Esme's New Friend

 "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10: 14-16

    What a friend we have in Jesus!

    A little over one year ago, our two-year-old granddaughter, Esme, had fallen from a second floor window, landing on her back. The prayer chain sprang into action while we anxiously awaited news. 

    Though it seemed at the time Esme may have had a spinal cord injury, our Heavenly Father, rich in mercy, gave His diagnosis: a mild concussion; no fracture, no paralysis. When we saw a picture of her wearing a wee hospital gown as she walked beside the medical staff, a balloon bobbing overhead, we rejoiced in her salvation from harm. It was as if an angel had lifted her in his hands, lest she dash her foot against the stones below (Psalm 91:11-12)

    Last night, when being tucked into bed, Esme asked her mom if they could pray together because she wanted to ask Jesus to be her friend. Her mother had been telling her that Jesus would come live in her heart if she would invite him. After they prayed, Esme asked her mom to put an ear to her chest to see if she could hear Him in there. Happily, her mother complied, concluding, "Yes! And He is saying, 'I love you, Esme!'"

    This is more thrilling to me than the news of her birth because she has been born of the Spirit. I will never have to say good-bye to my granddaughter; we will live together forever in heaven with our Savior Jesus. I know my mom and dad will love to meet her there in glory! More than these, Esme will have a Friend who walks with her and talks with her, who will never leave her nor forsake her, come what may. What a Friend!

The Savior Kindly Calls

The Savior kindly calls our children to His breast;

He folds them in His gracious arms, Himself declares them blest.

"Let them approach," He cries, "Nor scorn their humble claim;

The heirs of heaven are such as these, for such as these I came.

With joy we bring them, Lord, devoting them to Thee,

Imploring that, as we are Thine, Thine may our offspring be.

    

      

My Dirty Dress

 "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." Psalm 51:3

    Hanging in the back of my closet is a dirty dress I once wore. While searching for something to wear the other day, I saw it there, sin-stained and filthy. It even smells rotten, like a dead animal.

    Why do I keep it? It serves as a reminder of who I used to be. 

    Looking at it now, I can't believe I once wore that and thought I looked pretty good. I didn't know how ill-dressed I was until I compared myself to the holiness of Jesus.

    Because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), even when I thought I looked my best, "all my righteous acts were like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6) That's why the dress smells like death, because I was dead in my transgressions. But when I asked Jesus to clean me up, He took off my grave clothes and gave me His own precious robe of righteousness. And, I might add, it's a perfect fit!

    Though that is pretty amazing, there's more.

    God doesn't see that dress in my closet. In fact, he has forgotten all about it. He said, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25) If I had any sense, I would put that dress where God keeps such things: "You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19)

    But, like I said, I keep it as a reminder. I never want to return to that style of living. Why would I? I am clad in garments of praise, no longer in a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3) as is fitting for the Bride of Christ. 

I'm lookin' pretty good these days.

"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 fine garments on you.'" Zechariah 3: 3-4

    

Perfection in 6/16ths of an Inch

 "He has made all things beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

    In the dappled sunshine serenaded by an avian symphony, I set out on a morning walk in the neighborhood. 

    The lawns of the more affluent, whose homes preside over the harbor, were immaculately tended. Verdant ribbons of grass curled around curated gardens, weed free and pristine, while forays of flowers bobbed their heads in personal pride, enjoying their prominent residence. 

    On the opposite side of the street, as I passed a humble bungalow, I almost missed a bouquet which rivaled the splendor of Solomon. Deep in the grass near the edge of the road grew a wee trail of orange-colored blossoms, certain to be classified as a weed by those who would know. 

    Reaching down, I plucked one for closer examination. Five tangerine petals formed a Christmas star which framed the stamen and pistil that symmetrically formed a star within a star. Fascinating!

    Once home, I placed the treasure in a small saucer of water. The diameter of the blossom measured 6/16th of an inch, yet its perfect beauty bore silent testimony to the wonder of our Creator. 

    If the eternality of God is reflected in a flower smaller than a dime, how much more should we who are formed in His image? Solomon's observation in the verse above is spot on: Though God has set eternity in our hearts, do we take time to fathom all He has done? 

    It's been said, "Take time to smell the roses," but the wonder of God can also be seen in a tiny weed.

"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Matthew 6: 28-29 

    

The Wedding

 "You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:11

    It was dubbed "The Wedding of the Centuries," and since I was a skillful writer, I was chosen to cover the story. It was the chance of a lifetime, a most coveted opportunity, one I was beyond excited to report.

