Author: astherainandsnow

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven…’ 

“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’ Matthew 16:13-17,21-23

It is important to understand the ‘hearsay’ that permeates our culture, for that is where we live and need to interact knowledgeably and compassionately with others. But when we base our thinking, and therefore our doing, on what others say, or untruth, we get into trouble. When Peter was guided by the Holy Spirit, his thinking was right, but when he listened to the polls, setting his mind on and forming his opinions by the things of man, his thinking went askew. He had a clear grasp on Who Jesus was, refusing to give in to crowd opinion. But then he let his feelings tangle with his creed, and his thinking swooped down from lofty to that tainted with emotion that resisted pain and discomfort, and he wanted to stop Jesus from being the Savior.

People in authority, and those who think they have authority, fill the shelves where we form convictions with many choices. ‘Some say’ and ‘others say,’ but what do we say?

Do we have greater appetite for the polls, that are steered by manipulation of words and demographics and skewed by media attention, than for the north pole of God’s unchanging truth? Do we care more about opinion, valuing what others think, than assessing ourselves and situations and beliefs with help from the Holy Spirit? Do we claim to stand firm on what is right, but allow feelings to soften our stance?

When public opinion says ‘accept what feels right,’ will we renew our minds to discern God’s will? When the polls say ‘fear, beware,’ will we be anxious for nothing, pray in everything, and set our minds on what is true? (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:6-8)

“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”  ~St. Dallán Forgaill (sixth century)

Good Father, may I trust in You with all my heart, lean only on Your understanding, and ground every aspect of my living in Your glorious truth. (Proverbs 3:5)

“Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.’ He answered them, ‘And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, “Honor your father and your mother,” and, “Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.” But you say, “If anyone tells his father or his mother, ‘What you would have gained from me is given to God,’ he need not honor his father.” So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

“And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. 

“Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim… So [they] took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram. When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah. Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.” Genesis 13:10-13; 14:8,11-16

From our first introduction to Lot, he was intrigued by the lush and twinkle of the world, and at being given freedom to choose, he edged close to that glitz, and gradually slid into the city of sin. Consequences followed, as they always do, and he was captured along with his cohorts by another enemy. Yet, as soon as his uncle Abraham heard of his captivity, he set off in pursuit to rescue this wanderer. (Genesis 18:20)

Isn’t this like our gracious, loving, merciful Lord? He grants us freedom, allowing us to choose our path and slide toward our affections and the grip of their captivity. We learn through both blessings and harsh consequences that we are never far from His heart. He pursues us, sometimes tenderly, sometimes with an angry army, always relentlessly, sedulously. He is always, always, able to rescue.

Where have I made choices that fare better in the world, and inched toward Sodom? Where has strong spiritual resolve grown flabby? What makes me want to throw off the Spirit’s fetters, and where am I sliding in my thinking, the things I say, the attitude with which I react? Will I recognize the enemy clutches and look to my Savior to rescue me? (Isaiah 45:22; Matthew 6:13; Romans 7:23-25; 1 John 2:15-16)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24

Lord God, thank You for Your persistence in our salvation and Your keeping power. Search me, check any start to a slow slide away from You, and set me aright in the way everlasting.

“In the month of Chislev, they said to me, ‘The remnant there is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.’ As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, ‘O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant… and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.’

“In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,.. I took up the wine and gave it to the king. And the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.’ Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, ‘Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’ Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven… And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.” Nehemiah 1:1,3-6,11; 2:1-4,8

Nehemiah knew the only thing to do with his broken heart over the condition of his brothers and beloved Jerusalem was to beseech his Lord, and he kept on over 4 months until he had God’s answer and direction to act. Even then, stepping out in faith to make request of the king brought fear, yet he continued boldly and in ongoing prayer.

It takes determination and consistent practice to develop an effective habit of prayer, long draughts of focused time and waiting with Jesus, and ongoing communion when up and about. Once cultivated, the friendship and fellowship is unbroken, the sweet companionship with the Divine a lifeline of peace, resolve, power, and courage.

Throughout the book of Nehemiah, we see this godly leader cry out to God confidently and specifically in times of attack, discouragement, anger, need. We can do the same. (Nehemiah 4:4,9; 5:7,19; 6:9,14; 7:5; 13:22,31)

What are my default reactions to situations that rock my world with grief or angst? When I am bewildered how to move forward in a task or with a child or against a roadblock, where do I turn? How patient am I to continue seeking until God answers, believing that the time it takes for me to hear is time He is using to ready a resolution aligned with His purposes? Could He be preparing those I will encounter for their part in His grand scheme, working in their heart or circumstances? In my waiting, what new facets of His character, and mine, am I learning? What aspects of my nature is prayer refining, what qualities is it developing, what impulses is it extricating or transforming?

Lord, in every circumstance, every grief, every need, every moment, keep me in constant prayer. Deepen my communion with You so my living is a flourishing result of Your life in me.

