Then [Naomi] arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.
~ Ruth 1:6 (NKJV)
Ten years earlier, Naomi no doubt favored flight from Israel's famine into Moab, that she might have food for her two sons Mahlon (meaning "sick") and Chilion (meaning "failing"). What good Jewish mother doesn't want to see her children well fed?
Moab's price for food was more than bargained for. Not only did her family lose their land inheritance, her sons died anyway, as did her husband. As often happens, the thing Naomi feared came upon her when she attempted to escape it. If famine signified the Lord's attempt to get His people's attention, then running from famine held little likelihood of prosperity.
The end of Israel's famine came as news that the Lord "visited" His people. The Hebrew word used here is pâqad," which carries the connotation of oversight. Naomi expressed keen awareness that she was under the Lord's oversight.
"Do not call me Naomi [good, pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"
~ Ruth 1:20-21 (NKJV)
Whatever bitterness she carried, Naomi remained pleasant enough and retained enough faith to be a testimony of the Lord's goodness to her daughter-in-law Ruth. Ruth's impassioned plea to attach herself to Naomi, Naomi's people, and Naomi's God is among the Bible's most beautiful and oft quoted pieces of poetry (Ruth 1:16-17).
That attachment proved to be salvation for both women. Boaz, the godly man of faith who would redeem them from poverty, explains the means of salvation and blessing for all people of all time in his words to Ruth:
"The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."
~ Ruth 2:12 (NKJV)
If Naomi received more than bargained for in leaving the shelter of God's Promised Land, then Ruth received more than bargained for in entering it; she received not only the home and prosperity she might have hoped for, but also the husband and son she might only have dreamed for.
Those who attach themselves to Christ are never outside His oversight. Our hearts may wander to the very fringe of the shadow of His wings, into the place where worldly concerns and their accompanying anxiety penetrate the edges of feathers that cover us. Our greatest fears may catch up with us.
And if we see ourselves as going out full and returning empty, then return we must—allowing ourselves to be gathered into the nearness of our Lord's heart, which beats love and prosperity for us, far away and above "more than bargained for."
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave You, God, whom I love. Most High God, I ask that You please, please work in our hearts so that we will give in to Your desire to gather us closely under Your wings, to the place of Your most complete coverage.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Showing posts with label Abiding in Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abiding in Christ. Show all posts
Friday, September 21, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Complete Coverage, Part II
The Shadow
I first heard of DriveCam when my nephew got his driver's license a few years back, and his mom's insurance company offered reduced rates for its use. This camera is installed on a vehicle's rearview mirror and records both interior and exterior activity whenever the engine is on. If triggered by a sudden or extreme movement, the camera forwards video of the preceding and following ten seconds to the DriveCam center for evaluation. Parents and teens then receive an email report, with recommendations for improved driving habits (and the occasional commendation for an accident avoided).
But those reports aren't needed as often as expected. Testimonials from novice drivers say that simply being shadowed by the camera helped them develop better driving habits, more than email reports did. Statistical data shows that use of DriveCam reduces accidents so significantly that some parents were inclined to buy nicer cars and cover cost of insurance for teens using a DriveCam. What's more, teens not at fault for an accident were absolved by the camera in situations where their word alone might not have stood against that of a more mature, at-fault driver.
There's no doubt that few teens initially welcomed such complete coverage of their driving. But in the long term, that camera's shadow provided more blessing than correction.
"[The inhabitants of this land] have heard that You, LORD, are among these people; that You, LORD, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night."
~ Numbers 14:14 (NKJV)
After 430 years in Egypt, the children of Israel walked out into the desert toward the Promised Land under a visible shadow (Exodus 40:34-38). In those initial forty years of walking with God, the Lord's clear presence assured His people of His provision, protection, and oversight. Disobedience received immediate rebuke, and one might surmise that few Israelites welcomed being shadowed at such times. But blessing far and away outweighed correction. In moments of greatest danger, that shadow of Light stood over them, covering them from harm.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"
~ Matthew 23:37 (NKJV)
When we first realize, as Adam and Eve did, that our sin makes us naked before God, our shame compels us to cover ourselves—and our attempts are as futile as fig leaves. God alone provides complete coverage for sin, through the blood of His Son. When we allow Him to clothe us (as Adam and Eve did), only then are we safe from exposure (Isaiah 61:10).
The shadow of God's presence does not merely throw a veil over sin and pass on, without truly covering us. This shadow of Light, rather, draws in ever more closely, "as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings."
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
But those reports aren't needed as often as expected. Testimonials from novice drivers say that simply being shadowed by the camera helped them develop better driving habits, more than email reports did. Statistical data shows that use of DriveCam reduces accidents so significantly that some parents were inclined to buy nicer cars and cover cost of insurance for teens using a DriveCam. What's more, teens not at fault for an accident were absolved by the camera in situations where their word alone might not have stood against that of a more mature, at-fault driver.
There's no doubt that few teens initially welcomed such complete coverage of their driving. But in the long term, that camera's shadow provided more blessing than correction.
"[The inhabitants of this land] have heard that You, LORD, are among these people; that You, LORD, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night."
~ Numbers 14:14 (NKJV)
After 430 years in Egypt, the children of Israel walked out into the desert toward the Promised Land under a visible shadow (Exodus 40:34-38). In those initial forty years of walking with God, the Lord's clear presence assured His people of His provision, protection, and oversight. Disobedience received immediate rebuke, and one might surmise that few Israelites welcomed being shadowed at such times. But blessing far and away outweighed correction. In moments of greatest danger, that shadow of Light stood over them, covering them from harm.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"
~ Matthew 23:37 (NKJV)
When we first realize, as Adam and Eve did, that our sin makes us naked before God, our shame compels us to cover ourselves—and our attempts are as futile as fig leaves. God alone provides complete coverage for sin, through the blood of His Son. When we allow Him to clothe us (as Adam and Eve did), only then are we safe from exposure (Isaiah 61:10).
