As the rain and snow

“And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, ‘Do not fear.'” “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” 1 Samuel 23:16-17; Proverbs 11:25; 16:24; Galatians 5:22-23

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.” “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality… Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Pray for us.” Ephesians 1:16-19; Hebrews 13:1-2,16,18

Gliding along this morning, I could not help but smile at the fuchsia blossoms littering the cool, blue-green surface. Wind from last night had fingered bougainvillea at the cove’s edge and strewn its blooms extravagantly across the water, dotting the early hour with bright cheer. ‘I want to do that today,’ I thought, ‘Litter lives with blossoms.’

There are many small things that we can do to add cheer and color to others’ lives. Give a smile. Send a message that says I am thinking of you and thankful for you today. Offer a written or spoken prayer over them. place at their front door a bag of cookies, tomatoes or herbs from the garden, a bowl of strawberries, a jelly jar of flowers from the yard. When we get caught in the sticky web of self-interest or pity, we cut off the creative flow for others. Love meant for them gets bottled up for self, and grows stale; it’s not meant to be hoarded.

So how will I, this day, strengthen another’s hand, as Jonathan did for David? With whom will I share a calming word, specific encouragement, or a message that sweetens their soul? How am I watering to help others be refreshed, be strengthened, and grow? In what specific ways am I praying for and contributing to meet their needs? Are there imaginative ways to extend hospitality, even when we are separated physically– a welcoming ear and heart? A shared walk or meal by phone? A feast of love, care, interest?

Lord, You have strewn our days with Your glory, showing forth Your love for us in the beauties You display. Help me to scatter Your love abroad, to litter the lives of those around me with blossoms that reflect Your loveliness and grace. (Romans 5:5)

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 10:12; 19:11

“Love is patient and kind… It is not irritable or resentful… Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-5,7; Philippians 4:2-3

Inward focus, where self is central, taints our perspective of events and words, and results in selfish (and flawed) responses to them. When we are guardians of our rights, and driven by feelings, we are disabled from seeing honest intent and extending others the benefit of the doubt. In our day, “Euodia” and “Syntyche” can be pronounced “you’re odious” and “so touchy,” ne’er to get along or agree. Over the years, our culture has fomented suspicion and rage among people by heightening the preeminence of feeling and emotion over reason, truth, and good will.

Offenses unchecked become ugly fences that block us off from decency and free-flowing munificence toward others. When erected, they close off reason and close us in to defend ourselves and nurse perceived ‘wounds.’ We resist hurt, and blame anyone but ourselves for rifts. We get irritated, chafed, and stung, and rather than guarding against mental rabbit trails of resentment, we construct guards rails against any opposing opinion or edification. We use words like ‘bullied,’ ‘offended,’ ‘put off,’ instead of employing a vocabulary of grace and openness to seek true meaning and intentions. We shut off dialogue instead of making effort to communicate constructively and with civility, to redeem misunderstandings, to heal hurts, to make peace.

Where has touchiness overruled sensible responses, and compelled us to exaggerate the meaning of what someone said or did? Where has prideful self-defense caused us to wrongly accuse motives behind someone’s actions, painting them with guilt, holding them culpable for our discomfort? Why do we even choose to be offended instead of looking benevolently for the best in another? Where have I refused to consider that someone else who has a different perspective might actually have a reasonable point? What will I do to affirm value of the person, even if I do not agree with his opinion? How can we change our vocabulary to promote charity? (Matthew 7:1; Ephesians 4:32; Philippians 2:3-4; Hebrews 12:15)

When will we deconstruct the offenses we coddle and the fences we build? What steps will we initiate to turn from combat and link arms in redemptive resolve to move ahead for a larger good? (Proverbs 17:9)

Father, check and convict any hint, even a subconscious impulse, that life is all about me. So fill me with genuine love and generous gratitude that any offense is obliterated by my remembering, and applying, Your cross. (Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 4:25)

 

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

We are each one part of this creation that exists through and for Jesus. He who gave us life calls us to sing ongoing praise with every breath. We see, hear, smell, feel, taste the praise of all around us. How will we add to the orchestra in extolling our mighty, worthy Creator? (Isaiah 43:7; Hebrews 1:3)

What sounds of cheer or gentleness, words of hope, encouragement, or consolation for others, or melodies of rejoicing will I sing? What color and sweet fragrance do I add to conversation and the atmosphere of my home or space? How will I bless my Lord by adorning His reputation, radiating His love, spreading His grace, exclaiming His favor, promoting His worth? In what specific ways do I shine and spread abroad His excellencies, that others recognize His greatness? (1 Corinthians 14:3; 2 Corinthians 2:15-16; Colossians 3:16)

My Lord Christ, daily tune my heart to sing unceasingly, through all my moments, to the praise of Your glory.

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” Luke 19:1-10

When God grabs a heart, a life changes. The Spirit prompted the greedy Zaccheus with curiosity, and compelled him to investigate this Jesus he’d been hearing about. He took time and effort to get in His way, to position himself to watch and listen, and Jesus called him. With a spiritually quickened heart, he hastened to respond and get closer, receiving Jesus into his home and heart gladly. And he changed.

