Coming!

"My heart has heard You say, 'Come and talk with Me.' And my heart responds, 'LORD, I am coming.'" Psalm 27:8

Arriving at the long-term care home to enjoy lunch and an afternoon with my mom, as I entered her room she exclaimed, "Sweetheart, listen to the beautiful verse I read this morning!" With tears in her eyes and love in her heart she read Christ's invitation to come and talk with Him. Although this was a long time ago, and mom has now been with the Lord for several years, I can still envision her sitting by the window in her wing-backed chair. The joy on her face as she shared her Saviour's call to come and talk to Him spoke of the intimate relationship they had enjoyed for over 70 years. Being in her 90's at the time, her excitement to respond to God's encouragement to come was as enthusiastic as if this was the first time to experience such closeness with God. It absolutely thrilled me that at such a senior age God's Word was still alive and active and mom's life testified of her faithful following for many years.

Setting her alarm clock for 4:00am every morning, mom would rise early before the hustle and bustle of busy family life began. She knew that without intentionally prioritizing time with the Lord, the schedule of the day would steal away the precious opportunity of sitting with God and feasting on His Word. But morning was not the only part of the day she reserved to rest in Him. 

As a child, often of an evening, I would race into my parent's bedroom looking for mom, desiring to tell her something, only to halt myself quickly and step back quietly as I encountered mom on her knees beside her bed. Her relationship with Jesus was not a chore to check-off her to-do list early every morning. It extended through every waking hour. She lived in the throne room, practicing His presence and stopping to spend moments with Him whenever His invitation summoned her, or her longing to be near Him drew her.

Losing the luxury of uninterrupted privacy after moving into the nursing home where she could receive round-the-clock care, mom had to become creative. With the simple act of hiding her face in her hands, mom entered her "prayer closet". Her life may have been reduced to one-room living, but in her chair, after reading from God's Word, with eyes closed, she conversed with the Lord. She prayed for the needs of many, including my own. Mom was a mighty prayer warrior. Unable to kneel, due to physical limitations, she continued to bow her heart before her Heavenly Father multiple times throughout the day. It is our heart posture the Lord is most concerned about anyway.

I wonder how many times God speaks His invitation to each of us during the day. I once heard a story of a man who often made plans for lunch or coffee with a dear friend. At every date and time set he would arrive at the café early, eagerly anticipating his friend's arrival. Without fail, his friend would not arrive. Something always arose that prevented him from coming. Still, the man was hopeful. He continued to extend invitations. He never lost that longing or expectation that one day his friend would show up and they would enjoy a time of fellowship together. The illustration was much longer than these short sentences, but you have possibly already made the connection. The "man" is Jesus and the "friend" is each one of us.

Being a visual learner, imagining Jesus coming continually, desiring to spend time with me, never giving up, sitting alone at the table, watching each time the "café door" opens, and being rejected over and over again because of lesser loves, left a lasting impact on me. It absolutely breaks my heart to envision Christ waiting without response.

Today He extends the same invitation to each one of us. Let's not keep Him waiting long.

Temporary Prosperity

"Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?...they say to God, 'Go away. We want no part of You and Your ways. Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey Him? What good will it do us to pray?' (They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)" Job 21:7, 14-16

There is a danger in watching those whose lives appear to be prosperous here on earth. They are man-made wonders who pride themselves in the success they have achieved. They have built their own personal empires and are living without any apparent cares. Relishing in their own accomplishments they feel they are better off without the Lord. They have no need for Him in their lives. Job even observes later in the same chapter, "Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster."

We can't deny that it does often appear that wicked people flourish while those who intentionally follow the Lord seem to go from struggle to struggle. It can be difficult to watch the evil escaping hardship. There are Christ-followers, who, observing the outward ease of life of unbelievers, have sadly abandoned faith when their days became filled with heartaches and disappointments. Watching any life intently, other than Christ's, can be to our own harm. The comparison trap is set, and more often than not, we fall into it. 

