"But I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." 2 Timothy 1:12 (NASB)
I have been, by my own admission, a rather bipolar person when it comes to my spiritual walk. I have had marvelous mountain top experiences, only to find myself in the lowest of valleys digging a well. But I am convinced that the same grace that held me as I soared from the peaks, cradled me as I was tunneling in the valley. I was no more saved on the days when I was soaring than I was on the days I was tumbling, and I was no less saved when I was burrowing into the depths than on the days I was ascending. Schizophrenic in my walk at times, but always secure....."For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."
Most of us, if we are honest with ourselves, will admit that our journey has not always been a straight ascent to the spiritual perfection that we envisioned when the walk began. There are highs and there are lows. Some of the lows are self inflicted, some them are inflicted by others, and sometimes things just happen that cause the footings of faith to give way and the slide to begin.
For the first few decades of my spiritual journey, I absorbed books and sermons like a parched desert greedily soaks up a few drops of rain. I studied, preached, led bible studies and studied some more. Through those years, theologically, my views of the God I served changed dramatically from the day I first bowed before Christ and confessed him as Lord.
The most significant change came in my understanding of the unlimited grace that was...and is...and always will be poured out on the believer's behalf. For me, beginning to grasp the magnitude of that marvelous grace has become the unmovable anchor through even the most unstable segments of my walk. Ironically, it has been my slide into some of the deepest pits that has demonstrated to me the impossibly unshakable nature of of God's grace. Regardless of the depth of the pit, his grace went further. Looking back, I can see that his grace has always enveloped me.
One time, many years ago, I was evaluated by a psychologist. He was an elderly, experienced practitioner who visited with me for a couple of hours asking a series of questions and conducting a variety of tests. While the questions and tests have long since been forgotten, his phone call with my evaluation has stayed with me over the years. He began with, "You are the most compulsive person I have ever met." It is true. I am compulsive. In the days that I was involved with politics, I remember driving an older, retired teacher home after an event I had organized. She stared at me as we rode in silence for a portion of the trip, and finally said, "You don't do anything just a little bit do you?" That is also true. Whether studying about the God who owns me, or digging a hole in the valley, "I don't do anything just a little bit."
I mention this personality trait of mine, not because I am overly proud of it, but to introduce my most recent compulsion. Praise and worship.
Now, I have always been a fan of worship services. Over the years, I have been to many Christian concerts, and have taken groups of people to enjoy the talent of a variety of Christian artists. Sadly, however, Christian music was not part of my every day life. I would have been much more inclined to absorb myself in study than to surround myself in praise.
A few years ago, I felt the Spirit of God leading me to spend a year with the Word of God alone. No other books. No commentaries. No sermons. No podcasts. Just me reading the bible. During that time I found myself listening to more and more Christian music. I was particularly drawn to praise and worship.
Perhaps it is the season of my life. Or, it could be the depth of the appreciation I have developed of the Father's grace and mercy. Then again, maybe it's just my compulsive nature....but I find the growing need to surround myself with praise and worship. My Ipod is packed with Christian music, and nearly every radio station I listen to plays Christian music constantly. When I work around the house or jog with my dogs there is always praise in my ears. In the car and at my job, when possible, there is worship flowing from the radio. This new compulsion is amazing, and I am beginning to realize how natural it will be to enter the glory of eternity praising this God who has lavishly showered me with his marvelous grace.
At the minimum, this music provides a background that helps me to follow Paul's advice to the Philippians in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." But, beyond that, there are times when a song will come on that causes me to raise my voice and hands in praise. In the next moment, another song may cause my soul to bow in worship. Sometimes, the song becomes a prayer and, often times, it brings to remembrance something to pray about. Then, there are the most special times, as the music softly plays, that my mind becomes still before my Abba. In those times, as I quiet myself before him, I feel the gentle breath of his Spirit softly whisper a fresh truth to the spirit that gives me life. Wonderful moments. Glorious moments.
Perhaps, as mentioned, this new found love of praise and worship is just a new compulsion. I don't really care. If it is, it is one that I am going to nurture until the Father withholds that final breath, and my voice joins the chorus of saints who have gone before me.
For decades, I tried to understand the nature of the God who saved me through study....and that was good. It was a necessary part of my walk. As I enter these latter years of my life, I find my contentment comes through praising and worshiping this glorious God who has chosen to love me and has poured out grace upon grace in my life. I understand that part of it is me "Not doing something just a little bit," as my teacher friend once observed. But a deeper part of it is realizing that I am just a blink away from my faith being my eyes....from knowing the Father as he knows me. In that moment, not only will the praise and worship continue, but it will be raised to a dimension and intensity that cannot be imagined by my limited, puny mind. I am, for sure, only tasting a portion of the feast that is to come, but the taste...Well, the taste cannot be described, and I long for the day that I will be totally immersed in praise and adoration before my King.
