Steal Away

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

throughout all generations.

[Ps 90:1]

From a young age, it seems most of my time has been spent surrounded by people. Why, I even had a companion in utero.

I started working at a young age and practically every job I’ve ever had involved serving people. Sometimes extremely large crowds even.

The majority of my waking hours includes others. You’d think, having said all that, that I’m a real people person. And I do love them. But, I so cherish solitude. I am far more content to be alone -- with God.

When I start to feel a little edgy or frazzled, I know I’m overdue for time alone. I
l-o-n-g  for it. To the point of grumpiness.

Maybe that’s why this blog is so important to me. It’s my time alone with God and His Word. A place where I can withdraw daily into a Quiet Place. My Dwelling Place.

When the house is abuzz with kids as I cook supper, I withdraw mentally to my Dwelling Place. Same goes when there is an abundance of noise and activity, in rush hour traffic or on the soccer field. Some may call it escapism, but to me it’s the place where my heart truly dwells.

I try to seize every opportunity to be alone with God. To momentarily, mentally transport to that Dwelling Place. Keeping plugged in by listening to praise and worship music throughout the day. As I hop from one group gathering to the next, I steal away to be alone with Him as I transport. Prayer on-the-go keeps me connected until my next rendezvous with Him. Whether walking with Him in public places bustling with people; abiding in Him in a crowded room; taking noticing of His handi-work around me, they are all ways to withdraw from this space of living to the place where I truly live – my Dwelling Place.

Recently I felt drained and worn out. Frequently I entertained thoughts of getting away by myself to be alone with God in some secluded spot. Just Him, me, my Bible, pen and paper. Sleep, read, pray, meditate. Get rejuvenated, refreshed, renewed. Instead, I volunteered to go on a youth retreat as a chaperone.

After a weekend with a group of teens and no sleep, I felt more rested than ever! I would steal away in the early morning hours to my Dwelling Place. In the dark before dawn I would take my flashlight and my Bible and tip-toe outside. To sacred communion. To life being breathed in me. In a room filled with people in worship, I would steal away – mentally – to be alone with my Dwelling Place. I went away that weekend to share Him with a large group of others only to be alone with Him. Sweet moments at a time.

When people and schedules demand my presence, I am still in His Presence. I can show up all the places I need to be and always remain in my Dwelling Place. You’ve got one, too. It’s the same One I have. It’s everywhere you go, too.


Splendor and majesty are before You, Father, strength and joy are in Your dwelling place. Thank You for ALWAYS being there. The place where I can steal away to be alone with You.


Related Posts:


Worship On-the-Go


Spiritual Communion

Jesus On-the-Go

Obstructed Views

I love luscious trees - full of plump, green leaves. They speak of life. One thing that adds dreariness to winter days is the colorless, bare trees that appear dead.

So, after months of naked, I welcome – with thanks – the return of green.

There’s one drawback to full trees. They obstruct my view! I can’t peek ahead. I can’t see what’s coming. I can’t peer around corners. I can’t always find what I’m searching for without extra effort.

This thought creates a newfound admiration for Jochebed, the mother of Moses. She let go of her most precious son in the bulrushes. She released him to the reeds. To the unknown, the unseen.

She didn’t understand the why’s of the times or the will-be’s of tomorrow. She had no answers. But she had hope.

She released uncertainties to embrace trust. What she valued she placed hidden – covered - in God’s Sovereign Hand.

How often do we get a clear view anyway? In tragedy, in suffering, in trials we want answers. Unfortunately, answers don’t usually come. Answers bear no fruit. Faith does. Believing what we know of the unchanging attributes of God does.

I’ll learn to enjoy the view I can see. Leave the questions, the answers, the bigger picture to God.


God of heaven and earth; Trust is enough to fill in the blanks. Keep my heart and mind staid on Thee, the only sense-maker there is. Amen.

But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. [Ex 2:3]


By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. [Heb 11:23]

Dusty Rivers

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

[Ps 51:7]

Yesterday the rains came washing rivers of chartreuse. Vegetative pollutants cleansed from the air.

