Inheritance

Inheritance.

a:  the act of inheriting property

b:  the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring

c:  the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations (Merriam-Webster)

Have you heard the story of the Portuguese aristocrat who left his fortune to 70 total strangers he picked from a phone book?

Who knows, maybe you have a sizeable inheritance in your future. Maybe you have already received your inheritance though the gift of land, mineral rights, or stock. Some inherit material things like fine China, furniture, or cookware. We can also inherit personality traits both good and bad. We all know the saying, “more is caught than taught” concerning our kids. Sadly, some of you instead of inheriting wealth inherited debt. Not all inheritance is desirable.  Some of us will inherit genetic makeups that lead to dementia, cancer, vision loss, and so forth while others inherit longevity and good health.

 The common thread is we cannot choose our earthly inheritance. But joyfully for us, we can choose our eternal inheritance and we can choose to share that inheritance with future generations.

That brings us to Psalm 119:111 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.”

My goal in bible study is a heart change that produces life transformation. We are aiming to plant seeds into good soil, so that it may take root and bear fruit. The bible tells us to hide God’s word in our hearts. Someday our bibles could be ripped from our hands.  Study and memorizing scripture could be against the law. Illness and memory loss can rip it from our minds. But if we work to let scripture take root and change our heart and lives that can never be taken away from us! Let’s eagerly dig deep today.

Testimonies.

The greatest testimony of God in all the world is Jesus Christ. He is God’s testimony embodied. God said to us, “If you want to know what I am, look, there is my Son.” And Jesus came and said, “He that hath seen the Son hath seen the Father.” Jesus Christ is God’s testimony against sin, for Christ died through our sin. He is God’s testimony concerning divine love, for God so loved us that he gave his Son to die for us. In Christ you will find that, the more you study him, the more you will see what the invisible God is, for he is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Now, beloved, I can say, and many of you can say, “We have taken the Lord Jesus Christ to be our heritage forever;” and we are complete in him, perfect in Christ Jesus, Christ is all and in all to us. When we once get Christ, we get everything. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Spurgeon, C. H. (1895). The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 41, p. 255). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

We are richly blessed by the truth of God’s word. The testimony is truth-Jesus Christ. I love how Spurgeon explains it.

“A man’s mind is rich very much in proportion to the truth he knows. He who knows the Word of God is mentally rich, he has a large heritage.”

“Thy testimonies.” Ah, brethren, I cannot draw a complete map of this estate, it is so large, so wonderful; but, thank God, you can go and see it for Yourselves! Walk over its broad areas, lie down in its green pastures, rest beside it’s still waters. It is indeed a wealthy country that is described in those two words, “thy testimonies.”

Does this not make you eagerly squirm in your seat ready to explore God’s word? What a privilege and joy.

A couple of summers ago, we vacationed to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. While there we traveled into Asheville and toured the beautiful Biltmore Gardens and Estate. One day is not nearly enough to explore and see the beauty of this massive estate. We certainly missed some places and did not get to see everything.

That is like God’s testimonies. It is large and wonderful. Majestic and full of beautiful truth. Every day we have a choice to walk in the gardens or explore a trail. To tour the mansion or sit by the lake. To ride horseback back by the waters or gaze over the green forests. We will never see it all or tire of its beauty. By faith in God and the choice to enter in all are welcome. No one can force you. It is your choice.

“None are excluded hence but those

Who do themselves exclude.”

“Oh, may the Lord, in his infinite mercy, make us to be so enchanted with this estate, so enraptured with this divine property, that we shall never rest until we enter into full and final possession of it, and find it to be the rejoicing of our heart!”

 “the Bible is as fresh to me to-day as when first I began to speak from it as a boy, and preached to you from it as a youth. It is an inexhaustible heritage of mental wealth to the man who will accept it, and give his mind to the study of it. Look at the doctrines, the precepts, the promises, the prophecies, the histories, the experiences, —it is no use for me to try to map out this estate, it is so large. As a great heritage of mental wealth, it makes every man who receives it, however illiterate he may be upon other subjects, a wealthy man spiritually, while they who discard it become poverty-stricken in mind, whatever else of mental attainments they may possess.” Spurgeon, C. H. (1895). The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 41, p. 254). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Heritage.

Our heritage is found in God’s testimonies. God’s covenant is our heritage.

“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15

“to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:4

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

“I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me. And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.” Jeremiah 33:8

In the exercise of this holy diligence, you and I have to take possession of the Word of God by studying it more earnestly, to take possession of the covenant by believing it more fully, and to take possession of Christ by communing with him more closely, and using him more constantly, so that you say with David, “Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever.” Keep on taking, keep on taking, keep on taking. Thy testimonies have I taken.”