I absolutely love how Job considers what he sees happening around him, and although his thoughts could pursue a path that would be to his detriment, he firmly resolved to have nothing to do with that kind of thinking. Oh, how many times do we also need to arrest the perceptions and assumptions that fill our minds. There can be a constant bombardment of questions and doubts that rise from hurt and confusion when we see the wicked prospering. 

There certainly appear to be many injustices in this world. There are those who reject God and live comfortable and peaceful lives. We all probably know someone who is not walking with the Lord yet living carefree, with wealth that surpasses needs. However, the things of this world can never begin to bring us more joy than knowing Jesus. 

While writing this a friend messaged me. She has had a couple of weeks of frustration dealing with multiple issues. She shared in detail all the struggles that have been mounting, yet the Lord has given her a deeper trust and joy in Him as He has invited her to praise Him in each storm. Although generally a "cup half empty" personality, the Lord is teaching her to drink from her saucer as His blessings begin to overflow. Even in the midst of trials and tribulations, sufferings that accompany our calling as Christians, we can express gratitude to the Lord for He never leaves us or forsakes us.

We sometimes develop a false doctrine when we equate blessings with righteousness and suffering with evil. Scripture tells us in Matthew 5:45 that God "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Those who have nothing to do with Christ in this life will benefit from His goodness here on earth, but there will be a time of judgment in the future.

Like Job, we must protect our thoughts from chasing a line of thinking based on impressions formed by what we conceive to be true. Even when the facts are accurate, we can't allow what appears, to dictate our response. Job recognized, as did the prophet in Zechariah 4:6, that it is not our wealth or our power that causes us to flourish. It is God alone who gives and enables both the just and the unjust to keep any of the blessings we receive from His hand. Even when wickedness around us escalates, we remember with Job that our Redeemer lives and one day all evil will be extinguished and justice will be executed.

Our Mediator

"I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends." Job 16:21

Sometimes situations and relationships need the intervention of someone who can help bring reconciliation and a peaceful resolution to a conflict. They step in as a representative, offering wise counsel as they arbitrate as a third, independent party. Many companies have unions with trained personnel who go forward on behalf of employees who require someone to advocate for them.

A mediator has to possess several qualifications. The people on both sides must be agreeable with the choice of mediator. He or she must be someone who is open to the perspectives of both parties, without favouritism to either. The mediator's decision must not be argued and this person should try and settle the situation in a way that leaves the two sides agreeable.

This is now the second time Job has requested a mediator. In Job 9:33 he says, "If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together." He longs for someone to plead on his behalf to God. He wants a middleman. God seemed so distant and Job is very aware that he is unworthy to stand before God. He needs a Saviour. He is longing for Jesus.

Sadly, many think that one day they will be able to stand before God and give their own defense. Believing their good deeds outnumber any bad things they have done, they foolishly think they will be able to argue any charges brought against them, and win. They don't realize that God will place before them every unkind word, every evil thought, every wicked deed and they will have no reasonable response, excuse or justifiable argument to support their rationalizations. 

Like Job, we too are unworthy to stand before God. We deserve condemnation, but unlike Job, we have a Mediator, Jesus Christ. "For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity - the man Christ Jesus. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone." (1 Timothy 2:5-6a) All who have placed their trust in the Lord, although guilty and deserving condemnation, Christ comes and stands between us and His Father and says, "It's OK. I have paid the price for their sin on the cross."

Not only is Jesus our Mediator, but Scripture tells us that He is always interceding on our behalf. "Who then will condemn us? No one - for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honour at God's right hand, pleading for us." (Romans 8:34)

Job foresaw the need that would one day be fulfilled in Jesus. "Job is laying the foundation here in his own understanding for the tremendous revelation that comes in the New Testament when God becomes man." (Ray Stedman) Christ is both Mediator and Advocate before God the Father. Job saw dimly what we know clearly. In the confusion of his suffering Job longed for someone who fully understood all he was experiencing, who could present his case before God, one arm around Job's shoulder, and the other arm embracing God, reconciling both. 

