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So You Have Things Figured Out?

So You Have Things Figured Out?

It’s been an interesting few days.

God-willing, our youngest son will be returning to our Michigan home shortly on his Christmas break.  He is currently competing on a team in an intramural bowling league at the college he attends.  He was excited to know that there was a bowling alley less than a mile from our house.  He intended to visit it frequently to improve his skills.

This week that 6-decade-old facility burned to the ground, making news across the state.  He’ll now have to travel a bit further to work on his delivery and spin, and he’ll get there less often.  A shocking and disappointing turn of events.

Friday morning my wife climbed in her van to drive to the school where she teaches.  The van wouldn’t start.  Her wonderful husband (me!) tried to come to her rescue.  But a quick inspection under the hood revealed a battery leak and damaged battery cables.  No immediate rescue possible.

This set off a chain reaction of unexpected results.  My wife had to call in and excuse herself from teaching.  I had to drive our other vehicle around town to prep for the repair.  Arrangements were made to tow the van to a shop.  And I had to postpone my multiple visits scheduled for the morning to deal with the unanticipated dilemma.

In short, the day went very differently than either my wife or I expected.

It’s not the first time unforeseen circumstances have happened in our personal “world,” and it certainly won’t be the last.  Nevertheless, these interesting few days led me to some introspection.

As humans, our usual approach to life is to orchestrate our activities day-by-day, fully expecting to see our plans come to fruition.  Often they do (by the grace of God).  But every now and then the Lord has to remind us that we are not in control of events as much as we like to think we are.

And sometimes the Lord really shakes things up to show us our complete incompetence at running our lives and reining in circumstances.  (Or reigning over them, for that matter!)

This is good for us!  We need reminders of who the true God is, for we are far too prone to crown ourselves as gods.  We are God’s creation and not the Creator.  We are subject to circumstances instead of ruling over them.  We are carried by the currents instead of directing them; blown by the breezes instead of funneling them.

This is a hard truth to hear, but a critical one to recognize.

Thomas a’ Kempis, a 15th-century German theologian, summarized this fact when he wrote (in Latin) the well-known maxim, “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

The Lord states this truth several ways through Solomon: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9).  Then, a few chapters later, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).

And the principle doesn’t only hold true for individuals, but entire countries! “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples” (Psalm 33:10).

It’s a concept the Scriptures emphasize repeatedly.

For example, James writes, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’ (James 4:13-15).

There is also Jesus’ striking story of the foolish rich man who made extensive plans to enjoy his wealth, only to have the Lord demand his life that night (Luke 12:16-21).  And multiple real-life Bible events as well, such as the tower of Babel, Pharaoh in Egypt, Haman in Esther’s day, and many more.

Even Jesus’ enemies had their own plans, conniving to arrest him, kill him, and “get rid of him.”  Little did they know that they were fulfilling God’s plans and promises, and their selfish and evil intentions only served to accomplish God’s loving purposes to secure salvation, and ultimately to exalt Jesus.

It really is true: “man proposes, but God disposes.”  Stated differently, “man suggests; God corrects.”  Or perhaps my favorite summary of all: “man plans, and God laughs.”

The point is … we make recommendations on our lives, but the Lord is the one who makes the ultimate decisions.  We must recognize this truth and acquiesce to our God.  Our plans are little lines in the seashore sand, and no matter how ambitious or ingenious they may be, it is the waves of our God which refashion them as he sees fit.

So you think you have things figured out?  Not a chance!  But thankfully our God does!

And thankfully, our God is a God we can trust implicitly.  He loves us beyond comprehension, working “all things for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

Furthermore, he makes this promise to us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

To which we might reply, “OK, Lord, with your help, my plan going forward is to trust you, and to fall into and follow your plans!”

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Miracle Deer

Miracle Deer

When I was a teenager living in Michigan, I couldn’t wait for the fall.  When the leaves started turning and the crops were being harvested, it meant that hunting season had arrived.  I could join my brother and father on the boat in the Bay to wait for ducks to approach our decoys, walk the farm fields hoping to flush a rooster pheasant, and sneak into my dad’s woods before first light to hunt squirrels, rabbits, and the ultimate quarry … whitetail deer. 

Though I tried hard and came close a number of times, I never harvested a deer in Michigan.  And then I was off to Wisconsin for college and the Seminary, and didn’t really have the opportunity to resume my hunting endeavors in the “mitten state.”  Though I was still able to get out in the timber in the state “across the pond,” I dearly missed those Michigan fields and woods in the fall.  I especially missed my dad’s woods, where I had spent so many enjoyable hours.

Upon graduation from the Seminary, the Lord sent me to Washington state and its bounty of outdoor activities.  I loved the fall opportunities dearly there, (pun intended), and filled a few tags … both deer and elk.  I was even able to share a number of fall outdoor activities with my sons and be with the three oldest ones as they shot their first deer.  Precious moments.

But I never really had much opportunity to hunt my old haunts.  Not for over 40 years.  And then the Lord brought us back to Michigan – a mere hour-and-a-quarter from my old stomping grounds.  This meant I could spend regular time with my Dad and Mom, whom I hadn’t seen much over the past three decades.  It also meant that I could use my days off (Mondays) to revisit Dad’s woods.

