Tag: Fear the Lord

A Rainbow

I was driving home from taking my oldest daughter to work. It had been a dreary rainy day the previous day and at that hour there were still some sprinkles. After leaving her at work I made my way home. The sun was starting to peak over the horizon. Before me, in the middle of the gray clouds was a faint, but large rainbow.

I began musing about the promise God made to Noah and how we still see evidence of this today. It struck me as odd that God did this. He could have sent an angel or some other method to share this promise with Noah. But he didn’t. He made it permanent a part of our natural world. And yet a rainbow while being real in a scientific sense is also extremely ephemeral and mysterious. If you try to track the rainbow you will never catch it. It disappears before your eyes.

The rainbow comes on the heels of the a storm. Without the storm there is no rainbow. He doesn’t promise us there will be smooth sailing. He never said a trouble free life is a sign of his hand in our lives. No. He promises us hope in the storm. He reminds us of his presence and greatness even while the rain falls.

He gives us hope to face what we need to face. His rainbow is a reminder of him and his great love for man.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Explaining my thoughts

I had a discussion with a friend about the works vs faith debate. How do we settle the differences in opinions that seem apparent between James and Paul. There are people, far smarter than me that can be called on to give the fine debate points. It can be a complicated argument. Bogged down by historical doctrines and even personal opinions about which is more important. Works based religions are very attractive, as we can see by the abundance of them.

My issue with this has always been that if we focus on works alone we are making it about us, not Jesus. This is not what James was suggesting, and it is what Paul is speaking about directly in his letter to the Ephesians.

I was thinking how can I represent this visually. So I tried laying it out in a diagram. I came up with this.

I wanted to make sure Jesus was at the centre. But then I realized this actually shows my problem with the basic debate. Whether we gain our salvation by works or faith is not the point. Both are products of our own efforts. They are both about us.

It needs to be about Jesus and His gift of grace. Without Jesus we have no redemption of sin. Without Jesus we have no salvation. So the diagram should look like this.

Paul says it best and it seems quite simple to me. Faith is what we bring to the party, along with our efforts and works to show the love of God to the worlds. But EVERYTHING else God and Jesus provided.

Ephesians 2: 8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Surprises

I was planning to get into my garden and weed and maybe even plant some carrots this week. I didn’t have time last week. But mother nature had other plans. Late snow for Calgary.

Life is like this. We plan, things change, we adjust and we move forward. If you sit down and contemplate how little control we actually have over what happens, it can be overwhelming and a bit frightening.

That is how believing there is a God behind it all offers us hope. Not a vengeful, wrathful God, but a loving God. For me personally the idea that some good can come out of terrible experiences, or even some order can emerge from the chaos, is a hopeful thought.

The garden will come, whether I weed on schedule or not. I’m just enjoying the time to sit back and reflect and wonder at the blessings God has gifted me.

Romans 8: 26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Before renewal

Before we can undergo a renewal, a few things have to happen. If you want to improve an old home you can add new flooring and give it a fresh coat of paint. But have you actually improved the building or have you just “put lipstick on a pig,” as the saying goes.

If you want to improve an old house you have to inspect it and find the flaws. Maybe there is a lack of insulation (our old home would have been warmer through this cold snap if we had better insulation. Maybe it’s a crack in the foundation. The builder must inspect and find the defects. These problems should be fixed. Then, when the new paint goes on it represents the improved state of the home.

In the Old Testament, Malachi refers to the ‘refiner’s fire’ in this way; “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.” (Malachi 3:3) The idea of burning off the impurities and extracting the best parts of the metal.

Hard times suck. Plain and simple. But we need to have difficulties and trials, we need to have our sins and defects burned off and allow the glory of Jesus to emerge. It’s like the old hymn that starts, “All of self and none of thee.” And through the verses it progresses to the final verse saying, “None of self and all of thee.”

The aim of renewal isn’t to emerge from the ashes as a better and stronger version of ourselves. But rather to emerge from our struggles and trials as a stronger reflection of Jesus. His glory is the aim not our own. The old saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” should actually be “What doesn’t kill you makes Jesus more visible in your life.” It is not as catchy for sure, but to me that is the ideal.

I do fall short! I know. But this is the aim.

Ephesians 4: 22 – 24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Who do we trust?

These are confusing times. Everyone has an opinion about how we should behave and what we should believe. I find the most critical of my Christian faith are people who don’t share it. Criticisms like “you aren’t doing it correctly,” or “if you do this you are a hypocrite” are everywhere. The media, the school, our friends and often even family.

