As the rain and snow

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” John 5:2-9

Thirty-eight years is an eternity for one who cannot move well, and the lovely Bethesda pool had become an easy home. When Jesus approached him, He knew the man’s condition: physical incapacity as well as his attitude of blaming others for his condition, or at least any improvement to his situation. Jesus’ question is interesting, “Do you want to be healed?” He was touching on this man’s will, his ‘want-to,’ and was eliciting a heart response. Still lame through and through, the invalid answered, “woe is me,” “I can’t,” “I try but others prevent me,” all ruses his long hours on the ground had convinced him were true. But when Jesus appeared, bringing a sweep of mercy and spiritual awakening that only He can do, everything changed. Once He had the man’s attention, it was game on. In a word, He required the man to get up, pick up (to get rid of) his old enabler mat, and walk in new life. His healing manifested itself when the patient responded to His call.

Isn’t it the human tendency to wallow in discomfort or misfortune and blame others for my grievances? ‘If he wasn’t so difficult I could be happier;’ ‘If she were more supportive, I could be more effective;’ ‘I was made this way.’ Are we content to be spiritually complacent? Do we find an odd comfort in staying like we are, rather than risking a fresh and better attitude, new and healthier habits? Have we held bitterness so long we are strangely afraid to let it go, fearful at what God might want to do in restoring us? Do we resist His redemption of the heart because we are reluctant to surrender temporal pleasures? Do I chafe at having Him remake my identity, separate from my sin or pain?

Lord, may I never delight in misery over the joy You intend for me. Break in to the infirmities of my heart, dissolve my resistances, and turn my face to Your merciful eyes. Bid me rise from old ways of thinking and behaving that are numb to Your power, that I may walk in Your glorious strength and purposes. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.  And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’ And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb…

“And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb… And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” Revelation 5:1-14

Unfinished plans, unmet longing, disappointment, in the human experience can bring weeping of soul. “He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” We groan in misunderstanding, lack of context, limited perspective, seeing in a mirror dimly. The yearning God places inside us that in this world is unsatisfied reminds us we were made for something higher, better, eternal. John’s vision here shows the swallowing up of his sorrow by a glorious host of worshipers, consumed in praise to the victorious Lion of Judah seen as the worthy Lamb. (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 8:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13:12)

In our confusion, our heartbreak, our grief at lost loved ones and broken relationships and lives, do we hear the call? Weep no more! Behold the Lamb! He bore the brokenness, the sorrow, the emptiness, the painful fallout from all our sin on the cross and ransomed us! He conquered death and reigns over all that has been and is and ever will be! He is worthy to receive all glory and honor and blessing and praise!

Oh Lord, lift my eyes from all that pulls downward to behold You, the Lamb that was slain and is seated alive on the throne. “Finish then Thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be. Let us see Thy great salvation perfectly restored in Thee. Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place, till we cast our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.” (Charles Wesley, 1747)

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” “For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”  “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.” “In your light do we see light.” Genesis 1:3; Malachi 4:2; John 1:4-5; 8:12; Psalm 36:9 

God Who created light sent the Light of the world into the world at Christmas, as the Son of God, Son of man. His very presence in our lives ministers light to us. He rises with healing of our sin problem, our broken bodies and relationships and dreams. He floods our dark places of soul and misunderstanding and resentment, and dispels despair and doubt. He illumines the unknown that lies ahead, where we fear to walk or discover, by walking before us; and He shines into our hearts by His Spirit and word to reveal the places He wants to redeem and strengthen and transform. How can we not thank Him for this gift of light? How can we not open all windows and doors to let Him flood in?

“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.  ~John Wesley (1739)

Light of light, You are joy to the world! Break forth in Your glorious array! Please speak Your light into me this day and fill me with all that it brings: hope, peace, gladness. Spill over wherever I go and with whomever I am so they see Your blazing love and are drawn irresistibly to You.

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!’ Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ And to him he said, ‘Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.’ And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments.” “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Zechariah 3:1-5; Isaiah 61:10; Matthew 1:21

Zechariah gives a vivid picture of one of God’s own and the daily battle of spiritual forces. Satan, named “the Accuser,” never relents from his modus operandi, yet our Savior rebukes him and wins. He is the glorious One Whose very “blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress.”*  Indeed, Jesus came to save, to bring salvation, to change our clothes from filthy garments to robes of righteousness, pure and clean. What a Savior!