I got reacquainted with its layout.  (A lot changes over 40 years!)  I located the deer trails, strapped up a few game cameras, and eventually installed a 16-foot ladder stand.  I didn’t have time to hunt the bow season this year, but I counted the days to gun season.

When it arrived, I was in my stand before first light.  And I actually lost count of all the deer I saw that morning!  Michigan regulations now allow the taking of a doe with a buck license.  Plus, I actually had purchased an antlerless tag.  I could have filled it multiple times that morning, and the next morning as well.

But I had talked with God extensively.  I had seen multiple bucks on my game cameras … some quite impressive … and I had asked the Lord to please let my first Michigan deer be one taken in my father’s woods, and please let it be a buck.  I didn’t expect Him to grant my prayers, but I wasn’t going to be surprised if he did.  I certainly wanted to give him the opportunity to do so!

However, by the third morning with only one little buck spotted, and him not offering me a shot, I was ready to take a doe.  I did see one that morning immediately under my stand, but it was a small yearling.  I passed.

Opening days were gone, and I had three unfilled deer tags in my hunting jacket pocket.  My lovely wife wondered why I hadn’t taken one of the fine deer the Lord had presented me.  I explained my requests to the Lord.  My better half was largely unconvinced and fairly unsympathetic.

The next opportunity for me was the following Monday.  I bunked at my parents’ house for an early start the next morning.  But every indication from my weather apps on my phone was that the wind would be blowing from the worst possible direction to hunt from my raised stand.  None of my other natural ground blinds would work either.  Which meant I had to transition to plan C. 

I had no plan C.

Finally, I decided I needed to enter the woods with the wind in my face and work my way to the thicket where I had seen a lot of activity recently.  The problem was I had cut no trails into it, and it would be a noisy and prickly approach, with multiple downed trees to climb over.

So I prayed repeatedly that night and the next morning.  This was my redundant prayer: “Lord, please lead me to where I need to be … and please lead the deer to me.”

Not much of a hunting plan, I know, but it was my best shot under the circumstances.  (Really, it’s the best shot under any circumstances!)  I was absolutely confident the Lord could do it.  Whether he did or not was up to him, and I would find out in the morning.

An hour before daylight, I was fighting my way through the tangles.  I knew roughly where I wanted to end up, but had no idea if I could even find a suitable spot to take a stand.  I continued to pray my prayer.  Eventually I stumbled onto an area that was fairly open.  I said, “Alright, Lord, I guess this is it.  The rest is up to you. And Lord, obviously you are going to have to bring them close.” 

I was tempted to try to find a better spot.  And although I shifted just ten feet over to a more comfortable spot, I determined I had asked the Lord to lead me, so I would trust that he had led.  Now I had to also trust that he would lead the deer to me.

A few hours later, I still sat there.  I was chilled, but I was determined to wait.  I ate a few mini-Snickers bars for energy and to pass the time.  I heard some leaves rustling over my shoulder.  “Probably squirrels,” I thought, but still turned slowly to investigate. 

I couldn’t see anything, so I turned back.  And a doe was walking briskly broadside 30 feet in front of me!  She took a hard right behind some brush, walked closer to me, and plopped down 15 feet away beside a large fallen tree!  All I could see where her ears above the log, swiveling this way and that to listen.

Well, where there’s one deer, there are often more.  I looked where the doe had crossed and sure enough – there was another deer crossing in the same spot.  This one also took a hard right and came to a stop over the doe … 20 feet away.  The sun was behind it, but when I tilted my head and shifted my view, I spotted antlers.  I whispered a “Thank you, Lord!” and filled one of my buck tags. 

It was immediately evident to me that the Lord had just brought about a remarkable miracle in answer to my prayers.  He allowed me to harvest my first Michigan deer in my dad’s woods, and it was indeed a buck (a 6 point).  Even more remarkable, the Lord led me to exactly where I needed to be that morning, and THEN brought two deer directly to me.  Any closer, and they would have trampled me!

I know many would dismiss it all as blind chance or astounding luck.  What I know is that this deer was a miracle brought about by a God who loves me, blesses me despite myself, and answers prayers in dramatic fashion.

Oh, there’s one more rather amazing event I need to share.  When I turned on my truck to retrieve the deer after dragging it out, my all-time favorite Christian praise song filled my ears: “Holy Forever” by Chris Tomlin.  It’s a song about worshipping our God and Savior forever.  “Your name is the highest.  Your name is the greatest.  Your name stands above them all!”

The Lord didn’t need to remind me what had just happened.  I already knew.  But he emphasized it nonetheless.  I couldn’t help myself; I began to cry and worship.

Our Lord loves us dearly.  He hears our every prayer.  He has unending power.  He still does miracles, even in our lives.  He won’t always, but he always can.

Thank you, Lord.  You are amazing!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Isaiah 65:24
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

Psalm 77:14
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

Jeremiah 32:27
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

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The Enforcer

The Enforcer

You’ve been there.  You’re traveling on an interstate when the road construction signs come into view.  We all know what that means.  Slowdowns.  Lane revisions.  And probably merging traffic. 

Then, sure enough, the merge signs begin appearing.

Most drivers are pretty decent about it.  When the merge notices pop up, they begin making their way into the appropriate lane. 

