The Shadow of God's Hand

The great teachings unanimously emphasize that all the peace, wisdom, and joy in the universe are already within us; we don't have to gain, develop, or attain them. We're like a child standing in a beautiful park with his eyes shut tight. We don't need to imagine trees, flowers, deer, birds, and sky; we merely need to open our eyes and realize what is already here, who we really are -- as soon as we quit pretending we're small or unholy. ~ Unknown

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD : My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.

For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand— I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.' "

From Isaiah 51:1-16

Wisdom and Joy

Trials are a blessing, much like discipline.

I have an ongoing test of faith, relating to an incurable illness in my young son. I hate it, and I would trade it for his health any day. And then I realize how much of a blessing this struggle has been --

Because of our child's illness, my husband has come to know Christ. All of my children have grown close and protective of each other. I see the creativity in my son which is probably due to his illness. My knees have grown calloused, and my heart has grown tender. I have drawn closer to my Father.

I would not trade these blessings, though they are wrapped in difficulty. Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

~James 1:2-11

Discipline

If you look up discipline in Wikipedia, it says the following:

In its most general sense, discipline refers to systematic instruction given to a disciple. This sense also preserves the origin of the word, which is Latin disciplina "instruction", from the root discere "to learn," and from which discipulus "disciple, pupil" also derives.

To discipline thus means to instruct a person or animal to follow a particular code of conduct, or to adhere to a certain "order." Consequently, "in the field of child development, discipline refers to methods of modeling character and of teaching self-control and acceptable behavior." So for example, to discipline a child to wash her/his hands before meals. Here, 'washing hands before meals' is a particular pattern of behaviour, and the child is being disciplined to adopt that pattern.

The day after Ash Wednesday, I have set a goal to strengthen my discipline. I hope to make room for the Father's instruction: to hear it and learn to follow it. And the outcome? Holiness.

Heavenly Father, help me to submit to discipline. You control my days and my nights, and I pray that You will order my chaos and teach me to live by patterns that honor You. Guide my actions that I may learn self-control, and that I may fully live in the richness of following Christ. Let Your Spirit strengthen me as I walk this path. Amen.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

~Hebrews 12:1-12

Mercy triumphs over justice.

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

The ashes of my life have been redeemed, for mercy has triumphed over justice. God, in his infinite love, has fulfilled the demands of justice Himself, and mercifully offered Himself to take my place in paying the consequence for my actions.

And what can I do in return for this mercy? I can live in it. I can accept it for the free gift that it is, and honor the One who gave it.

So, as I enter into this period of fasting, I will temper it with feasting. I will fast from self-gratification, and I will feast in spiritual discipline. I will fast from the things of this life, and I will feast on the things of God.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

~Psalm 51:1-17

Transfiguration

For many years, I have read about and understood the transfiguration to relate symbolically to a mountain-top experience. This view gave me something to strive for, and a goal to attain. It was almost as if my faith could be measured by the quality and quantity of mountains I climbed on my spiritual journey. The more I climbed, and the higher they were, the closer I could get to God. It was my own personal Tower of Babel, in spiritual mountain form.

Mountain-top experiences are no longer attractive to me, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps that sounds cynical, but I think that transfiguration ushering in the kingdom of God is far better. For one thing, it lasts longer, and touches more people. For another, a mountain-top experience by definition requires a long trudge through the valley, and an often difficult climb up to the summit. Once you have reached the peak, you stay for a short while to enjoy the view, but you generally head back down before it gets dark. The trip back down is somewhat anti-climactic. And honestly, that trek is a lot of work for only a little pay-off.

Transfiguration is different; it involves change. It is like a preview of glory, lived out in the here and now. The transfiguration of Jesus must have been truly spectacular. But then, whenever you are at the intersection of heaven and earth, the view is spectacular.

I have a theory that transfiguration can occur at any time, in any place, and in any one. If I keep my eyes open, maybe I will see one. Or, even better, if I keep my heart and soul open I can be invited to one, just like Peter, James, and John. Perhaps it might even be my own, if I remain open to it, and close enough to the intersection of heaven and earth. And realistically, that intersection is wherever I might happen to call upon the Lord, so it could be anywhere and at anytime.

Transfiguration is a beautiful way to close out the season of Epiphany -- it gives me hope. And just in time, because I will need that vision as I enter into 40 days of soul-searching. God has been revealed.

Wholeness

Sometimes it is hard to know when you are sick. For those of us who suffer from allergies, the symptoms of allergies can often mimic the symptoms of a cold. Either way, the result is the same: you feel crummy. Same thing with skin maladies -- you just feel crummy when your body is not in total health.

You want wholeness.

Sometimes it is hard to take your medicine. Naaman had trouble following the instruction of the healer. Who wants to wash seven times in a cold, nasty river? And Jesus' leper likewise had trouble following instructions. The hardest part for him was presenting himself to the priests, because it probably meant an uncomfortable confrontation.

Wanting wholeness is not always easy.

Paul exhorts us to train for wholeness. The trouble with training is that it makes you sore. No pain, no gain.

Illness is an opportunity for healing. I want wholeness, and all that is implied in the theology of wholeness, if it fits me to serve.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Joy Comes in the Morning

We buried my grandmother today.

My heart is a little heavy as I look to the scriptures this week. And then I find Psalm 30:
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

God be praised.

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!

Demons

Last week's scriptures were difficult for me. I struggled with the story in Mark 1:21-28; it touches a nerve in me, and makes me uncomfortable.

This week, I am still wrestling with the scriptures from last week. Hoping that I could just ignore them and avoid my discomfort, I have decided to plow into this week's scriptures. Trouble is, I find that the scriptures for this week do nothing to assuage my angst, but only add to it. So be it -- I will continue to wrestle with them all.

One of my biggest struggles is the way Jesus dealt with the demons, and the way they pay homage to Him. The Psalm from last week (Psalm 111) is such a wonderful praise, and so very uplifting. Verse 10 encourages us to get close to God, and to fear and respect Him for everything stated in verses 1-9. "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom." I love that statement -- I lean on that when I wrestle with God and His sovereignty.

And then I read in Mark, "Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God!”

This demon is afraid of Jesus, because of who He is. What does this mean, in light of Psalm 111? "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom."

Clearly, the demons know more about Jesus than most of us, since they recognized Him on the spot. They fear and respect Him for His power and position, which frankly I often do not do (much as I think I do). Does this make the demons wise? What does that make me?

This week's scriptures continue with this point, particularly in Mark 1:34: "So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak."

The demons know and recognize Him; I struggle with this, since I do not always recognize Him.