Author: astherainandsnow

“So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word… And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, ‘O Baal, answer us!’ But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made… And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” “The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind... He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”1 Kings 18:20-21,26,29; Matthew 6:24; James 1:6,8

I heard someone talk recently about an “energy reader,” a fortune teller who spoke of situations in a woman’s life she apparently could not have known, save for this client’s “energy” revealing them. Intrigued, this person became a believer– nearly. Drawn, but skeptical, she limped between two feelings, and therefore two opinions, unconvinced, but not wanting to let go of the possibility. Elijah exposes the Baal worshipers for a similar devotion.

Divided interest, and allegiance, breeds weak living. No solid foundation, no doctrine, no hold, only slippery clinging to (at least) two sides, with no firm grip on either. We might fear missing out on the possibility of one side’s promises, while being nervous to lose the other’s loyalty and acceptance. Dancing around in the middle limbo, we find only fickle partners and miss God’s music altogether. No certain voice answers.

Our only security is in the Rock, Jesus. He is God, and we can follow Him. There is no Rock like our God, and He can be implicitly trusted. There may be other look-alikes or sound-alikes, but none is true. We can test every teaching against His word, every promise against His character. We can bring every requirement for acceptance to His cross, every need to His throne of grace. When we limp along without aim or assurance, we will languish in fruitfulness and purpose. But when align with our Lord, even if we are the only one in a given situation, we will hold fast, our foundation firm and unshakable. (1 Samuel 2:2; Matthew 7:24-27; Hebrews 4:14-16)

Where do I flirt with falsehood and waffle between two masters? Where am I limping ineffectively, and would I ask God to show me why? Are there areas in my life where I resist God’s truth because it conflicts with my comfort or pleasures? “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground!” (Isaac Watts 1719)

Joy to the world! You, Lord, have come, and You are true! May all I believe, promote, and do, be wholehearted, grounded in truth and for Your glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:1-5,9-13

The Light of the world laid aside His heavenly glory to enter our earthly world as flesh. His light is unable to be overcome, and in itself, overcomes the darkness of every believing heart. Are we mesmerized and gratefully blinded?

Lighting a candle at the dinner table brings a sense of focus, calm, serenity, closeness. Light dispels fear. Insects are drawn at night to light. We stumble in darkness and grope for light in an unfamiliar room, in a quandary, for understanding in confusion, for enough knowledge to make decisions and plans. Light is life-giving indeed, and comes to us in Jesus and His living word for the taking. Yet even as we take and receive, it is God in His grace Who, by His will, pursues and catches and overtakes us. It is a majestic mystery.

The effects of light have everything to do with its source and characteristics. Life-giving. Exposing truth. Showing the way. Availing comfort. Permeating warmth. Raising in growth. Unquenchable. Unavoidable. Irresistible. What prevents our sidling up to the heavenly Light?

When I am born into a new day, do I seek the Light of the world? When I face a crossroads, do I ask for specific light from His word? Where am I loving darknesses of pleasure, gossip, philosophy, intrigue, or entertainment, more than I love light? Are there secrets I treasure, resentments I nurture, falsehoods I foster, that I fear being illuminated? His warm light can overcome every ounce of rebellion, soften every hard edge, burn away all grit and dross. (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:20-23; John 3:19-21; 8:12)

“Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!'”  ~Charles Wesley (1739) with George Whitefield (1714-1770)

Prince of Peace, rule my heart and mind! Sun of Righteousness, blaze bright in me! May all of me shine Your life and light, for the sake of Your glory and fame.

“And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, ‘Where are you going?’ And he said to me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.’ And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, ‘Run, say to that young man, “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it.  And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.”‘

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.  And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” Zechariah 2:1-5,10-13

It takes looking up to see how God measures things and to comprehend His perspective. We use numbers and rulers and clocks and calendars, almighty infinite God uses souls and fire and glory and forever. He thinks and acts on a whole different plane than we, and invites us to look up to understand, marvel, and rejoice.