Jesus is the only one, as both God and man, who could be the bridge of propitiation. It is only because of Christ's mediation that we can know salvation. Jesus alone is the way of access to the Father. To refuse the Mediator is to refuse knowing peace with God. May we lay hold of Christ, surrendering our lives to Him. Through Jesus it is possible for sinful humans to approach a Holy God.

LORD of Heaven's Armies

"Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven's Armies - He is the King of glory." Psalm 24:10

Do you ever feel outnumbered? Certainly, when in secular settings we can sense, that as Christ-followers, we are part of a minority. We can look around and be intimidated when surrounded by those who do not know the Lord or prioritize godly ways. We may feel discouraged, beaten, defeated. How can our voice make any impact when there is clearly more against us than for us? How can we gain victory when facing such vast opposition? It is so easy to forget that what we see in the physical is not all there is. We are surrounded by a spiritual army who comes to our defense. When evil appears to be prevailing, it only means the battle is not over yet.

An army, by definition, is an organized, armed fighting force. Generally, armies are large in number, and brought together for a particular purpose. When we hear the word "army" we think of those trained for war. They are fighters. Warriors. They carry weapons to destroy the enemy. They appear fierce and frightening. They have one objective; to win the battle.

Our God is the LORD of Heaven's Armies. Does the use of plural vocabulary there not give us such courage? As believers, our Heavenly Father commands hosts of experienced soldiers instructed in combat who respond in obedience to His sovereignty. The Lord is strong and mighty and His strength is like no other. At His disposal at all times are those who willingly engage in battles on behalf of His children, and they are undefeated.

However, not only does God have charge of all the hosts of heaven, but all creatures are under His command. Alexander Maclaren put it this way, "In fact, the conception underlying the name (LORD of Heaven's Armies), is that of the universe as an ordered whole, a disciplined army, a cosmos obedient to His voice." This is echoed in the words David pens at the beginning of Psalm 24, "The earth is the LORD's and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him." There is nothing outside of God's ownership. 

At times it can seem discouraging to look around at the chaos of our world. We may struggle to see the Lord's dominion over the earth when evil appears to be winning. The LORD of Heaven's Armies not only references the hosts that gather in His name and serve at His command, but it speaks of God's strength and the security we can know as His children. The presence and power of the enemy is continually before us. We do not need to look far to see Satan's hand at work. As we step into each day we need the confidence of knowing the might of God in us and around us.

Being a visual learner, I love to picture being encircled by the Lord's army. The truth is, there is an accuser whose troops are always on the march, seeking a way to wound and defeat us as we live for Christ. However, we have the LORD of Heaven's Armies flanking us on every side. Does that not bolster our courage? We never walk into situations without Christ leading a company of His warriors to guard us. Most evil we face has a spiritual component that requires a spiritual conqueror. God is always at work fighting the sin that makes every effort to destroy us. When demonic agents threaten to deceive our hearts, the Lord's army, always deployed and at our disposal, acts in our defense. 

Today I pray that the LORD of Heaven's Armies will help you continue to fight the good fight of faith as He encompasses you with His mighty power and hand of hope.

God's Calendar

"...mark Your calendar to think of me again!" Job 14:13b

During the past several years I have felt prompted by the Lord to intentionally pray for others in very specific ways. For example, one year I had a list of 52 friends who shared their favourite scripture with me, and for a week that year each friend received seven days of prayer over the theme of their verse. Another year the same number of friends told me their greatest spiritual need, and I prayed God's word over them purposefully for seven days, following this up with a hand-written letter including all the scriptures I had lifted to the Lord on their behalf. This current year I felt led to suggest categories of prayer, one for each day of the week, and friends chose the theme that best fit their desire for prayer. One of the headings is praying for singles and widows. As I searched for Bible verses to lift before the Lord on behalf of those who are facing life alone, I found the phrase from Job 14:13b. Lord, "That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!" (NKJV)

Whether you are single, widowed, or living with a house filled with family, when we are going through any struggles without the end of the hardship in sight, we long to know a completion date. If we only knew that on a chosen day ahead we would be on the other side of the difficulty, I think we could endure it. When we feel forgotten in the middle, our hope would be enlivened if we only knew the pain wasn't going to last indefinitely. Even if the date was far in the future, our hope would increase with the knowledge of the assurance of coming out on the other side.