But there are always a few who fly by everyone else to get to the front of the line and then cut over!  I don’t know how you feel about that approach, but I find it rude, unfair, and extremely irritating.  Not only that, but their selfishness actually slows the entire merge process down with the backup they cause at the bottleneck.

This past weekend, my wife and I were driving over to Wisconsin for a family wedding, and we had any number of slowdowns, lane revisions, and yes … lane mergers.  And, as always, some folks were determined to storm to the front of the merge line.

But multiple times they couldn’t!  The reason?  The “Enforcers.”

The Enforcers (my name for them) were the semitruck drivers who would have none of it.  Once the merge messages were posted, those semi jockeys shimmied their 18-wheelers over to take up both lanes.  No cheaters got by them.  The would be “pass-everyone-else-on-their-way-to-the-front-of-the-line-drivers” behind those big-rigs were forced to merge with everyone else who was being obedient and courteous. 

I have seen this done before, and I witnessed it several times this past weekend.  Those Enforcer dudes are my heroes!  I applaud them every time I see them take that approach, and I still grin and salute them as I think of it. 

And who doubts that those huge trucks could impose their will on all the smaller vehicles around them.  They are the unmitigated kings of the road.

You and I have the unmitigated King of the Cosmos in our corner as we drive through life.  How incredibly comforting to know that the Lord has our back!  Nothing gets past him that he doesn’t allow.  And if he allows it, he has a loving reason for it.  (Romans 8:28).

Our God has absolute power, complete knowledge, and unending love.  He is always with us, and is unaffected by circumstances or the boundaries of scientific principles.  Nothing escapes his notice; no threats sneak past his view.  Meanwhile, he funnels tremendous blessings our way.

Undoubtedly we can all reflect upon times where our gracious God clearly intervened in our lives.  His involvement was so obvious even the most obtuse believer could recognize it.

I suspect, however, that we would be astounded if we really, truly knew how many times … and how drastically … the Lord has acted to provide for us or protect us in our day-by-day history.  In fact, he does it to some degree … every single day of our lives.

In his final encouragements to the Israelites, as he was about to die and the people were about to invade Canaan, Moses assured them, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

It’s a similar concept to what Moses stated to their parents 40 years early as the newly freed Israelites spotted Pharaoh’s army chasing after them.  “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

And who or what can stand against the Lord? 

These truths are truths for you and me to take to heart as well.  Our God goes before us, is with us and always will be, and he fights for us!

I have always cherished the words David wrote upon his deliverance from Saul and his enemies.  They speak of devotion to the One upon whom the believer can totally rely.  “I love you, Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:1-2).

The ultimate Enforcer?  That would be the Lord.  He’s bigger, badder, and better than any semi, and he’s on our side!

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Under the Surface

Under the Surface

I’m fortunate to live on a lake.  I’m even more fortunate to be able to fish on that lake every now and then.  Since the underwater vegetation is rather thick along our shore, the best way to fish from our dock, (that is, the least frustrating way), is with a bobber.  Which means the best time to fish off our backyard is when the surface of the water is calm.  The calmer the better.

Sometimes the water is so still that the surface becomes an exceptional mirror.  (Currently providing a very lovely “double” view of the changing leaves on the far shore!)  When in this ultra-calm state, the surface isn’t only a reflection of God’s beauty above the waters, but also a revealer of some of God’s creation below.

When we look at a lake, we tend to see the surface and not really reflect much on what is happening below it.  Yes, we are aware that there is a whole other world in its depths, but we can’t see it, can’t really understand it, so we don’t really think about it too much.  (At least I don’t.)

Of course, if we’re trying to hook a fish or two, we give it a bit of thought.  What kinds of fish might be there?  Where might they be hanging about?  What might induce them to ingest my hook?

Other than that: unseen and unconsidered.  It’s a dimension unfamiliar to us, so what’s occurring there doesn’t register.

But when the water is exceptionally still, it provides a glimpse into the activity below the surface.  And there’s a lot more happening than we realize!

Certainly, if you pay attention while near water, you will notice the rings made by rising fish … even when the water is somewhat turbulent.  On a smooth surface, especially in the morning and evening, those rings are everywhere.  If near or on the water, perhaps one will even hear the slurp of a hungry fish sucking in a dead or dying insect, or hear (and maybe even see) the splash of a leaping fish – whether due to feeding, fleeing, or purely for “fun.”

Most fascinating to me is to see the funnels on the flat surface formed by fish swimming just below.  Sometimes the funnel is large; sometimes small.  Sometimes brief; sometimes prolonged.  Sometimes straight; sometimes not.  Sometimes incredibly swift; other times slower. 

Even though the fish are unseen, their presence is revealed by the displaced water forming wave paths above.  One can’t always discern the size or depth of the fish, but there’s no doubt that they’re there.  

Fascinating.  Also frustrating when one notices some paths leading right past or under one’s bobber, with no pause for a nibble!

I marvel to see those moving paths sometimes crisscross.  Is one fish higher and one lower?  (They must be.)  Even so, they have to be close to each other and still close enough to the surface for their movements to register.  

And the sheer number of funnels!  It’s frenetic.  There is a LOT going on under the surface!  Far more than we imagine.

So it is with our God.

We tend to be one-dimensional creatures, taking note only of those things in our sphere; the physical and observable world forms our “reality.”  We notice what registers with our five senses.

