As the rain and snow

“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.

“This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away… but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.’” Luke 23:52-24:7

The anguish of the crucifixion had quieted, Joseph requested to bury Jesus’s body, and then all rested because it was the Sabbath. Those who had killed the One who instituted and fulfilled the law rested according to its tenets. Those who loved Jesus and witnessed his death also rested, depleted by sorrow and imaginably grateful for the prescribed Sabbath. And this rest is divinely ours for the work that Jesus accomplished there. By faith, we can rest in the marvelous fact that He bore our sins so we do not have to. (Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 4:9-11; 1 Peter 2:24)

Yet, following rest, morning comes. In the early dawn we rise in faith, refreshed by the rest afforded by the finished work of the cross. Looking up from the empty tomb, we go forth in the power of the resurrection.

In what aspect of my living need I apply Jesus’s death? What sloth of spirit, what self-focus, what superior or self-righteous attitude has wrapped its tentacles around my thinking and doing, and needs to be extricated? What anger, bitterness, greed, need to control, should be put to rest? Look at the cross, the sealed tomb, and rest. It is finished! Then lift your eyes to the first day on the other side, and walk in the power of the Spirit of victory. Because of Jesus, this is mine to enjoy! (John 19:30; Galatians 5:16-17)

“If Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:10-11

Risen Lord, may my every breath, decision, action be controlled by the immeasurable greatness of the power You worked in Christ when You raised Him from the dead, to the glory of Your mighty, lofty name. (Ephesians 1:19-21)

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” “We have the prophetic word.., to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 30:5; Luke 1:76-79; 2 Peter 1:19

Thick fog hugged the ground along the highway, sun turned periwinkle dark to creamy morn. I wondered at the low-lying cloud. Day springs early, and often begins slow in body, mind, and spirit. Our energy from the previous day was spent, and night, while resting the warm ground under sleep’s sweet dew, was short, so rising to greet a new day can be foggy, damp with concern, unclear.

But the sun always lift the fog. It takes some time for its rays to brighten the air, to penetrate the mist and re-warm the air above the earth it feeds with life-giving light. Eventually, sometimes imperceptively, the fog dissipates, and everything is clear. Sight is restored, for both near and far, and the chill of the unknown is vanquished.

The light of God’s word, His personal voice to us, may take some time to break through the spirit damp with suffering, sorrow, disappointment, confusion, anger, or malaise. The Savior’s presence in our moments and hours will not always be felt, or overwhelm with perceptible power. But our Lord in His mercy has come to visit us in His splendor and light. Regular, consistent drinking in of His living word will have its warming, uplifting effect over time, and God’s abiding presence will certainly infuse us (maybe slowly) with deep comfort, significance, joy, purpose, assurance. (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

As I hum along the highway of my day, will I slow down long enough to allow God’s light to burn for me and clearly light my path? When life is heavy and dim, will I prostrate myself and expose my every concern to the Son’s light, and stay until the fog lifts? Then may I sing with the morning.

Morning Star, rise in my heart and lift my fog this day. Burn Your truth into my mind and soul to remove any shroud of complacency and wandering. Clean clear away any disordered affections and detours from Your will, and restore proper vision and a whole heart, that Your glory is manifest in my every hour and my tongue sings Your praise.

“Solomon knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, ‘O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart... You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep what you have promised [David], saying, “You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.” Now therefore, O Lord, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.’

“‘If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause. If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near…  if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul,.. then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.’” 2 Chronicles 6:13-17,34-36,38-40

Solomon’s remarkable prayer in dedication of the temple is a pleading based on the promises and person of God. His own posture and stated position before the uncontainable Almighty is humble, yet his prayer is lofty and magnificent because of the enthroned One to Whom it was directed. His confidence? That God would maintain His people’s cause. The Rock, the Holy One, in any stumble, any battle, would uphold the sovereign cause of His people, and always make a way for His light and deliverance unto His ultimate purposes.

He does the same for us, and we can pray with assurance that His cause will prevail because His throne cannot be shaken. What He has purposed for us will come to pass. He keeps His word, and we can trust Him to maintain His particular plan in each of our lives. (Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 46:9-11)

Is there a behavior we have let slide, or a pattern of thinking that has strayed from God’s plumb? Would I turn back to Him? What present conundrum disturbs, or anticipated future challenge looms ahead, that should drive me to my knees and pray that God will maintain His will through it? Though we may wander, and circumstances change, though loved ones veer off course, and suffering abounds, God will always hear our earnest cries and work good for His own. (Psalm 51:1-4; Romans 8:28)

Good Father, I spread my hands to offer my pleas and receive Your blessed assurance that You will maintain Your cause in all things.

“Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes… in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion… And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim… And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (all the Levitical singers,.. with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,’ the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God… Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 5:1-2,6-7,11-14; 6:3

With all construction and decorative details completed, furnishings and vessels in place, King Solomon’s crowning act was to bring the ark, which held the covenant the LORD God had made with His people, into the new temple. The magnificent entrance and display that followed compels us to tingle, and smile, and sing, and lift our hands in wonder and praise!