I wait with my hands raised to heaven, my heart longing for my Father, and my soul cradled by my Savior. And I wait, "Not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." 2 Timothy 1:12 (NASB)
Monday, June 9, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Bringing Home a Bride
It is, I suppose, one of the highlights of most every parents lives. As we raise our children there are many highlights and milestones, but to watch our children fall in love, date, and eventually marry, has to be among the greatest. My wife Jacquie and I experienced it as her daughter Susan stood in our living room and spoke her vows to her husband Nate. We experienced it again as my son Ben stood before me on the shores of Lake Superior, and took Katie as his wife.
My eldest son, Josiah, did it differently. Since he is the child filled with wanderlust, it was to be expected. Not content with all that Pine County and the State of Minnesota has to offer, his life is one devoted to seeing as much of the world as possible, and witnessing first hand the cultures that most of us are only occasionally exposed to via television. It's the way he lives, and so when he called and told us that he was planning to marry Diana in the U.S. embassy in Egypt, it was not a big surprise. A Minnesota man marrying a woman from Mexico in distant Egypt is not something that I would have imagined when he was a child. But, as an adult, it fits him perfectly.
We are used to Josiah making his annual pilgrimage home in the summer to visit us for a hand full of weeks. This summer is different. This summer he will bring home his bride and, as his father, it is a greatly anticipated visit. Mind you, I have never met this young lady my eldest has chosen as his wife, but he has told me so much about her, I feel as if I do know her. This summer, she will be in our home and we will see her face to face. It is something that we are certainly looking forward to with joy.
And we are making preparations. I'm thinking of the meals we'll have, get-together's with family, and evenings sitting in the yard just visiting. I'm planning food, dates, times and, in general, preparing for their visit. The annual spring things we traditionally do around the house and yard to prepare for the summer have taken on an additional underlying motivation. I want things nice for the time Josiah and Dianna will be at our home.
While I perform some of the more mundane tasks such as raking and fertilizing the lawn, my mind wanders to other things. It is hard for me not to compare my anticipation and preparation to the spiritual.
It occurs to me that my heavenly Father is making preparations for his Son to bring home his Bride as well. Throughout scripture the church is referred to as the, "Bride of Christ." I am not wise enough to picture the form this will take. My mind cannot wrap itself around what it will look like. I do not know when it will happen, but I do know that there will come a time when my Father will turn to his son, Jesus, and say, "Son, bring home your bride."
And, "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NASB)
In that instant, my Savior, Jesus Christ will bring his bride home. It will happen whether you believe it or not. It will happen whether you are ready for it or not. It will happen because the Creator of all things has set a time for his Son to bring his bride home. Somewhere in eternity, even before he spun this universe into being, and before there was a heaven and earth, the Father envisioned that day. Even before the first flower bloomed, or man drew his first breath, the Creator had chosen his Son's bride, and set a time for him to bring that bride home.
And, on a somewhat larger scale than my preparations for Josiah and Diana, my father has been making preparations for that day since he first envisioned it in the eternity before time. He's been preparing a wedding banquet. He's been preparing a home. He's been preparing a glorious eternity for the day when time ceases to exist, and the Son and his bride are by his side.
As a believer, part of the church and part of the bride, all I can do is bow before him and humbly pray, "Come Lord Jesus." I long for the day when I will see him face to face, to know him as he knows me, and to know the complete contentment that comes from truly being home.
My eldest son, Josiah, did it differently. Since he is the child filled with wanderlust, it was to be expected. Not content with all that Pine County and the State of Minnesota has to offer, his life is one devoted to seeing as much of the world as possible, and witnessing first hand the cultures that most of us are only occasionally exposed to via television. It's the way he lives, and so when he called and told us that he was planning to marry Diana in the U.S. embassy in Egypt, it was not a big surprise. A Minnesota man marrying a woman from Mexico in distant Egypt is not something that I would have imagined when he was a child. But, as an adult, it fits him perfectly.
We are used to Josiah making his annual pilgrimage home in the summer to visit us for a hand full of weeks. This summer is different. This summer he will bring home his bride and, as his father, it is a greatly anticipated visit. Mind you, I have never met this young lady my eldest has chosen as his wife, but he has told me so much about her, I feel as if I do know her. This summer, she will be in our home and we will see her face to face. It is something that we are certainly looking forward to with joy.
And we are making preparations. I'm thinking of the meals we'll have, get-together's with family, and evenings sitting in the yard just visiting. I'm planning food, dates, times and, in general, preparing for their visit. The annual spring things we traditionally do around the house and yard to prepare for the summer have taken on an additional underlying motivation. I want things nice for the time Josiah and Dianna will be at our home.
While I perform some of the more mundane tasks such as raking and fertilizing the lawn, my mind wanders to other things. It is hard for me not to compare my anticipation and preparation to the spiritual.
