Too Important to Not Remember

"Like a bird singing in the rain,
let grateful memories survive in time of sorrow."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

As I work through the book of Numbers, today's post is out of order with yesterday's. It's presented as part of the Blog Carnival hosted by Peter Pollock at Rediscovering the Church on the theme "Remember."

Too Important to Not Remember

"Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time.'
~ Numbers 28:2 (NKJV)

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you."
~ 1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV)

Something too important to not remember has entered my life.

While recently visiting with a friend I sensed distress. As I gently probed, I learned of deep hurt. My heart ached with compassion. We talked. We prayed. Then as I prepared to say, "I'll be praying for you," I knew in my spirit this would not comfort. The words are said often among Christians, but prayers for one person are often forgotten when supplanted by new concerns.

So I boldly spoke something which immediately filled me with fear that I wouldn't follow through: "I'm going to be praying for you every day."

I prayed and fasted that night and the next morning. I prayed again the next night. I wrote the prayer down on the cover of my prayer journal instead of an inside page. I resolved that I'm going to be lifting up this person in prayer every morning and every night until resolved, so that if that one morning or night comes along when I forget, I will still daily pray for a matter too important to not remember.

Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

In Numbers 28 and 29, the Lord outlines the many offerings of sacrifice to be made for six annual feasts, every new moon (new month), every Sabbath, and every evening and morning. He called them a zikkarôn—a memorial or remembrance. The Lord is too important to not remember. He did wonderful and mighty things to prove Himself trustworthy. But memory of the past is soon supplanted by the moment's anxiety and fears for the future if we do not actively commit to remember.

How have you seen the Almighty's hand of blessing in your life? Is a sacrifice of thanksgiving offered to Him so regularly that you remember His faithfulness in the face of new concerns?

Does the grateful memory enable you sing His praises in even a storm?

Almighty God, how is it that we should know You as our loving Abba? Thank You for caring for us so tenderly and so completely. Please draw us to remember You often, from the heart.

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.
Photo from totallytop10.com

Made Perfect

"There is only one thing more painful than learning from experience,
and that is not learning from experience."
~ Laurence J. Peter

Made Perfect
#discipleship

"... everything that can endure fire, you shall put through the fire, and it shall be clean; and it shall be purified with the water of purification. But all that cannot endure fire you shall put through water."
~ Numbers 31:23 (NKJV)

Although He was God's Son, yet He learned obedience from the sufferings which He endured; and so, having been made perfect, He became to all who obey Him the source and giver of eternal salvation.
~ Hebrews 5:8-9 (WNT)

This passage from Hebrews is one of endless fascination to me. Jesus—the perfection of God in human flesh—was "made perfect" (or "made complete") by learning obedience to His Father. He became something more than He already was in this experience.

Jesus didn't want to do this. We see his anguish in Gethsemane. He speaks at it several times beforehand, such as in His words of Luke 12:49-50: "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!"

Jesus had already been baptized with water. Whatever else His baptism did, it showed that Jesus was willing to be identified with our humanity, and our sin. In His fire baptism at Calvary He again identified with our sin—but this time He overcame it with His death.

Christ's blood atones for, or "covers" our sin. But to be made perfect, we must also be baptized in water and fire. There are some things that the water of His Word cleanses. But there are other impurities in our lives that simply must undergo fire for us to learn what we must if we shall be complete.

If we would be as pure gold, nothing less than the Refiner's touch will do.

Lord Jesus, You know well the fire. You have learned its necessity. Please give us hearts to endure the searing pain with faith. Please let us not shrink back from Your Spirit's touch. Please quicken our hearts to be cleansed by the water of Your Word and avoid the flame.

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.
Artwork "Road to the Cross" by Brian Jekel © 2006 Dayspring

One Hour of Eternity

"One hour of eternity,
one moment with the Lord,
will make us utterly forget a lifetime of desolations."
~ Horatio Bonar

One Hour of Eternity

I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of YAH.
YAH has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
~ Psalms 118:17-18 (author)

"But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made... Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt."
~ Matthew 18:25,27 (NKJV)

Has any one of us really contemplated an eternity of death?

Think of the very worst pain of body, brokenness of heart, confusion of mind, and anguish of soul. Combine them all, then imagine enduring them while utterly alone, with no end of time in sight. This only begins to hint at a future apart from God.

We and our children were marked to be sold into death for our debt of sin. Our Master had compassion on us and made us heirs of life.

We still live in a world where we experience the consequences—the chastening—for sin. But we are not given over to death. No matter what suffering we endure here, it is less than the penalty which was our due.