This day, as I go into the world and face spiritual forces of evil that tempt, deceive and accuse from every angle, prodding me to discontent, irritation, comparisons, fears, insecurities, lust of flesh and eyes, selfish independence, I have the LORD Who wards off the enemy and reminds me He has clothed me anew. This Christmas, as I gather with loved ones who can tug at many heart strings, I am robed in my Redeemer. Jesus came that we might wear His clothes always, putting off the old patterns and default reactions and confidently, joyfully putting on, “as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

“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.” ~Charles Wesley (1739)  

Glorious Savior, adorn me in Your Christmas clothes– the humility of the manger, the holy light of the newborn King, the immeasurable love of my Savior Who came to lay down His life for sinners. Fit them perfectly to all of me, help me to wear them well so “‘midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head,”* and others be blessed.

*Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf (1739)

“I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst. He who touches you touches the apple of his eye. 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.” Zechariah 2:5,8,10-11

What a comforting, exhilarating , hopeful message to the exiles returning from Babylon! Their uncontainable city would not be measurable, they would need no physical barrier to protect them; God would shield them as the treasured apple of His eye and be a wall of fire around them as their shield. And He would abide with them forever as the flaming, glorious power in their midst! What a promise!

What does God’s glory in our midst mean for us? He is our Bread of Life Who satisfies and Living Water when I thirst. He is present always in wisdom, light, truth, and resurrection power. He loves us as the Good Shepherd, leading and caring for us by name; He is our joy and abundant life. He is the Vine to Whom we are inextricably attached and through Whom we bear fruit that brings Him glory. He shines for us and in us, manifesting Himself through all we are and do in generous love, compassion, joyful countenance, long-suffering, gentleness, peace. What a Savior! When my heart prepares Him room, He invades, takes over, and is my very fullness of life and glory! (John 4:14;6:35;7:37-38;8:12;10:10-11,14;11:25;15:5,8)

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing! He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love.”  ~Isaac Watts (1719)

All praise to You, Immanuel. You have come to us to abide with us, God with us forever. May Your glory and fire in my midst draw others to Your irresistible light.

“Jesus left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)  Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.’” John 4:3-10,13-15

Samaritans were religious half-breeds, from earlier times those who mixed the worship of true God with that of other gods, and to the Jews, they were unclean–they would walk around Samaria to avoid contact with them to reach a destination. But Jesus “had to pass through Samaria.” His agenda was so different from those around Him that it did not submit to their norms or prejudices. His holy compulsion was to do His Father’s will; He had come to seek and to save the lost, to call sinners to Himself, and He had a divine appointment with the woman at the well. Through loving, gracious conversation that revealed Jesus’s omniscience and awakened her spiritual thirst and faith, the outcast woman came to believe He was the Christ. (John 4:25-26,28-29,39-42; 6:38; Luke 19:10; Matthew 9:13)

Do I begin my days with holy compulsion? What are the motivations that drive my agenda? Who writes the items on my to-do list, who names those I am to love and serve? Where am I avoiding the uncomfortable when it might be exactly where God is calling me? Do I fear exposure or contamination or criticism or even fatigue more than I fear disobeying the One Who sends me? His pathway may be uncomfortable, risky, frightening; He may not reveal the whole process or the end of the story, but He Who assigns me tasks is He Who is good in His plans and Who enables me to obey in His strength; He Who begins a work is He Who finishes it. His ends are redemptive and altogether holy–why would I not heed His voice? (Philippians 1:6; 4:13)

Lord, teach me Your ways, lead me on Your paths. May I hasten and not delay to go where You call, even if it means laying aside my own preferences and preconceptions. May Your holy compulsion lead me every step of every day. (Psalm 25:4; 119:60,66)

“Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?  Now, therefore, 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. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.  And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.’ Then Zerubbabel and Joshua, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the LORD‘s message, ‘I am with you, declares the LORD.’ And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, 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.” Haggai 1:4-14

God’s word and His presence do powerful things in us. The first wave of exiles had returned from Babylon to Israel, but settled into their own narrow lives, running after wealth and comfort. When Haggai exposes their selfish drive, that they were spending their energy and wealth on building for themselves and neglecting the higher pursuit of rebuilding the LORD’s temple, which would represent His restored presence among them, their hearts were moved. As they listened and considered their ways, the Spirit stirred, and transformed their thinking, their affections, their motivation and direction. Once they set themselves to work and build for their God rather than themselves, He promised, “From this day on I will bless you.” He can do the same for us! (Haggai 2:19)

Truth affects us–at least it should. When I take time to consider my ways–the way of my heart toward what is temporal or eternal, the way I am drawn to superficial, self-absorbed pursuits or tackling my own agenda, the ways I choose to live either for personal validation or God’s glory– what has God’s word exposed? What difference has considering my ways against His truth made on my choices and priorities, on how I spend my time and resources? Am I seeking His Spirit’s leading, and awaiting His stir, before beginning an endeavor?

