Just a little peek

I’m not much of a fan of really hot or really cold weather. I really think I was born to live in Hawaii where it’s 72 degrees year-round. But I guess living in North Florida is better than South Florida where you practically swim in your own perspiration. It does get pretty hot up here though. But as much as I hate sticky, hot weather, I really despise cold, wet Florida weather. Everyone in my house is cold blooded and think they need the heat jacked up to 90 degrees when it gets cold outside.

Well, I come equipped with my own internal nuclear reactor, and don’t really need the artificial assistance of a gas heater.

But enough about my hormones.

There is one thing I really love about the winter; and that is the cold, winter sky. At night, when it’s really cold - like in the low thirties (I know, those who live up north think we’re weinees), and there are no clouds in the sky… it is then that I love to throw my head back and take in the utter magnificence of the stars strewn across the inky blackness.

I remember a science project we did when I was in elementary school. We all got a corrugated box and painted the exterior black. With some sharp instrument like an ice pick (that was back in the 60’s when kids could be trusted in school with sharp instruments and all the school rooms were painted with lead-based paint), we poked holes in the box. Some poked randomly, but most poked our holes in an astrological pattern that we copied from a paper the teacher provided.

Then the teacher put a light in the box, closed it up, turned off the classroom lights, and turned on the light inside the box. It looked so cool – like the starry sky on a clear, moonless, winter night.

Back then, it didn’t take a whole lot to impress elementary age kids.

Taking my dogs out before bedtime and then again before dawn every morning, I have plenty of opportunities to stargaze. On the first really clear, cold night of this winter, I looked up to the moonless sky. Immediately, I was transported back some forty-odd years to Mrs. Caldwell’s third grade class – I was looking at the black box again.

Some folks like to say there are windows in the floor of heaven where the current inhabitants can look down and see us. I like to think of it a little differently, even though there is no scriptural basis for any of these musings. It kinda looks to me like God has poked holes in the blackness of the night sky so that just a tiny glimpse of His Glory is visible to those who are looking for it.

We must stop often, open our eyes, ears and souls to really take in and experience the works of His Hands and appreciate it. His Glory is all around us.

In the shelter of the Most High

I spotted the squirrel nest in the fork of a tall oak tree. The wind was blowing furiously and the branches were waving like crazed fans at a rock concert. In wonder, I thought again how incredibly good God is to all of His creation – including the little squirrels and birds that live in the tree tops. Although that nest looks dangerous to my eye, it’s inhabitants feel safety in the altitude, the sheltering limbs that stretch all around and cover it, and the strong foundation of the forked trunk beneath the nest. For a squirrel, it’s probably the safest place he can be.

I inhabit a similar, seemingly perilous shelter - poised high above human understanding. Unbelievers may think I’m crazy because of the trust I place in The Lord to hold me up, to sustain me and to shelter me. From their vantage point, I am sitting on a bunch of twigs and branches way up in the top of that tree that’s swaying in the wind. How can that possibly be secure, they ask?

Until you know Him, you can’t understand it either.

I can feel the safety of the altitude. My faith rests in the Most High. Even though my flesh grows clammy at the very thought of heights, this is a spiritual high that is both exhilarating and awe-inspiring.

Psalm 91 talks about this place, resting in the Most High. This is one of the most comforting passages in God’s Word.

Psalm 91 (NKJV)
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.”

When the concerns of this life have you in a tailspin, just remember Who’s holding you.

For the directionally-challenged

My parents are finally retired and able to enjoy the freedom of traveling at leisure now, so they are spending a lot more time on the road in one of their vehicles. Since my mom doesn’t see a need for the likes of a computer, their household is technologically-deprived. So the navigational system in his new truck is the source of much excitement for my dad. When they visited us for Christmas, he was telling us all about how he used the GPS on their most recent road trip.

Now, anyone who has one of these techno-marvels knows that the unrealistically calm female voice that directs your travel route can get on anyone’s nerves after a while. Especially when she repeats herself … over … and over.

If you use the audible navigation system very often, then you have undoubtedly heard the message: “you are now off course. Please make a u-turn ….” Apparently this gets on my mother’s last good nerve. When she had finally heard it for the umpteenth time on that trip, she snapped “There is only ONE woman in this car who can tell you how to drive!” We all enjoyed a good belly-laugh at that one!

While we were still laughing, I thought how God must be thinking something along those lines, but He is far too much a Gentleman to point it out quite so bluntly.

He has given us a life-navigational system: The Holy Spirit.

He has given us the instruction manual: His Word.

With all the celebrities, politicians, personal trainers, life coaches, talk show hosts, and other “experts” talking at us, it might seem hard to figure out whose advice to follow.

There is only One Voice that we should be listening to on this journey of life. With all the hills and valleys, twists and turns, sideroads, shortcuts and dark alleys that we encounter, it’s so comforting to know that my Internal Navigational system is always right … I just have to tune out all the static around me and listen to Him.

John 10:4 (NLT)
After He has gathered his own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.

The Bible is a compass, pointing you in the right direction.
Anonymous

A new year and a new start

As most of us do on this day every year, I have made a New Years' resolution. I've adopted a commitment to learn more of God's Word, memorize it and hide it in my heart. My favorite Bible teacher, Beth Moore, has challenged her "Siestas" to commit to memorizing and meditating on 24 scriptures this year. On the 1st and 15th of every month, over 2400 people (as of this morning) who are participating in this challenge are signing on to her blog and posting our chosen scripture for all of our accountability partners to see.

For several weeks now, I've felt strongly impressed to add an element to this blog: 365 days of Fear Not. I've heard many say that there are 365 occurrences of "Fear not" (or some semblence thereof) in the Bible - one for every day of the year. While I'm sure someone else has already done this, and probably published a devotional book or calendar of these verses, I haven't run across it. Being a strong Type-A personality, my natural bent is to maintain control ... of everything. And we always fear what we cannot control. That is, until we remember that God is always in control, and we have no reason to fear. Fear is a form of disbelief - not trusting that God has His Hand on the very thing or situation that we fear. I believe the Holy Spirit is inviting me to find all the Fear Not verses and meditate on them daily. Committing to adding these scriptures to this blog will help me remain focused on this project. And train my spirit to trust and believe ... and fear not.

With the Lord's help, I will post a Fear Not verse in the upper right column of this blog every day this year.

As I was going through my Bible, praying for guidance as to which scripture to memorize first, I came upon, and kept coming back to Isaiah 43:1-4. These verses remind me of God's presence in all aspects of my life and give me comfort in times of distress. As I was posting the verse on Beth's website, I realized that it is a "Fear not" verse as well!

God is highly pleased when we put His Word in our heart. It has been said that people are like trash cans. Whenever they are tipped over, whatever is inside will come out. I am ashamed to admit that, when I am jostled by life, what spills out is not always pleasing to the Lord. This year, I want God to imprint His Words all over my heart, so that when I am tipped over, His promises, love and grace to flow forth.