The Bible doesn't tell us how long Job suffered. James 5:11 tells us, "We give great honour to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy." Phrases like "great endurance" and "at the end" certainly suggest his distress lasted more than a few days. In Job 7, Job himself referenced "months of futility, long and weary nights of misery."

When we are called to persevere in pain it can become so wearisome. If we only knew that on a set date on the calendar in the days, months or even years to come, relief and healing are coming, I think we could hold on a little longer if we had the absolute assurance of recovery. 

An unending season of suffering is so discouraging. I'm watching a dear one right now trying her best to live above the physical difficulties that are weighing heavy and causing concern. She is courageously doing her best to live above this unknown ailment during the day, and then facing sleepless nights. Multiple doctor and emergency room visits have left her with unanswered questions as the symptoms persist, making it harder and harder to function daily. The relentless weight of an unknown illness is making the sufferer feel like she is going crazy. Something is not right when you cannot even swallow a sip of water. If only God would set an appointed time and remember her. 

So, what do we do? Maybe you too feel chained to a chronic illness right now. Maybe your heartache has nothing to do with health, but a prodigal child or a fractured relationship. It is possible you feel forgotten in a job where everyone else is being promoted, yet you feel anonymous and unseen. How do we keep on keeping on? When friends like Job's come offering suggestions and platitudes that only cut deeper, they often mean well, but our hearts hurt just a little bit more as they add fuel to the fire. If God would only mark His calendar and think of us again. As we wait for relief from present agony we must consciously choose to hold on to God's promises. Caught in the crucible of suffering, only the hope found in His Word will sustain and carry us.

God does see us. He hasn't forgotten us. Isaiah 49:1 tells us that God has engraved us on the palms of His hands and nothing can separate us from the love He has for us. God has committed Himself to us forever and His shed blood has our names marked on His calendar, highlighted in red.  

When Principle Becomes Personal

"Then Job spoke again: 'Yes, I know all this is true in principle..." Job 9:1-2a

Years ago, I completed the Bible study "Experiencing God" by Henry and Richard Blackaby and Claude King. I'll always remember coming to an exercise in the book that required the participant to turn to a page provided in the back of the workbook which referenced most, if not all of the names of God found in Scripture. The list was quite extensive. Our assignment was to take time to go through the names and put a check beside each one we had experienced for ourselves. With pen in hand, I began to read and check. Name after name. Check. Check. Check. I was happily going through the list when all of a sudden, I realized something. The question wasn't asking, do I believe these names to be true, or did I know that God was called by this name, but had I experienced Him personally in these ways. It is one thing to believe something is true in our heads, but quite another to know it by personal encounter. It is no longer a principle we have been taught, but now we have participated in the understanding and have learned it to be more than accurate.

The Bible is filled with attributes and characteristics of God. There are verses that describe His comfort during times of sadness, hope in discouragement, joy in tears, peace in conflict, provision in need, refuge in storms, and presence at all times. We are quick to embrace each one, and when life is going well, we have no reason to doubt that they are all true. However, when our theology is tested, we have opportunity to turn a principle we have claimed to trust into a truth we now personally know.

Most often it takes a trial for this exchange to happen. A principle we believe to be accurate in theory meets a situation where we discover whether what we have been taught will actually sustain through the difficulty facing us. Although these fundamental truths have been foundational to our faith, until the rubber hits the road our belief in them has been acceptance without experience.

It was during the Covid pandemic in 2020 that I discovered I was facing my second cancer diagnosis. No one could accompany me to any appointments. The day of my surgery my husband had to just drive up to the hospital and drop me off. I vividly remember getting out of the car and physically reaching my hand out to take the hand of God as I walked in through the revolving doors. The Bible tells me that God is omnipresent, with me everywhere at all times. I desperately needed to know that I was not alone. 

