Plowing Through

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent” Revelation 3:19

My great grandfather used a single plow, pulled by a team of mulls, to work his fields.  The Oklahoma clay was unyielding at first, but he persevered and was able to plant his crop, and the crop grew.  When harvest time came he gathered up exactly what he planted.

Revival is coming, but first the plow……  I’ve been thinking a religious spirit is a lot like hardpan; unbroken, unyielding ground.  Pray that God breaks up the soil in His Church, beginning in our own hearts.  Plow through, Lord!

Digging Out of Self-Sufficiency

There are certain experiences in life that reinforce the fact that we are not in control…  Clearly, we have zero control over the weather!

Our first big winter storm of the year left me stranded at a friend’s cabin.  I was there to pray and prepare for an upcoming retreat.  I spent a lot of time shoveling snow.  And I spent a fair amount of time “praying about” how the Lord was going to get me out of this predicament.  Well, help finally arrived.

As I sat in my car yesterday morning–waiting for the snowplow guy to dig me out–I realized anew that self-sufficiency is an absolute lie.  We only have the illusion that we are in control.  Put us in a situation where we are helpless, the truth becomes crystal clear: God is in control.

It took this really nice, capable man to dig me out!  Thank You, Lord, for Your provision!  The attached picture is me driving down from the cabin “following the man” who is making a way through the wilderness.

I love God’s object lessons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joy-filled New Year

We get to live out our days in the year 2012 in the joy of the Lord.  In the JOY of the Lord.  Amazing.  Isn’t it amazing that Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, so it’s not something we have to cook up on our own.

Hum.  But all morning I’ve been thinking about obedience.  Last night I read a quote by E.M. Bounds, “Obedience helps faith, and faith, in turn, helps obedience.  To do God’s will is essential to true faith, and faith is necessary to implicit obedience.”  Therein lies much joy!

Further up, further in…

The Christmas Story

It doesn’t matter how many  years go by, the story of our Lord Jesus’ birth is forever fresh and forever real.  And every year I notice something new, even something startling and surprising.  The Spirit gives new insight and makes the Word alive with meaning.

There’s no need to rush through each account.  Take your time and focus on the words.  Consider that glorious sight…

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  (Luke 2:8-14 ESV)

Advent

The word advent means, “The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important.”  The advent of all advents is the arrival of God’s beloved Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.  What a glorious Adventure!

Luke 2:8-14, “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
(Luke 2:8-14 ESV)

Can we even imagine what it was like for those scruffy shepherds to receive the heavenly birth announcement of the Messiah? They went from watching their lambs grazing to glory gazing.  Magnificent!  May the Lord renew our zeal for the Christmas story.  May He give us a new set of eyes to perceive the significance of “…God sent His Son…”