But there is another dimension; the spiritual one.  It’s largely unseen but no less real.  And that’s the sphere where the Lord loves to work!  He certainly is active in the physical realm.  He created all things, “and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). 

But he does his best and biggest work in the spiritual realm.  It’s work often unnoticed, but critically important and eternally significant.

Yet if we turn our eyes of faith to the seemingly still surface of the spiritual waters, we will notice the hints of a frenzy of activity in the spiritual depths below.  God is working.  Always working.  When criticized by his enemies for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17).

So too is the Holy Spirit who enlivens and empowers the Word of God.  He assures us this Word ”will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).  More wonderful work by our wonderful God!  In souls and minds and lives!

We often can’t discern the nature of God’s activity, and usually not its substance.  At least not in the present.  But it’s clear that God has a LOT going on, and it’s all good for those who love him. (Romans 8:28).

Confused?  Discouraged?  Anxious?  Wondering where God is and what He is doing?  Be assured that under the surface your God is doing incredible things!

There is great peace and joy in that truth.

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Picking Up Pennies

Picking Up Pennies

We’ve been at our new home for just over 2 1/2 months now and, believe it or not, we are still trying to get settled into our house and our new jobs!  (For those of you who have gone through a major move like ours, I suspect you believe it.)

In addition, we are still waiting on our Washington house to sell in a slow market for a house that size.  It’s all rather overwhelming.  

So this post I shared a while back is a good reminder to me that the Lord is faithfully guiding all things.  I pray it is a good reminder to you as well.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I always pick up any pennies I see.   In fact, I just picked up one yesterday – the one side scraped almost clean by tires grinding it on the pavement.

Technically they are not pennies, but cents.  (If you dispute this, look at the back of the coin.  There you will see clearly printed, “ONE CENT.”)  Indeed, numismatists (coin experts) will insist on the proper term, but most people still call them pennies.

Just as most people don’t care what the coins are called, most also don’t care to have them.  If the change after a purchase happens to be pennies, it’s not uncommon for customers to toss the coins in the spare change containers on the store counters, or to tell the clerks to keep them.  If a penny is dropped, many leave it where it falls.  If a penny is sighted on the ground, few will take the effort to bend over and retrieve it. 

At least, that’s my observation from years of picking up pennies in parking lots and retrieving them from the ground with my metal detector.

Why does it make sense to me to retrieve cents?  In short, picking up pennies is always a joyful reminder to me of my faithful God, and of a number of comforting spiritual truths he shares with me in his Word.

The most obvious reminder is actually cast into the coins themselves: “IN GOD WE TRUST.”  Despite an atheist petition to the Supreme Court in 2019 to have the phrase removed from our currency, as well as the current American malaise toward God, the phrase remains stamped into our cents.  (As well as our other currency.)

Yet to someone like me who does trust in God, every penny I pick up is a reminder that I have a loving Lord who takes wonderful care of me.  In fact, almost without fail as I pluck a penny off the pavement, those words flow through my mind … “IN GOD I TRUST.”

Which is a blessing to me, as the Bible attests, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:7).

There are actually multiple aspects to this slogan and this concept.  I don’t reflect upon them all every time I retrieve a cent, but I am certainly aware of them.

For example, there are Jesus’ thought-provoking and comforting words, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).

There is also the poignant example of the poor widow and her offering.  Mark records the event. 

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on’” (Mark 12:41-44).

Did the widow trust the Lord?  Implicitly!  Did she give to God gladly and generously despite her poverty?  Absolutely!  Can we be confident the Lord provided for her?  Undoubtedly!

Will he also provide for all his people?  He already has, and he always will!  The Apostle Paul states the obvious: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31).

Furthermore, I have often recognized this simple truth: little blessings add up to great blessings.  5 pennies equal a nickel and 10 a dime.  And between scanning parking lots and retrieving buried coins while metal detecting, I’ve picked up literally thousands of pennies.  Those add up!

And some of those pennies … even many of those pennies … were worth more than 1 cent.  A few much more.  Seemingly insignificant, often disregarded “trinkets” by many sometimes might be treasures.  Some rare cents found in circulation can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  So I check my change and I pick up dropped coins.  Even pennies.

Every time I spot another cent on the sidewalk, I consider it just another blessing from God.  An unexpected reminder that God loves me and provides for me.  A beneficial reminder that “my God will meet all [our] needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Philippians 4:19-20).  

So I pick up pennies.  Always have; always will.  They remind me that IN GOD I TRUST!  And that’s always a smile starter and a morale booster.

“Praise the LORD.  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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Our Transcendent God

Our Transcendent God

Rochelle waved her farewells to some of the other folks from church as she unlocked her car door and climbed in.  It was a good sermon today; very timely.  A message about God’s infinite love, power, wisdom and faithfulness, and how his children can and should trust him completely. 

But anxiety still roiled her stomach and tormented her mind.  “I want to trust you, Lord, but the uncertainties in my life are so many and my problems so large,” she whispered.

Her health had unexpectedly declined in the past few months, and her illness threatened her job, her finances, and her family’s well-being – not to mention potentially her very life.  To say that her circumstances dominated her thoughts would be an understatement.  They were an ever-present shadow in her days and nights.

At her insistence, her husband had taken the kids camping that weekend for one more hurrah before school began.  She didn’t have the energy to go along.  The truth was she actually craved a bit of peace and quiet before the next medical appointment and whatever news that would bring.

