I was short on time, travelling on a narrow road in the right direction but just beginning to realize I had driven considerably past my intended destination.  As an extra step of preparedness, I had even photocopied an internet instruction map and placed it on the seat next to me for quick reference.

This particular fact significantly increased my annoyance:  how was this overshoot even possible when the map illustrated only one main road into the small town and a single turnoff that led directly to the address I sought?

After making a U-turn on the highway and revisiting each of the cross-roads I had just passed, I indeed found where I was headed…and as I examined the map through the lens of having reached the destination, rather than trying to find it, I discovered where the error had occurred:  when the map was enlarged to print, the directional indicators had been cut off.  I had no idea how the roads actually collaborated to a north-south-east-west grid.  Hence, I had diligently searched for my turnoff on the left side of the road, whereas I would have quickly found it on the right.

Despite feeling both foolish and aggravated at myself, I got the sense that this error had actually tickled the Lord’s funny bone.  Exasperated as I was, I felt like He whispered to me,  You’re not the only one who has ever cut off a directional marker.  My kids misread or cut off My directional markers all the time.  And, like you, they end up looking at the map upside down or backwards and come to conclusions based on that error.  That’s why I promised to take all those wrong turns and dead ends and make sense out of them, make them work out for good in their lives

Jesus is so gracious, and that was a timely insight for Him to have shared.

I also started thinking about how easy it is for the enemy to use our misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the map to build strongholds of mistrust, unbelief, cynicism and even a hardened heart towards Him.

Delays.  Denials.  Mis-turns.  Tragedies.  Unexplained and unexpectedly unfortunate events.  Disappointment.  Sorrow.

In the midst of experiencing frequent trials and bewilderment, Paul taught, “For I am convinced that neither death, or life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39)

Are you as convinced of that, as was Paul?

If not, the map you are following is not properly aligned with one of the most significant directional markers He has given.

We are able to strengthen ourselves in the Lord by reminding ourselves of this truth that Paul speaks.  And there’s more:  We are also branches of His vine:  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser…abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in Him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1, 4-5, NASB)

I love the way The Message states John 15:1,4:  “I Am the real vine and My Father is the Farmer…live in Me.  Make your home in Me just as I do in you.  In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with Me.”

Paul points out the all-encompassing relationship we have with the Father and Son when he asked, “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom. 8:31, NASB)

That is a good question to ponder.  When the “rubber meets the road” and I am personally feeling the skid marks….what are the things I choose to believe about God and His goodness, His guidance, His acceptance of me, His patience, His promises of my destiny?

The truth is, sometimes, we are against us.  Sometimes, the enemy is against us.  But it is never God who is against us, even when tragedy, the unexpected, disappointment or destruction strikes.  The Farmer simply does not go around torching vines, squashing pumpkins or tomatoes, or vindictively destroying His vineyard, the very vineyard He has sacrificed His Son to create and nurture.

Jesus spoke the comforting words, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”  (Josh. 1:5, Heb. 13:5)  Actually, Joshua 1:5 states “I will not fail you or forsake you,” while Heb. 13:5 rephrases the promise, “For He has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”  The Passion Translation phrases it, “For hasn’t He promised you, ‘I will never leave you alone, never!  And I will not loosen My grip/hand on your life!”

Quick, align your map with the markers of His inseparable love, our connection with Him as our Vine, His championing our progress forward in every kingdom endeavor.  His Hand is actively and positively at work, He is walking with us, in us, and holding our lives tightly, even possessively.

 

 

 

 

The world is moving through the month of August.

It has been a mid-summer filled with an unusual quantity of hailstorms and the impact on my flower garden is evident:  battered leaves, prematurely lost blooms, and broken stems throughout the various planting pots.  The impact of my month-plus of nonstop in-and-out-of-town busyness has struck home as I pick out weeds, clean up dried leaves and assess the damage from the last several weeks.

Hailstorm after hailstorm – many sandwiched between mornings and evenings of warm sunshine – intruded into and savaged an otherwise peaceful corner of the world.  Not just any world, but my world.