We can get fixed on standards we want others to meet in order to be part of our world, and erect and measure walls whose boundaries we do not want crossed. Behavior, political persuasion, and personal style become our measuring lines, and can trip us up from welcoming those God chooses. But God steps in and says, ‘I define the boundaries. My presence is what counts, and My glory burns through all of your manmade resistances and prejudices to blaze brilliantly among My people.’ (1 Samuel 16:7)

We make plans and ask for things and want want want according to our timetable and methods. We long for dreams to be fulfilled, for resolution, reconciliation, salvation, healing, and God says, ‘My time is best and never late, and my ways are perfect. Trust Me to carry out My plans.’ “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (Deuteronomy 32:4; Proverbs 16:9; 2 Peter 3:8)

We dwell on our past, or that of others, and say no mercy can reach deep enough to remove the sin and regret, and God says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12)

We see physical structures, and fixate on the here and now; the Lord Jesus sees His living Body, and invites us to faith eternal. (John 2:19-22)

Lord on high, silence my earthly thinking and mold me to Your spiritual dimensions. Help me measure my days by Your presence in my midst, and rejoice.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:1-5,9-14,16

This passage shines with the majesty and mystery of Jesus, the Word made flesh. With God from the beginning, one with God and Creator of all, Light personified, He came to be received. Yet many received Him not. Those who do believe are born into His family, becoming His children forever, yet even this receiving is an act of His will and power. It is His arms, not ours, that take us on Himself and into His everlasting life. All is grace, grace upon irresistible grace that we cannot fathom but gratefully accept.

To be named as God’s child? Is there a greater gift, a more meaningful adoption, a stronger security? And this belonging is all of His grace, unbreakable, unshakable grace that entered the earth at Christmas, reached out on earth through healing hands and powerful interactions, that poured out in effectual cleansing from the cross, that embraces us for eternity when we receive Jesus into our life.

How can it be? Amazing grace! Wide grace! Uplifting grace! Limitless grace! Grace that pierces through despair and sorrow, grace that energizes the weak, grace that heals the broken-hearted, grace that teaches the way to go, grace that convicts of sin, grace that redeems our folly, grace that renews heart and mind, grace that unifies the divided, grace that leads us home.

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
and heav’n and nature sing!”  ~Isaac Watts (1719)

Good Savior, Your fullness cannot be stopped or quenched, and I bow in humble awe at its abundance to me. May I ever and joyfully sing of Your grace, allow its purifying work in my life, and spread it generously to others. Prepare my heart daily to acknowledge and lift high Your grace, and every heart to make room for its marvelous work and glory.

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help? Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?.. I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the Lord answered me: ‘Still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. The righteous shall live by his faith… For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.‘

“Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer’s;
    he makes me tread on my high places.” Habakkuk 1:2,12; 2:1-4,14; 3:17-19

The short book of Habakkuk is a beautiful window into the musings of a godly prophet with his God. Habakkuk observes God using wicked nations to punish His people, and wonders at His mysterious, offensive ways in fulfilling His good purposes. In his wrestling, he turns his eyes from the present violence to the transcendent everlasting One. He climbs to his watchpost to watch and wait. It is here the Lord reveals Himself and builds His prophet’s faith.

When am I am tempted to question God’s justice, or the tangle of His ways in a family or circumstances, will I climb the tower too? When my time plan for completion of assignments and fulfillment of dreams gets off kilter, am I willing to readjust and align with the Lord? It is understandable to have questions, to take what we know of God and wonder when it does not line up with what we would assume, but this is our opportunity to cry out to Him, to allow Him to lift our heads and take the long, eternal view. This is our chance to ask, ‘is there more to this picture?’ and submit, ‘make me willing to wait on Your time.’ His ways are so much higher than ours, yet in grace He allows us to glimpse His promises and trust Him for their fulfillment. (Deuteronomy 32:49-50; Isaiah 55:8-9)

We will not see in this life the consummation of all God’s good plans, but part of the joy and mystery of faith is believing the One Who promises, and carrying His view through all our days. (Hebrews 11:13; Revelation 22:4-7,12)

“Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.”  ~ Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Come, Lord Jesus! And until that day, keep me watching and seizing life from Your vantage point, and increase my faith! (Luke 17:5; Revelation 22:20)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone,.. was in the world, yet the world did not know him.