Of the states I’ve lived in I don’t recall spring pollen ever being so thick anywhere else but here. Georgia must set some sort of record for pollen production. Every surface impartially covered, heavy with blooms’ dust.

We pray for rain to cleanse the air, wash away the irritating – yet necessary – substance that has left nothing untouched.

And it comes. Not enough for water to run clear but enough to create a spring phenomenon – dusty yellow rivers.

The pollen is irritating but it produces something both good and beautiful. Just when we think we can bear it no more, God brings relief. With the rain God alleviates the nuisance, provides for His creation, and gives things a good scrub.

It brought to my mind the merciful, gracious cleansing we have received by the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  And with the thought a melody started beating in my heart . . .

"Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow."

Elvina Hall
(1822-1899)

Rain on us, Lord, Your cleansing, renewing, spiritual showers that we might be refreshed. Thank You that we have been made white as snow. That You have removed every stain of sin and the world. That You have placed a new song in our hearts. The song of praise and thanksgiving of Your redeemed. Amen.

Accompaniment

"I went away full,
but the LORD has brought me back empty."

[Ru 2:21a]

Much can be gleaned from the beautiful Book of Ruth. Several life application lessons can be learned from Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. I won't touch on any of them today. I just want to zoom in on a small point Naomi made in her comment.

The LORD brought her back.

She was terribly afflicted and suffered greatly. And she was accompanied by none other than the Lord, Himself. He remained. He stayed by her side and brought her all the way home.

Her pilgrimage in a foreign land changed her from "pleasant" to "bitter". Naomi to Mara. Whole to wounded. From blessing God to blaming God. Her attitude did not affect the faithfulness of God, however.

I do not take lightly the unjust suffering of saints that fill heaven and earth. Our hearts ache with sorrow; our prayers heavy with concern; our minds dizzy with questions. But faith speaks of the knowledge of God's Omnipresence when feelings waver and hurt tinges our voice.

God carries. He carries us through. He carries us home. He has - and will continue - until heaven's pasture is full of His sheep and the Shepherd reigns eternal.


Ever-Present Father; The earth is filled with Naomi's, Lord. But I praise Your mercy to bring us all - the - way - home. Accompaniment of the Divine kind.

Regularly

Regularly - and quite often - You shower us with Your love and grace

Regularly You pick us up and dust us off

Regularly You give us strength to stand in Christ

Regularly You bathe us in Your goodness

Regularly You provide for our every need

Regularly You care for us

Regularly You shield and protect us

Regularly You give guidance and wisdom

Regularly You answer our prayers

Regularly You exercise unmerited patience

You...our irregular God

Robes of the Saints

Ever feel the filthy stain of past poor choices? Feel accused, condemned? Ever wonder why you have a hard time living the forgiven life?

You have an adversary accusing you. One so bold as to do so before GOD. But we also have an Advocate that stands with us. One that has secured our release from condemnation.

Read this incredible passage of one of Zechariah's visions. This scene depicts God's deliverance of the nation of Israel from the fires of Babylonian exile and restoration of the priesthood to minister before God. It paints a powerful portrait of the spiritual realm for us to consider. While this prophecy made reference to Joshua, the High Priest in Ezra & Nehemiah, doesn't it seem possible that it is symbolic of our grand rescue?

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"


Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes."


Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."


Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. [Zec 3:1-5]

There's no doubt, we stand as guilty law-breakers before a Holy God. But those in Christ have been justified, brought into a right standing with God, in the divine courtroom by Christ.

We have been snatched from the fire -- the fire of wrath and judgment. The smoking embers and singed garments marks that condemn us. Pulled from the refining fire to show His glory. That's mercy!

Jesus has removed my filthy rags. He's the only One who could. Not only has Jesus removed the tell-tale stains but the sins as well. Only satan now holds our forgiven sins up before God. (Though there are times I pull them from the heap myself.)

He has wrapped us in rich garments of grace. We are clothed with His costly righteousness. Topped by a new turban, crowned with a royal diadem and restored as holy priests.