Rochelle said it again … tears brimming in her eyes.  “I want to trust you, Lord.  Help me!  Help me trust!  Give me peace!  Reassure my troubled heart!”

She sat there a moment in earnest prayer.  Finally, she sighed deeply and prepared to leave.  Realizing that she’d be heading into the blinding morning sun, she lifted her hand and flipped down her visor.  Something toppled onto her lap.  She retrieved it and was shocked to find it was a gold-colored flash drive.  Even more shocking was the silver label on the drive that read, “Your Transcendent God.”

What was this?  Her first thought was that someone from church had left it for her.  But no, the car had been locked.  She looked around anyway; no one was paying her any attention. 

Her second thought was that it had been left there by her husband.  But that couldn’t be either.  She had lowered that visor just yesterday … after the family had departed for the campground.  There had been nothing there.

“Who put this here?” she wondered.  And immediately, the initial question presented itself again: “What is this?”  She rolled it over in her fingers, trying to make sense of it.  No obvious answers came, so she tucked the drive in a pocket of her purse and drove home.

Even as she changed into more leisurely clothes, her mind never strayed from the flash drive.  So many questions!  The most significant one being … should she open it?  Was it safe?  What would she find there if she did?

After much internal debate and a number of fervent prayers, she sat down at her computer and turned it on.  Despite her concerns, her curiosity compelled her.  With another prayer, she popped the drive into the proper port and held her breath.  “USB Drive (Divine:)” showed up on her screen.  Rochelle inhaled in shock; she had never seen a USB designation like that before.

Slowly … so slowly … she moved the cursor over the name, paused, and then clicked.  There was only one file listed.  It was named, “A Special Message for Rochelle.”  She sucked in another astonished breath and dropped back against her chair-back, staring.

It took a moment before she could move.  But when she did, it was numbly and seemingly without thought; her hand reached for the mouse and she opened the file.

Her screen was filled with a lovely ladybug.  Rochelle initially thought it was a picture, but as she watched, the ladybug extended its wings.  They fluttered and then returned to their place.  Not a picture then, but a video!

The ladybug faded from view and the black sky with thousands of stars took its place.  Golden letters appeared one-by-one from left to right to spell, “Your Transcendent God.”

The words faded from view and the stars took on a crisper focus.  Then gradually what appeared like multi-colored lasers began to crisscross the screen, bursting every which way.  Rochelle intuitively understood that this was energy being dispersed, every particle having its own light display.  The beams continued to increase in number until the entire screen was a writhing spiderweb of color. 

The view was beautiful but bewildering.  Rochelle found herself dizzy and nauseous.  She was about to look away when the beams disappeared, and a new message took form.  “The cosmos: too much for you, but not for God.”

Next, the world took shape as it was viewed from space.  The features became defined; continents and oceans.  Then the flashing beams began to appear again, flying every which way and gradually increasing in number – each an indicator of energy and a display of activity.  When it reached the point of unbearability, it disappeared and these words emerged: “The world: too much for you, but not for God.”

This same scenario was repeated with the nation, her state, and her city.  Each time, the statement “Too much for you, but not for God” marked the end of one view and the beginning of another. 

Rochelle was mesmerized at what she had witnessed.  However, she was truly overwhelmed when an aerial view of her house showed up, the same process occurred, and she was informed yet again, “Too much for you, but not for God.”

The overhead view of her house and yard was presented once more.  This time though it zoomed slowly in on the decorative wooden cross they displayed in their front yard.  The energy shots gradually resumed, but different this time in that Rochelle could see the sources of the beams.  Winged maple spinners dropping from the nearby tree and bouncing off the crossbeam.  Various insects climbing up and down the center post.  Sparrows landing and then taking flight again.  She was amazed at how much activity took place just on the cross alone. 

That’s when the rain began – each droplet a blue laser which erupted into multiple lights when striking the wood.  The rain increased in intensity, and soon the cross was ablaze in blue.  This time the message read, “The cross: too much for you, but not for God.”

The video continued with the cross visible again.  The focus drew closer until it centered on the point where the arms extended from the beam.  There was the ladybug again!  The rain pelted all around it, but it seemed to be untouched.  As was the wood upon which it was resting!

A new proclamation: “Keeping a ladybug dry in a downpour: too much for you, but not for God.”

Then a new and longer message scrolled unto the screen, each line displayed below the previous. 

“I know all.”

“I control all.”

“I love you.”

“I will take care of you.”

“I will take care of everything.”

“I always do!”

“Your Transcendent God.”

The video froze there.  A thunder-burst pulled her attention from the screen.  It was actually raining!

Rochelle couldn’t help herself; she ran to the closet and grabbed her raincoat.  Bursting out the front door and dashing toward the cross, she realized that the rain was letting up.  She slowed as she approached the cross, reluctant at what she might find.  Or not find.

She eased closer.  The back of the cross was completely soaked.  She stepped around to the front and drew closer.  There in the center of the cross sat the ladybug!  Rochelle gasped, then took another step nearer.  Though the front of the cross was also drenched, immediately around the ladybug was a small dry spot, and the dry area was shaped like a heart!  The lovely ladybug extended its wings.  They fluttered and then returned to their place.