This heritage is free to you as it is me. Unlike earthly inheritance that we will leave behind, this inheritance will last eternally.

Sadly, George Vanderbilt who built the magnificent Biltmore Estate died 19 years after completing construction at the age of 51. All his labor was left behind.

With deep gratitude, I rejoice that my parents passed down to me the path to obtain the inheritance of eternal life though Jesus Christ. I didn't gain it from them. I chose myself to believe in faith. They just taught me the way. They shared the gospel message. They took me to church and fed me the word of God. Because of that I can REJOICE.

 Every day that I study the word of God my inheritance is continually giving to me. Making me rich.  I rejoice and rejoice and rejoice again as I walk new trails and discover new paths through God’s word. As I watch God work and lives transform I rejoice. Salvation brings great joy. The testimony, Jesus Christ, makes people brand new. That brings me great joy. Walking with the Holy Spirit, leading and guiding me, brings great joy. See a sinner saved brings great joy! Let go of earthly possessions and seek that glorious inheritance found in the promise of God.

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111

Cling to Me

Over the past week I tried to post multiple times, but after the first few sentences I typed I proceeded to hold the back space button and delete everything I wrote. In fact, I’m wondering now, “will these sentences even survive the backspace button?” Here is what I have learned and what I think has held me back.

If I focus too much on works, and forget about my hearts attitude, it is all in vain.

In my previous blog post I spoke on gifts. I shared about spiritual gifts and the importance of knowing your gift, investing in your gift, practicing your gift, and letting the Lord lead you to bring him glory through your gift.

And I think that is all wonderful encouragement. But I forgot to mention one thing. Probably the most important piece. If you don’t come from a heart of humility and absolute dependence on him, you are running on a tank of pride that will leave you empty and abandoned on the side of the road. Even if your intentions are good.

As I dug into the word of God this week, I was stopped in my tracks by Jeremiah 13: 11 “For as the loin cloth clings to the waist of the man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for a me a people, a name of praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.”

I could not read one more word. I underlined the words “cling to me” and “but they would not listen” and prayed Father teach me. Help my heart and mind to grasp the meaning of this passage.

And so, if you will bear with me today I believe God will encourage you and teach you like he did me.

Please read Jeremiah 13:1-11

The Ruined Loincloth

13 Thus says the Lord to me, “Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, and do not dip it in water.” 2 So I bought a loincloth according to the word of the Lord, and put it around my waist. 3 And the word of the Lord came to me a second time, 4 “Take the loincloth that you have bought, which is around your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.” 5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me. 6 And after many days the Lord said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.” 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the loincloth was spoiled; it was good for nothing.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing. 11 For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

Let’s start at the beginning. I am going to break this down by key words and the message will begin to leap off the pages. Just hang with me please. J

“linen” the word for linen occurs 104 times in 92 verses in the English Standard Version of the bible.  In other verses it is used to describe the type of material that priest often wore in the tabernacle as described in the verse below.

“And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar.” Leviticus 6:10

Linen throughout the bible is mentioned and regarded as very valuable and costly.

Again, In Mark 15:46, our Savior was wrapped in linen “And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”

And one reference that is most exciting-- the very bride of Christ, that’s us, “it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” Rev. 19:8 

And if you continue on to Rev. 19:4 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

I want you to hang on to this golden nugget of information as it will become very significant in a few more verses.

Let’s look next at the word loincloth.

Defined as a waist-cloth, the innermost piece of clothing, some commentaries say belt or sash.

I wanted to define this word because it is key to understand this is an article of clothing that must be tied on to a person. A loin cloth does not hold itself up, but is held up by the being it is attached to or clings to.

Let’s makes some sense of all this now.

The linen loincloth represents the people of Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. They were very valuable and costly in Gods eyes. Just as a loincloth must rely on a being to “hold it up” so the nation of Israel deeply relied on God to hold it up.

But what happened? Time and time again the Israelite's turned their back on a God. They chased false idols and worshiped false gods. As a result, they were burying themselves and like the loincloth became spoiled; and good for nothing.

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” Romans 8:7

This whole story and above verse paints a picture of our human condition. Without Christ, without a Savior to hold us up, we are spoiled and good for nothing.

To really go a step deeper, we need to identify the glaring sin from the actions of Israelite's. Let’s re-read the verse where God identifies their sin.

 “Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them”

Pride.

 Let me share with you a definition I found on pride. Thinking we are something independently of God or that we can somehow get to God by what we can do.

WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH. Look at where pride takes us---spoiled and good for nothing. 

We cannot rely on our own strengths. To do so robs the glory of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We need the being to hold us up. We don’t do any holding. It’s all Jesus!

Pride, the very sin that led them astray and resulted in their exile to Babylon.

A little interesting side note is that God tells Jeremiah to go to the Euphrates to bury the loin cloth. Commentaries suggest this was a three-month long journey and referencing the exile to Babylon.

But here is the beautiful thing. We have all experienced seasons of exile. We have made choices that put to death our closeness with God and while we were in “Babylon” God did not ruin us, just as he did not ruin the Israelite's, but what did he ruin through the exile?

Their pride.

When we make choices based on sinful pride and are sent to Babylon it is a gift of grace. God does not ruin us in the exile, but purifies us and rids us of our sins. God loves you. Because God loves you, he will do whatever it takes to knock down walls of pride and independence.

We have to be so careful of pride. YES, let’s use our gifts, but to bring glory to God!  I read that even when bringing glory to God with our gifts, we can be guilty of hoping just a smudge, just a little glory will rub off on us too...ouch! Does that step on your toes?

God prefers humility any day over your works. You can serve and use your gifts all day, but if you are hoping for a smidgen of glory for yourself you need to get on your knees and seek humility. It is not about us. We are absolutely useless without Christ.

We all want to have a little bit of control. We desperately cling to a little ownership. I’m guilty and I’m sure you are guilty too. But if we will just trust our awesome CREATOR, we will find life and peace and joy like no other.

Don’t you forget. If you let God hold you up. You are like fine linen! Costly and valuable. God will hold you up. Let go of your idea of control. Give up your pride, because we all know where that is leading.

 Humble your heart, and let God use you. I want to cry typing this.

Control is my biggest struggle. I want to be a part of the leading. But that’s not how God designed it. He is the leader. He is the planner. He is the one to make all things work. Our part is to humble ourselves, to submit, to surrender, to trust.

Just look at this beautiful declaration by God. 

“that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory,”

If they will cling to me and listen. 

He wants to be in the closest of fellowship with YOU.

I don’t know about you, but I want that!

But let’s not forget what God said next, they did not listen. We can’t forget that cleaving to God is a choice. He does not force that upon you. We choose to trust. We choose to let him be in control. We choose to humble ourselves and pray.

If you have asked Jesus into your heart to forgive you of your sins, you are covered by the blood of Christ and God the Father only sees pure linen. 

I can clean my house all day, but it will never be perfect. Same with my spiritual house. I can clean up my act all day, but I’ll always miss something. I NEED a Savior—Jesus Christ to cling to and hold me up. Works cannot do it. Only Jesus. 

Humility-a deep sense of one's moral littleness. 

Won't you surrender today to the one who holds you up and sees you as costly and valuable. 

I love you friends. Thank you for sticking with me to the end.

Discover Your Gift

Holy Spirit I pray that you fill my sails. Let nothing be of me, but of you. Help me and protect me from wrongfully interpreting your word. Show me your ways and guide me in responsibly studying the bible. Thank you for wonderful resources, commentaries, and dictionaries to help me gain a more accurate understanding of your word. Thank you providing me with your Holy Spirit that leads me to understand your love, forgiveness, and grace. Thank you that even your salvation message can be understood by a child. As a writer and encourager of your word I pray that you keep me accountable to sharing only truth that comes from you. Amen

I am not a pastor or bible scholar, so I often read the bible and become intimidated by sharing what the living word of God is teaching me. I want to make sure that I am interpreting the scripture in the correct way before I “share” what I believe God is teaching me. Understanding that I will be held accountable and not wanting to mislead anyone.

I have been taught to study scriptures within the context of the time period, culture, and who the author is addressing. If not careful we can pull a verse and make it mean whatever we want it to mean. This is so dangerous. Regretfully, I am sure I have unknowingly been guilty of proof texting. However, since starting this blog I feel a great responsibility to check my words. Never wanting to pull scripture and make it my message instead of God’s message.

As I was reading 1 Timothy, and reflecting on my recent job change, and desire to make the most of my spiritual gifts I was touched in a new way by 1 Timothy 4:14-15.  I decided to dig deeper to make sure I was interpreting it correctly and encouraged to find that God had indeed spoken to my heart.