The shadow of God's presence does not merely throw a veil over sin and pass on, without truly covering us. This shadow of Light, rather, draws in ever more closely, "as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings."
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Why God Really Sent Jesus
At some point this Christmas season, you're likely to be reminded that Jesus was born for Crucifixion.
While we shouldn't avoid the messy yet necessary message of the cross, we also cannot point so emphatically at the cross that we lose the full circle truth of why God really sent Jesus. Obtaining our salvation wasn't the end that Jesus was born to achieve, but only the means to a far greater end.
God desires relationship with us.
Self-centered, prideful, fearful human nature frustrates relationship. We often have difficulty coming to the cross, either believing salvation from sin is unnecessary because we're good enough, or we think our sin too great to make us worthy of saving. Once we bring our sin to the cross and receive God's forgiveness and salvation, we tend to gravitate toward a new set of extremes—legalism or license. Whether or not we achieve a measure of balance there, we may become so enamored with Christianity that we drift away from abiding with the Christ:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
~ Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
These words are spoken to people who are already part of the church—not to the unsaved nonbelievers, but to the lukewarm believers who've forgotten to keep on inviting Jesus into their lives for relationship. The Great Commission isn't to simply get people to the cross. Our Master asks His disciples—those who have walked with Him, who have shared His death and His life—to bring others into the same relationship.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love... These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
~ Jesus, John 15:7,9 (NKJV)
God did not merely step into flesh so that He might one day be crucified. God actually became a Man. He lived with us as One of us. He suffered and wept with us, ate and laughed and had fellowship with us. He even died—with us and for us—so that we might experience His resurrection and live with Him, every single day of our lives.
God didn't save us from our sin for only our own sake, nor for only His sake. He saved us for each other, that He might have intimate, loving, "exceeding joy" relationship with us.
Our Father, please don't let us settle for too little of You. Please use Your Spirit and Your Word and Your people to fulfill in each of us Your purpose of relationship with us, that our "joy may be full," every single day of the year. Please grant us the pleasure and privilege of bringing You joy.
Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
While we shouldn't avoid the messy yet necessary message of the cross, we also cannot point so emphatically at the cross that we lose the full circle truth of why God really sent Jesus. Obtaining our salvation wasn't the end that Jesus was born to achieve, but only the means to a far greater end.
God desires relationship with us.
Self-centered, prideful, fearful human nature frustrates relationship. We often have difficulty coming to the cross, either believing salvation from sin is unnecessary because we're good enough, or we think our sin too great to make us worthy of saving. Once we bring our sin to the cross and receive God's forgiveness and salvation, we tend to gravitate toward a new set of extremes—legalism or license. Whether or not we achieve a measure of balance there, we may become so enamored with Christianity that we drift away from abiding with the Christ:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
~ Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
These words are spoken to people who are already part of the church—not to the unsaved nonbelievers, but to the lukewarm believers who've forgotten to keep on inviting Jesus into their lives for relationship. The Great Commission isn't to simply get people to the cross. Our Master asks His disciples—those who have walked with Him, who have shared His death and His life—to bring others into the same relationship.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love... These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
~ Jesus, John 15:7,9 (NKJV)
God did not merely step into flesh so that He might one day be crucified. God actually became a Man. He lived with us as One of us. He suffered and wept with us, ate and laughed and had fellowship with us. He even died—with us and for us—so that we might experience His resurrection and live with Him, every single day of our lives.
God didn't save us from our sin for only our own sake, nor for only His sake. He saved us for each other, that He might have intimate, loving, "exceeding joy" relationship with us.
Our Father, please don't let us settle for too little of You. Please use Your Spirit and Your Word and Your people to fulfill in each of us Your purpose of relationship with us, that our "joy may be full," every single day of the year. Please grant us the pleasure and privilege of bringing You joy.
Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Never Thirst
Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
~ John 4:13-14 (NKJV)
To be healthy, the simplest single habit we might adopt is drinking adequate good water. But we all too often substitute other beverages, food, or thirst tolerance. I suspect that our health suffers because we fail to drink readily available water.
How often is the same true of our souls? How often might our failure to have
be attributed to thirst tolerance and substitution spiritually?Jesus offers His Holy Spirit as a Fountain of living waters. We need never thirst if we will simply turn to Him and drink.
It's not that we don't know all this. We simply need the reminders.
Comments are welcome and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Come, Follow, Go – Part II
Words of Eternal Life
Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
~ from John 6:66-69 (NKJV)
In the joy of discovering words of eternal life, we may think our troubles are over. Jesus tells His followers to expect trouble.
Words of eternal life call us not to self-fulfillment, but to glorify God. Followers learn from the Master's example to serve and bless rather than curse and forgive—and to love those who seem unlovable.
The disciple who abides with the Master is promised not just a share in the heavenly treasure, not just a crown, but to share in our Lord's glory! Whatever our blessings or difficulties in this world, our reward is in the next.
"Many will follow Jesus as far as the breaking of the bread,
but few will stay to drink the cup of his passionate self-sacrifice."
~ Thomas Kempis
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome.
Reply via comments at BuildingHisBody.com,
or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ from John 6:66-69 (NKJV)
In the joy of discovering words of eternal life, we may think our troubles are over. Jesus tells His followers to expect trouble.
Words of eternal life call us not to self-fulfillment, but to glorify God. Followers learn from the Master's example to serve and bless rather than curse and forgive—and to love those who seem unlovable.
