Fear, Reverence, Denial

In Matthew 26:1-16 we find the three things listed in the title of the post. The chief priests and elders of the people are again operating off of fear, so much so they want to figure out a way to seize Jesus and kill him. They would have argued that putting Jesus to death was because he was blasphemous, and it was all perfectly justified under the law, but it was simple fear. They had so much fear they didn't want to do it till after passover, lest the people riot. There would have been so many people in Jerusalem, coming to give sacrifice for the passover. God would not allow the chief priests and elders to lay a hand on the Passover Lamb, not yet.

Then we have a woman, who we have no recorded word spoken by her, enter Simon's house, break open an expensive bottle of perfume, what would most likely have been the most valued thing owned by this woman, and anoint Jesus with it. Who was she? It doesn't matter. If it did God's word would have told us. But she came, giving her all, her worship, her heart to the Savior. She recognized him to be Messiah. The disciples get a bit upset at the 'waste' of the ointment, because they could have sold it and feed people. 3 years of walking with Jesus Messiah, and they still didn't get it.

And then, we have Judas, whom scriptures says, 'when Satan entered Judas...' What a frightening prospect. Judas filled with evil, went to the a fore mentioned chief priests and told them for a price he would give up Jesus. The 30 pieces of silver didn't really amount to much, one source said about five weeks wages. Judas probably could have named any price and would have received it. Perhaps he thought 'just enough to get me out of town' for when the deed was done.

What contrast. Fear. Reverence. Denial. We continue to have a choice, daily. We can either walk redeemed, worship our Lord, and give him daily our all, or we can live to satisfy ourselves and walk as the rest of the world as if we didn't know the Savior. Who will the world say we look like? How will you show today you belong to the Lord? Today, will you walk in fear, reverence, or denial?

Holy Week

I love the readings in scripture from Palm Sunday, Christ's triumphal entry to Easter, Resurrection Sunday. We can read of Christ's last week on earth, which is much like the weeks before. Christ is still loving the people by offering what he has to give. And yet after all this time, the pharisees, scribes, chief priests, still question him, still try to trip him up in an attempt to prove Christ to be a liar. They walked in fear, fear of misstepping their own legalism, fear of believing.

When Christ rode in on the donkey, the people joyfully cried in loud voice, "Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" They knew their King. The Pharisees didn't like that. The people weren't giving them recognition. Hmm? Do you think they might be a bit jealous? They told Christ to tell the people to stop saying such things. I love his response. "I tell you if they stop, the stones will take over the praise." That is my paraphrase. The thing that is so wonderful to ponder, is if the people had become silent, you know the rocks really would have began to cried out. Christ has turned water to wine, healed a myriad of people, calmed a stormed, walked on water, so why not talking stones.

Later that day, he wept over Jerusalem, knowing that it would be destroyed and so many had rejected Him. His own people. How his heart must have broken. Our mind would think, 'Good grief God, You called me to proclaim the gospel, but hardly anyone is listening. I have spent years giving of my time and self, for this? And now I have to die?' Aren't you glad Jesus didn't have that response.

Later, he cleansed the temple of those trying to profit for the passover week, selling of animals for sacrifice in the temple. How little they knew that the Sacrificial Lamb stood before them.

What are your heart cries today? What does the temple of your heart look like? Are you hanging on every word of Christ's as the people did when he spoke in the temple? As we go through the Passion week, sing praise, don't let the rocks do it for you. Let the Sacrificial Lamb rule in the heart of your temple. Read his word, and hang on its every precious word. What Christ did for us deserves our awe and reverence. He deserves the worship of gratitude. Don't be a pharisee and miss the point.

Speak, O Lord

I love the music of Keith and Kristyn Getty, a young couple from Ireland who write music in hymn style, with incredible words, and very singable melodies. "Speak, O Lord" is a song we have been singing at our ladies bible study as a theme song the past few weeks. It is powerful. In the second video Keith tells that this was a song written for pastors as they teach God's word, yet is very much for all us.

The first video is with the words of the song projected with Kristin singing in the background. The second video is of the Getty's sing the song at a church, but the recording isn't that great, so you have a choice.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the song, as the words encourage your heart today.

(you will need to copy and paste to your search bar to get to the videos)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGg40zKRvAg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX_ISi_2EGM

The Task at Hand

Psalms 119:44-48

So I will keep Thy law continually, forever and ever.
And I will walk in a wide place, for I seek Thy precepts.
I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and shall not be ashamed.
And I shall delight in Thy commandments, which I love.
And I shall lift up my hands to Thy commandments, which I love;
And I will meditate on Thy statutes.

Law, precepts, testimonies, commandments, statutes- God's Word
Keep, walk, seek, speak, delight, lift, meditate- My Task

Psalms 199:89

Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

Need I say more?

