Surrendered...

...that's a vulnerable position.  That's when I'm not in control, calling the next shot, taking responsibility, planning ahead or taking ownership.  It puts me under the control of another.  Sometimes in life that happens in an involuntary way.

Is the light light?...

Light and dark seem pretty clear cut opposites...or are they?  When does dark become light?  Or when does light become dark?

Positive and negative, when represented on a number line, are decisively divided at zero. Everything to the right is always positive all the time and everything to the left is always negative all the time.  Light and dark, however, if represented in a linear fashion have a very different representation.  The only point at which light is 100% light is at the very outer limit in one direction of that line.  Likewise, dark is 100% dark at the  outer limit of the other direction of that line.  The spectrum in between, in theory, represents degrees of light and degrees of dark.

This twilight portion of the spectrum is the place where we are easily deceived.  In Matthew 6:23, Jesus is recorded as saying, "If the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is."

Beware of the deception of the darkness that poses as light.  That is a scary and dangerous place to be.

God is light and there is no darkness at all in Him. (1 John 1:5).  That is the frequency on the spiritual light spectrum that our eyes need to be trained to.  He has made His light shine into our hearts so that we can know the glory of God. (2 Cor. 5:6)  As we know that glory, we will not be deceived by anything less.

"I Did Everything I Could..."

Slow learner...short term memory...self-absorbed...in denial...attention deficit...what is it anyway?  I just plain forget.  Yes, I forget God's faithfulness.  How could I?

He asks the same question..." Stand up and state you case against Me...What have I done to make you tired of Me?...Don't you remember?"

The next thing He says is the turn of the dagger in my heart that so desperately needs His surgery..."Remember...when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about My faithfulness." (Micah 6)

Yes, He, the Lord and Savior of my heart and soul, has done and continues to do everything to teach me about His faithfulness:  the delicate blossoms of spring, the snow laden peaks of winter, the color palette of fall and the warming rays of the summer sun...the giggle of a baby, the blend of notes of perfect harmony and the trill of the bird outside my window as dawn breaks...new birth followed by new life in a soul that wandered, forgiveness from transgression yet again, the realization that "all things worked together" and the "assurance of things that are hoped for."

Lord, let me not be short sighted...don't let me fail in  my memory...keep my attention absorbed with You...may I never deny what You have done...don't let my attention wander!

Great is Your faithfulness!

Mourning Over the Consequences

God's people willingly chose to walk a path of disobedience and the just consequences fell:  destruction of their lands and slavery to their enemies.  Included in the destruction of their lands was the destruction of the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.  It was in these circumstances that God had met them.  During the seventy years in exile, the people mourned and fasted every summer on the anniversary of the Temple's destruction.  As Zerubbabel took on the task of rebuilding, the people asked the obvious question, "Should we continue to mourn and fast?"  How long should we mourn and fast over the sins and consequences of our past?  How long does the time of rebuilding need to be a "yes, but..." time, casting a shadow on the rebuilding that God is doing in our lives?  The record of the destruction of the temple will always remain as well as the record of why.  The reality of what has happened or we have let happen in our lives will always remain.  God, however, in His rich mercy rebuilds.  He bring wholeness and newness. He wants us, just as He instructed His people, to end those times of mourning over the past. "The times of mourning you have kept...are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for God's people. So love truth and peace."  We must do this.  We must let God's forgiveness settle into festivals of joy and celebration. (Zechariah 7 and 8)

Rejected Accusations

My journey through the minor prophets this time has been amazing.  God's unending faithfulness to a persistently unfaithful people... here's a story: A Memoir . Then in Zachariah's book he tells us about a vision he had.  The Accuser, Satan, is standing before the LORD making accusations against Jeshua the high priest.  The LORD looks straight at him and says, "I reject your accusations.  Further more, I rebuke you for these accusations.  This  man was going down but I have snatched him from the fire."  He goes on to replace the priest's filthy clothes, a picture of his sins, and gives him fine new clothes.  Yes, he is made new.  This scenario cultivates hope as we contemplate our place before our LORD.  The accusations are rejected.  We stand clothed in Jesus' righteousness alone.  Furthermore, as the LORD proclaims of this priest, we are symbols to the world of things to come.  The task is before us.  Let us be faithful as we stand acquitted.

In My Valentine Box

I found this in my valentine box this morning. The box has 962 pages of messages...messages of love, hope and encouragement. "Who is a God like you, who pardons all our guilt. You overlook the sins of your people. You will not stay angry with us forever because you delight in showing us unfailing love. Once again, you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean. You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised those who lived before us." (Micah 7:18-20) I rest secure in my God's love.

Firm Faith

Ahaz is king of Judah and an attack from Israel and Syria is looming on the horizon. Isaiah says that the king and his people were like trees shaking in a storm. They were stricken with fear. I'm not always that afraid, but there certainly are many times that worry and fear dominate my thoughts. God tells Ahaz, through Isaiah, that the invasion will not happen and He finishes His proclamation with an interesting statement, "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm." Is my faith firm? Is is wavering, doubting? There's no room for that. I must not look to the left or to the right. I must hold fast to my faith firmly planted in God, my Savior. It is only then that I allow Him to make me stand firm. Oh that I don't cause a hindrance.