We cannot ignore that there is one that battles against us -- intent on destruction. He wants you to believe that you are not good enough.  But the Lord will rebuke Him and speak truth into your soul. Our part is to confidently, effectively, obediently, faithfully wear the robe of the saints -- cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb and fitted by our Lord.


Redeemer, Friend; Thank You for being our advocate! As we struggle against spiritual forces of evil, remind us that You are our shield and defender. Help us shed our filthy rags for Your rich garments of purity and stand in confidence as the Forgiven of God.

Bottled Tears

When sorrows are many it's easy to feel isolated. FAQ's: Does God notice? Does God even care? Must I bear this alone?

Sound familiar?

"Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;"

[Ps 56 1a ESV]

What's one to do?

"When I am afraid,

I put my trust in you."

[Ps 56:3 ESV]

Find comfort in these words:

"You have kept count of my tossings;

put my tears in your bottle.

Are they not in your book?"

[Ps 56:8 ESV]

God is for you. He is not removed and uncaring. He hears your lament. He has kept track of every tear and has recorded every heartbreak. Not one is wasted or inconsequential. And the measure of His attentiveness? He has not let a single tear drop unnoticed - dissipate into a vacuum - but has captured and kept each one.

Ours is a personal, compassionate God. A God of the littlest details.  He recognizes and acknowledges even the smallest tear. Nothing, too small. Nothing, too great.

We are tempted with our questions of doubt. Respond as David, with confident assurance. With affirmative answers of faith. Yes, God notices! Yes, God cares! Unforsaken of God, you shall never be left alone. God will catch the next drop of your tears and handle them with loving-care.


Loving Father; In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling. I will walk before God in the light of life, blessing Your holy Name. Amen.

Gracious Appearings

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." [Lk 24:36-49]

And so a new story begins Resurrection Day. The Word arrives with the next new chapter. Making this, by far, the Best Story Ever Told.

Even after Jesus is humiliated, mocked, crucified; He serves, ministers…loves. He stayed to complete the training of His disciples. The audience transformed from undone-disciples to witnesses, the Risen Lord their Teacher.

Jesus brings a blessing of peace to a room filled with the fear of cowering people (see also Jn 20:19).  Locked behind closed doors, grief-stricken, with no direction, all hope lost, Christ shows up. He gently, patiently explains the fulfillment of the Scriptures. (The flesh He inherited from His mother’s side; the grace, He got that from His Father.)

They thought they had reached the end of their Jesus story. They could not possibly have expected the unthinkable, the unimaginable to occur. They stood, still doubting but overjoyed, seeing a whole new side to the Anointed One. Partaking a story continued.

He would remain for 40 days. The Gospels record twelve accounts of His appearances to over 500 people. He led them to Calvary – to death. He would lead them to Pentecost – to a life of power. To their own rebirth.

… Jesus told him,
"Because you have seen me,
you have believed;
blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed."

[Jn 20:29 ed]

Jesus offered physical evidence as proof of His resurrection so that they would believe. He did another remarkable thing. He made a statement and gave a blessing for believers to come. The quote recorded in John 20:29 was spoken for our benefit. It was not for them He stated this fact. He was speaking to Thomas, with the Eleven standing in His presence. To those that had already seen that we might believe.

It’s a hard one to grasp -- a dead man walking. Many stumble on this one truth. It is precisely for those that we have been empowered to “preach” by the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is for them we seek, we serve, we show the love of Christ-in-the-flesh. That by His wounds they may be healed. The wounds He showed as proof of His identity. The wounds He carries in His body still.


Risen Lord Jesus; You bring peace into our lives and countless blessings for our faith. You appeared, filled with grace and truth, to continue to lead and teach  - that we might know, come to believe. And you left in order to send the All-Powerful Holy Spirit - that we might do the same. Continue to open our minds and our eyes and our mouths. Teach us to be witnesses worthy of Your Name. Amen.

Jesus did many other miraculous signs

in the presence of his disciples,

which are not recorded in this book.

But these are written that you may believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that by believing you may have life in his name.

