Never Mind, Lord

Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
~ John 11:39 (NKJV)

I don't know about you, but I have the audacity to invite God to step in and bring life to a situation, and then hesitate and draw back when things get messy. I have the tendency to decide the situation isn't worth this much trouble and say, "Never mind, Lord."

If God numbers the hair on our head and watches over every sparrow (Luke 12:6-7), then what situation is too small for Him? On the other hand, how far gone is a situation before God won't repair it?

And the Lord said ... "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you ..."
~ Genesis 18:13-14 (NKJV)

Lazarus was only dead four days. When Jesus was crucified and resurrected, "many" people who had been in their graves for certainly longer were also raised (Matthew 27:51-53). And a day lies in the future when all the dry bones of all the saints in all the earth will be raised alive (Ezekiel 37:1-10).

The fact that things get messy or we must wait for God's appointed time or is no reason to say, "Never mind, Lord." We need only believe, and then wait for the impossible.

Jesus said to [Martha], "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
~ John 11:40 (NKJV)

Our Creator, thank You for taking delight to bring life, light, and love wherever You are invited. Please help us in our unbelief and our impatience. Please increase our faith and longsuffering.

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Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Waiting at the Threshold

Image source: timothyrmason.org

My soul longs, yea, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God...
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather wait at the threshold in the house of my God
Than be at rest in the abodes of iniquity.
~ Psalms 84:2,10

Most translations of Psalm 84:10 read "I would rather be a doorkeeper" instead of "wait at the threshold." The Hebrew sâphaph has a literal meaning of standing or waiting at a threshold—a rather low and inconspicuous position, removed from anything of significance or interest.

The Christian life might occasionally seem like waiting long, our good deeds mired in obscurity, while we miss out on the rest that might be had if we didn't continually stand against a tide of popular opinion.

Who signs up for a position of simply waiting, unable to take pleasure in either eminence or leisure?

Those who are content to merely be in proximity to the King, considering themselves worthy of nothing more.

Precious Lord, we fail to do even as we are commanded. Anything we have done is no more than our duty. Fill us with gratitude for the favor You show unprofitable servants who yearn, yea, even faint for Your presnce.

Your comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are most appreciated. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Bondage

Image source: alphatshirt.wordpress.com

So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve by cruelty. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mire ...
~ Exodus 1:13-14

This cruel world finds ever new definitions of cruel service, bondage, mire.

And the LORD said: "I have seen the misery of My people ... I have heard their cry because of their oppressors. I know their anguish."
~ Exodus 3:7

After 430 years in Egypt, His people might think God had forgotten them.

Yet they cried out to Him.

When the time came for Him to mightily display Himself, He acted.

[We] were in bondage ... But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son ...
~ Galatians 4:3-4 (NKJV)

Having received deliverance from sin's death penalty, should we doubt our God is able and willing to deliver us from sin's lesser bondages?

Who have we in Heaven or Earth but You, Lord? We look to You for new deliverance. Please give us peace in the waiting.

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.

Traffic in Hope

"Hope is to be alive at this moment."
~ Maureen Doallas
from the poem "Hope Is"

: : :

I am guilty of counting time my enemy.

Time is too brief to appreciate the good.
Time is too crowded to accomplish the better.
Time is too protracted to touch the best.

Hope has been my study. Bible words for hope are connected to waiting with expectancy or with trust or with confidence, but always with that agonizing waiting which brings me to despise the time which is both too short and too long.

: : :

Whenever my first encounter with Maureen Doallas, I took notice of her nearly a year ago when I read a piece she wrote titled "Uncommon Community," about those dogged by cancer. This is an excerpt:

We need time. We want for time....

We struggle to hold on to faith when faith doesn't answer our questions. We have too many questions and not enough answers.

Mostly, we traffic in hope.

: : :

Everywhere I turned this week, Hope and Patience confronted me.

Maureen challenges me to make time my friend, to live with a hope placed not in the future, but in the moment—to traffic in hope rather than with time.

A video I encountered three days ago complements her words with an additional challenge for living in the moment: use whatever comes to my hand to make something wonderful, and say of the waiting, "This too shall pass."