The disciple who abides with the Master is promised not just a share in the heavenly treasure, not just a crown, but to share in our Lord's glory! Whatever our blessings or difficulties in this world, our reward is in the next.
"Many will follow Jesus as far as the breaking of the bread,
but few will stay to drink the cup of his passionate self-sacrifice."
~ Thomas Kempis
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome.
Reply via comments at BuildingHisBody.com,
or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Back to the Future
"Your past is important,
but it is not nearly as important to your present
as the way you see your future."
~ Tony Campolo
but it is not nearly as important to your present
as the way you see your future."
~ Tony Campolo
image from the movie "Back to the Future"
© 1985 Universal Pictures
If the dawn of a new day brings dread rather than anticipation, perhaps we are stuck in the past and need to get back to the future of the present.
Among the reasons we get stuck in the past:
◄ guilt, shame, regret
◄ bitterness, unforgiveness, nursing our injuries
◄ nostalgia
But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
~ Luke 9:62 (NKJV)
Looking back has value. We can gain a better perspective of the present as we better understand who and what brought us here. We cannot afford to forget the mistakes of history. Calling to mind foundational principles and goals helps narrow our options of how to move forward.
But there is a difference between looking at the past and living in it.
► If through Christ God has forgiven our sin, we can do no less.
► If we know God's forgiveness, then He asks us to pass it along to others.
► Whatever good the past held, the Lord has plans for even better.
As the past is a place to look and not to live, so is the future.
Now go with God and create an incredible today!
Lord, please show what to do in this very moment to bring us into step with You, and give us strength to do it.
☼ ☼ ☼
This post is part of a blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. You're invited to visit his site and see what others are saying about today's theme: Future.
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Darkness and Light
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
~ 1 John 1:5-6 (NKJV)
Today's winter solstice brings to the northern hemisphere more hours of darkness than any other day of the year. An overnight lunar eclipse further dimmed the moonlight, and clouds obscured even starlight, plunging the sky into full darkness.
Jesus observed that some people love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil, but that lovers of truth are drawn to light—they are drawn to the Light of Jesus. (John 3:19-21)
The apostle John says much of Jesus—God Himself—as Light, and also as Life and as Love. John does not write in shadows, but draws sharp lines of separation between these definitions of Jesus, and the darkness, death, and hatred which define the devil. To choose the latter categorically excludes fellowship with the former.
Fellowship might be defined as time spent hearing and sharing what is in our hearts with one another. Fellowship with God means spending time in His presence, hearing and sharing with each other—through talking with Him and reading His Word, and through fellowship and love with His people.
Lunar Eclipse, as seen over MichiganDecember 21, 2010, 1:50 am EST
(full eclipse obscured by clouds)
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
~ 1 John 2:9-10 (NKJV)
Darkness, death, and the devil take many forms and threaten in many ways. But they must shrink back when we have fellowship with God.
Darkness cannot prevail in the presence of Light.
Death cannot prevail in the presence of Life.
The devil cannot prevail in the presence of Love.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
~ John 8:12 (NKJV)
Father in Heaven, thank You for the great gift of your Son, in Whom You have given us Light, Life and Love. Whatever darkness surrounds us, please draw our attention to Your prevailing Light.
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail me ~ buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Confessions
This post is part of a blog carnival hosted by Bridget Chumbley at her site "One Word at a Time." You're invited to see what others are saying about today's theme: Reconciliation.
"Find the Lord before you need Him."
~ Randy Travis
Please don't hold it against me if I confess that I genuinely like math. It is objective, absolute, and reliable. In a fallen world, math holds true. I notice symmetry in art and architecture, in poetry and even prose, whether overt, subtle, or hidden. I had to quit Sudoku when it became addictive.
And I enjoy old-fashioned checkbook reconciliation, neatly reconciling my manual entries with the bank to the penny.
Years ago we had fewer dollars, so account balances were closely watched. But now, unless a large expense necessitates knowing our exact balance, I simply stay aware of roughly how much money is available rather than keep a running balance. So checkbook reconciliation done every month or two also determines if we have as much money as I think we do.
It is quite rare, but I also confess to occasionally receiving a Transfer Notice from the bank, when I've become distracted and had a skewed perception of our balance. I'm seriously annoyed with myself if that happens. But we've never had problems (thank You thank You THANK YOU, Lord!) because we maintain a savings cushion, however thin it gets.
"Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance..."
Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
~ Isaiah 55:2,6 (NKJV)
I don't like making this next confession: I reached a point of trying to get away with roughing it in my spiritual life. Jesus and I connected 25 years ago, and I've stayed faithful to maintain my spiritual life, replenishing my cushion of spiritual strength so that it rarely got anywhere close to beaten down. I attached myself to my Father's leg like a toddler in a crowd or a storm.
Then I got sloppy. I'd like to think I didn't take my Father for granted. Perhaps asking for conviction and then repenting became routine, and I wasn't going as deep. I know I got distracted. I started out by holding onto my Father, then gradually started to just maintain an awareness of His whereabouts to grab onto Him if something big necessitated it.
When the big storm did hit, I realized I wasn't exactly where I thought. My Father hadn't moved, and I managed to grab onto the solid, absolute, and reliable Rock which has always supported me. But I hadn't adequately replenished the spiritual cushion I'd been drawing from. I landed on that Rock with a painful thud. I hadn't accurately perceived my spiritual condition.
You will keep in perfect peace,
The one fixed upon You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For YAH, the LORD, is the Rock of Ages.