God’s sure covenant is the ground for His light and glory to flood our lives. We prepare for the glory of the Lord with sacrifice and deliberation. The glory of the Lord lifts us above the common, captivates our attention from self-focus to God’s infinite greatness. The glory of the Lord is accompanied by joy and blessing that spread abroad. The glory of the Lord moves our hearts to worship and give to others. Are all these true in me? In my house? If not, what niggling irritants and pesky distractions am I allowing to deter my passion for the all-glorious God? How will I make way for His cloud?

What difference is the Lord’s presence making in the atmosphere of my home, reflecting in our furnishings, entertainment, order? Do I invite Him to fill my spaces with the glory of His peace and beauty? Is the purposefulness of His industry reflected in our management, maintenance, and stewardship? Is His companionship evident in the conversation at our meals, His divine hospitality effusive when we open our doors?

Lord on high, so fill our home with Your glory that whoever enters will see, commune with, delight in, be blessed by, and honor You.

“Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem… The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold and made palms and chains on it. He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim. So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—and he carved cherubim on the walls. And he made the Most Holy Place. He overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold. The weight of gold for the nails was fifty shekels. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.” 2 Chronicles 3:1,4-9

Much care was taken to adorn the inner part of the temple, the place where only priests would enter, but where God would dwell. Valuable resources were incorporated to create splendor, and great effort and attention made beautiful His space, with thought for His pleasure and honor, not the compliments or accolades or admiration of others. A high and holy God is worthy of the best. What we might deem a waste of time, talent, and resources was the specific plan of God, illustrative of His resplendence and infinite worth.

Our culture has an inverted view from the Lord’s. It instructs, almost demands that we adorn our outside, and makes possible every way that can be done, from products and procedures for skin, face, and hair, to clothing and accessories that make us look fit, festooned, and fashionable. But these trappings are merely symptoms of our interiors. When we spend our attention and time on our outward appearance, we could be neglecting the more important place our Master calls home, and from which He shows through.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?” “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Peter 3:3-4

God looks at the heart, He sees us from the inside out. It is there He shapes our character and refines our spirits and wants to shine gold. It is from there He adorns our countenance. Am I tending to the inner self? Am I as readily scheduling time to feed on my Lord’s promises, apply in new and fresh ways His truths, worship His beauty and holiness as I am for external self-improvement? Do I even prioritize these efforts as a part of my regimen? Would I take attention to the inner heart, the health of my spirit, and yield willingly to my Lord’s chisel and polish? (1 Samuel 16:7)

Father, adorn me in Your Spirit. Transform my bent to focus on the outer for others to a passion to maintain inner gold for You.

“‘Ah, stubborn children,’ declares the Lord, ‘who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!’ Egypt’s help is worthless and empty… Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord! The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.” Isaiah 30:1-2,7; 31:1,3

We are taught from many angles that stubborn independence is good. Make your own way, don’t depend on others, be an entrepreneur, look out for yourself, follow your heart. Yet one voice, that of our Maker, says in benevolence, ‘Ah, my beloved children, I see your stubbornness. I know You well, and you are precious to Me. But I see that the path you are choosing will not come to good. Your alliances, your dalliances with frivolity, your unhealthy friendships, your unwholesome reading, your false measures for security, your masks, are fruitless and will leave you empty and stranded. I understand your inclination to make your plans, dream your dreams, and rely on your know-how and guts, but apart from Me, they will not succeed.’

The world has and offers much glitz, and makes many empty promises. Its pleasures may indeed please, but only superficially and fleetingly, and often not before inflicting pain and regret. Its securities are fool-safe, until they are not. What is it about the boast of Egypt that lures us away from the Almighty? Is it the luscious colors and smooth easy feel of Pharaoh’s lovely garb, the intoxicating power and temptation of position, control, and fame? Is it his sensuously strong horses, the dreams of riding luxuriously in notoriety and comfort, of being my own master? (Romans 4:19-21; Hebrews 11:24-27)

To all these allures, Jesus says, Whoa! If we do not cease our own planning and seek His counsel, if we do not break soul ties to those who lead us astray to be bound instead to His Spirit, if we set our own course without consulting His map and directions, if we lust after the approval of man rather than the esteem of God, and fear man more than we fear Him, if we find affirmation in the accolades of others more than in our Lord’s ‘well done,’ if we value and heed worldly advice over God’s truth, if we do not stop our self-driven momentum and get in synch with His, if we rely on our own strength instead of God for security, then woe! Woe is ours because we are rejecting the One Who gives true meaning, protection, and fruitfulness. (Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 22:29; Luke 11:42-52; 2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Where are His reins pulling and steering me today?

Father, cause me to trust in You alone, acknowledge You in every endeavor, and stick to Your paths and methods. May any favor in my life exalt Your grace and glory. (Proverbs 3:3-7)