“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ. I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said. I baptize with water, but among you stands one,.. the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.‘ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.” John 1:5-10,19-20,23,26-27,29,31,34-37

From before he was conceived, John the Baptist was foretold to be a witness to Jesus, and his life reflected that prophesy in wonderful clarity. (Luke 1:14-17)

He who was sent by God was on his mission and was never dissuaded from it. When given opportunity to claim some notoriety and credit, he identified himself as only a voice- don’t look at me, behold the Lamb. His purpose was to proclaim, and that he did in word and deed. He also made clear his aim, to point people to Jesus the Light, the Lamb, the Son of God, in order to know Him, to believe and have life and salvation in His name. John’s witness was pure, the proof of a Savior he knew, and proved in the power of changed lives: those who heard his testimony turned and followed Jesus.

If I know Jesus, His light burns in me and shines through me to a dark world. I, too, am called to proclaim. Is the voice of my life clear? Is there anything I do with words or in action to diminish clarity, to steal the tiniest bit of His glory for myself? Do I try to be more than a voice, to be noticed with the greats, to take over receiving a little affection, attention, or applause? (Matthew 5:14-16)

Not all will receive, not all will understand; the way may be lonely, and some may even mock. But we are called by God to prepare the Lord’s way, to point others to Him, and He is the One to whom we are accountable. John was imprisoned and ultimately killed for the truth he spoke, yet many believed for eternity. He who exalted Jesus won His commendation, and that is all that matters. (Matthew 3:1-4; 11:11; 14:3-11)

Lord, make me like John, intent on reflecting You and boldly witnessing of Your truth to the world.

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” “You are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hosea 6:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6; Hebrews 10:24; 12:1,28

The beautiful thing about ‘lettuces’ in the Bible, is that “let us” means we do not do this good work of knowing and praising and living like our Lord alone. We are made to be part of a body, living stones being built on the foundation of Christ into a spiritual house. So, ‘let us’ join together to heed the mandates from Scripture that not only construct that living body, but encourage us to participate at all. (1 Corinthians 12:24-25; 1 Peter 2:5)

Let us support one another in pressing on to know the Lord. That may mean holding each other’s hand, pulling the weaker, or being given a gentle push by the stronger. Do I prefer to press alone, or grow impatient when another moves at a slower pace?

Let us share what we know, and listen as our brothers and sisters tell their lessons and wisdom. How willing am I to ask questions, and learn, or is my tendency only to spout off about my expert knowledge and opinion? When did I last come to a new understanding because of what another shared with me?

Let us keep each other awake and aware, vigilant to prod against worldly thinking, numbing passions, and unwholesome activities that can become rote habits. Sober is sharp, inquisitive, clear-headed. Am I such a companion?

Let us spur each other to love well and do good together. Am I in the practice of asking how a sibling in Christ has been helped by the Spirit, has understood a new facet of God’s character or changed in an attitude toward a difficult family member or colleague? In all these situations, love for God grows. How am I nurturing it? Where do I include the reluctant or shy or passive in eager service? Will I consider ways to come together and do something that benefits others, not just makes fun and pleasantness for myself? How consistently do I persist in these efforts?

And let us thank our great God together, share His wondrous deeds, worship and sing and honor our King. Awe for God grows when we recognize and marvel at the way He gathers us to grow together.

Worthy Lord, I offer You my garden of lettuces, and my willingness to grow alongside those You have put in my life.

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.

“And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God. ‘Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you… My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. In a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.  And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’” Haggai 1:4-9,14; 2:4-7,9

The winter midnight blue blushes red before dawn, bare tree silhouettes line the horizon like soft hair. The full moon lies hanging in the west, as though pulling its celestial companion up before it sets. There is nothing like a cold December sky at break of day. It takes getting out of my cocoon to behold the glory God swaths across His world, and I am always the better for it. My heart shifts, affections lift, vision clears. Life is about so much more than my cozy, my tangible and intangible ‘paneled house.’