Grace

Those of you who know me, know that I have 3 daughters. You would also know that the names they are referred to in this blog are not their real names. June, July and Autumn are their pseudo names. Their real names are Hannah, Grace and Emily. When Dale and I were about the task of choosing names for our children, we really didn't pay much attention to the meanings of the names, we just chose names we liked. Now I see how the Lord had his hand in the choosing. Hannah means- Full of Grace, Grace means- God's grace, and Emily means- industrious. However, her middle names means- gift of God's grace. Only God could orchestrate such a thing.
My girls truly are gifts of God's gift to me, a constant reminder of the grace we have each day.

But this post is not about my girls, they were just a lead in. This post is about how I have struggle with grace in my life the past 2 weeks. It is not a new struggle in history. Many have had the same, different circumstances, but it comes down to the same thing. Mine has been in dealing with a past issue that has brought much guilt to my mind. I have struggled with just letting it go, accepting forgiveness that has long been mine. Yet, I have allowed it to consume my heart and mind, and wasted a lot of time. These past 2 weeks have been overwhelming on different fronts; discouragement about the healing of my arm, the cost that the injury has mounted, the slow progression of a remodeling project, my computer getting a virus and having to get it fix (which is why have been away from the blog for so long). All these things seemed grim, and I began to feel that this past issue had brought on all this dilemma, and that I was being disciplined as a result. Then comes Sunday morning, and in walks grace.

As my pastor was giving his sermon, he asked, 'Are you a law keeper or a grace receiver?' That hit me between the eyes. I am grateful for pastors who are unashamed of the gospel of Christ, who are godly, bible driven men, who don't water down God's word just to make people feel good so that numbers stay up. They are few and far between these days, and thus incredibly precious (she steps off her soap box and continues). As I thought about that question, I realized I had been a law keeper these past weeks. I was unable to receive God's grace, because I was feeling to guilty, and I was trying to come up with a remedy, while wallowing in my self made turmoil. How foolish of me to think there was any remedy in myself. There is nothing I can do to acquire God's grace, when it is freely given by his hand (duh! as she hits herself up long side of the head). As a fairly intelligent woman, you would think it wouldn't have taken me so long to figure it out. I was so wrapped up in fear of this guilt, so fearful of more failure, fearful of the future, I could not see grace.

God gives grace in ways we don't always see. The grace he gives me is different than what he gives to another. It may seem he is playing favorites at times. It is not for me to measure my given grace by what another has been given. What is mine is mine, for that moment, and God's purpose. I couldn't see the grace of forgiveness, because I was beating my self up with the law. Yet, he was constantly, patiently putting small reminders in front of me, I was busy looking at the bondage of the law.

I am forgiven. Victory is mine always, daily, because of what Christ did on the cross for me. How many years have I known that? Yet, I am grateful I have been shown this again; it is none of me, but all of Christ.

Are you a law keeper, or a grace receiver?

Little Miss Much Afraid

I have been attending a ladies Bible study for the past few months. We are studying the book of Hebrews. What a rich book! The past 3 weeks we have been in chapter 11, the faith chapter. How I have convicted and encouraged from this chapter. I wonder how many times I have read it over the years; how have I missed so much?

I am a bit of a fearful Nellie. I always have been, perhaps always will be. But in studying Hebrews 11, the Lord has been so gently showing me how much of a time waster fear is. It achieves nothing and leaves me exhausted and empty. My mom would call me 'Little Miss Much Afraid' on occasion when I was a teenager. Little Miss Much Afraid is the main character in the book, Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard. I was/am much like her, always fretting and stewing over things I can not change, fearful over future things that I have no control over. I think I have become more fearful as I have been on my own, having to make decisions by myself, planning a future, anticipating an empty nest. These are things I never thought I would have to do alone. But there it is. So now what?

I was really struck this morning as I was doing my lesson for tomorrow, with some of the wording used. '...not afraid, choosing to endure, looking to the reward, not fearing, seeing Him who is unseen'. These to me are powerful words. Saints gone before in all their foibles, trusting, obeying, and having faith in their God to be with them, to deliver them.

The story of Abraham and Issac was a wonderful reminder of God's provision and the need not to fear, but to have faith. Here is Abraham, given a promise from God, that his son, Issac, would be the seed in which the Hebrew people would come, when he was 100 years old! And now God is telling him to take his precious son and sacrifice him on an altar! When Issac inquires where the lame is for the sacrifice, Abraham tells him, 'God will provide'. The account does not offer what was going through Abraham's mind, only the obedience of his heart. His eyes were heavenward. The other amazing fact to me, is Issac doesn't struggle, but allows his father to tie him up and lay him on the altar. If that doesn't smack you between the eyes, your wood is wet! God tested Abraham, he obeyed. Issac surrendered, God provided. Abraham's faith is marked forever in history for me to follow.