“But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, ‘What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?.. Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.’ And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had. So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

^“Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. And Lot also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great, and there was strife between the herdsmen. Then Abram said to Lot, ‘Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.’

“[The LORD said to Abram,] ‘Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.’ So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” Genesis 12:17-13:9,17-18

A famine had driven Abram to Egypt, where he made a foolish decision to deceive Pharaoh and risk God’s promise of a son. He was royally chastised, and rather than justify his sin, stew in his shame, or retreat to obscurity, he returned to the altar at Bethel, to his place of worship and communion with his Lord to start afresh. He knew where to set things right, to realign his devotion, to gain insight and direction for his next decisions. (Genesis 12:2,7)

It is clear from the following verses that the Lord heard and answered him. When conflict arose between their herdsmen, Abram knew to separate, and graciously, trustingly, gave Lot first choice. He received his Lord’s further promise of land, and moved at His bidding, and built another altar. Establishing his place of worship would establish his life.

When we do or say things we know are not right, we choose whether to excuse our folly, to tuck it down as if it was unimportant, or to return to the altar and confess the sin, receive cleansing, and establish a new heart. When we know not the way forward, in a relationship or strategy in work or ministry, we can return to the altar of fellowship and instruction. At the altar we are assured forgiveness, enlightened with wisdom, given direction, and supplied with strength.

Holy Father, keep me regularly at Your altar, the place of forgiveness, help, and glory.

“These are… those who went up with me from Babylonia…  I gathered them to the river, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi. Then I sent for leading men of insight, and sent them to Iddo, telling them… to send us ministers for the house of our God.  And by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion…  Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. We had told the king, ‘The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him.’ We fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

“Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests. And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels… And I said, ‘You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord. Guard them and keep them until you weigh them at Jerusalem, within the house of the Lord.’ So [they] took over the silver and the gold and the vessels. Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way… The returned exiles who had come from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel.” Ezra 8:1,15-18,21-25,28-31,35

Making preparations for any event or task involves many details, but in order to have success that honors God, there should be a prescribed order: first things must come first. Prayer is always the way to begin.

Entrusting every detail to the Lord gives clear perspective for planning. Ezra knew how to organize the people and divide their treasure after looking to God. (Psalm 32:8; 1 Corinthians 2:16)

Praying first focuses us on the supernatural, saturates our minds in the eternal, and fixes our trust in His Spirit’s strength. (Zechariah 4:6; Colossians 3:1-2)

Praying first assures that God receives the glory, not us, because He is our Guard, He is in charge, and His are all results. We look expectantly for specific answers to our requests, and can trace His hand in every detail. Our response is a natural offering of thanks and praise, what we were made to do. (Psalm 139:5; Isaiah 49:3)

When my tendency is to jump in and ‘do,’ to line up my necessities, tick off my checklist, map my destination and GO, would I first pause and pray that my doing would be God’s doing? That He guide my planning and bless the efforts I exert for His glory? Do I fly out the door only partially dressed, or fit on His armor for the battles and journey ahead? (Ephesians 6:11-18)

Lord God, only You know all that is needed and lies ahead, every facet of my assignments. Keep me seeking You first, always, to know Your ways and trust You in every detail. May I exalt You from beginning to end in every endeavor.

“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” Matthew 8:23-27

Imagining how quickly this storm rose, and that it was so boisterous the seasoned fishermen thought they would drown, we know Jesus did not calm just the space around their vessel. He who made the mountains encircling part of the Sea of Galilee rules the wind currents that ride and swoop over those ridges, and the tumult of the deep waters within. He stirs, and He roils, and He calms just the same, ‘asleep’ and at peace in His sovereign power; and we can rest our souls in Him.

This same Jesus knows our every challenge, every twinge of unwanted jealousy or chafing rub in a relationship, every pang of hurt feelings and unmet longings and not belonging. And He is Lord of all these things. Jesus understands our temptations, the rage of unholy desire and the urge to get revenge or see others get their due. And He is Lord of those things too. Jesus knows our weaknesses and failings and regrets, He is not surprised at our trials or struggles or conundrums, and He is greater than them all, Lord of and over all these things. (Isaiah 45:21; 46:9-10)

“The Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, ^‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool… Did not my hand make all these things?’ Acts 7:48-50

Where am I fearful of life’s turbulence, resisting the spray of stinging water, or set rocking by circumstances beyond my control? Are my eyes wide with sorrow or angst at the unsettled places and unknown dangers, or would I fix them on my Savior at rest, calmly reigning over all these things? Do I shudder at relational conflicts and refuse to believe that sovereign God works invisibly in every storm, and can use the squalls to stretch and change and mature me, and supernaturally achieve His divine purposes through them?

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 14:27; 16:33

In my tempests and when my sea is glass, Sovereign Lord, may I trust You the same. May I so breathe Your Spirit that all is peace, inside and out, to the honor of Your Throne.

“Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. And Terah died in Haran. Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you.., so that you will be a blessing…‘

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions,.. and they set out. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the Lord. From there he moved to the hill country and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.” Genesis 11:31-12:2,4-9

It is easy to read a couple of paragraphs, watch changing scenes, and think these things transpired quickly. Yet in real time, decades go by and many miles are traveled. At some point in their adult life and so-far childless marriage, Abram and Sarai went with his father Terah from Ur toward Canaan, but stopped in Haran, where Terah settled until his death at least 60 years later. But Abram, 75, determined to heed the call of God, journeyed on southward, traversing 400 miles of enemy land. This shedding the old and entering the new was a process of step-by-step obedience.

I watched wind manhandling heavy, tired palm fronds before dawn this morning, working its push around and through their drying life. The majestic branches had once held their heads high, but over time, became the lower limbs of this regal tree, and would soon drop off.

Isn’t this like so many of our Harans, our habits and comfy places that, as we heed God’s voice, gradually dry up and fall away? Fears, sloth, prejudices, resentments, superior attitudes, resistance to change, can all break off and lose power if we would cut off their food supply and allow the Spirit’s wind to shake them loose. Transformation seldom happens instantaneously, but deliberate, consistent, obedient walking in the Spirit trains new muscles and corrects vision, and over time, we shed our old limps. (Romans 8:9-11; Galatians 5:16)

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own… One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal.” Philippians 3:12-14

Holy Spirit, help me shake off and forget the old, and get in step with Your new for me today. Have full sway in every part of me so I live fully for You. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 33:14; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 6:31

Rest can be elusive in days of coming and going, and nights of tossing and turning and active minds. There is always much that deters us from rest, yet it is commanded, and exemplified, by our Creator as necessary and good. He who made us also made rest for us. He knows we need it for restoration of our souls, and invites us to find it in His presence. His strong shoulders bear us up, His companionship is our solace.

When we choose rest, urgency’s tyranny loses its hold on us. When we choose rest, our minds are renewed with clean air and fresh insight. When we choose rest, we have time to contemplate the holy, the eternal, to gaze at Almighty God’s wondrous world and nestle close to Jesus’s riven side. When we choose rest, lines blur between what we think important and what God would have us do, and our eyes lift to see the Spirit working and leading and making a divine way for His will to be done.

Why is it so hard to cease the coming and going, to say no to requests, to prioritize demands, to delegate, to simplify? Can we not be satisfied with an excellent job and rest? What self-serving drive compels us to push constantly for more, farther, better? While we are called beyond complacency, we are also called to the humble and desolate alone where it is well with our souls, where there are no comparisons, no compulsions, no fears or even thoughts of missing out on something greater than being with our Lord.

Would we heed His beckon today? Would we take time to practice the blessedness of His present companionship, to get familiar with His heartbeat and enjoy the silences as well as the conversation? Would we bring all the cares and stresses and fears that encumber our thoughts and hamper our steps to Jesus, and submit to His yoke, and learn the joy and balance of a shared load? Would we intentionally come away from whatever pulls our attention and affections and take leisure with Him and His word?

“Jesus, I am resting, resting,
in the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
of thy loving heart.”  ~Jean Sophia Pigott (1876)

My loving Lord, thank You for Your invitation to rest. I RSVP with a willing “yes.”

“Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. ‘And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven…’

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.” Ezra 7:6,10,21-23,27-28

“The Lord said to me, ‘I am watching over my word to perform it.’” “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Jeremiah 1:12; Philippians 2:13

Ezra’s was a special gifting, a unique call from God, and God’s hand was on him to perform it. No one could imagine that the Persian king Artaxerxes would not only release Ezra and whatever Jews he wanted to take with him to return from exile to Jerusalem, but would supply him all the riches that had been taken in their capture, and grant legal protection and favor. But God does the unimaginable!

It is Ezra’s attitude and action I admire. Because he was a diligent student of God’s word, making a priority of learning, doing, and teaching it, His God was evident to, and revered by, this foreign king. He also received his assignment with vigor and humility, immediately acknowledging that it was God’s favor and hand that enabled them to return “to beautify the house of the LORD.” There was no want of personal credit or praise or ‘attaboys.’

When we set our hearts to seek and serve the Lord, He enlists us to be a part of adorning His kingdom in manifold ways. Tending wisely and courageously to our work, on mission for God’s purpose, according to His given skills, with the goal of magnifying His beauty, others see Him and not us, and He receives the glory.

In what ways has the Lord called us to beautify the ‘house’ of His church, our homes, our communities and places of work? Are we utilizing all the wisdom, creativity, and energy He supplies? Our material resources and individual talents? How well are we living out His word so others acknowledge Him?

Father, compel me to beautify Your house, apply Your word, and praise Your name wherever I am, all for Your blessing and renown.