How do we even stand a chance of doing what God wants? The messages are so convoluted and confusing.

Thankfully he left us His word. Not only the Bible but the example of His son, who is the way the truth and the life.

The world will press in on us and try to mold us in their image. We fight this by immersing ourselves in the teachings of the Bible and Jesus.

Jesus taught us what to do. Our first job is to learn to discern what good fruit is. Once we know this we have the tools we need to then judge the fruit of others and will allow ourselves to be influenced by those who bear good fruit.

Matthew 7: 15 – 20 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Rely on His strength

I’m listening to old hymns, just instrumental, but the lyrics are so well known that my heart sings them along with the music. “This is my father’s world” the tune flowing through me.

Life’s struggles can mount up. The craziness and unpredictability of the world is frightening.

It is easy to feel alienated from the world around us. Like someone watching a strange improvised play where the actors have no idea they are acting.

The weight of the world can feel unbearable. Stop. Breath. Remember this is God’s world.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, 
they will walk and not be faint.

Who can we trust?

I don’t remember a time, in my half century of life, with more chaos and confusion. It is hard to know what to believe or who to trust. It can feel like I am struggling to find footing.

If I focus closer to home, I feel less dizzy. The world may be crazy, but I am constantly amazed by the maturity of my children. I’m thankful for my husband and his consistent positive attitude. We have food and we have shelter. God is providing for us.

Several years ago, I was talking with a friend who was distressed that we are watching the implosion of the Western world. She was particularly concerned that like Rome, and other empires before, the American empire seems to be crumbling.

It was during this discussion that I realized that even though the Roman empire fell, Rome and Italy still exist. The people carried on and life moved forward. While the affairs of the powerful ebb and flow the life of the average person continues on.

It helps us carry on and find hope if we remember that we are part of a great Kingdom, greater than any earthly empire. The God we worship does not change or evolve or disappear – we can count on Him. In a world of whirling deceit, He is the truth.

We can hold on to the unchanging God and his son. His son who died for us.

Hebrews 13: 8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

It’s a dog’s life

I like having my dog around. I love having him come snuggle up for cuddles. Or even follow me around harassing me to take him for a walk. But the best thing is that he is a reminder of what it is to live in the moment.

How much of my life is spent worrying about problems over which I have no control? Or fretting about what might or might not happen tomorrow?

I can get so obsessed with worry that I forget to sit in the sun and enjoy its rays. Or I fail to greet the people I love with an enthusiasm that shows how much I value them. Or I forget to take time to snuggle up with loved ones and pet their bellies. Wait! No – not that one. But maybe I could hug my loved ones more often.

I could learn to be more trusting, like my dog. He doesn’t wonder or worry where his food comes from, he knows his master will provide.

A dog lives now. Not tomorrow, not in the past. Now.

1 Peter 5: 6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Follow close

Over the last few years I have occasionally had a frustrating and threatening dream. It is always different but the theme is the same. I find myself in a dark unknown place trying to find my way. Usually I have one or all the kids with me, and I am trying to stumble through the dark and find safety.

It isn’t a dream that leaves me wondering. I know exactly what I am worried about when I wake. The world is so frightening and so out of control that I feel the weight of leading our family through the darkness. My dream is an outcropping of worries that often don’t even reach my conscious mind.

As I review this dream and think over my concerns, I remember that I am not responsible to be the one finding my way. I just have to keep my eye on the shepherd. I just have to feel His presence. I don’t have to know where I am going or where He leads. I do not need to fear. I must rely on Him.

John 8: 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Pursue truth

These are confusing times. Nothing seems right. Families are fractured. Information abounds and so does pure propaganda. As Churchill said, “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.”

What we are dealing with is a war of worldview. Issues of a worldly nature have occupied the part of our thinking that was devoted, in the past, to religious thinking. Theology has been supplanted by politics, philosophy, environmental and health concerns. When this happens it doesn’t elevate these issues to the status of the spiritual part of our minds, but rather it removes our measuring stick. We no longer have a moral compass by which to judge all other issues of life.

I see two reactions to this right now; rabid support of the new progressive thinking or violent reaction against. One pushes harder and faster. The other is looking wildly for answers.

We need to be careful. We need to step back from both sides and reclaim our measuring stick. READ YOUR BIBLE. Focus on the bible. Don’t tell the bible what to say. Don’t come to the bible to prove your side or disprove your enemy. Be open. Be humble before God. Recognize that truth lives outside you, that it is owned entirely by God.

Jeremiah 23: 16 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say,
‘No harm will come to you.’
But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart.
In days to come you will understand it clearly.
I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away?
Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.