It occurs to me that my heavenly Father is making preparations for his Son to bring home his Bride as well. Throughout scripture the church is referred to as the, "Bride of Christ." I am not wise enough to picture the form this will take. My mind cannot wrap itself around what it will look like. I do not know when it will happen, but I do know that there will come a time when my Father will turn to his son, Jesus, and say, "Son, bring home your bride."
And, "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NASB)
In that instant, my Savior, Jesus Christ will bring his bride home. It will happen whether you believe it or not. It will happen whether you are ready for it or not. It will happen because the Creator of all things has set a time for his Son to bring his bride home. Somewhere in eternity, even before he spun this universe into being, and before there was a heaven and earth, the Father envisioned that day. Even before the first flower bloomed, or man drew his first breath, the Creator had chosen his Son's bride, and set a time for him to bring that bride home.
And, on a somewhat larger scale than my preparations for Josiah and Diana, my father has been making preparations for that day since he first envisioned it in the eternity before time. He's been preparing a wedding banquet. He's been preparing a home. He's been preparing a glorious eternity for the day when time ceases to exist, and the Son and his bride are by his side.
As a believer, part of the church and part of the bride, all I can do is bow before him and humbly pray, "Come Lord Jesus." I long for the day when I will see him face to face, to know him as he knows me, and to know the complete contentment that comes from truly being home.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
The Best Part of Waking Up
I have recently observed a daily period of my life that, I assume, has always been there, but for some reason I have never paid it much attention. It is a phenomenal experience, and I am surprised that I have never noticed it before. Perhaps, with age, I am becoming more aware of the passing moments, and have become more appreciative of each passing second. All I know is that I experience this feeling every morning. It lasts for maybe a second....perhaps two. It may actually be a nanosecond. It truly is hard to measure the length of time, but it's there when I take the time to absorb and appreciate this daily fraction of a moment.
There is this instant, as I pass from being asleep to waking, that there is complete peace. I mean complete peace. Not a thought about what the day may hold, not a whisper about the challenges that life brings, or concerns about issues that may surround me. Just complete serenity. Quiet, all encompassing peace. It is a beautiful second or fraction of a second, or whatever length of time it may be.
Now, as Christians, I understand that we are to live our lives surrounded by the peace of God, and I am aware of the peace that the Holy Spirit gives us when we choose to walk in it. I feel a little of it as I walk along the Kettle River with my dogs praying. I feel a small portion of it in the occasional church service. I am aware of God's peace as I walk through the often mundane tasks of living. But this early morning instant is a deeper peace, a more amazing tranquility, a wonderful hush that envelops my soul. Short lived for sure, but marvelously perceivable none-the-less.
Even as I write this, I realize that perhaps this instant each morning is the measure between my body waking and my mind becoming active. When the mind kicks in....well, the deep peace is gone, the tranquility lifts, and the soul begins to absorb the work that will be required just to keep breathing. It is about this time each morning that I almost inaudibly whisper, "Lord, I give you this day." My father is faithful, and he gives the peace and strength necessary to walk through life, but nothing matches the peace of that waking moment.
Here's my thought. Perhaps, in that instant of serenity each morning as I exit my night of sleep, the Father is giving me just a small taste of the serenity that comes when we enter the final sleep of death. My waking from sleep is a small reminder of what awaits me when I enter that eternal rest. If it is just a small morsel of what awaits. If it is just a split second appetizer of the tranquility and peacefulness that is to come....then bring on the banquet and come Lord Jesus.
There is this instant, as I pass from being asleep to waking, that there is complete peace. I mean complete peace. Not a thought about what the day may hold, not a whisper about the challenges that life brings, or concerns about issues that may surround me. Just complete serenity. Quiet, all encompassing peace. It is a beautiful second or fraction of a second, or whatever length of time it may be.
Now, as Christians, I understand that we are to live our lives surrounded by the peace of God, and I am aware of the peace that the Holy Spirit gives us when we choose to walk in it. I feel a little of it as I walk along the Kettle River with my dogs praying. I feel a small portion of it in the occasional church service. I am aware of God's peace as I walk through the often mundane tasks of living. But this early morning instant is a deeper peace, a more amazing tranquility, a wonderful hush that envelops my soul. Short lived for sure, but marvelously perceivable none-the-less.
Even as I write this, I realize that perhaps this instant each morning is the measure between my body waking and my mind becoming active. When the mind kicks in....well, the deep peace is gone, the tranquility lifts, and the soul begins to absorb the work that will be required just to keep breathing. It is about this time each morning that I almost inaudibly whisper, "Lord, I give you this day." My father is faithful, and he gives the peace and strength necessary to walk through life, but nothing matches the peace of that waking moment.
Here's my thought. Perhaps, in that instant of serenity each morning as I exit my night of sleep, the Father is giving me just a small taste of the serenity that comes when we enter the final sleep of death. My waking from sleep is a small reminder of what awaits me when I enter that eternal rest. If it is just a small morsel of what awaits. If it is just a split second appetizer of the tranquility and peacefulness that is to come....then bring on the banquet and come Lord Jesus.
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