[Jn 20:30-31]

The Worship of Nature

Spring ~

Nature's Easter response.

Resurrection radiance exuberantly echoed.

Glorious blooms of praise and

Fresh leaves, a garment of new life.

Discard the dead foliage of winter,

Remove the broken remnants of fierce storms past.

Bask in the warmth of heaven's golden light.

Shed the weight of added coverings

Needed to shelter from the cold.

Dance with the birds and the breeze.

Shout "Gloria!" with the earth;

Christ has emerged

And wears the Victor's Crown!

"All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You,

they sing praise to your name." Selah

Psalm 66:4

Cling to Jesus

Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them,'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" [Jn 20:1-17 ESV]

While there is much to wonder about in this passage, Mary's response is not one of them, which is precisely what I love about John's account. Once she realizes who Jesus is in the confusion of the early Resurrection Morning, she responds exactly as I imagine one would.

Mary -- the one who loved much. She clings to Jesus. Overwhelming love, worship, and amazement propel her forward. I visualize her lunging with such force and a hold so tight as to suffocate. She wasn't about to let go of her Lord, her Rabboni! A few days separation was more than she could bear. Everything changed in that moment. From worst-case-scenario to only-possible-with-God.

Yes, she witnessed an unimaginable miracle but she also possessed unmitigated, unrestrained passion!

Are you living a relationship with Jesus to the extent that your life would be unbearable without Him? Do you cling tightly to the One Who Forgives Much, the One Who Saves?

He has since ascended to the Father. Returned to our God that He may be with us all now. Not physically, but He had to return to heaven in order to send the promised Holy Spirit, that we would not be separated from Him now. But we still must cling. Hold tight to Him, to His truth, to the hope we have in Him.


My Rabboni; Daily I cling, love, worship -- never to let go. Amen.

They Remembered

The Resurrection


On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. [Lk 24:1-8]

If there is anything I learned in this advent of Easter it is the importance of remembering. Easter is finally here, and I see it yet again. These women were prompted by God's heavenly messengers to remember. The angel's carried an ageless message for us all; "Remember how He told us..."

What if they had gone away dejected? What if, in their profound grief, they left -- lost in their misunderstanding of the Christ? What if they forgot His faithful words of truth and promise?

Instead, they ran to share the good news with the others. They experienced the triumph of the risen Lord. Because they chose to believe, their faith soon became sight and they saw the Resurrected Christ.

Remembering is the instead.  Our faith in Christ is the instead that changes things.

Remembering Jesus allows our grief to give birth to joy; turns our mourning to rejoicing; fuels the hope that death leads to life.

Remember, our Savior no longer hangs on a cross.  Our God is not dead and buried in an Israeli tomb.  He is risen!  He lives!

Something to remember until next Easter.


Risen Lord and Savior; We celebrate this day that our Jesus is glorified!  Our Jesus is risen -- alive!  Praise be to our great God!  Hallelujah and Amen!

Good Friday Liturgy

Christ our teacher,

for our sake you were obedient even to accepting death,

- teach us to obey the Father's will in all things.

Christ our life,

by your death on the cross you destroyed the power of evil and death,

- may we die with you, to rise with you in glory.

Christ our King,

you became an outcast among us, a worm and no man,

- teach us the humility by which you saved the world.

Christ our salvation,

you gave yourself up to death out of love for us,

- help us to show your love to one another.

Christ our Savior,

on the cross you embraced all time with your outstretched arms,

- unite God's scattered children in your kingdom of salvation.

~Author Unknown

A Hymn for Good Friday Meditation

Christ Our Sacrifice

Charles W. Naylor

Down from the portals of glory

A King in His majesty came,

Humbled Himself as a servant,

To bear our transgressions and shame.

He was despised and rejected,

Hated by those He would save,

Yet He so loved guilty sinners,

That freely His life-blood He gave.

See Him led forth as a captive,

His presence the multitude scorns;

See them array Him in purple,

And cruelly crown Him with thorns.

Lead Him outside of the city,

Nail Him on Calvary’s tree;

Look on Him there, guilty sinner,

He’s bleeding and dying for thee.