~ Isaiah 26:3-4 (author)
Jesus reconciled us to the Father with His blood. Reconciliation is also a matter of being fixed upon the Lord, daily taking account of our closeness to Him, and asking how His assessment compares. Getting distracted or sloppy results in skewed perceptions of our spiritual condition. The time to find the right place with the Lord is most definitely before you most need Him.
Lord, I love You more than I can express and less than is adequate. I shudder to think of how I've taken You for granted. Please let me not grow complacent. Please give me strength and desire to follow hard after You every day of my life, without growing weary.
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: lakesfcu.com
"Find the Lord before you need Him."
~ Randy Travis
Please don't hold it against me if I confess that I genuinely like math. It is objective, absolute, and reliable. In a fallen world, math holds true. I notice symmetry in art and architecture, in poetry and even prose, whether overt, subtle, or hidden. I had to quit Sudoku when it became addictive.
And I enjoy old-fashioned checkbook reconciliation, neatly reconciling my manual entries with the bank to the penny.
Years ago we had fewer dollars, so account balances were closely watched. But now, unless a large expense necessitates knowing our exact balance, I simply stay aware of roughly how much money is available rather than keep a running balance. So checkbook reconciliation done every month or two also determines if we have as much money as I think we do.
It is quite rare, but I also confess to occasionally receiving a Transfer Notice from the bank, when I've become distracted and had a skewed perception of our balance. I'm seriously annoyed with myself if that happens. But we've never had problems (thank You thank You THANK YOU, Lord!) because we maintain a savings cushion, however thin it gets.
"Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance..."
Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
~ Isaiah 55:2,6 (NKJV)
I don't like making this next confession: I reached a point of trying to get away with roughing it in my spiritual life. Jesus and I connected 25 years ago, and I've stayed faithful to maintain my spiritual life, replenishing my cushion of spiritual strength so that it rarely got anywhere close to beaten down. I attached myself to my Father's leg like a toddler in a crowd or a storm.
Then I got sloppy. I'd like to think I didn't take my Father for granted. Perhaps asking for conviction and then repenting became routine, and I wasn't going as deep. I know I got distracted. I started out by holding onto my Father, then gradually started to just maintain an awareness of His whereabouts to grab onto Him if something big necessitated it.
When the big storm did hit, I realized I wasn't exactly where I thought. My Father hadn't moved, and I managed to grab onto the solid, absolute, and reliable Rock which has always supported me. But I hadn't adequately replenished the spiritual cushion I'd been drawing from. I landed on that Rock with a painful thud. I hadn't accurately perceived my spiritual condition.
You will keep in perfect peace,
The one fixed upon You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For YAH, the LORD, is the Rock of Ages.
~ Isaiah 26:3-4 (author)
Jesus reconciled us to the Father with His blood. Reconciliation is also a matter of being fixed upon the Lord, daily taking account of our closeness to Him, and asking how His assessment compares. Getting distracted or sloppy results in skewed perceptions of our spiritual condition. The time to find the right place with the Lord is most definitely before you most need Him.
Lord, I love You more than I can express and less than is adequate. I shudder to think of how I've taken You for granted. Please let me not grow complacent. Please give me strength and desire to follow hard after You every day of my life, without growing weary.
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: lakesfcu.com
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
New Every Morning
"This morning as you awakened, God's eyes swept over you;
He called you by name and said, 'Come, follow Me.' "
~ David Roper
He called you by name and said, 'Come, follow Me.' "
~ David Roper
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:22-23
Every morning is a new day. We begin afresh as we rise, with forgiveness for what has been, strength for what is, and bright hope for what is to come. We do not exhaust the Lord's mercies.
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD.
~ Lamentations 3:25-26
Yesterday's grace is not for today. The soul needs to quietly wait upon the Lord with each new dawn, receiving fresh daily bread and living waters to replenish dependent relationship.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.
Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
Let him put his mouth in the dust
There may yet be hope.
Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.
~ Lamentations 3:27-30
The world is filled with suffering, disappointment, and people who let us down (or worse). Here is our job description: accept it all as allowed by God, trusting His purpose without complaint.
Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
~ Lamentations 3:30-33 (NKJV)
Here is our hope: God's mercies are greater in scope and mightier and more abundant than the griefs and afflictions. We rest in the assurance that He asks far less than He gives and loves.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: jeffpaschall.com
Thursday, October 7, 2010
I’ll Be Back
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
~ Revelation 20:6 (NKJV)
“And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' ”
~ Luke 19:17 (NKJV)
Jesus described in a parable the day when His servants would give an account of how they used the spiritual riches He entrusted to them while on the earth. He spoke of them being rewarded with charge over cities, and our reign here is also described in Revelation (above and 5:10).
Maybe it’s just me, but the idea of returning to earth and reigning over it doesn’t particularly appeal. Once out of here, why would we want to return, even if the planet is returned to the pristine condition it had at creation?
There is one reason, and one reason only that I will definitely want to be here. This is where my King will be. And once I’m finally united to Him, I want to be wherever He is—even right back here with the rest of you.
Lord Jesus, how hard it is to work through this book and hear of all to come with You when we don’t yet see You! It’s not just about escaping this place, it is desire to be with You. Please increase our patient perseverance. And come quickly, Lord!
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: christconnection.net
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Angry at God, Angry with God
Angry at God, Angry with God
By some unfathomable mystery of grace, there’s not once in my life I can recall being angry at God. I mean, He’s God. What He says goes. What He does is right and good and perfect.
Certainly I’ve questioned Him, though with decreasing frequency as the years pass. The more I know Him, the more I either understand Him or know better than to try and understand what He doesn't reveal when asked. And when I ask about something, I can trust He'll reveal as much as I need to know. It's okay if He gives no more than what the “Serenity Prayer” asks:
God give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
With time I've learned that the serenity to accept the "things I cannot change"—or circumstances—is grounded in belief that the Lord is good and wise and controls the circumstances beyond my control.
