Wash Feet

Music by Bart Millard, Mercy Me 

Eyes set on earthly things are veiled from things above. Eyes that have not been washed clean by the mercy and compassion of the Father, are blinded to the Word of God.

We are called to one mission: to love people to Jesus.

Many have become militant and loud in their opinions, trying to prove they are right. Having forgotten all about being Christ like, they become self-righteous, judgmental, harsh.

Do we proclaim to be a Jesus-Follower, yet laugh, make jokes, and mock those who believe differently? Do we not realize how extremely unattractive and prideful our words sound to a dying world?

God's Word has washed our eyes clean so we can see the character and heart of God. Jesus, our example, tenderly, patiently, washed feet so that He might teach His disciples truth. He lived kindness, self-control, faithfulness. His love caused Him to go about doing good, speaking truth gently to draw people to Him.

Jesus, our servant-leader, washed eyes and hearts by first washing feet.

Word of God speak. Would You pour down like rain washing our eyes to see Your majesty?

Oh, Father. Teach us to use that rain water, full of grace and mercy, to wash feet, not to sling mud.

The God Who Takes Away

Father,

I really wanted it. Life would have been more pleasant. It wouldn't have hindered my ministries. I'm really disappointed that you said no. Why didn't you say yes?

Photo by Dean White (flickr.com)

I am the God who sees and knows your disappointment. I am the God who orchestrates the universe.

You have much to consider besides my desires. You have reasons that never occur to me.

Do you want to know Me? You submit to my decisions when you understand. Will you submit to My decisions when you do not understand? When you do not like My answer?

I will take what You place in my open hands. I will give up what You do not give. I will say yes when You take away that which I wanted to keep and cherish.

The very giving up of that which you so deeply, urgently desire proves your life is submitted to My will, My ways, My plans.

Keep my heart tender toward You, Father. Don't let my disappointment lead me to despair. Keep my heart tuned to Your compassion and grace.

There is a time for everything. Learn to discern the seasons. I hold eternity in My hands.

And me. You hold eternity and me in Your hands.

I hold your trust tenderly. Look around you. Listen to My voice. How vast is My love for you, dear child. Beyond all measure is My tender compassion. Come, let us away to a quiet place.

He's Here!

"Hurry, Mary! Jesus will be here soon!" Martha exclaims. Laying aside the pot holder too soon, she touches her finger to a pan of yeast rolls fresh from the oven and burns her finger. "Mary? Did you make the sweet tea? Mary?"

A silent house answers Martha. Mary has left the stack of plates on the table beside the pitcher. The door slams behind her as she hurries down the path to greet Jesus.

Martha sticks her sore finger into a bucket of water and swirls it, glancing around the kitchen. Her eyes scan the details of meal preparation. So great is her love for Jesus, she wants everything to be the very best.

Wouldn't it be fun to be Martha? You would clean the whole house, put fresh flowers on the table. Cinnamon rolls? Fig scones? Perfectly ripened fruit on the side table.

But, what if Jesus came unexpectedly?

Would you glance in horror at your messy house? Would you stumble out an apology while trying to swallow the bite of hot dog you just wolfed down standing over the sink?

Imagine Him coming to your table as you hurry to move stacks of old mail and clutter from the table. You hope He doesn't notice the angry, frustrated faces of your children. He couldn't have heard those last words you yelled, could He?

Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel! Joy to the World, the Lord Has Come!

Somebody wake us up! He's here! He is moving among us. He is the God who sees, the God who knows. He's in your house. Check your kitchen.

[I like the way Charles William Daugherty says it in If Jesus Came to Your House.]

Chimes of Time

An antique clock rests on my mantle. It doesn't work, but it still chimes.

"What are those lines on your clock?" Audrey asks.

"Those are called Roman Numerals", I explain, showing her how the old system of numbers works.

Audrey nods thoughtfully. "It takes longer to figure out, but it makes time easier to understand."

Moses learned that he must number his days right so that he would become wise. Easier to understand:  Plan your days. Live your days right. Become wise.

It's an old system long forgotten. Have you settled for being an old clock that doesn't work, but still chimes? We live in the noise and slapdash fray of a 2013 world. We chime as if we are wise, but we are merely clanging cymbals if we don't plan and work to live our days right.

Be ready in season and out of season, day in and day out, to live your life wide awake to the moments that are ticking past. Complacency develops a spirit of heaviness and regret. Slapdash living robs a fruitful life of joy and peace.