Rochelle began to sob uncontrollably.  Her God who died for her knew her and what she was going through, and he loved her and promised to take care of everything.  He truly was a Transcendent God!  He was a God worthy of her trust.

When Rochelle returned to her computer, the flash drive was gone.  But not her hope and joy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Our Transcendent God

All-Powerful

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?”  (Jeremiah 32:27)

Jesus said, “… With God all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19:26)

All-Knowing

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him …(Hebrews 4:13)

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  (Psalm 139:1-4)

Full of Love for Us

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”  (Jeremiah 31:3)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  (1 John 3:1)

Faithful

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.  (Psalm 89:8)

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

Worthy of Trust

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  (Psalm 18:2)

Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you.  (1 Peter 5:7)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7)

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Always Soaring, Always Seeing

Always Soaring, Always Seeing

I saw my first wild bald eagle many years ago when we lived in the north end of Tacoma.  One day I was in our backyard when it glided over me.  The sight was thrilling then, and I still remember it clearly. 

Since then I’ve seen many eagles, sometimes quite close.  A few times I’ve actually witnessed them plucking trout out of a lake with their strong talons.  (Once ironically while I was fishing and catching nothing!)  Now I’m actually privileged to see them fairly regularly over the lake behind our house.

They are majestic birds; so inspiring that they were named the national bird of the United States of America. 

Yet it wasn’t that long ago that bald eagles were at risk of disappearing altogether from the contiguous states.  Just 30 years ago, bald eagles were on the US government’s list of endangered species.  However, with special protection, the birds have made a wonderful recovery.  In 1995, they were transferred from the US endangered species list to the threatened species list.  By 2007 their numbers were strong enough that they graduated even from the “threatened” designation.

The bald eagle derives its name from the white feathered heads of the mature adults.  The bodies of adult birds in the lower states are typically 2 ½ to 3 ½ feet, their wingspans usually from 6 to 7 ½ feet, and their weight from 6 ½ to almost 14 pounds.  Alaskan bald eagles of both genders are even larger!  In an interesting twist in the animal world, the females are typically 25 percent larger than the males. 

Eagles can fly as high as 15,000 feet above the earth, and as fast as 65 miles per hour.  Though their preference is to soar lazily on rising thermals, if diving for food, they can reach the astonishing speed of 200 miles per hour!

Bald eagles’ diet consists primarily of fish, therefore they reside near large bodies of water with abundant food supplies and large, tall trees nearby.  Eagles are the apex predators in the avian world.  As birds of prey, they have strong, muscular legs and powerful talons to snatch their meals, and large, heavy, hooked beaks ideally equipped for ripping the flesh off their meals. 

Normally the birds will swoop down and pluck their prey on the fly.  (A necessary thing since most of their prey resides in water!)  They will occasionally take larger animals down, but then will either feed on it at the location or take pieces back to its nest.  However, they can fly bearing a greater weight than their own.  For example, one bald eagle was documented as flying with a 15 pound mule deer fawn!

Bald eagles are also known for their huge nests, or eyries.  They are usually 5-6 feet wide and 3-4 feet deep, but their homes can be as much as 8 feet wide and 13 feet deep and weigh up to a ton.  It usually takes several months to build an eyrie, and the nests are often reused (or continually used) and built larger over time.

All of which I find fascinating.  Yet the aspect of eagles (and hawks, for that matter) which astounds me the most is their incredible vision.  Perfect vision for humans is 20/20.  An eagle’s vision is 20/4 … or five times sharper than ours.  Translated, that means that what we can see clearly at 20 feet can be seen by an eagle with the same clarity at 100 feet.  (A hawk’s vision is actually 8 times sharper than ours!)  An eagle’s eyesight allows them to spot prey from over a mile away!

Besides that, eagles are also able to see ultraviolet light, which means that even the urine of small mammals can be spotted in the ultraviolet range from extreme distances!  This, of course, is a significant advantage for the birds of prey, and an extreme disadvantage for the prey itself.

There are a number of reasons for the eagle’s exceptional vision.  An eagle’s eyes are packed with visual cells in the rods and cones of its retina.  In fact, an eye of an eagle is quite large, weighing even more than the eagle’s brain.  In addition, the positioning of the eyes on an eagle provides it with a 340-degree field of vision, (as compared to a human’s 180-degree range). 

All of which, of course, points to the wisdom and workings of the Creator.

That same Creator – the Almighty Lord who gifted eagles with incredible vision – possesses a far greater vision than any of his creations.  The Bible states that the Lord “views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24).  Furthermore, “his eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step” (Job 34:21). 

But more significantly, “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

This is incredibly important for us to recognize, and incredibly comforting when we do.  Especially as we consider all the applications of this truth.  Here are just a few:

No human can foresee the difficulties and challenges that tomorrow may bring, but the Lord does.  And he also sees the solutions!

No one can be prepared for the many uncertainties of life.  Except the Lord, that is.  There are no uncertainties for him because he sees and knows all, so he is always completely prepared.

Feeling all alone?  God has his eyes on you and is with you constantly.

Emotionally exhausted?  The Lord knows your thoughts and your needs, and will minister to you in the most loving way.

Caught up in hardships and don’t understand why?  God sees your struggles, and also understands why you need to endure them.  (Which is why he allowed them in the first place.)  And, as already pointed out, he also always sees the answers.