The last year brought a number of difficult circumstances into my life.
Last autumn, for the first time, I had a fleeting moment of being angry with God before I came to myself and the anger was gone. I wish it had stayed gone. But that was just the beginning of a time of intense testing. By spring, there were more moments of being angry with Him. Though few enough to count on one hand, they evidence my pride—my desire to be in control.
This time of testing seems to be behind me. I didn't do as well on all parts of the test as I might like. But I do see a difference between being angry at God and angry with Him. To be angry at Him would be to see myself faced off with Him as an opponent. I've never seen Him as my adversary—not in the most painful moments of recent months, not during the last 23 years of walking with Him, not even before I met Him in 1985, when ignorance prevented me from knowing myself to be His enemy. I believe that even when I was His enemy because of my sins, He was still on my side, setting me up for the day I would come to Him for His forgiveness.
In this last year, I have still felt Him to be on my side. I never felt the coldness of anger at God. He was never for a single moment my opponent. When I thought Him being a bit hard on me and it hurt badly enough for me to get angry, I was angry with God.
Because He was always there with me. There was never a moment we weren’t in it together.
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: wallpaperstock.net
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
I Will Keep You
I Will Keep You
"I know your deeds... I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name... I have loved you. Since you have kept my [word] to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."
~ Revelation 3:8-10 (NIV)
Jesus speaks to the church of Philadelphia—"city of brotherly love." Philadelphia appears to have undergone not the persecution in which Smyrna proved faithful, but the trials of difficulty.
The purpose of a trial is to prove something: innocent or guilty; satisfactory or unacceptable; faithful or false. Jesus spoke in parables saying that those who claimed to be His would fall away in time of trial unless they were deeply rooted in Him, firmly established upon the rock of His Word, abiding in Him.
Have you endured a trial you thought would never end? Are you going through one now?
ἐτήρσαϛ τὸν λόγον τηϛ ὑπομονηϛ μού
"... you have kept the word of My patient endurance ..."
The Greek word used here for patience (see Monday's post) means to have hope and cheer through trying circumstances. Jesus asks us to stay under the trial, to keep faith in Him through it, to patiently endure it—and He asks us to have a good attitude which testifies of His goodness, not denying His name
He asks nothing for which He does not return much more. We endure weighty trials to prove our faith true. To us who keep His word to endure patiently, Jesus says, "I will keep you. I will keep you from the hour of severe trial."
Whatever difficulty you face right now, however fierce the fire, He is with you in the flames.
"Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? ... Look! ... I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
~ Daniel 3:24-25 (NKJV)
Son of God, You patiently, silently endured the fiercest trial of God's wrath on our behalf. In our hours of trial, please let us know Your presence by speaking in our ears, "I will keep you."
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: fatherchecksblog.blogspot.com
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Hiding Place
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
~ Psalms 32:7 (NKJV)
Music reminds us that we were created for another place.
When we do not feel at home on the earth, we find the Lord to be our Hiding Place.
"You are My Hiding Place" by Selah, © 2004 Curb Records
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
~ Psalms 32:7 (NKJV)
Music reminds us that we were created for another place.
When we do not feel at home on the earth, we find the Lord to be our Hiding Place.
"You are My Hiding Place" by Selah, © 2004 Curb Records
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Fishing
"True friends don't spend time gazing into each other's eyes.
... they face in the same direction—
toward common projects, interests, goals—
above all, toward a common Lord."
~ C.S. Lewis
~ C.S. Lewis
Fishing can be a good business—and dangerous business. Consider this true story.
Jack got into the fishing business, and was a phenomenal success. He was a natural around water, and had a God-given gift for knowing what the fish would bite on and bringing them in.
Jack helped his younger cousin Josh break into the business, and Josh did even better at it than Jack—though both bachelors poured everything back into fishing and lived little better than vagrants. Jack was an orphan and Josh was somewhat of a family outcast. Although the two didn't spend a great deal of time together, a strong bond existed between them. In matters of the soul, they had only each other.
Jack's small business showed up his big business competitors, and they didn't take it kindly. Their friend Conlan happened to be a judge connected to the organized crime which had infiltrated local officials. It became known to Conlan that Jack made some unflattering remarks about him. Jack soon found himself arrested on false charges, and wound up getting killed while he was in jail.
The death devastated Josh. He took a day off work when he heard about Jack. But his demanding business wouldn't wait. He found himself called back on the job before the day was out—his grief pushed aside.
The same mob people involved in Jack's death also took a strong dislike to Josh. He soon found himself dodging the local officials. He tried to warn his coworkers, but they didn't grasp the seriousness of the situation, not even when they saw Josh narrowly sidestep attempted hits on his life.
In the end, the mob got to Josh by paying off one of the coworkers he considered a friend. When thugs came after him, Josh protected his frightened coworkers by surrendering, alone, without a fight. He didn't die quickly like Jack had, but was tortured by the mob pretty gruesomely before they finally killed him.
Jack and Josh both lived hard lonely lives, and both died alone. But before they left this world, they both managed to inspire the men they worked with to excel as fishermen—or fishers of men.
Of course, Jack was better known as John—John the Baptist. And Josh is known as either Yeshua or Jesus in the 21st century. Colan means "hero," as does the name Herod. He was indeed a hero of the rich and powerful, who to this day oppose Josh and His fishing business.