For a moment, His anger,
For a lifetime, His favor;
For the night weeping may tarry,
But the morning is for rejoicing.
~ Psalms 30:5

: : :

THIS TOO SHALL PASS



You know you can't keep lettin' it get you down
And you can't keep draggin' that dead weight around.
If there ain't all that much to lug around, cultivate
Better run like hell when you hit the ground.

When the morning comes.
When the morning comes.

You can't stop these kids from dancin'.
Why would you want to?
Especially when you're already gettin' yours.
'Cause if your mind don't move and your knees don't bend,
well don't go blamin' the kids again.

When the morning comes. (Repeat ...)

Let it go, this too shall pass.
Let it go, this too shall pass.

Let it go, this too shall pass.
(You know you can't keep lettin' it get you down.
No, you can't keep lettin' it get you down.)

When the morning comes.

: : :

Postscripts:

Notre Dame fans may appreciate their marching band's unconventional performance with OK GO on an alternate video.

My prayer is that our nation will call to mind each September 11th that our only hope is dependence upon our Creator.

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.
"This Too Shall Pass" by OK Go © 2009 Capitol Records

Psalm 56:8-11

Today's post is dedicated to my beautiful friend Susan.


My tremblings
of an exile longing for home
of a wayfarer knowing no rest
steps without number
these, Thou mark each one.

My tears
rivers of bitter waters
my food day and night
seeds sown for joy
these, Thou place in Thy drinkskin.

Are these indeed accounted and stored
as sacred to Thee?
Would each tremble be numbered
as if costly treasure?
Would each drop be preserved
until aged as fine wine?

Behold my frailty!
When I cry out Thy name
proclaiming Thee
then my enemy shall cease
turning back from whence he came
for Elohim is with me.

In Elohim
in His Word
I boast.

In YHWH
in His Word
I boast.

My trust
my attachment
my confidings
my reliance
these, I place in Elohim.

No fear shall I own.
For what can be accomplished
to concern me
by men of dust?

With Thee shall I wait
for all Thou shall accomplish.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Art image: A Drop of Wine, Steve Mac
Image source: flickriver.com

Laying Hold of God's Strength

The theme for today’s blog carnival (hosted by Bridget Chumbley) is "Strength." You're invited to visit her site for other related thoughts. :D

"God wants you to ask Him for things
that are bigger than yourself."
~ Jentezen Franklin

Laying Hold of God's Strength

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled."
~ Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

We are physical beings, limited by the weakness of human flesh. Worse, the flesh asserts itself in ways which fight against the work of the Holy Spirit. We may not even be aware of the ways we struggle against God.

Abstaining from food for many hours—or a number of days—has a way of weakening the flesh and enabling the Lord's Spirit to become strong in us. When even food is not our priority, the things we once thought were priorities are seen with a different perspective. When we make clear to ourselves and to the Lord that His will is more important than our appetite, He can reveal it with startling clarity. When we tell the flesh it needs God more than food, we will indeed receive more of God.

By saying, "When you fast ..." Jesus omitted "if," indicating an expectation that we would do so. By saying of a demon, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting," Jesus indicated that spiritual warfare might require fasting for success.

If there is a situation in your life which requires divine power to understand the Lord's will, for overcoming weakness or addiction, or to defeat an attack of the devil, consider boosting your prayer with fasting as a means to humbly lay hold of God's strength.

He longs to feed you with spiritual food finer than any available from the earth.

Father in Heaven, we are feeble children of flesh. We do not know how to pray as we ought. Please give us a desire for You above our desire for all else. Please give us a desire to know and fulfill Your will at any cost.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#fasting
Image source: mydebtregret.com

true meekness

"Some glances of real beauty may be seen
in the faces of those who dwell in true meekness."
~ Henry David Thoreau

Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga, left,

smiles as he walks away from first base umpire Jim Joyce, right.

true meekness

The meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
~ Psalms 37:11 (NKJV)

Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him ...
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret ...
~ Psalms 37:5-7 (NKJV)

If not for my son Joshua (age 11 and a Detroit Tigers fan), I'd have likely missed watching one of baseball's finest events unfold; I'd have missed true meekness shining more brightly than pinnacle of achievement ever could.