And YHWH passed in front of Moses, proclaiming,
"YWHH! YHWH is God compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
maintaining love to thousands,
and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin."
Exodus 34:6-7 (author)

Should it not be our highest privilege, greatest pleasure, and deepest passion to declare the works of YAH?

Oh YAH, how great a debt from which You have released us who are Christ's! We shall not die but live because of Your great compassion and love. Whatever may befall us, please let us never fail to praise Your name.

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.
Photo from tundratabloid.blogspot.com

Go Against the Flow

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see."
~ John W. Whitehead

Go Against the Flow
#loveoneanother

My sixteen-year-old daughter Michaelle recently joined Facebook. It's been a wonderful glimpse into her world—and an assurance that maybe we haven't totally messed up as parents. I share here a status update and two follow up comments that she wrote on Thursday. (Comments of others aren't included.)

"If you 'be who you are' and 'say what you feel,' then the people who matter WILL mind, and the people who "don't matter" will most likely punch you in the face." ~ me, in contradiction of Dr. Seuss

... If I told someone that they were ugly and fat—and I really thought it true—would you think they "didn't matter" if they became offended? Everything in the world tends towards disorder, and we must go against the flow to make it the way God would want it. It's good to be yourself ... [unless] you will be tearing people down instead of building them up. To act who we are all the time would make this world chaos. We need to be what God would have us be, and not what we want.

... I wasn't saying to bottle everything up, and I wasn't saying to not be the way God made you. I'm talking about human nature, not personality. Originally I was making an observation on the quote by Dr. Seuss—"Be who you are, and say what you feel, because the people who matter don't mind, and the people who mind don't matter." People WILL mind if you treat them that way, no matter if they're Christians or not! :)

A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.
(Proverbs 29:11 NKJV)

Thank You, Father, that You give me a glimpse of Who You are through my children.

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.
Photo courtesy Michaelle Bundy

Friday Freelance: FRUITFUL

"March toward the sound of the guns."
~ Military Adage

Friday Freelance: FRUITFUL
#loveoneanother

The last week has been especially intense. My personal life has hummed along at the typical "hang on by your fingernails" pace—no more or less stressful than usual. But each blog post wrung me out, and numerous invitations to connect with others have pulled me in many directions.

I'm always afraid to make it known when life feels intense, because I don't want anyone to hesitate sharing what's going on with them. Yes, I also get overwhelmed enough at times to cry "Help!" It doesn't happen often, and the Lord is ever faithful to send just the right person, as long I'm staying in touch with Him. (If I've been a little out of touch with my God, and I get to that overwhelmed point, He lets me flail around a bit until I turn to Him.)

Being an intense person (Type AA, workaholic, etc.), I thrive on intense. My blood pressure likely stays low because I see most challenges as opportunities (excepting unruly children—gotta work on that). Life in this world is a spiritual battle, I'm a warrior, and warriors don't train to hang out in the barracks. Warriors belong in the thick of things. Unless I'm at that rare place of feeling truly overwhelmed, I live to run toward where the battle rages hottest.

The difference between this world's wars and spiritual war is that the former always wreaks destruction and death, but the latter brings life and light if we but fight in the strength of the Holy Spirit. He first equips us for battle, and then empowers us. The mission: produce spiritual fruit.

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you
and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit should remain,
that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."
~ John 15:16 (NKJV)

A most fundamental principal of survival is reproduction. After breathing and eating, the urge to reproduce is prominent. Danger is no deterrent. How many species have males which battle for access to the females? How many females will fight to the death to protect their young? The Creator's first command was, "Be fruitful and multiply," and He programmed creation to comply.

I daresay this model echoes the yearning of divinity. The Holy Spirit's compelling drive is to prolifically reproduce the life of Christ in us. Like bull elk clashing antlers against each other, it is the purpose of spiritual warfare.

Comments for yesterday's post ("Identity"), about what marks a Christian, mentioned the characteristic I had foremost in mind: fruitfulness, manifest in love. Galatians 6:22-23 mentions nine components of spiritual fruit, but ultimately, they all come down to love.

Consider the words of Dwight L. Moody:

The fruit of the Spirit begins with love ... [and the] other eight can be put in terms of love.
Joy is love exulting.
Peace is love in repose.
Long-suffering [patience] is love on trial.
Gentleness [kindness] in love in society.
Goodness is love in action.
Faith is love on the battlefield.
Meekness [gentleness] is love at school.
Temperance [self-control] is love in training.
So it is love all the way.

Did you note the last part of the above verse from John 15? Jesus gives a reason to be fruitful: "... that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

This is worth fighting for, without constraint, however intense the battle, whatever wounds sustained.

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.
Photo from news.bbc.co.uk