What had mattered to Zaccheus mattered no more. His consternation and wariness of others, his hardened mask, were dissolved in joy. His greed and need for more and more were gone– he would give away what he had skimmed off the taxes he collected. He owned up to his defrauding, heretofore hidden, squelched, and justified– and he would make generous restitution.

The Savior of the world who redeems us redeems all of us– our inclinations, our affections, our perception and understanding. Where once we were hard and stubborn, He makes us soft and malleable. Where we were impatient and driven, He creates patience and desire to heed His call. In places we saw only the temporal, and that with limited sight, God gives eternal perspective, a broad and long view. Where there is a bent toward empty, carnal, worldly entertainment, He stokes craving for what is significant, beautiful, lasting.

Hostility is transformed to holiness, defiance to glad submission, despair to certain hope, anxiety to grateful peace. We who were blind, see; who were dead, are alive; who were alienated, now adopted; who were enemies, are friends. (John 9:25; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:5; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 1:21-22; 1 Peter 2:9-10)

If Jesus so converts us, would we seek and expect Him to transform those we love? Are we praying believing His mercy and power can overwhelm their doubts and win their souls away from rebellion and unbelief? How boldly are we proclaiming the truth of His redeeming love? How lucid is our life’s evidence to His Spirit-worked metamorphosis in us, so others are attracted to the change Jesus offers?

Great Redeemer, by Your Spirit transform Your people from glory to glory as we behold, love, and follow You. Through us draw others to Your life-changing light. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

“A certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and Martha. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ 

“Now Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again… I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. Do you believe this?’ ..Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. Jesus wept.

“Then Jesus came to the tomb. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone… Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’ …He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.” John 11:1,3-7,14-15,17,21,23,25-26,32-33,35,38-40,43-44

Jesus calmly received the urgent news about his close friend’s illness, and waited. Neither the disciples nor the sisters understood his hesitancy. Expectancy built, then waned in disappointment. Lazarus died. If only Jesus had been there. Grieving began, the body buried. But God was exquisitely setting the stage for His glory.

Into this impossibility, this fluster of tears and accusation and anger, walked Jesus. They saw Him peacefully enter the horrible with compassion and a promise of hope. They heard His invitation to believe that He was mightier than this catastrophe,  more powerful than death. Then Jesus not only raised Lazarus, but in doing so lifted their vision, elevated their faith, and revealed His love and resurrection power in a glory they would not otherwise have experienced. That’s what God does.

We do not like to wait, or suffer. We get tied up in time and want relief now. But Jesus loves to wait, and always precisely works to glorify His Father. Our questions, our restless impatience, our what-ifs and why-not-nows, are human ways of grappling with God’s beautiful, eternal, incomprehensible ways. Thankfully, He rules every purpose, and plants His glory seeds into our long hours and days. (Ecclesiastes 3:11; John 17:4)

In what calamity am I questioning God’s control and order? Where am I anxiously fretting at His timing or resolution? Might He prescribe waiting in order to magnify His glory?

Lord, help me trust that You orchestrate events to reveal Your glorious character and power. You are worthy of my hope and praise!

 

“Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons. 

“[Then] they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord‘s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them. Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair. And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. All the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work… brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.” Exodus 35:10-19,21-29

The task was broad, the instructions comprehensive, and the people’s response matched God’s intricate plans with willing generosity. Why? The Spirit moved them, stirring hearts’ desire and inspiring skillful exercise of talent. When God wills a work, He arouses  His people to will and work their part, for the glorious display of freewill come alive. Am I sensitive and willing to respond? (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13)

How am I participating in God’s present works? What am I contributing to His temple, His church body, by way of encouragement, unique talent, material resources, time spent praying or serving? Does insecurity, fear, laziness, or timidity squash His prompting to engage my skills? What distinct color, what particular beauty, what value has He determined only I can give? (Exodus 35:30-35)

Lord, I offer myself a living sacrifice, a freewill offering for the doing of my part in Your wondrous will. (Romans 12:1-8)

“Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her…’ But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” John 8:2-8,10-11

The religious leaders fiercely wanted to get Jesus out of their way– His teachings made them chafe, His manner was unnerving, His followers were too zealous. They desperately wanted to trip Him into condemnation. So these self-righteous ‘superiors’ nit-picked at the audacity of an adulterer, and Jesus knew just how to disarm their nay-saying.

Jesus addressed both the leaders and the woman here, and I imagine both squirmed a bit before coming to a similar conclusion- silence when being honest about their own sin. Jesus had a way of penetrating the heart and allowing the conscience to have its way. His final word, both unspoken and audible, was, ‘Leave, go, be gone.’

When our control is threatened, we can fall to desperate attempts at lording it over others. And when it is stressed by rising pressure, our reactions can get ugly. Often we act out because we are afraid of what is happening, or uncomfortable with other-imposed restraint, and want to exert ourselves in the fray. But when we fail to surrender to God’s control and walk in His Spirit, we slip into destructive, discouraging, demeaning practices. (Galatians 5:16-25)

Where are we nit-picking at the foibles of those around us, and in doing so, claiming ourselves better, more enlightened, more ‘right’? Will we humble ourselves to acknowledge we are driven by fear of losing our control, of relinquishing our tidy living and self-made security? Do we recognize the hideous pride that instigates our nay-saying of others’ ‘folly,’ their decisions we do not like and opinions with which we disagree?