Sports fans are by now familiar with Armando Galarraga, age 28 pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Last Wednesday he pitched a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians. A perfect game is so difficult to attain that it has happened a mere 20 times in the history of Major League Baseball.

But Galarraga did not receive credit for a perfect game. On what should have been the game's last play, Galarraga sprinted to cover first base while the first baseman grabbed the Indians' 27th batter's hit. The replay shows that with ball in glove, Gararraga's foot stepped on the bag before the runner's did. It was a clean out. But umpire Jim Joyce declared the runner safe.

The game would not go down in the annals of baseball history as perfect. Galarraga's moment of a lifetime evaporated. Yet he didn't argue. He didn't pout. He didn't lose poise, but calmly went back to the mound with a peaceful smile, ready for his 28th batter of the night.

When later interviewed, he shrugged off Joyce's mistake as just that—a human error. While sports fans slandered the umpire with a variety of epithets, the one man who might be justifiably upset did not complain that he'd been wronged.

After seeing the replay, a distraught Joyce readily admitted he'd made a bad call, visibly shaken. He cursed himself, grief evident for what he'd inadvertently taken from the young pitcher. Galarraga responded by saying that he felt bad for Joyce—and he displayed it with exceptional dignity.

When the two meet at home plate the next day to play another game, Galarraga pauses to shake Joyce's hand before handing him the lineup. While Joyce attempts to focus on the lineup and wipes away tears, Galarraga puts a warm hand on Joyce's shoulder and rubs it briefly. Joyce reciprocates with a friendly cuff to Galarraga's arm, and a new game begins.

Armando Galarraga is both a perfect pitcher and a perfect gentleman. He has earned respect far beyond what he might have received for the perfect game alone. And the world has witnessed one of the finest examples of meekness it might ever hope to see or emulate.

Lord, please be patient with us as we learn to meekly wait for Your perfect purposes for everything You allow in our lives. Alllow us no sense of entitlement. Enable us to return injury with grace, delighting in Your abundance of peace.


The play:




The meeting:



Your feedback is appreciated.
Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source, Galarraga & Joyce: blog.pennlive.com

Aren’t You Listening, Lord?

"Patience is the ballast of the soul
that will keep it from rolling and tumbling
in the greatest storms."
~ Charles Hopkins

Aren’t You Listening, Lord?

The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.
O LORD, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, "Violence!"
And You will not save.
Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
~ Habakkuk 1:1-3 (NKJV)

Habakkuk carries the burden which accompanies being a prophet: he sees certain atrocities through the eyes of the Lord, yet lacks the Lord’s comprehensive perspective of all else. Habakkuk knows in his heart that God has a plan, but he grows impatient to see it materialize. His words amount to an exasperated, “Aren’t You listening, Lord?”—as if to provoke the Lord to act and prove Himself attentive.

His rant spent, Habakkuk must now face the Lord. He knows full well the Lord heard him. One can feel the prophet’s chagrin as he pauses:
I will ... watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected. (2:1)

The Lord does not rebuke His servant. Perhaps He is satisfied with such acknowledgment. Perhaps He feels the same exasperation with evil. Perhaps the harsher revelation to follow (chapter 2), of judgment upon the nation, is sufficiently punitive, as evidenced by Habakkuk’s response:
My body trembled;
My lips quivered at the voice;
Rottenness entered my bones;
And I trembled in myself ... (3:16)

Even so, Habakkuk concludes thus:
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills. (3:18-19)

Do you weary of what is not right in your life? Do you come to church seeking answers and walk away with more questions? Have you cried out to God and accused Him of stalling though He hears? Have you dared, as Job and Abraham and David and Habakkuk did, to question God—then caught yourself as you remember to Whom you speak?

These men waited long upon the Lord for an answer. They eventually received the reward of their faith. But along the way, the answers were not always what they expected.

Ancient of Days, all eternity lies before you. We are frail children of dust, who live in the moment. Please strengthen us to wait upon You. Please give ear to our cries.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#prayer
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