jesus came, lived- died- and went back to the Father for our ‘position’.  He re-positioned us.   He picked us up and placed us right back next to the Father.  That is what redemption and grace is, it means something that has tipped over and not in its right place, it is then picked up, re-set and now sits where it belongs.

Do we need some‘re-positioning’?  Come unto Me.

I leave you with these same verses (Matt. 11:28-30) as expressed in The Message.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.
Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you
how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch
how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay
anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Next week we will proceed on through these verses, but first capture, get a hold of, regardless of your condition… the ‘come unto Me’ and GO!

Have a God-loving, go and position yourself right beside Jesus – week.

In Him DeDe (Ps. 92:4 You thrill me, LORD …)

            The  Exposed Heart

I asked the Lord to tell me about the heart.  The heart of man, the good, the bad and the ugly.  He didn’t tell me.   He showed me.  MY heart.  Not exactly what I was asking for.    Please know this was NOT a time of warm fuzzy feelings and desiring a group hug.   You can bet that from this moment on, I will be VERY careful for the things I ask the Lord to tell me!

In this same moment I invited the Lord to go to those deep crevices of my heart and examine them.  Places that even I am not yet aware of.  I pictured this like one of those deep cave expeditions, you know the guys wearing kaki shorts, back packs on, with the flashlight strapped to their foreheads.  Each turn and twist unknown or never seen before until the light shines on it, examining closely, each rock formation, every nook and cranny.

David sought this too, of his own heart,  Psalm 26:2  (see also Ps. 139:23-24)

Test me, O Lord and try me
examine my heart and my mind.

I am amazed at the depth and extent that David was asking of God.  ‘Test me, examine  me’, these are courtroom terms, meaning to investigate closely, see what evidence there is to be found and yet  while you are there … refine and purify.

David wants God to look at his heart, emotions and will, his intellect, understanding – even the wisdom he walks in.  BUT he does not stop there…  he says  examine too …  my mind.  The word he uses for mind is the Hebrew word that can actually be translated as ‘kidneys’ (reins).  This is the figurative word picture of ‘the inner most and most private aspect of a person’. *   I can sense the deep groaning of David as he cries out, “O God go deep, here in my heart, but don’t stop there… go deeper, don’t stop until You have seen and dealt with all of me”.

David expresses too in Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be pleasing in
Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my
Redeemer.

It is not only our words that God desires pleasure from, but the ‘goings on’ (if you will) of our heart.  Those things, events or people we set our mind on, our internal thoughts, those things we wrap our emotions around.

Meditation can also mean the ‘whispering or murmuring’ of our heart.  What are we whispering about?  Are there longings there that should NOT be, yet we feel safe because we have not actually verbalized them?   I found this question in the New Living Life Application Commentary, and it so took me back – it evoked tremendous thought and pondering on my part, not to mention GREAT self evaluation.

How would we change the way we live if we knew that every word – every thought was FIRST examined by God?

Ps. 139:4 

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely
O LORD.
               

Phew!  As we wipe the sweat from our brow… THAT is intense.  I believe many of us would say as Isaiah did (Is. 6:5) “Woe is me!  For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips …”.    I would say … “I am a woman that fails to provide You O Lord,  with pure and selfless thoughts, my heart wrapped where it should not be… WOE is me!”

Jesus says in Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”.  As I study this verse, this is how I understand it. Exceedingly glad is the man that keeps his mind, will and emotions clean and continues on in the cleaning process, for he will ‘see’ (horao) God.  This ‘seeing’ is the equivalent to the Hebrew version of ‘experience’.   Experiencing God in such a way that he will actually perceive Him and get Him.   The opposite of this?   If we do not pursue the purity of God in our lives, ALL of our lives, He will hide Himself from us,  He and His God’s things will be kept a secret to us.

The heart exposed.  May we allow Him to be the Expeditionor, who straps on His light of love and goes deep!

Have  a God-loving deep groaning for His searching and dealing ~ week.

In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 You thrill me, LORD …)

*  Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament