One Word: Abide

Each year in the fall, I pray and ask the Lord if He has a word for me to dwell on in the upcoming year.  I have been doing this for the past four years, and have been so encouraged and blessed in digging deeper, and learning the lessons that He has for me.  Since beginning this yearly exercise, my words have been “Courage,“ “Cultivate,“ and “Trust.“  

My word for 2015 is “Abide.”  I first began to hone in on this year’s word while listening to a series of sermons by John MacArthur on John 15.  Suddenly, it started popping up in sermons, on the front of bulletins, and in conversations with friends!  Jesus tells us in John 15 to abide in Him.  What does that really mean (deeper than the “Sunday School“ answer)?  How do I abide in Him?  These are the sorts of questions that I am seeking answers to this year in my personal study.  

Periodically throughout the year, I hope to share my findings here in this place.  Won’t you join me, and learn with me, how to abide in Him?

One by One

1380.  New home office furniture...

1381.  ...including a comfy chair I've had my eye on for years

1382.  Ferry ride to Catalina Island

1383.  Watching dolphins and seals play in the water

1384.  His expert driving skills in avoiding an accident

1385.  Another successful Whisperings All-Star Event

1386.  Conquering something technological on my own with no help!

1387.  Brisk walks in the fog

1388.  Her sweet Valentine's Day song that she made up for me

1389.  His written words of love

1390.  That she opens up to me when her heart is hurting

1391.  Glorious sunsets on the beach

1392.  A great group of kids on the yearbook committee

1393.  Surprising my kids with homemade cookies

1394.  Finding the perfect piece of fabric to complete a project

Five Minute Friday: Open

Stubborn jar lids.  It seems to be an inevitability of life.  I’m in the middle of prepping a meal and grab a jar.  I give it a twist, and nothing happens.  Applying a bit more pressure, I wait to hear that magical “pop” of the seal breaking, but don’t feel it budge…not even a little bit.  I give it one more go, applying every ounce of strength I’ve got, red in the face, muscles straining.  Nothing.  Figuring maybe my hands are slippery, I grab a towel and try again, but to no avail.  By this time, I usually grab a butter knife and start beating around the lid in a few places with the handle.  That usually is enough to pop the seal, and then I can twist it right off.

God has placed within us gifts and abilities He wants to use for the kingdom.  We need to be willing and open to both receive from Him, as well as to pour out what He has given us in order to bless others.  Do our hearts and lives resemble a stubborn jar lid, unmoving and requiring incredible pressure to open?  Or are we the jar that opens easily, ready to be poured out and used for His glory?

A Time to Pause

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  I was raised in a non-denominational church and don’t know much about Lent, other than it is the period of time leading up to Easter.  It is a time for people to reflect on Christ, and often includes the observance of a ritual such as fasting. While I do not feel led to fast, I do have a personal desire to take the next forty-seven days to focus my thoughts and heart on Christ and all that He has done for me.  I have never really done that before, in terms of preparing for Resurrection Day.  My life usually moves at breakneck speed, and each year it feels as if “suddenly it is Easter.”  This year I want to intentionally "hit the pause button" on my life, and approach that special day with a quiet and reflective heart.

During my devotions this morning, I read about the Fall of Man in Genesis 3:1-19, as well as the general condition of Man and his desperate need for redemption through Christ Jesus in Romans 3:9-26.  I encourage you to read and reflect on those passages.  I was reminded that I am but dust, and will return to dust.  The passage in Romans says that “there is none righteous, not even one” (3:10) and “all have turned aside; together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.” (3:12)

This is exactly why Christ came.
Without Him, we are but dust and our condition is hopeless.

He is our Living Hope.

The Deeps
(prayer from The Valley of Vision, A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions; edited by Arthur Bennett, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975, page 75)

Lord Jesus,
Give me a deeper repentance, 
              a horror of sin, 
              a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely to flee it, 
              and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone.
Give me a deeper trust, 
              that I may lose myself to find myself in thee, 
                       the ground of my rest, 
                       the spring of my being.  
Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself 
              as saviour, master, lord, and king.
Give me deeper power in private prayer, 
              more sweetness in thy Word, 
              more steadfast grip on its truth.
Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, 
              and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.
Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman, 
              that my being may be a tilled field, 
              the roots of grace spreading far and wide, 
                        until thou alone art seen in me, 
                        thy beauty golden like summer harvest, 
                        thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no master but thee, 
              no law but thy will, 
              no delight but thyself, 
              no wealth but that thou givest, 
              no good but that thou blessest, 
              no peace but that thou bestowest.
I am nothing but that thou makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.
Quarry me deep, dear Lord, 
              and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

Bearing Witness

"on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed."  (Deuteronomy 19:15)

As described in Deuteronomy, Jewish law required that there be at least two witnesses to a matter in order for it to be confirmed.  In John 5, the Pharisees were seeking to kill Jesus because He "was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God." (John 5:18)  Jesus said in verse 31, "If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true." He then proceeded to give five other witnesses to the truth of who He claimed to be.

1.  John the Baptist  (v33)
2.  The works that He performed  (v36)
3.  The Father (God)  (v37)
4.  The Scriptures  (v39)
5.  Moses  (v46)

As I considered this list of witnesses, I thought about how we are also called to be witnesses of Christ.  Other translations substitute the word "testify" for the phrase "bear witness."  The purpose of being a witness is to testify or affirm that you have seen or heard or experienced something.  With this in mind, I looked at the list again with the following questions:

1.  John the Baptist  (Remember that John and Jesus' mother were related - Luke 1:36)
     * Would my family bear witness that I am a believer?

2.  The works that Jesus performed
     * Do my actions reflect and point to Jesus?

3.  The Father (God)
     * Would Jesus say that He knows me?  (Matthew 7:20-23)

4.  The Scriptures
     * Do my words (written and spoken) point to Jesus?

5.  Moses
     * Would those who know me bear witness that I am a believer?

Just as John the Baptist bore witness of Christ (John 1:15, 32, 34), so are we to bear witness of Him through our words and actions, and help prepare the way for others to find our Savior.

"but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."  (Acts 1:8)

One by One

Continuing to get caught up on recording His gifts and blessings...

1366.  Taking my son out on his first Black Friday experience...

1367.  ...and the item he wanted was marked lower than the ad price

1368.  Standing in line for an hour with him, people-watching and chatting about whatever he wanted to talk about

1369.  The fun names given to colors on paint strips

1370.  Reminiscing about past Christmases...

1371.  ...while decorating this year's tree

1372.  Splurging on a special experience

1373.  Laughing until my cheeks ached

1374.  Evenings so fun it feels like a blur

1375.  Breakfast in an old, converted church

1376.  A newly painted office

1377.  Seeing Christmas lights at the Oregon Garden

1378.  Christmas Eve traditions

1379.  Christmas 2014

Five Minute Friday: Keep

Sixteen years ago, I stepped out of our rental car on a cold November morning, and took this picture from the parking lot of the famous castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Germany.  I remember gazing up at the impressive tower silhouetted against the winter blue sky, and touching the thick stone walls on the castle tour, and just being in awe of this magnificent castle.  In the Middle Ages, a large tower in a castle was commonly referred to as the "keep."  The tower was used as both a fortified residence and a refuge of last resort, should the castle come under siege.

I love that the keep served two purposes -- a place to dwell and a safe place to retreat to.  In John 14:23, Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."  How marvelous that if we keep His word and abide with Him, He will dwell with us!

Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." There is no question that a spiritual battle is raging around us as the day of the Lord approaches.  I can think of no better place to be than dwelling in the safety and security of His love.

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies."  (Psalm 18:2-3) 

Feeding the Five Thousand - Part 3

"And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost."  (John 6:12)

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day."  (John 6:39)

Over the years, I have sat through many sermons on the book of John, attended Bible studies through the book, and studied it on my own.  I have always known that John 6 included the account of the feeding of the five thousand, as well as Jesus' "I am the Bread of life" statement.  It wasn't  until just recently that I made a connection between the two accounts.  Oddly enough, it wasn't that both passages have bread in common, it was the phrases "nothing may be lost" and "lose nothing" that caught my attention.

In verse 11, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to the Father, broke and distributed it to everyone present.  His prayer was to recognize God's provision.  Scripture tells us that the people ate as much as they wanted until they were full, thus demonstrating the abundance of God.

In verse 35 of this chapter, Jesus says that He is the bread of life.  Jesus is God's abundant provision for the atonement of our sin.  In His prayer before entering the Garden of Gethsemane, He says, "Now they have come to know that everything Thou has given Me is from Thee; for the words which Thou gavest Me I have given to them; and they received them, and truly understood that I came forth from Thee, and they believed that Thou didst send Me."  (John 17:7-8)  In Matthew 26:26 it says, "And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  When we believe and take Him into our hearts and lives, we are promised that we won't be cast out (John 6:37), we won't be lost (John 6:39), and we will be raised on the last day (John 6:39).  We also have His "joy made full."  (John 17:13)

Do you ever struggle with feeling like you have nothing to offer, or that you'll never measure up? It's not true!!  Living a life in Christ means that nothing is lost and nothing is wasted.  He created you and gifted you with specific abilities for a purpose.  Your life, including both trials and triumphs, can be used to glorify Him.  He can use whatever meager insufficiencies you are willing to offer, and multiply them in abundance for His kingdom and divine purposes!

"For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."  (Philippians 2:13)

Feeding the Five Thousand - Part 2

"Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?"  And this He was saying to test him; for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little."  (John 6:5-7)

I can relate to Philip.  Sometimes I can look at a task the Lord has set before me and think, "It's impossible.  It can't be done, not even a little bit."  How quickly I forget that "nothing will be impossible with God."  (Luke 1:37)

"One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"  (John 6:8-9)

I can also relate to Andrew.  Sometimes I can see bits and pieces that could be instrumental in accomplishing His will, but the task seems overwhelming and what few bits and pieces I see seem so small and insignificant, that I tend to discount them quickly as a viable possibility.

God can take what we see as impossible, or too small and insignificant to be worth anything, and perform miracles!

"Jesus said, "Have the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.  And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost." And so they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten."  (John 6:10-13)

There are several things we can glean from this passage:

Thanksgiving preceded the miracle (v. 11)
We need to cultivate a thankful heart!  (1 Thess. 5:18)

He used what was offered (a simple lunch)  (v. 9)
Offer Him your life, and allow Him to use you.  He created you and gave you gifts and abilities that He can use to bless others!

What was given was enough...more than enough! (v. 11-12)
Don't believe the lie of the enemy that you need to be "more than" in order to be of any use to the Lord.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

Nothing is wasted (v. 12)
There were twelve baskets full of food left over!  Not only do we see the abundant provision, but notice that the disciples were privileged to witness and participate in the miracle!  Each disciple gathered and personally carried for himself evidence of God's abundant provision!

It blows my mind that God wants to use broken vessels like you and me to accomplish His purposes. He does all the work, but allows us to be a witness and participant in it!  All we need to do is have a willing heart, and offer what we have.  After all, what we have came from Him!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us."  (Ephesians 3:20)

Feeding the Five Thousand - Part 1

My daughter is the Queen of Re-purposing!  It never ceases to amaze me how she can take common everyday items and re-purpose them in a creative way.  Items that I toss in the garbage without a second thought, are treasures to her.  Over time, I have learned to ask her if she would like an item before I toss it.  More often than not, she'll consider it for a moment, her eyes will light up, and then she'll disappear into her room with her newest treasure.  I'll give you some examples:

What I see:  Foam squares left behind by the carpet cleaners...

What she sees:  "Hay bales" for her horse collection!

What I see:  Plastic caps from a tube of glow sticks...
What she see:  "Food bowls" for her horses!

What I see:  Empty toilet paper tubes...
What she sees:  Fencing material for her horses!

Children often have a different perspective.  They see endless possibilities with whatever seemingly mundane things might be within their reach.  Somewhere along the road to maturity, we tend to quench, and maybe even sacrifice, creativity for practicality.

Our God is a Creator!  This is one of the first things we learn about Him in Genesis 1.  He sees the possibilities, and nothing is too difficult for Him!  As we will see in John 6, He uses a boy's simple lunch to perform a miracle!

Join me tomorrow for "Feeding the Five Thousand - Part 2"!

One By One

1351.   A safe flight and drive home

1352.  That my friends loved the photos I took of their wedding

1353.  The gracious people at Revell Books

1354.  How the Lord orchestrated her doctor appointment

1355.  Sweet-smelling candles

1356.  Spending a whole day just resting and being in the Word

1357.  She Reads Truth.com, a recent discovery!

1358.  When conversations go deep

1359.  A surprise visit from my parents

1360.  Receiving a gift...just because!

1361.  Enjoying a peek into her creativity

1362.  Dinner and dessert with a friend

1363.  An updated laundry room

1364.  A fresh new journal

1365.  Every seat filled at the Thanksgiving table