Oh LORD, compel me to stop my busy pursuits and consider my ways, to think through my intentions and align them with Yours. Reveal and convict of any self-serving endeavors. Move my spirit to adore You first and love You best, and to build only what will last and bring You glory.

“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.  And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom  and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee.” John 2:1-11

On the surface, we are drawn into the festive atmosphere of the wedding feast, family and friends gathered for an extended celebration of a couple betrothed over a year or so and now holding a ceremony and party. There is something beautifully mysterious about Mary’s informing her son, whose public ministry had not yet begun, that the wine had run out, as though she knew what He could do. And do it He does. In a word, in an invisible act, He turns 150 gallons of water into premium wine for the guests.

On a deeper level, what does this say He can do for us? If I am a jar of clay, and He my Living Water, then as I am filled with Him, He becomes delicious wine for me to pour out to others. My responsibility is to be filled to capacity– to seek Him, to surrender self and ask to be filled with His Spirit, to decrease so He can increase in me. Once filled, He Who is generous and alive will spill over in my life, spreading abroad His light, love, compassion, grace as I allow Him to flow through me. (Isaiah 64:8; John 3:30;7:37-38; 2 Corinthians 4:6-7; Ephesians 5:18)

Lord, fill me with Your living water, and make it delicious wine for me to give to others. You are the Source and Fount of all blessing.

“The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame. ‘Fear not; let not your hands grow weak. 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.'” “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Zephaniah 3:5,16-17; Lamentations 3:22-23

Every morning, we awaken and find the earth still spins, the sun rises again…and if we think about it, we realize God’s faithfulness is sustaining our world and He is upholding all by His power. A rush into the day precludes our acknowledging His powerful backdrop to our lives; taking time to commune with our First Love and source of our very life bring vital energy, hope, purpose, and comfort. (Genesis 8:22; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 2:4; Acts 17:28)

Just what does He promise for every day? His word promises righteousness, justice, His unfailing presence. He watches us, rejoices over us, and showers His new, fresh mercies down into every crevice of our days. He is mighty, He is loving, He is faithful. How does that affect our morning outlook?  We may awaken to a full to-do list, or a dreaded doctor appointment, or a meeting with someone that we anticipate will be uncomfortable; we may simply face an open schedule where hours will fill up with what is now unknown– demands on our time and talents. But we can count on God to remain true to His character and to His ongoing work on our behalf and to fulfill His eternal intentions. Our response can be to trust, to take courage, to go forth in peace, without fear, and with confidence in His love and goodness and steadfast presence.

“Awake, my soul, and with the sun my daily stage of duty run; Shake off dull sloth and joyful rise to pay thy morning sacrifice.”  ~Thomas Ken (1695)

Lord, when I rise, let me look on You Who are already risen and reign. Cause me to take rest because You are in my midst, take focus to praise You for You, and take up Your mantle for my day. You Who bring each morning to bear bring each part of the day that dawns, and You bear me up as my trustworthy and constant Companion. This is the day You have made; may I ever rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!” “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”  “But as for you, O man of God, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” Psalm 119:10; Isaiah 55:6; 1 Timothy 6:11

There are storm-chasers, and ambulance-chasers, and on elementary school playgrounds,  girl-chasers; I am a dolphin-chaser. Atop a paddle board, where early sun strews twinkly jewels like stars across the grey green water, there are few things more thrilling than spotting the graceful finned back of a dolphin (or more), arcing above the surface, and I want to be there. I fix my eyes on where it was— now is again– watching for the telltale sign of its smooth circle exhale-bubble, digging in one stroke after another, keen-eyed for the next sighting to make sure I stay on course. There it is again, sometimes twisty and playful, sometimes flipping and feeding with family, sometimes just gracefully ambling on in its rainbow slices along the shore. My heart speeds up at the thought of being closer, seeing more, hearing it breathe, knowing this mysterious creature better, and I pursue…

Do I so eagerly chase my Lord? I heard someone say recently, “We need to make ourselves available, and God always shows up.” Yes, and to take that another step, He is already there, and is the One Who entices us by His Spirit to hungrily seek Him and then follow in wonder, to get acquainted with Him and join in what He is doing. Sometimes it is jumpy and uneven and unexpected, other times it is clear and smooth-sailing. I know as I move along the salty surface that teeming life hides underneath, that there is more than meets my eye, and so I know God is always at work even when I cannot see. But at each glimpse, when He shows those glorious hints of His appearing, His redeeming, His stirring, His inspiration, His specific answered prayer, when He places opportunities out beyond my easy reach, does my heart jump to be a part, to get in His flow?

Oh God, keep me steadfastly pursuing You and Your life for me. May I run after Your knowledge, countenance, and character; may I delight to be near You at all times and to move in Your ways.