God’s people are often moved by love to serve God in various ways, as well as do little acts of kindness to others.  Those never go unnoticed by the Lord, and they bring him joy. Meanwhile the wicked live for themselves.  God sees that too.

No matter how devious or deceptive individuals or organizations may be in their efforts to bring hardship to God’s people or undermine God’s church, the Lord sees their plans.  Nothing will happen with their schemes unless the Lord allows it for his own good purposes.

Concerned about the many sins on your record?  Your Savior has your every single mistake identified and has paid for every single sin in full.  He hasn’t missed a one.

Like an eagle, our God is always souring over us and always seeing everything that impacts us, and he’s constantly intervening in the most loving fashion.

The psalmist beautifully summarizes God’s all-encompassing vision, and what that means to each of us.  “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth …  But the eyes of the LORD are [especially!] on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them … [Therefore] we wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Psalm 33:13-14, 18-21).

With our “vision” being limited in so many ways, it certainly is wonderful to know that our God’s sight is unlimited!

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Appearance Versus Reality

Appearance Versus Reality

I am blessed!  Every day I look out at a lake in my new backyard. 

The pictures above are just a few views I have enjoyed.  As you can imagine, the lake’s appearance is constantly varying and therefore always different!

The weather conditions, the makeup of the sky, the time of day, and even the time of year all affect the appearance of the lake.  Sometimes the water looks blue, sometimes green, sometimes gray, sometimes orange, sometimes white (when frozen).  Sometimes it is a mirror.  Other times it is ruffled with thousands of ripples.  Still others, pocked with millions of raindrops during a downpour. 

One day it is clear you are viewing water; another day it seems like you are looking into the sky, with large lustrous clouds buried deep in the depths.

I’ve seen the waters perfectly still as in a deep sleep, lightly covered over with a white blanket of mist.  I’ve also witnessed the waters whipped into a frenzy by winds raging across the surface.  One moment it might be murky; yet another, a gorgeous prism of gleaming diamonds cascading across the surface as sunshine reflects off the waves.  At night it usually holds a lustrous silver glow; during early-morning storms the frightening flash of lightning bolts erupt across the dark waters.

Perhaps most remarkable, there are moments when one part of the lake is still while other parts are alive with small waves. 

The waters are dynamic – always changing.  And sometimes within just moments!  Yet the essence of the lake never changes. 

How it appears to be is not how it actually is.  The depth of the lake, the parameters, the volume, its substance, even its name doesn’t alter despite its altered appearance on the surface.

It occurred to me that the lake behind our house is a bit like our Lord. The circumstances in our lives, the “weather” we are experiencing, the “season of life” we are in, and perhaps especially the mistakes we have made, can alter our view of God. 

Sometimes perhaps the Lord seems oblivious, detached or distracted; other times extremely attentive. Sometimes unmoving; other times aggressively active. Sometimes beautiful; other times unattractive.  Sometimes peace-filling; other times upsetting.  Sometimes loving; other times almost ferociously unkind.

Yet the essence of the Lord never changes.

How God may appear to be is not how he necessarily is.  The depth of his love, the parameters of his goodness, the volume of his mercy, the substance of his divinity, even his names and all they reveal about him don’t change despite his seemingly altered appearance in the circumstances.

He makes this perfectly clear in his perfect Word: “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). “… The Father … does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).  Nor does the Son!  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

To state this very simply: who and how God actually IS … happens to be totally unrelated to how we are feeling about God or what we are perceiving from God.  God is whom God always was and whom God always will be.

Yes, part of God’s essence is his righteousness which demands he punishes justly where necessary.  But for his children who lean entirely on Jesus, his essence displays itself quite differently. 

I love the Lord’s description of himself to Moses. ‘“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin”’ (Exodus 34:6-7).

That’s who our God is.  Always!

The lake is always the lake, no matter how it looks.  The Lord is always the Lord, no matter our perspective. 

Thanks be to God that in regard to him, appearance is not always the reality!  I could handle a changing lake, but a fickle God is another matter altogether.

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The Blessings of Being Settled

The Blessings of Being Settled

If you know me at all, you know that I tend to be quite organized, and I operate better if I have things organized.  (My dear wife is the same way.)  Another way to state this would be to say that I am most comfortable and efficient if the things in my life are settled.

It’s not just a practical matter.  It’s a mental and emotional one.  If some aspect of my life is unsettled, then I tend to feel somewhat unsettled.  Ditto for my wife.  (And probably most people, if we’re honest!)

Imagine then my wife’s and my current state of mind when it seems as if almost nothing in our lives is settled!

Our Tacoma house of 30 years went on the market this week.  We’ve never sold a house before, and we have no idea what to expect in the process or how long it will take to sell.  That’s rather unsettling.

Our Clare house still has moving boxes scattered about (though strategically situated out of crucial paths), no pictures hung, and multiple important tasks to be done.  Not really settled there either.

And, of course, we are paying bills in both places.  Not only unsettling, but undesirable!

Furthermore, my wife and I are now living alone (with each other!) for the first time in over 30 years!  That’s certainly different.  Nice, but still somewhat unsettling as well.

Meanwhile, we’re both beginning new full-time ministries – starting over after lengthy terms of service elsewhere in God’s Kingdom.  That’s certainly unsettling.