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”  1 Timothy 4:14-15

*Neglect ~ ἀμελέω ameléō, am-el-eh'-o; to be careless of: —make light of, neglect, be negligent, no regard.

As I child I was always taught not to neglect the spiritual gifts the Lord gives. In case you have not heard, when you become a believer in Jesus Christ he gives you a spiritual gift. Sometimes more than one. Read 1 Corinthians 12 with me.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

One way we NEGLECT our gifts is by not taking the effort and time to know and understand what they are. You have a gift, so do not make light of it. Many churches, mine included, offer resources to help you uncover what our church calls your SHAPE. By looking at your Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences you can gain a better grasp of what God has equipped you to do for the body of Christ.

We are given gifts from God.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;” 1 Corinthians 12:4

*The Gift~ χάρισμα chárisma, khar'-is-mah; a (divine) gratuity, a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: —(free) gift.

~the gift of divine grace

~the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue

~grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit

“But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” 1 Corinthians 1:7

If you knew you had a gift waiting for you to open, would you leave it sitting to gather dust? Take the time this week to unwrap and uncover what your spiritual gift is. When we walk in our spiritual gifting we find joy. We get to take part in God’s work.

This next word really grabbed me.

*Practice~ primarily, "to care for"

(a) "to attend to, practice," 1Ti 4:15, RV, "be diligent in" (AV, "meditate upon");

(b) "to ponder, imagine," Act 4:25.

When we discover our gifts, we must diligently practice them. Ponder them, mediate upon them, imagine how God can use them. Don’t just let it work itself out. Take care to invest in maturing your gift. God wants us to be diligent. To work hard. I know many pastors who say their very first sermons were somewhat of a flop. That doesn’t not mean they did not have the gift of preaching. It just means they were called to take their gift and practice. We can do the same thing.

Look at a few of the gifts given in the bible.

Encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy, prophecy, service, teaching, administration, discernment, faith, healing, knowledge, miracles, evangelism, and there are more!

Do not neglect the gift you have. Be diligent, practice, and now immerse yourself into that gift.

*Immerse~ to know how, to be skilled in

to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12)

Gain some skill. Receive some mentorship. Seek others who share your gift and practice it alongside them. Learn how to best use your gift for God’s glory.

And by the grace of God we will progress in our gifts.

*Progress~ progress, advancement, προκοπή prokopḗ, prok-op-ay'; progress, i.e. advancement (subjectively or objectively): —furtherance, profit.

In Paul's letter to the church of Philippi he uses the same word for progress that is used in 1 Timothy 4:15

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,” Philippians. 1:25

To progress, to advance, also brings joy!

And this is where I want to leave you. I challenge you to read 1 Timothy. I challenge you to find a Spiritual Gifts Test, (S.H.A.P.E) being one of my favorites, and learn your spiritual gifts.  Then, start practicing. Do not neglect your gift. God has designed you and me to be active working members in the body of Christ. We have work to do. Let's get started! 

*www.blueletterbible.org

Loving and Living

My daughter recently learned that she can not take her stuffed baby to heaven and it crushed her heart. She is beautiful and sensitive, and loves her baby deeply. She is attached to an earthly comfort. A small stuffed animal she has slept with since birth.

It is more than just a toy to her, it is also a source of comfort and security. I don't see anything wrong with this at her age because I know that God will work this out in her heart as she grows and matures in life and faith.

As I tried to relate and encourage her, I realized we do the very same thing as grownups.

We work and earn, save and build, tightly hold on to things that can't go any further than deaths doorstep. We fall in love with the temporal and forget the eternal. We find comfort and security in earthly things instead of the creator and giver of all things.

I am grateful for the blessings and delights that come our way, but we have to remember what truly counts. As we work, earn, save, and build, we can not lose sight of the end; the eternal.

All you can take to heaven is people. I desire and pray for God to use me to do just that. It's so easy to follow the world and get caught up in the cycle of obtaining more, more, more.  But we have to step out, break free, be different, and make the most of every gift. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of Jesus' death and resurrection on the cross, to lead and guide us each day.

What I really want more of is true, abundant life. Life that comes from watching and being a part of God working every day. In the lives of my children, family, friends, community...

It may be as simple as bringing joy to the elderly, a smile to the grieving, comfort to the hurting, or direction to the lost. Every day is filled with endless opportunities.

My greatest joy is watching God transform a life. Sometimes it has taken years of prayers. Other times it has happened over night.

Never lose hope for the people you love. Never forget the power of prayer. People are most important. That is the only thing we can take with us to heaven. Never stop praying.  My husbands grandfather came to know the Lord at 75 years old.  Prayer is powerful.

I encourage you this week to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow where he leads. Maybe he is asking you to take some one to lunch. Maybe he wants you to visit a family member or reconcile a relationship. Maybe he wants you to invite someone to experience the love, forgiveness, and grace of Jesus Christ. Maybe he wants you to pray for someone.

Just ask him...Humble your heart, slow down, and ask him.

 Then, listen and obey.

It's Not Always Easy

I first read this poem about ten years ago, and it is just as encouraging today as it was then. Hope you have a great weekend. Click to Enlarge if needed. Keep Fighting the Good Fight.

Identity Theft

Do you know who you are in Christ? Do you sometimes forget God’s promises?

From the beginning of time, in the very garden of Eden, we see the ultimate identity theft unfold before our very eyes. The sneaky snake, the one who brings doubt, preys upon the woman, resulting in a ripple effect of sin. Eve lets go of what she knows to be true, and falls straight into the lie of Satan.

And yet, we do the very same thing today.

We want to be strong, secure, and capable people. As a mother, wife, and an endless list of other titles, I seek to accomplish and give my very best in each role. And yet when I try to find my security from within, from my own abilities, I always end up holding on for dear life at the end of my rope. Stressed, tired, and lacking.

And then I’m reminded of who I really am. My identity is not found in me. It’s not found in what I can do or accomplish, or by the opinions of others. My identity is found in Christ alone.  I will never find security in myself. I only find security as a wife, mother, child of God, and so on by falling at the feet of my Savior.

Have you forgotten who you really are? Are you believing the lies of Satan?

I can have one bad “Mothering Moment” and believe I am not good enough, wise enough, or mature enough to be a parent.

That is a lie from Satan.

My marriage can have a weak season and I start to believe it’s beyond repair.

That is a lie from Satan.

I can sin in a moment and decide I’ve let God down and am no longer worthy.

That is a lie from Satan.

I can be consumed with anxiety, worry, fear, and think there is no way out.

That is a lie from Satan.

I can fail at my job, and make a big mistake and think I should not be doing this.

That is a lie from Satan.

The very first identity thief wants to destroy who God claims that you are. If you have asked Jesus Christ into your heart. Then 1 Peter 2: 9-10 is who you are.

*You are chosen.

*You are a royal priesthood

*You are holy.

*You belong to God and are of God

*You have received mercy.

This is our identity protection plan.

You have been chosen, forgiven, redeemed, and transformed. You have been shown love, mercy, and grace. Anything else filling your mind is a lie. Get your protection plan locked into your heart and mind. Don’t let the thief come in to steal, kill, and destroy, who God says that you are.

Our greatest weapon to fight the enemy is God’s Holy word. Hide it into your heart today.

Please take a quick minute and a half to watch this video on who you are in Christ.
 Praying for you today.

My Help Comes from the Lord

Design by: Katy Roberts

Have you ever been on a hike?

Walked the path of a long trail, climbed to the top of a mountain? Experienced the joy of the earth crunching beneath your feet? Birds chirping, a soft breeze blowing, and the warm sun peeking through the trees?

 

 North Carolina

This is one of my favorite things to do. My family and I have hiked through the dusty hill country of Texas to the top of Enchanted Rock, and through the tall Pine and Cypress Trees at the beautiful Caddo Lake. We have enjoyed climbing on Turtle Rocks, finding markings in Indian Caves, and standing under waterfalls at the top of Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas. We have climbed Arkansas’s Mt. Nebo and witnessed amazing sunsets and sunrises; with deer making the perfect silhouette along the skyline. We have admired the most pristine waterfalls in North Carolina, where voices are drowned out by the rushing waters.

Enchanted Rock, Texas Hill Country

The joys of nature, hiking, and sharing Gods creation with my family is one of my favorite blessings. I feel closest to God when I am outdoors admiring his magnificent work. I almost always have praise rising from my lips at his grand displays.

And that brings me today to Psalm 121.

A Song of Ascents, sung by pilgrims on their way to worship God in Jerusalem.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

    From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

    he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;

    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;

    he will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep

    your going out and your coming in

    from this time forth and forevermore.

I remember my husband pointing out to me that more than likely at the top of each hill surrounding the pilgrims were alters where people would stop to worship false idols.  So imagine with me, we are hiking along this dusty trail with pilgrims all around us, and the song rises to our ears, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come from?”

We pause and look up to see the hills speckled with alters to false gods, and sadly, a few turn to go. Seeking help from Baal who promises the earth will bear crops. Or to Dagon who promises water and grain. Or up the hill to visit Ashtoreth who promises fertility.

And so along this journey we see people turning from God to follow things they believe will fulfill them and make them happy. Today, it might look like someone in search of wealth and riches. Consumed with the need for more. It might look like someone else saying, “I’m going to do what I want to do and nothing else matters” taking life into their own hands and making self their god.

And so we cry out in hopes that the truth will reach their ears, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  The one who created these very hills. No one made my God with hands and clay. He made US with his hands and his clay.

“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Wow! What a promise!! The God who made heaven and earth is MY help!! He never sleeps!! He never slumbers!!

Have you become so burdened by life that you believe He is asleep? Has Satan hit you so hard you believe you are lost? Do believe the lies of the enemy. Have you attempted to find fulfillment in your own way? Leaving behind the one you love to go after false gods?

You have a God that sees. He is never asleep; no matter how you feel. Feelings often lie to us. We have to put complete faith in God and his holy word. The Lord is your keeper!! He is your SHADE at your right hand!! Take a deep breath and rest in that.

Whatever you are going through may truly be hard. It may feel like you are all alone. But please don’t believe that lie. You have a God that is right by your side. "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Deut. 31:6  

"Weeping my tarry with the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalm 30:5(ESV)

He sees the big picture and has your best interest at heart.  Please, won’t you let him hold you. Let him lead you and carry you each day. He is strong enough for whatever you are carrying. Just lay it down, sleep in peace, and let him who never slumbers watch over you. He is worthy of our trust.

Carry Me to the Deep

We Love, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

I want to encourage you to reflect on this verse. Read it slowly, read it out loud.

We love…

because…

He FIRST….

loved us.

As I flipped my calendar to February this morning this beautiful verse was staring me down. As I read and re-read, I began to ponder do we really grasp this truth?  It is only in Him that we are able to love or show love.

I remember reading a quote that appropriately describes this kind of love.

Our love to him is like a trickling rill, speeding its way to the ocean because it first came from the Ocean. All the rivers run into the sea, but their floods first arose from it: the clouds that were exhaled from the mighty main distilled in showers and filled the water-brooks. Here was their first cause and prime origin; and, as if they recognized the obligation, they pay tribute in return to the parent source. The ocean love of God, so broad that even the wing of imagination could not traverse it, sends forth its treasures of the rain of grace, which drop upon our hearts, which are as the pastures of the wilderness; they make our hearts to overflow, and in streams of gratitude the life imparted flows back again to God. All good things are of thee, Great God; thy goodness creates our good; thine infinite love to us draws forth our love to thee. ~ C. H. Spurgeon

Can you imagine it with me? The ocean waves rushing towards the beach, the tide rising and covering the sand, only to return back to the deep?

That is love. GOD IS LOVE. 1 John 4:8

Our LOVE our SOURCE is God.

His love, the depths of his love, are deeper than the ocean deeps.

We can listen to sermon after sermon; complete bible study after bible study; study, memorize, gain knowledge, and read every book in the library but, “Without love you remain in ignorance still, ignorance of the unhappiest and ruinous kind. “C.H. Spurgeon

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Let’s take time to have a heart check. 

Let’s stop running and going a hundred miles a minute and examine ourselves. 

Do you love God? 

Do you think you have to earn his love?

Have you drifted from adoring Him?

Do you believe he only loves you if…?

“Every man that ever was saved had to come to God not as a lover of God, but as a sinner, and to believe in God's love to him as a sinner. God has love in his heart towards those who have nothing in them to love. He loves you, poor soul, who feel that you are most unlovable; loves you who mourn over a stony heart, which will not warm or melt with love to him. Thus saith the Lord: "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." O that God's gracious voice this morning might so call some of his poor wandering ones that they may come and believe his love to them, and then cast themselves at his feet to be his servants forever.

"God loves me-not merely bears with me, thinks of me, feeds me, but loves me….an insignificant nobody, full of sin-who deserved to be in hell; who loves him so little in return-God loves me. Beloved believer, does not this melt you? Does not this fire your soul?” C.H. Spurgeon 

GOD LOVES YOU! Not because of anything YOU DID. Not because you earned it. But because HE IS LOVE. He sent his one and only son to die for your sins. He SAVES and LOVES sinners. And only then can we have and experience true love from the author and creator. Have you drifted today? Do you need to dive into the deep? The source of love? Rediscover what he did for you? 

Let that love transform you.