Though thou hast slighted Him often,

Still, sinner, He’s pleading for thee.

A Quote to Remember

A Thought for Contemplation on the Cross of Christ:

The Cross of Jesus is the revelation of God's judgment on sin.  Never tolerate the idea of martyrdom about the Cross of Jesus Christ.  The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken.  There is nothing more certain in Time or Eternity than what Jesus Christ did on the Cross:  He switched the whole of the human race back into a right relationship with God....

The Cross did not happen to Jesus:  He came on purpose for it.  He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."  The whole meaning of the Incarnation is the Cross....

The centre of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much.  The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened -- but the crash is on the heart of God.

~Oswald Chambers

A Day To Remember

You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;

all my enemies are before you.

Scorn has broken my heart

and has left me helpless;

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

for comforters, but I found none.

They put gall in my food

and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

[Ps 69:19-21]

Jesus, "counted among transgressors," hanging between two thieves.  At birth, surrounded by lowly shepherds.  In life, He hung out with sinners.  He was born, lived, and died among the common.  God with us.

The lofty, those He also came to save, remained detached, removed, at a distance.  In the Temple, on the royal throne of the king's palace, on the judgment seat.  Places traded, skewed.  Roles reversed, perverted.  Sinners in seats of honor, The Honorable among the sinners.  Counted as one of them.

Hung on the place God created to resemble death itself, for it was called "Place of the Skull," Golgotha.

He died a legally guilty man for He took upon Himself the judgment of guilt for all my despicable sins.  The innocent, pure in heart, holy, "counted among the transgressors."

He took my sin, my shame.

He carried my sorrow, my guilt.

He absorbed my penalty, my blows.

He paid my price, my debt.

He died my death.

Remember with me the crucified Christ:

The sign of mockery haloed His gruesome altar.

The garland of thorns embedded upon HIs holy head.

The tear-streaked face in anguish.

The streams of cleansing, clotting blood.

Bare flesh, torn and bruised.

The blood-soaked tree.

Pools of God's saving blood muddied hallowed ground, stomped carelessly underfoot.

The cries, the cruelty, the repulsive and unjust.

The lavish price of my forgiveness.

Buried.

From cave to cave - manger to tomb,

Everlasting to Everlasting,

Lamb of God slain.

Holy God; I pray the prayer of Jesus this day.  For the masses that look to the Cross of Christ and see nothing more than a Jewish criminal, forgive them, for they know not.  May I teach just one otherwise.  In Christ, Amen.

"But I,

when I am lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men to myself."

[Jn 12:32]

Remembering the Garden

As our last days of Lenten reflections draw to a close, we move from the peaceful scene of yesterday, where Jesus was having a quiet conversation with His Father, to the mob scene of today.  Imagine with me as we remember the Garden...

Confusion erupts in the dark among the olive trees of Gethsemane.

Awoken to confrontation, the groggy disciples face an angry mob.  An armed battalion carrying torches invades their peaceful rest.  Judas breaks through the crowd to greet Jesus with a kiss. 

Chaos breaks out.  Peter draws a sword.  Not only does he meet flesh, he meets a rebuke from Jesus. 

Quick as lightening, it's unclear what all happened -- could it really be Jesus they arrested?

No one stuck around to find out as the group dashed into the cover of night. Unfaithful under fire, fear their only master. 

"But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled."

Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

[Mt 26:56]

As for Jesus, He received Judas' kiss.  He watched His friends run. Of course, He knew they would.  He did not slay the mob.  In fact, His final act of freedom was to heal the enemy.  This had all been foretold.  The time had come.  The Trinity's battle - begun in the first garden - has reached its climax in yet another garden.  The victor to be decided in hours....crowned in a matter of days.

The world crashed in and shattered their tranquility.  How often does that happen in your routine?  How often is your faith challenged by fear?  Though difficult to remember, we must:  the worst has already happened.


Lord Jesus; Make me strong to remain faithful under fire.


Art: Hans Holbein the Younger, 1524