"I think I like the X for 10 best," Audrey says with a grin. "He looks like he knows what he's talking about."

Which Way to the Stairs?

Photo by Elyce Feliz
(flickr.com)

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase,"  I quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. in my post, "Under Construction"

But, we are not all on the same staircase, are we?  

Do you know who you want to be? Do you know where you want to go? 

Maisy, age one, runs for the pure joy of running. It's new. It's fun. It's exciting.

"Run with me!" I encouraged the older children. 

"I'm on a break," answered the 5 year old. 

"Why?" asked the 8 year old. 

"How far do we have to go?" asked the 10 year old.

Justin, a teenage boy down the street, started trotting along beside me.  "How far are you going? Is there anywhere to go or do we have to run around in circles and stay in the neighborhood?" 

Are you running around in circles in your life?  You can stop. We lose our way. We check the map. We start fresh.  

"Before I learned to answer You, I wandered all over the place.  But, now I'm in step with your Word."  (Psalm 119:67, MSG)

"Can you do 3 miles, Justin?" I asked.

"I think so," he nodded. "I want to try."

"Then let's head out into the world and do what we can do." 

Pick up your Bible. Find the staircase. Take the first step. 

Obedience is not a Bad Word

Photo by Peter Hopper (flickr.com)

Spiritual mothering. When I first spoke those words and accepted it as my calling, I had never heard the term. It was a new thought, fresh from my study of Paul's relationship to Timothy.  But, it's an old idea that's been around since, well, Paul and Timothy.

There is nothing new under the sun. 

For a writer seeking fresh topics it can be humbling, even frustrating. Frequently I get enthusiastic about new insights, new ministry, new creative possibility. Just as I hit my stride, ready to change the world with my ideas, I learn that someone else has made the same discovery. Someone else has already written the book, taught the class, made the t-shirt. The air leaves my balloon and the excitement I feel shrivels up. Focus turns on self and disappointment turns to discouragement.

Getting sidetracked? Losing focus? Those have been problems since Eve met evil face to face in the garden. Yet, all these centuries later, I struggle just as she did. Satan flashes bright lofty thoughts before me. I turn my eyes away from Jesus for a split second, and my heart is pulled back to my own desires.

Humility is rugged, tested-and-tried obedience. Humility is fighting with a faith that is emptied of self, filled to overflowing with the power of God. Humility is seeing the big picture through the eyes of a God who has a plan for each of His people, for His world. Humility brings focus.

What hinders you today? Are you sidetracked by putting self first? Is there always that one thing that you can't give up, even for Him?  That one thing Satan dangles before you that you do not resist? 

Obedience opens the door to humility.  When humility shines a bright light on God's plans, powerful world-wide change becomes possible.  

Run a Negative Split

Photo by Sally Rae
(flickr.com)

I had kept a slow and steady pace, but was more tired than expected at the end of five miles. This was my first attempt at a negative split.  This means running the second half of the miles faster, stronger, than in the beginning.

The tendency is to go out too fast in the beginning of a race when strong and rested, then slow significantly as fatigue sets in. It takes a lot of discipline and practice to achieve a negative split. I wanted to try it this morning because the idea intrigues me, not only as a physical discipline, but as a spiritual discipline.

I have loved the hymn "Last Mile of the Way" since Carl Blacketer sang it in my home church years ago. The words challenged me even as a young child to begin looking at my life as a journey.

But I am a late bloomer, a slow-to-get-it sort of person. I have so far to go before I become the person God wants me to be! I will probably be like one of those flowers that lives a lifetime, blooms for an hour and dies. I think I might learn to be holy for about an hour when I'm 100, then God will say, "Okay, you are finally finished. C'mon in."

But, I want to live my life in a negative split. Remembering the first half of my journey tires me with lessons slowly learned, stumbling on unnecessary detours in the darkness, my lack of concern for others running the race alongside me.

I can go the last miles of life's journey racing with the energy and focus I held back. I can train harder to finish victorious and strong.  I can renew my focus on the goal and keep determination steady. And, I can race in a way that encourages and sharpens those who run, stumble or wobble alongside me.

Are you running the race to win? Do you hear the crowd of witnesses in the stands cheering us on? Faithful is He who calls you and He will bring it to pass if you do not give up.