In a season of holidazed frenzy, pine-scented hurry, wish lists dangling like sparkly ornaments, am I considering my ways? There will be no satisfaction if my worship house is in ruins. Much material comes to little, but little comes to much when the Spirit moves and I fix my treasure in my Lord.

Will I commit to adjusting my thoughts today? To shifting gears from high speed to contemplation of the manger, the wonder that God would ‘tabernacle,’ make His home, among us? What materials will I bring– hours, attention, effort– to make much of my Lord? What needs to be moved in my schedule, in my wants, on my tongue, for me to build for Him today, and show forth His glory? (Ezekiel 37:27)

Good Spirit, stir me, shift me as needed. Shake down Your glory on my doing so that others behold and love You, and know Your peace.

“The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously… Shout, and sing for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”  Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 46:5; Isaiah 12:5-6

Immanuel, that wondrous name of Jesus. God with us. He has come, He is ours. When we understand what it means that the Lord God is in our midst, a lot of singing takes place. We can only imagine the song that was sung at the hearing of this prophecy of God in their midst, the rejoicing because of His presence. When Mary received the heavenly announcement that she would bear Immanuel, her soul magnified the Lord. The reality of God, our Redeemer, Savior, Advocate, Comforter, Companion, and Finisher of our faith, in our midst, compels us to sing! (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:46-50)

Yet we are not the only ones singing. What must amaze and bring rapturous delight is that our God rejoices over us with glad singing. He takes delight in us whom He has made, in joyous love, abounding mercy, rich compassion. If He is indeed with me, I need never worry over being abandoned or alone. If He is mighty to save, why would I fret or fear? If He quiets me with His love, what can make me anxious and insecure? If He has set His affection on me and exults over me, I can rest secure in His sure salvation, unshaken by whatever comes. (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)

“O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace.”  ~Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

So as I smile, relishing the Savior’s rejoicing over me, what will be my song? Will I lift my voice to delight in Immanuel, singing scriptures back in gratitude? Will I boldly sing His praises to others, telling of His wondrous deeds and grace toward me? Do I bring joyful fragrance to the atmosphere wherever I am with His music? (Psalm 96:3)

“Go spread the news of Immanuel
Joy and peace for the weary heart
Lift up your heads, for your King has come
Sing for the Light overwhelms the dark
Glory shining for all to see
Hope alive, let the gospel ring
God has made a way, He will have the praise
Tell the world His name is Jesus.”  ~ Sing We the Song of Immanuel, by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Stuart Townend (2015)

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.

“And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace.” Micah 5:2,4-5

“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, do not fear to take Mary as your wife… She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'” “Joseph went up from Galilee… to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger… ‘For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 2:4-7,11

Bethlehem. The hometown of king David, but declined, small, insignificant. Until Jesus the Savior was born there. Jesus makes every place and every task and everybody significant. (1 Samuel 16:1; John 7:42)

If we are planted in a home, or town, or situation, that is not our choice or seems unimportant, insignificant, too small for a big work of God, consider it holy ground. Jesus’s life and movement can blaze bright and make a difference. (Exodus 3:1-5)

If we are called to tasks that appear too taxing for our energy or impossible for our skill set, that are unappealing to our senses or require a gusto we find hard to muster, rely on the strength of the Lord and the majesty and power of His name. He is the One Who equips and trains and supports us, His Spirit gives success, victory, and peace. (Zechariah 4:6; Psalm 18:28-35; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:19)

It is the Lord Who makes small services holy, small gestures eternal, small people great. It is He Who calls into existence what is not, and gives hope where there is none, thus awakening and nurturing our faith. It is He Who defines our worth and brings His presence to bear an effective and indelible mark on all we endeavor to accomplish or be. “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you.” It is He Who declares, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Romans 4:17-18; 1 Peter 2:9)

Lord God, sanctify the small and seemingly insignificant in my days to bring glory to Your magnificent and marvelous name.