Leave your comparing, your chastising of others’ sin. Quit complaining, stop criticizing as foolish or wrong the earnest efforts of another. Be gone to be still, to pray for them and yourself, to seek godly wisdom and thinking, to repent. Leave the petty pebbles for God’s higher purposes of grace applied and extended, of cooperation and mutual support, of unconditional love and spiritual fruit.

Gracious God, have full sway over me. Obliterate any tendency to nit-pick and nay-say, and transform it to honest seeking of Your wisdom and glad living Your way.

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain’… So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…’ 

“And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, ‘If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.’ ‘Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you…’ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” Exodus 34:1-2,4-10,29

Vast mountain, rough dust and rock path through tangly growth, heat and stretched muscle effort– yet there is much beautiful and holy about this exchange. Almighty, covenant-keeping LORD personal speaks to His man Moses, ‘Come up again, let’s do this again, I’ll rewrite the commandments on fresh tablets that you dropped when you saw they were broken. Come early, eager, alone.’ (Exodus 32:1-20)

The way of obedience, of the morning, of the mountain, led this servant to see his God in new light. This God of second chances proclaimed His mercy, faithfulness, and holiness: His love would not fail, neither His justice. Moses’s covenant LORD was also his Master Lord. He could only bow, and plead on behalf of this benevolent Master’s grace, ‘Please go with us, we need You.’ When he humbled himself, the Sovereign of the universe made an astounding promise of awesome work He would do.

When we go to our Lord early, unfettered, unveiled, He welcomes us and speaks. Humbled and desperate, we discern and become familiar with new facets of His perfect character, and learn to converse on their merit. We absorb the light of His very Person, taking new boldness, expectancy, brightness, resolve, and then unconsciously reflect His mysterious glory to others.

LORD my Lord, captivate me with all You are. May I bow before You eager and early, and ever seek, marvel at, and declare Your unsearchable, awesome deeds. (Jeremiah 33:3)

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ 

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

The spigot’s volume of flow in our lives has everything to do with our hearts. A sparing heart is one bereft of gratitude, a vacuum of interest, love, and compassion for others. Just like having air in the pipes makes for a sputtering, inconsistent flow of water, so self-importance and greed make for miserly outpouring in a life turned in on itself.

But when we, with Christ’s eyes, see needs and are moved by the Spirit to fill them, we become a generous conduit of God’s bountiful grace and generous resources. Cheerful, thankful hearts cannot help but overflow. How do we cultivate such an attitude and proclivity? By practicing gratitude in all things. (Exodus 35:5)

Have I rested, and awakened to another day in which the sun has risen? Am I breathing, thinking, able to read and feel, respond and emote and adore? Thank God, the Maker of air and the lungs to inhale, the Craftsman of our senses and color and song, the Fount of knowledge, understanding, hope, and love, the Weaver of nerve synapses and ideas and relationships. Great is He and worthy of praise! (Psalm 145:3)

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

‘For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?’
‘Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?’

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

As I make a habit of thanking God for my salvation, for eternal life and all its attending opportunities, abilities, pleasures, security, challenges, and mysteries, His living water wells up in me, stokes desire to share, and spills out to others. (John 4:14; 7:38)

Father, may I ever express my gratitude for Your bounteous grace and riches by lavishing them on others in Your name. May my living generously reflect Your extravagance and glory.

“After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?’ Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.  Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.” John 6:1-13

Jesus had been teaching, traveling, healing, compassionately dealing with crowds of needy individuals. Matthew and Mark tell us He had just learned of the cruel death of His cousin John the Baptist, so He was grieving, and grief is exhausting. His disciples were detailing reports, curious and helpless crowds kept pressing in, and He finally got away with His small group of close friends to rest and refresh… and still they came. (Matthew 14:1-14: Mark 6:17-34)

Jesus doesn’t even sigh. Where I imagine an audible exhale, a rolling of the eyes, a weary resignation, Jesus had none. His focus and energy are supernaturally fueled, and He cannot help but be the God He is, electric with loving sympathy, careful strategy, holy purpose, and power. He proceeds to work a miracle that leaves everyone in awe at His orderly organization, His divine supply, His use of His people to satisfy others’ needs, His bounty above all we can even imagine. All are satiated.

This is our Savior. He never grows weary or takes off time. His eye is always upon us, His prayers are unceasingly for us, His plans are always in motion. He never leaves or forsakes us, and nothing can snatch us from His hands or separate us from His love. He is not surprised at world events, nor confused by numberless prayers; He is in control and reigns in peace and order. (Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 40:28; John 10:28; Romans 8:34-38; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 3:12)

He it is who sustains us when life presses in. He is our enough, and our above and beyond. (Isaiah 40:30-31; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20)

Father, may I never sigh at what You ask of me, nor weary in doing good. Fill me to overflow with Your grace, wisdom, and love. (Galatians 6:9)