Whether or not one makes fishing for men a full time occupation, life can be incredibly dangerous, lonely, or fraught with distress. Jesus warns us to expect hardships, and He understands them, because He experienced them on a magnitude we'll never know.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
~ John 15:15 (NKJV)
Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are our Friend. Thank You that we never face hardship alone.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, 2008 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: norskfolke.museum.no
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Poopy Pants
Today's post is for the blog carnival hosted by Bridget Trumbley. Click the link to visit her for more posts on Self-Control.
Poopy Pants
“I gotta go potty.”
The words came from my then four-year-old child, some years back at church camp. We were traversing the complex for tent meeting. The beginning strains of music could already be heard. With me towing a baby in stroller, family Bibles, and coloring books for young ones, I was determined to reach our destination and leave the entire entourage with Daddy before turning back for the errand. I sighed.
“We’ll go in a minute.”
“I gotta go now. I can go by myself.”
Children love church camp and permission to roam among trusted companions over several acres rather than several rooms. Potty was about the only reason the four-year-old was permitted out of my sight. Another sigh escaped me.
“Okay. Go straight to the bathroom and come right back.”
My youngster dashed off. I completed my trek to the tent, explained a child’s absence to my husband, and settled in for the evening. About the time I began to wonder about the four-year-old’s whereabouts, a friend advised that my little one was by the pavilion.
Annoyance at such loitering fueled my hasty steps back. I soon caught a glimpse of my child, sitting with chin in hand. I drew close and noticed the look of abject misery.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Young eyes staring at dirt did not move. But my nose detected the explanation my child could not manage to articulate. A glance toward the bathrooms was met with the “CLOSED FOR CLEANING” sign which explained everything.
I felt horrible. I’d not been there to explain to someone that we needed admission. Or to give my little one encouragement with “you can hold on for a few minutes.” Or to locate alternate facilities.
My fingertips pulled a small face upward until shame-filled eyes looked at me. “You couldn’t get in the bathroom and pooped your pants?”
Chin quivered. Tears began. Disgrace forced the face back toward dirt.
I pulled that face into my bosom—way better than a tissue for drying tears—and spoke softly with my lips against fine hair. “It’s okay, honey. These things happen sometimes. We’ll clean you up.”
I didn’t really want to clean up both of us. But some things are more important than staying clean. So I picked up a smelly body against myself, pulled a head onto my shoulder, and offered gentle words as we returned to our camper, visited the shower, then finally slipped into our seats.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
~ 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)
Like an infant with no cognizance of poopy pants, we do not realize our sin at first.
Once little ones understand that poop doesn’t belong on people, they want to be shed of poopy pants. Our sin also becomes a stench when we gain God’s perspective of it. Whether we are slow or quick to gain self-control, we gain desire to be free of sin altogether rather than have to clean it up afterwards.
Pride does several things. It sees Self as smelling good and quite accomplished. It points one finger at the baby in poopy pants and uses the other to plug the nose. It uses words like “now” and “by myself.”
And sometimes, a situation overwhelms us when we lose self-control. We are ashamed to wear the stench of sin. We don’t want to face our Father and may isolate ourselves. Yet we have no ability to deal with sin apart from Him.
He’ll find us. He’ll not fail to love us and hold us close, though holy God abhors the stench of sin. If we accept it, He’ll cleanse us.
And if we stick close to the Lord, He knows an alternative or gives the strength to have self-control in unexpected situations.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Poopy Pants
“I gotta go potty.”
The words came from my then four-year-old child, some years back at church camp. We were traversing the complex for tent meeting. The beginning strains of music could already be heard. With me towing a baby in stroller, family Bibles, and coloring books for young ones, I was determined to reach our destination and leave the entire entourage with Daddy before turning back for the errand. I sighed.
“We’ll go in a minute.”
“I gotta go now. I can go by myself.”
Children love church camp and permission to roam among trusted companions over several acres rather than several rooms. Potty was about the only reason the four-year-old was permitted out of my sight. Another sigh escaped me.
“Okay. Go straight to the bathroom and come right back.”
My youngster dashed off. I completed my trek to the tent, explained a child’s absence to my husband, and settled in for the evening. About the time I began to wonder about the four-year-old’s whereabouts, a friend advised that my little one was by the pavilion.
Annoyance at such loitering fueled my hasty steps back. I soon caught a glimpse of my child, sitting with chin in hand. I drew close and noticed the look of abject misery.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Young eyes staring at dirt did not move. But my nose detected the explanation my child could not manage to articulate. A glance toward the bathrooms was met with the “CLOSED FOR CLEANING” sign which explained everything.
I felt horrible. I’d not been there to explain to someone that we needed admission. Or to give my little one encouragement with “you can hold on for a few minutes.” Or to locate alternate facilities.
My fingertips pulled a small face upward until shame-filled eyes looked at me. “You couldn’t get in the bathroom and pooped your pants?”
Chin quivered. Tears began. Disgrace forced the face back toward dirt.
I pulled that face into my bosom—way better than a tissue for drying tears—and spoke softly with my lips against fine hair. “It’s okay, honey. These things happen sometimes. We’ll clean you up.”
I didn’t really want to clean up both of us. But some things are more important than staying clean. So I picked up a smelly body against myself, pulled a head onto my shoulder, and offered gentle words as we returned to our camper, visited the shower, then finally slipped into our seats.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
~ 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)
Like an infant with no cognizance of poopy pants, we do not realize our sin at first.
Once little ones understand that poop doesn’t belong on people, they want to be shed of poopy pants. Our sin also becomes a stench when we gain God’s perspective of it. Whether we are slow or quick to gain self-control, we gain desire to be free of sin altogether rather than have to clean it up afterwards.
Pride does several things. It sees Self as smelling good and quite accomplished. It points one finger at the baby in poopy pants and uses the other to plug the nose. It uses words like “now” and “by myself.”