It’s a new state (or at least basically new after living away for 33 years), new city, new neighborhood, new congregations and schools, new obligations, new schedules, new places to go for shopping and personal care … and the list goes on and on.  None of which is negative, but all of which is rather unsettling.

On top of this all, almost every one of our children have, or are, or will be shortly, undergoing significant transitions in their lives.  So in addition to our disarray, there is our children’s as well.

In fact, there may not be another time in our lives where my wife and I have felt less settled than right now. 

Perhaps you are also at a season in your life that you find unsettling?  Certainly you have experienced times like this as well.  Perhaps relationship situations, job issues, health challenges, or other significant changes.  And when we are traversing through those storms of life, it is rather … unsettling.  And we don’t tend to function as well in times like that.

I don’t claim to have conquered my discomfort at being discombobulated. But I do know what I am leaning upon through it.  The places where the Lord has settled me!

Namely, his awesome pronouncement; his constant and guiding presence; and his most significant promise.

As unsettled and unstable as key aspects in our lives may be, there are some ways we, God’s children, are absolutely settled.

First, there is God’s awesome pronouncement that as spiritually filthy as we may be, the Lord has made us pure and clean through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. 

‘“Come now, let us settle the matter,”’ says the Lord. ‘“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”’ (Isaiah 1:18).

Furthermore, our God has settled around us and is always with us, holding us and guiding us.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there;  if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10).

And finally the Lord’s most significant promise is stated repeatedly; his children are settled into his heaven after an ongoing, unsettled life on earth.  Perhaps the passage most fitting to this discussion is shared in the faith chapter of the Bible:

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. [i.e. unsettled!] People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).

As unsettled as we may feel or even be, we are absolutely rock-solid in the most significant aspects of our lives.  Oh, the joy of being settled in the Lord by the Lord!

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Our Exceedingly Faithful God

Our Exceedingly Faithful God

It’s been a tumultuous few weeks, to say the least. 

My wife and I went through an extensive purging process with our possessions, then packed them up at one house, wrapped up multiple projects on that house, drove 2000 miles in 3 ½ days to meet the moving crew for unloading the truck, unpacked our possessions (at least as many as we could so far!), tried to get settled (though there is much yet to do!), coordinated significant home-improvement projects from thousands of miles away, undertook new projects at our new place, got installed (at least I have; my wife’s will happen shortly), and have begun working in our new positions.  (I’m thoroughly exhausted just from typing that last paragraph; even more so realizing we have lived it!)

And through it ALL, the Lord has been exceedingly faithful!

If we weren’t devout believers, the incredible things God has done for us would seem to be beyond belief.  Repeatedly!  Remarkably!  Resoundingly!  And ultimately, refreshingly!

Over and over again I lifted up prayers of thanks as yet another situation was resolved.  Sometimes miraculously.  Always sufficiently.  And typically abundantly. 

Repeatedly I thought, “I need to remember this!”  My intention was to compile a lengthy list – both to reflect upon later personally, and to share with you.  But in the press of moving on to the “next critical thing” and sheer exhaustion, the list was never written and the specifics have faded from memory. 

Though the many examples have disappeared through the caffeinated but confused and compromised colander of my mind, I do remember this, and clearly – the Lord did great things for us!  Exceedingly great things and exceedingly often!  He was … and continues to be … exceedingly faithful.

We often refer to our Lord as “faithful.”  We tend to toss out the concept fairly frivolously.  (At least I have at times.)  But when you experience it in resounding fashion, no frivolity remains.  Only awe and wonder.  And thankfulness and praise.

I’m confident you have experienced God’s faithfulness in resounding fashion as well a time or two in your life.  So you well know the response God’s faithfulness elicits in our hearts and minds.

It’s not surprising that the faithfulness of God receives such emphasis in the Scriptures.  The concept is noted in both the Old and New Testament, and especially in the Psalms.  (Not surprising since they are the hymns of the Jewish believers.)

Perhaps David summarizes it best in several of his hymns when he writes, “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies” (Psalm 36:5).

Typically, as David did, God’s “faithfulness” in the Bible is used in conjunction with God’s “love.”  Which makes perfect sense since God’s faithfulness to us is driven by his love for us.  Since the Lord loves us perfectly, he is perfectly faithful to us.

The Scriptures multi-faceted references to the Lord’s faithfulness are striking.

We are shown that he is abounding in faithfulness, and maintains it (Ex. 34:6-7) through all generations (Ps. 100:5).  He is faithfully perfect and just (Dt. 32:4); faithful with his word (Ps. 33:4) and faithful to his word (Ps. 145:15). 

God is faithfully compassionate (Lam. 3:22-23).  In fact, his faithfulness drove him to make atonement for our wrongs (Prov. 16:6) and still drives him to forgive us in our repentance (1 Jn. 1:8).

Furthermore, he is faithful even in our temptation!  “God … will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

He is faithful in strengthening us and protecting us from Satan’s attacks (2 Th. 3:3), and in keeping us “blameless” until Jesus returns (1 Th. 5:23).

The Lord is faithful even in the face of faithlessness (2 Tim. 2:13).

The Bible is abundantly clear; our God is faithful! 

There is nothing like a cyclone of personal upheavals to demonstrate how exceptional God’s faithfulness is.  To which I say, “I thank you, dear Lord.  I praise your name!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

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