His nearness was indescribable that day. In all the waiting, He never left me. His peace that passes understanding filled me; a truth tangibly evidenced in a normal blood pressure reading. As I waited for a dye injection that I had been told horrendous stories about, the Lord was a shield around me and His hand prevented the pain I had been warned would accompany the procedure. Unknown to me, in an incredible gift of grace, the Lord scheduled a sweet friend's medical exam at the same hospital, in the same area, at the same time I was there. I will always remember the joy, the hugs, the tears as we prayed for one another right in that hallway. When neither she or I could bring anyone into the building with us because of the government restrictions, the Lord saw two gals leaning heavily on Him, and He provided such an unspeakable delight, reassuring us both that He indeed was watching over us. Unforgettable!

Theology must become practical. The scriptural principles we claim must result in faith, following (obedience) and fruit. A principle not practiced proves nothing. Affirming truth must be accompanied with application of that truth. We can know, love, recite and acknowledge Biblical insights and wisdom as indisputable, but when those precepts come alive by personal experience our relationship with the Lord is forever changed.

Risk Making Room

"You, too, have given no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid." Job 6:21

How do you react to hearing of a friend's sudden calamity? A calamity is an event that causes great distress. The catastrophe hasn't fallen on you, but something of magnitude has impacted someone you love. There is a unique strength needed to come alongside a dear one walking a very difficult road. For some, the risk of getting involved seems impossible. Fear can be a very real response. Ignorance can be bliss when it protects our hearts from breaking.

Many years ago, I remember hearing of a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer. As she began to share her journey on social media, I recall how her updates actually frightened me. I was nervous for her, but as she allowed her suffering to find its voice in this public forum, her messages terrified me. Reflecting on all she was going through, I couldn't imagine myself walking out a similar diagnosis. Connecting with this friend brought her pain vividly before me and it was easier to distance myself so I could shield myself from the agony I didn't want to feel or the "what if's" I didn't want to think about. To safeguard my heart and mind, I took a step back instead of running towards her when she needed friends surrounding her the most. I knew what I was doing. I can't excuse my behaviour. It was intentional. I later asked for her forgiveness, which she graciously extended, expressing how she completely understood. Thankfully many of her other friends rallied to her side and ministered to her well.

When someone we love so dearly is desperately in need it can be difficult for those whose lives are close to them as well. Even if we think we have a plan prior to hearing of another's crisis, it can dissolve pretty quickly when facing the reality of our lives interrupted. Sometimes processing the pain takes time. Suffering is such a teacher. It instructs us how to interact with others, and as we grow in learning to express empathy, the next time we hear of a loved one's calamity our immediate response will be more instinctive. We will have developed more emotional fortitude, being changed and empowered to respond with an enriched faith.

I know this to be true because the example shared above became the catalyst for me to never hesitate again. My friend's crisis exposed my heart to me. I wouldn't say I was cold or callus to calamity. I was scared. My own fear of ever hearing I had cancer put a wall up. If I didn't associate with the disease, it might never find me. I've learned that is not true. I've had cancer twice. I didn't escape the very thing that frightened me the most. 

One of the questions we want answered more than any other is "Are we safe?" We hear a story like Job's and we wonder what God is going to allow to touch our lives. What if traumatic news knocks on our door? If our personal world is turned upside down, will we be okay? Will there be those who will risk drawing close and investing in our pain? Getting intimate with another's suffering is an investment with great rewards. When we shoulder someone else's burden, a sacred bond is formed. We enter in to their grief, honouring the tragedy that has deeply impacted their life.

Let's not allow fear to prevent us from unwrapping the gift of being God's comfort and stepping closer. Yes, this type of love comes with a cost, but it is our calling as Christ-followers. We don't need to analyze their pain, but learn to empathize. "We don't have to understand someone's pain to make room for it." (Kristen LaValley) 

Will we risk making room for the sake of another today?