And sometimes, a situation overwhelms us when we lose self-control. We are ashamed to wear the stench of sin. We don’t want to face our Father and may isolate ourselves. Yet we have no ability to deal with sin apart from Him.
He’ll find us. He’ll not fail to love us and hold us close, though holy God abhors the stench of sin. If we accept it, He’ll cleanse us.
And if we stick close to the Lord, He knows an alternative or gives the strength to have self-control in unexpected situations.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wrestling With God
“Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active.”
~ Edith Hamilton
~ Edith Hamilton
Wrestling With God
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And [the Man] said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But [Jacob] said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"
~ Genesis 32:24-26 (NKJV)
For about the last year, the above image has hung before my writing desk, directly above the monitor. I placed next to it a card with the single word ENDURANCE.
I put it there because ministry is difficult work. When I question if I’m effective, if I’m doing what God wants me to do, if I’m wasting my time, God is faithful to affirm me, direct me, rebuke me. And undergirding everything, I feel Him gently prodding me on and encouraging me to stay the course. This picture of my Lord has provided encouragement for me to do so.
I thought “endurance” a good thing. It accepts and trusts that the Lord works all things for good without resisting Him.
But recently, the Lord made me aware that He does not ask me to endure, He asks me to persevere. Endurance is too passive. Perseverance is active. Endurance tolerates. Perseverance engages. Endurance is dropping anchor and waiting out the storm. Perseverance is to batten down the hatches and ride into the storm.
Jacob did not simply endure the Lord pushing him. Jacob locked himself into an embrace with the Lord and refused to lie down until he’d been blessed.
Jacob’s blessing was a new name: Israel. It means “prevails with God.”
I want to prevail. I want to do it with God. I’m willing to persevere.
Above my desk, I have replaced the word "ENDURANCE" with the word "Perseverance."
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
~ James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
On a personal note, to my precious friend Denise:
Dear one, I am thinking of you as I write this.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#encouragement
Artwork: “Road to the Cross” by Brian Jekel, © 2007 DaySpring Cards, MasterPeace Collection
Thursday, April 1, 2010
One Hour
this is what it means to be held how it feels
when the sacred is torn from your life
and you survive
this is what it is to be loved and to know
that the promise was when everything fell
we'd be held.
if hope is born of suffering—
if this is only the beginning—
can we not wait for one hour
watching for our Savior? *
One Hour
Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
~ James 1:2-3 (NKJV)
"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed... the end is still to come... There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."
~ Mark 13:7-8 (NIV)
Then He came and found them sleeping, and said "... Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
~ Mark 14:37-38 (NKJV)
My memory does not recall a time before now with so many urgent prayer needs to bring before the Lord on behalf of loved ones tried to the limits of their endurance. They've usually seen something solid crumble or something sacred lost—health, marital or financial stability, the life of someone close. In such trials, a person can either declare God cruel and turn from Him, or cling to Him desperately in prayer and ask for others to pray.
I believe that when Jesus spoke of a season of birth pains occurring in end times, He spoke of birth pains to come upon not only the world as a whole but also individuals. As great pressure seizes a woman's body until a baby arrives, unprecedented pressures will seize the world until Jesus arrives. They will try us and thereby prove where our faith lies.
Jesus faced such pressure. On the night before His ultimate trials, He drew upon His Father's strength in prayer, and asked His loved ones to pray with Him. I wonder—had they known all that lay at the door, would they have slept? Or would they have prayed in earnest and held Jesus tightly, imparting to Him love and comfort and the strength of their own lives?
In time of trial, we may feel like Paul, who said, "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." Like Paul, we must cling to the Lord in prayer to persevere, asking others to strengthen us with their own prayers. His promise is not to give us relief from trial, but to uphold us in the midst of trial.
The trials last but one hour. Our God's hold will last for an eternity.
Lord, You are all-sufficient for our every need. We are feeble children of dust, with willing spirit and weak flesh. Please draw us to Your side. Please hold us tightly, and impart Your strength to us until our hour passes. Thank You for promising to not leave us nor forsake us.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#hope
*Lyrics from "Held" by Christa Wells © 2001 Weimarhymes Publishing Inc.
Artwork: "I Will Not Fail Thee," by Derek Hegsted, hegsted.com
when the sacred is torn from your life
and you survive
this is what it is to be loved and to know
that the promise was when everything fell
we'd be held.
if hope is born of suffering—
if this is only the beginning—
can we not wait for one hour
watching for our Savior? *
One HourCount it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
~ James 1:2-3 (NKJV)
"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed... the end is still to come... There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."
~ Mark 13:7-8 (NIV)
Then He came and found them sleeping, and said "... Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
~ Mark 14:37-38 (NKJV)
My memory does not recall a time before now with so many urgent prayer needs to bring before the Lord on behalf of loved ones tried to the limits of their endurance. They've usually seen something solid crumble or something sacred lost—health, marital or financial stability, the life of someone close. In such trials, a person can either declare God cruel and turn from Him, or cling to Him desperately in prayer and ask for others to pray.
I believe that when Jesus spoke of a season of birth pains occurring in end times, He spoke of birth pains to come upon not only the world as a whole but also individuals. As great pressure seizes a woman's body until a baby arrives, unprecedented pressures will seize the world until Jesus arrives. They will try us and thereby prove where our faith lies.
Jesus faced such pressure. On the night before His ultimate trials, He drew upon His Father's strength in prayer, and asked His loved ones to pray with Him. I wonder—had they known all that lay at the door, would they have slept? Or would they have prayed in earnest and held Jesus tightly, imparting to Him love and comfort and the strength of their own lives?