One of the questions in my lesson was to write out a definition of faith. I took the words that spoke to me and came up with this. Faith is looking heavenward, and seeing Jesus, and the riches of Christ in the midst of my circumstances. This allows me to endure, and not be fearful, because of the precious promise and blessed hope of eternity.

At the end of Hinds Feet on High Places, Much Afraid is given a new name, Grace and Glory. Though she had a fearful heart, she had a seeking heart, one with the desire to overcome. She succeeded and received that new name. Grace and Glory. When I stand before my Father, I would be pleased with faithful.

Jehovah-Nissi

When Dale and I were first married we went to a military event called an Octifoil. Soldiers marched, weapons were on display, people spoke, he being one of them, demonstrations were given. Later, I asked Dale what the poles were that were carried in front of the soldiers as they marched ,and what the banners were that were on top of the pole. He told me that each banner represented a battle that that company had fought in over all the years. These banners had dates on them and were various colors. He told me it was a morale factor, to see the banners waving as the troops marched to battle. It reminded them of where they fought, the lives given in those battles, and that there has been victory, or defeat. They were banners of honor and courage. Since then, as I have read scripture over time, and read passages about banners, his words have stayed with me, to help me understand it better.

Lately, the word banner has come across my reading and in song. I decided to pull out my bible dictionary and concordance, and do a bit of digging. This is what I found.

The word ‘banner’ is used only 7 times in scripture, and only in the Old Testament. There are 2 root words, but they are very similar.

Banner
1- - sign, a standard, to carry or set up a standard or banner
Root meaning- to look, behold

2- a standard, ensign, signal, sign, distinguishing mark
Root meaning-to be high or conspicuous, displayed, sparkling


I love the story of the battle between the Israelites and the Amalek. (Exodus 17:8-16) Before the battle, Moses tells his people that “I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Moses’ staff was the banner for the people. As long as he held it up, there was victory. If he put his hand down, the enemy would have victory. As long as the ‘banner’ was raised, the people know that God was with them, giving them all they needed to succeed. They had courage. When Moses grew weary and put his hand down, the people, lost confidence and the tide was turned.

In verse 12, it says, ‘But Moses’ hands grew heavy. Then they (Aaron and Hur) took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; ‘. How many times in the midst of battle do we lose our focus, and become weary? How often do we take our eyes off the Banner and lose focus, thus losing heart? We forget the battles that have been fought and won. We forget, it wasn’t me who won those battles, the Lord fought them for me. There in lies our confidence, our hope. The good new is, growing weary is normal. The other good news…’and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set’. We don’t have to go it alone. There are those around us, willing to support us in our battles, willing to fight under our colors, because they know would do the same for them.

When the sun set, and the battle was over, ‘Moses built an alter to the Lord and named it ‘The Lord is My Banner.’ What are your way markers, your banners you have set up to remind you of the victory God has done in your life? Perhaps it is dates in the margin of you Bible as I do. I know of a young man who gathers big stones as a reminder of battles won. Whatever they are, ‘carry’ them always before you, keep your focus. Keep your confidence righted on your Banner, gather troops if need be, but let others see where your hope and confidence lies. Let them see Jesus, your Commander and Chief, your Jehovah-Nissi. Be known as Peter and John, that after they had been arrested and jailed for believing in Jesus, it says in Acts 4:13 ‘Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John…they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus’.

Though the battle rages, the Banner flies high!

Joy in the Journey

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12.2

That verse has always struck an amazing chord within me. For the joy set before Him endured the cross. Christ endured a lot for me and you. He left the splendor of heaven to be born as a babe, to walk this earth, to be despised and rejected by most everyone, including His family. He was beat, mocked, whipped, and spat on, for me. He went to the cross, the death penalty for criminals, an innocent Man, to take on my shame, and sin, because He loved me. And all the time He had joy. Not joy for the pain and suffering, but for the end result. For after His death and Resurrection, He would sit at the right hand of the throne of God. He would be home again.

All that we go through, though difficult, and often unwanted, has a purpose, and there is a blessed end result, eternity with Christ. My joy is not in the suffering, the hurt, the loneliness, my joy is in knowing that the Lord has entrusted to me this time so that I can be made more into His image, so that when I stand in His presence for eternity, I will not be ashamed.

There is a joy in the journey.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

" I heard and saw my baby's heart beat!" What relief to hear those words from July's mouth this morning. We had concern this weekend with the possibility of a miscarriage. Oh, the prayers that ascended this weekend for mama and this wee babe.
The Doctor did say, that though the baby is healthy, that she is still not out of the woods for a miscarriage, as would be any new mom in the first trimester. So, we continue to pray for health and well being for both, trusting in our Sovereign God that all will be well.

Psalm 139 13-16

For Thou did form my inward parts; Thou did weave me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully made in the depths of the earth.
Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written,
The days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.