Standing on the promises

You know how God sometimes arranges a sequence of events so that you’re bombarded with a particular theme from a variety of sources? That’s recently happened to me. Our kids on Wednesday nights are studying this whole year on the covenants of God; last month we studied about Noah, this month about Abraham, so I’ve been looking at clip art to help the children associate their memory verses to God’s promises. Last week Jonathan Storment from Highland spoke in chapel about the Noah story, though in a somewhat different context, and this week Justin Hatfield spoke on the covenant with Abraham. OK, OK, I get it!

The big attention-getter for me came about ten days ago. Brian and I took a quick trip to Angel Fire, NM to rest, read, and rejuvenate. The scenery there is lovely and teeming with wildlife. We experienced everything from sun to thunderstorms to snow during our four days there. I had the opportunity to see the “signs” of God’s promises in nature. Here are a few examples:

 

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. (Gen. 8:12-15)

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (Gen. 15:4-5)

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?..... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt. 6:25-27, 33)

The same God who keeps those promises is faithful to keep them all. There are days I need to remember some more than others! Here are a few of my favorites – I hope you’ll add yours to the comments below.  

God's constant presence:  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6)

God's plan for our future:  Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14:1-4) 

God's rest:  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matt. 11:28-29) 

God's grace when I'm weak:  But [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:9) 

God's protection: Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand." (John 10:27-30, NLT) 

God's peace:  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, NIV) 

God's help when I am afraid: 

Don’t be afraid. I am with you.
Don’t tremble with fear.
I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
and give you victories. (Is. 41:10, CEV)

Remembering what God has done in the past gives us a quiet confidence in what He will do in our present and future. Thanks be to God!

Grackles are people, too

I love to watch birds. Everything about them fascinates me - the variety of their calls, the intricate details of their plumage, even their behavior in terms of raising their young and protecting their territory.

However, there is one exception: the ubiquitous grackle.

My grandfather called grackles "trash birds." If you've ever had your car pooped all over at the mall, grackles were likely to blame. They hang out in large groups reminiscent of "The Birds." And the sounds - the sounds seem better suited to an alien landscape than good old planet earth. They are annoying, irritating, and everywhere.

The other day I stopped at Wendy's for a quick bite to eat while in the middle of a bunch of errands. We had enjoyed a big rain earlier in the day. There were big puddles in the grassy area near the parking lot...and the scene was set for a grackle pool party!

For a moment, I was transported while watching the grackles play and splash. I forgot all my ill will toward grackles in general. Strangely, at that moment, they held all of the delightful characteristics of other birds.

This week I've been reading a book for work entitled Leadership and Self-Deception. It's one of those books that lays out principles that are simple on the surface, yet profound in scope. One of its key principles relates to how we view others - are they people, with hopes, dreams, and desires much like our own? Or are they objects to be used to further my purposes, or perceived obstacles impeding my own progress? Most of us operate as the latter, even though we don't know it. Something magical happens in the moment we really, really, look a person in the eyes and truly see them in all their humanity. Prejudice and anger melts away; respect and empathy grows; we are freed to love and be loved.

If you're not sure how this is done, look to the Master. Several stories from the gospels come to mind. The woman with the hemorrhage, touching the hem of Jesus' garment (Matthew 9:20-22, "Jesus turned and saw her."). The rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-31, "Jesus looked at him and loved him."). The woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-16). Each of these experienced something very special - Jesus looked through the exterior to see the hurting person beneath. He gave the gift of physical touch. He saw their humanity - actually, the image of God himself - and in so doing changed each person's life forever. Don't we all want to be seen and understood?

So, let me challenge you (and me!) today - who is the "grackle" in your life today? You know, the irritant, the one you avoid, the one you are sure has it out for you? Would you be willing to take a moment to sit and see this person in their God-created glory, and let Jesus fill you with the love he has for them? They - and you - will never be the same.

On the wings of the wind

In west Texas, the wind is a reality of daily life. Winter winds cut like a knife, encountering little resistance from topography or trees. Summer winds can feel like a blast furnace when combined with 100-degree temperatures. But spring....spring winds bring all kinds of things! Sometimes they come ahead of thunderstorms, other times leading one of those surprise cold fronts (isn't winter over?). Today they were steady all day, 30-40 mph. I complained and prepared for the great brown-ness that happens when Lubbock blows in to town. However, today God treated us to a beautiful show of his splendor all day long. It began with a beautiful sunrise.

The clouds swirled throughout the day in massive formations, moving, growing, reconfiguring moment by moment.

And then tonight -30 spectacular minutes of sunset, moonrise, and birdsong as the winds began to settle down for the night.

The psalmist who wrote Psalm 104 must have understood my plight. Physical metaphors and comparisons are insufficient, though he really tries!

Praise the LORD, my soul.

   LORD my God, you are very great; 

   you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; 

   he stretches out the heavens like a tent 

   and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. 

He makes the clouds his chariot 

   and rides on the wings of the wind. 

He makes winds his messengers,

   flames of fire his servants. 

(Psalm 104:1-4, NIV)

Today, all I could do was stand in the presence of the One who rides on the wings of the wind, feel his messengers brush my cheeks and ruffle my hair, and cry, "Glory!"