In time of trial, we may feel like Paul, who said, "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." Like Paul, we must cling to the Lord in prayer to persevere, asking others to strengthen us with their own prayers. His promise is not to give us relief from trial, but to uphold us in the midst of trial.
The trials last but one hour. Our God's hold will last for an eternity.
Lord, You are all-sufficient for our every need. We are feeble children of dust, with willing spirit and weak flesh. Please draw us to Your side. Please hold us tightly, and impart Your strength to us until our hour passes. Thank You for promising to not leave us nor forsake us.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#hope
*Lyrics from "Held" by Christa Wells © 2001 Weimarhymes Publishing Inc.
Artwork: "I Will Not Fail Thee," by Derek Hegsted, hegsted.com
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Faithfulness, in Forty Words
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:21-23 (NKJV)
Faithfulness, in Forty Words
Faithfulness is character's choice, not a feeling.
Faithfulness is slogging through slough until one sloughs off the slough.
Faithfulness is clinging to the Lord—amid comfort, amid affliction—because He first proves Himself faithful in the face of our infidelity.
If forty words wasn't enough, you'll find more great words at the blog carnival hosted today by Bridget Chumbley on Faithfulness.
And here is God my Father's faithfulness, painted in song.
Great is Thy Faithfulness *
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast bee Thou forever will be.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy Faithfulness!
Great is Thy Faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#encouragement
* Lyrics, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" by Thomas O. Chisholm, © 1923
Therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:21-23 (NKJV)
Faithfulness, in Forty Words
Faithfulness is character's choice, not a feeling.
Faithfulness is slogging through slough until one sloughs off the slough.
Faithfulness is clinging to the Lord—amid comfort, amid affliction—because He first proves Himself faithful in the face of our infidelity.
If forty words wasn't enough, you'll find more great words at the blog carnival hosted today by Bridget Chumbley on Faithfulness.
And here is God my Father's faithfulness, painted in song.
Great is Thy Faithfulness *
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast bee Thou forever will be.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy Faithfulness!
Great is Thy Faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#encouragement
* Lyrics, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" by Thomas O. Chisholm, © 1923
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Overcoming of Suffering
The Question of the Week for Bullets and Butterflies last Saturday was "Why Suffering?" The answer is expanded on this week's posts here.
"Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive."
~ Josephine Hart
The Overcoming of Suffering
"Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament ... and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy... These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
~ John 16:20,33 (NKJV)
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
~ Psalms 91:1,4-6 (NKJV)
The "overcoming of suffering" does not mean that we overcome suffering, but that suffering is the impetus by which we overcome all else.
Survival is motivated by visible threat. In times of horrendous crisis we are compelled to overcome. When faced with an attacking enemy we do not hesitate to fight.
It is amid the drudgery of tasks just as necessary to survival, in the oppressive mundane of the every day—where we are stared down not by visible foe but by the unrelenting erosion of trivial vexations—that we are more likely to succumb to defeat.
Suffering rescues us from this more dangerous threat. It compels us to rise to our potential and makes us strong so that we do not merely withstand, but we overcome life’s challenges.
The cuts which suffering inflicts upon us can be deep and painful. We understand when we receive them that they will leave scars. Those marks will prove to be the work of a Master carving a masterpiece if we accept them rather than resist His hand or flee His presence.
The soul which stays close to the Most High God remains in the shadow of His wings. This person may not understand the cuts of suffering, but feels the assurance of the Lord’s companionship as He shares our suffering. This soul does not forsake hope.
The soul which is far enough away from the Almighty to escape His shadow will languish in suffering. This person will know doubt and despair, and will allow hope to slip away.
We are easily distracted sheep and prone to wander. But in the moment we discover that our attention has left the Shepherd, memory should serve well to draw us immediately back to the safety of abiding with Him.
Almighty God, You are only good, all the time. You do not willingly afflict the children of men. Though You cause grief, You are full of compassion. Please draw us close to You. Please assure our insecure hearts of Your constant love.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#suffering
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Monday, December 14, 2009
Stress or Distress?
"Although man has made the world very complex,
John the Apostle breaks down the entire universe
into two things: God and not God."
AW Tozer
Stress or Distress?
Out of my distress, I called on YAH.
YAH answered me with freedom...
YAH is my strength and song.
He has become my salvation.
~ Psalms 118:5,14 (WEB)
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free... Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
~ John 8:32,36 (NKJV)
For as long as we have distress, we are its captive.
Freedom may come by working through a problem, or in the problem's disappearance. It's also possible that we simply obtain peace about a distressful situation and are thereby set free.
The Lord's peace comes by seeing the situation from His perspective, and therefore seeing it in truth. I testify that this is how the Lord says He works, and how I've seen Him work.
As I write these words, a little voice says, "Not always—what about this? What about that? What if the Lord is using distress for good?"
Whether that little voice comes from me, from my enemy the devil, or from the world, I don't have to listen to it, and neither do you. The Lord allows the stress of testing and trial, but I believe stress need not become distress and take us captive. The Lord reminds me:
You will keep in perfect peace
The one stayed upon You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For YAH, the LORD,
is the Rock of Ages.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (author)
I confess that I can allow stress to become distress. The failure is not the Lord's but mine, if I fail to keep myself adequately stayed (focused) upon Him. I cannot think of a time when distress came knocking, when I got my heart and mind stayed upon the Lord and His trustworthiness, that He did not set me free.
What are your thoughts? Where does stress become distress? Are truth and trust in the Lord enough to set us free?
Lord, our Savior and Deliverer, please lead our hearts to seek and find Your truth and freedom at all times.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved. #perspective
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