Looking to Jesus

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Hebrews 12:2

Again today I find myself thinking about what it means to look to Jesus, to fix my eyes on Him.  Now, I have not run in many races, but I have heard athletes tell how important it is to not take one's eyes off the finish line.  When you look away, you lose your focus and your momentum.

I think Paul was confirming this notion in regard to the race we are running as Christians.  He is saying don't be weighed down by distractions or burdened with sin. Instead keep Jesus in your sight. He is the object of your faith and the goal of your life. We are to run towards Him.

He also mentions a cloud of witnesses.  People are watching us. I think they want to believe our belief in Christ will take us to the finish line. The witnesses offer support and encouragement. If we win the race, then they can also the race.

Our prayer is that we can keep our eyes on Jesus, remembering He is there waiting. 

leaving the boat

God is our refuge and strength
a very present help in trouble.

Thoughts on Matthew 14 :28-31
The account of Peter walking on the water to Jesus is a very familiar one.  Another storm and another boat filled with disciples frozen in fear.  Jesus comes walking on the water towards them and Peter cries out, "If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.!"
He was saying  'make me believe.'  And Jesus replies , "Come." His is always a word of invitation. He truly wants us to come to him. Peter then steps out of the boat and walks right to Jesus.  He is not just walking towards Him when he falters again. He was right there. He knew it was Jesus and then he looks back at the wind and the waves and is paralyzed with fear. He cries out, "Lord, save me!'
Now Jesus reaches his hand out to Peter and embraces him. Lovingly, He says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
The final act is one of intimacy and power. It was not enough for Peter to be near to Jesus. He had to be in His arms.
This is a picture of my faith walk. I'm bold enough to get out of the boat and walk right to Jesus. But the storm rages and the waves are high and find myself focusing on my fear. Yet, He never fails to reach out for me.  This is the intimacy that keeps me safe where I can always find refuge and strength.

The path of life

You make known to me the path of life,
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

One of the thoughts that has come to recently concerns my belief about death.  More and more I am convinced that we can't begin to imagine the love and joy awaiting us as we leave this earth.  He has promised it to us over and over again.
Yet when tragedy strikes and a life is taken, especially a young life, it is difficult to accept the loss. I find myself grieving the loss, not celebrating the new life. I know its human to do this.
But today I choose to reflect on the path to life.  In it is fullness of joy.  Full joy...complete... eternal joy. And this joy is in the Lord's presence. In His presence...intimate.....  breathtaking....beyond anything we can imagine.
While we cannot bring loved ones back, perhaps just for a moment, we can visit them in that wonderful place they now call home.
When my mom died, my daughter Jennifer was only 9.  Jen was my mom's only grandaughter and they had a very special bond. I was concerned about how Jen would react to her loss.  A few days after Mom's death, I found a note on my pillow. Jen had drawn a heart and written,' sorrow isn't forever, love is'
At nine she knew what some search a lifetime to believe.

Don't you care? (Mark 4 : 35) February 7, 2013

"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing" The story of Jesus in the boat during the storm is one I have read many times. Today the words, "Don't you care?" really spoke to me. Isn't that the way we all feel at times? Our attitude of worry conveys this sentiment. The storms come, the waves are crashing all around and Jesus is asleep. Isn't it normal to feel this way? Yet Jesus cares more deeply than we can ever know. He's in the boat. Right there all the time. So He rebukes the wind and says to the sea "Peace! Be still. And the wind ceased. To his followers and to us he says, "Why are you so afraid? Have you no faith?" Again and again He offers peace. I hear His words in a different way today. He is not criticizing my lack of faith. He is telling me not to fear, He is present in the storm. He will never leave me alone in the boat. Jesus does care, every minute of every day. My faith can hold me back or push me into His arms. So I choose to say today, "I know you care- calm my heart."

Waiting in faith

July 25,2009
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
I have memorized this verse and recited it over and over again for the last several weeks. Jen is nearing the end of her 2 week wait after a frozen embryo transfer. It has been a roller coaster and I am sharing her journey through the eyes of faith. Yet as this verse reassures us, faith is quite a proposition. I have often said that unlike my dad, the eternal optimist, I am a realist. I have faith that waivers with each thought. And I want to know outcomes immediately. But I read something rather beautiful today. It says "All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Maybe that is the secret to optimism. I can look back at every gift and celebrate. Maybe I can see that I had some measure of faith as I waited- maybe doubt as well. But the outcomes give me the strength to trust again.
And so today, I trust in you O gracious God and Father to give life to the tiny seed. May we place our trust in you as we wait with hope for we cannot see with our eyes.

The Lord Is Calling

The lord came and stood there as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

This is such a sweet reminder of the way in which the lord continually calls us into prayer with Him. I believe He calls us often, but it is easy for us to get caught up in our own world and miss His voice. This passage says the lord called as at other times, but this time Samuel was listening. And what is Samuel listening for, but the voice of the lord. We long to hear His voice, to know His will.
Prayer is something that can be deeply personal. I thought this morning of what it's like for two friends to sit and have a time of fellowship. There is an intense kind of listening that goes on. Each moment is precious as the two share stories, deeply interested in each other's lives. Perhaps there will be advice given or heartfelt concern for events taking shape. It's amazing to think that we can experience such a time of fellowship with Jesus. And yet it is available to us if we learn to listen for His voice and respond to His call.

"Our modern culture often sees prayer as a migic bullet or as a formula that we can use to get what we want. It isneither. But this we know: God tells us to pray; he gives his Word to guide our prayers."
-One Year Praying Through the Bible

Don't worry about anything,
instead pray about everything;
tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers.
-Phillipians 4:6

The Spirit Stirred

...And the spirit of the Lord began to stir him
-Judges 13:25

...The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
_1 Samuel 10:6-9

These verses really spoke to me today. I have struggled with my view of the Holy Spirit for years. As a matter of fact when I made a personal decision to commit my life to Christ over thirty years ago, I was really afraid to commit myself totally to being filled with the Holy Spirit. It was a conscious decision on my part. In the words of a beautiful song by Jars of Clay,
"I use one hand to pull closer
The other to push you away."
For the most part that decision was made because of fear of being changed. I didn't want people to think I was a fanatic about my faith. So over the years I have been able to compartmentalize my life. I have had a life of faith in which I followed Christ on my terms and in my own way. It has not been unfulfilling, but it has not been the rich deep experience I longed to have on a daily basis.
Recently I've learned something about myself and my relationship with Christ. This past September I began a Bible study on the book of Acts and I was invited to take an in depth look at the Holy Spirit. I discovered something interesting-that which I had feared was in reality what I desired. For in truth the Holy Spirit does change each and every person who commits themself to Christ. It is what He is designed to do. It is His work and His gift to us. The Holy Spirit transforms us to bring us into a deep, meaningful relationship. He transforms us to make us more like our Savior. Then like Paul and the other disciples we are called testify with a bold heart of the joy and love that comes from knowing Christ.
Today was our last day of the study, but in many ways it is the first day for me. I have been changed and I am free to embrace my faith knowing I can
.... do whatever (my) hand finds
to do, for God is with (me)