That is very much how life’s circumstantial hailstorms unexpectedly careen into our lives when we are enjoying (even lulled by) a season of summer, warmth, easy pace.  And as I thought about the parallel of this commonplace setting and the world at large, Jesus’ words came to me:  “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The centerpiece is His admonition to “take courage.”  In most of the teachings I have heard on this quote, that centerpiece is given secondary status to either the reality/severity of the tribulation we face, or the benefit of focusing on His victory over the world as we walk through the buffeting winds and storms.

I am not minimizing either of those.  It is because of His victory that we have a Rock of courage to stand on.  But I think there is more.

In The Message, Jesus’ encouragement is translated as “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.  But take heart!  I’ve conquered the world!”  The Amplified Bible translates John 16:33 as Jesus stating, “In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering; but be courageous (be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy); I have overcome the world.  (My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding)”

An abiding victory.

And in that abiding, we find our courage.  We find that His courage shoulders our cowardice, our timidity, and manifests itself in us.  It is the undergird of courage demonstrated by Paul when he said to the Philippians, “One thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-15)

The Asiatic Lilies, with their stalks knocked bare, are graciously sculpted into clusters of tall-and-small figures.  Until they are unadorned by their fluffy orange cloaks, you do not realize that each of these stalks resemble a graphed representation of a family unit, each grouping supported by a thick stem beneath.  They are all linked together.  They all support and balance one another, as the members of our spiritual and natural families offer balance and support to us.

When I look at them, I am reminded of Jesus teaching, “I am the Vine and you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit.  For apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) The Asiatic stalks remain connected to one another while steadfastly drawing nourishment and stability from a vibrant root system.   Despite wearing their hail-beaten leaves, they are strong, healthy, expanding dominion where they are planted in anticipation of a new season ahead.

What an amazing expression of God’s wisdom.   A moment in which Paul’s phrase “His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature…being understood through what has been made” springs to life through simple display.  (Rom. 1:20)

It is a statement about our intrinsic divine destiny.

To willingly shed the bruised and occasionally tattered wardrobe of a tough, punishing season emphasizes that there is a divine destiny within each of us to bloom anew.  The psalmist wrote, “Weeping may last for the night but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Psa 30:5)

We are born to be shouters.  Born to be courageous.  Born to call upon His courage to draw us forward from season to season in faith and trust, prepared to “be ready in season and out of season” as we walk our life’s course with Him.  (2 Tim 4:2)

I’ve given serious thought to many of the articles and prophecies I’ve read over the month since Billy Graham’s passing.  Some believe that his transition triggered a “baton-passing” of the evangelistic mantle from one individual to potentially an entire generation.  Topics of speculation ran the gamut from one article suggested there would be a “coliseum full of cheering people” as Dr. Graham entered, to another that pointed out his “mansion” would likely be a comfortable, humble abode similar to his earthly mountain cabin.

I must admit, the concept of a “coliseum of people” cheering at Dr. Graham’s arrival seems very much like a still-in-this-world perception to me.

In the book of Hebrews, Paul refers to “so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us”…would that be the same as a “coliseum of people” cheering?  I don’t know — but I doubt it.  The purpose as explained in Hebrews is to encourage us, not those who have passed through the veil, for a specific purpose:  “to lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us” that we might “run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.” (Heb. 12:1-2, NASB)   In other words, Go Team Jesus, you’re still in the race.

The Message translates Heb. 12:1-3, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.  Study how He did it.  Because He never lost sight of where He was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God — He could put up with anything along the way:  Cross, shame, whatever.  And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through…”

As I pondered that wording, three different ideas stuck in my mind.  First, the concept of  putting up with anything. 

I have to say, that is really a great prayer…but is it one that any of us offer up regularly?  How frequent is it the cry of our heart to ask,  Lord, help me put up with anything…so that I might share Your news of reconciliation and forgiveness with those You point out, with someone in my regular sphere of influence?

I personally believe that some version of that sentiment was a heartfelt part of Jesus’ many  intimate conversations with His Father. Continue reading “The Glory of Putting Up With Anything” →