    Taking my seat among the others of the press box, I breathed a sigh of relief for having the necessary credentials for admittance to the gala of such magnanimous opulence. This regal wedding had no precedence, for no other such occasion could begin to rival the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

    The King of kings, also known as the Great I Am and the Lion of Judah, had chosen a bride whom, we had heard, He will crown with love and compassion, replacing her raiment of ashes and despair. Every ear had heard about this, but no eye had yet seen.

    So we waited. Cameras poised. Pens in hand. Then, as the symphony of stringed instruments ebbed and flowed, the aromas of myrrh and aloes, comingled with cassia, announced His arrival. Every knee bowed as the Bridegroom, clothed in splendor and majesty, strode from His chamber, his sword girded on his side. Like the sun that rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other, nothing was deprived of His warmth.

    Jesus Christ, who had ridden forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice, had been given the place of authority at the right hand of God. The kingdom of the world had become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and with the scepter of justice, He shall reign forever and ever. His right hand achieved awesome deeds; sharp arrows had pierced the hearts of the King's enemies. The nations had fallen beneath His feet! His throne, where palaces were adorned with ivory, will last forever and ever. And now, in the fullness of time, with the last enemy having become His footstool, the King had come for his bride.

    Who was she, this most honored of all women? Who was this Princess, all glorious within her chamber, who had kept her lamp filled with oil and the wick trimmed while her Kinsman-Redeemer went to prepare a place for her? Rumor had it she had made herself ready; fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. The media leaked that she had adorned herself with her jewels and her gown was interwoven with the gold of Ophir.

    From my seat in the press box, I had been writing what I was witnessing at a frenzied pace, not wanting to miss one detail of the scene, but now this pregnant pause poised my pen above paper as we all awaited the arrival of the bride.

    Behold! What was this unexpected commotion to my left? I turned to see the steward of the King coming to me with an urgent message:

    "Listen, daughter," he began, "and pay careful attention. Forget your people and your father's house. Let the King be enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord." I could not believe my ears, but he continued. "Because you made peace with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you have gained access by faith into this grace in which you now stand. In embroidered garments, you will be led to the King, followed by your virgin companions. You will enter the palace of the King in joy and gladness!"

    Me? I am the Bride of Christ?! It seemed incredible that this lowly reporter, seated at the very end of the press box, was worthy to occupy the seat of honor at the banquet table.

    As I rose on shaky legs, I heard the steward say, "Come!" to others that had been chosen since before the creation of the world. "Come! Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." We, who believed in the death and resurrection of Jesus, were all the bride of Christ.

    As we shed our earthly tents, we donned the righteous robes of Christ for, without the proper attire, the King will tie that interloper hand and foot and throw him into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

    What a happy throng we made, this heavenly host arrayed in white. We joined the chorus of angels singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." As we filed into the great banquet hall, God Himself dwelt among us, making sure to wipe any tears from our eyes. Those days of mourning, crying or pain had passed away.

    An angel graciously helped me find my place at the long table, heavy laden with fresh flowers and the richest of fare. Golden plates gleamed and crystal stemware sparkled by the light of the Son. My heart skipped with joy when I espied my name card at the center of the place setting. My name! Inscribed beneath were these words:

 "I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name. You are mine."

Love, Jesus

Scriptures were drawn from: Psalm 45, Psalm 19:5, Isaiah 43:1, 54:5, 55:2, 61:10, 62:5, Matthew 22: 1-14, 25:5, John 14: 2-3, Romans 5:2, Philippians 2:10, Hebrews 10:13, Revelation 4:8, 11:15, 19:7, 21: 2-9, 22:17

    

How to be a Know-It-All

 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

    On June 7, 1996, my parents gifted me with a Bible. On the dedication page, my mom wrote the reference to the verse above, the last written words of the Apostle Peter. 

    Like the impetuous Peter, I sometimes think I know-it-all. I can relate to him when he drew a sword in the Gethsemane garden in defense of Jesus (John 18:10). I'd like to think I'd be ready to follow my Lord fervently, even to prison and martyrdom (Luke 22:33). If we're honest, any of us would rather be remembered as being heroic than being the one who denied even knowing Christ (Luke 22:57). Like Peter, my hopes would also be blotted out by the blood of an executed Messiah.

    That's why Peter's advice above keeps coming back to me; these are words of wisdom spoken by someone who knows. There are two keys to unlocking the wisdom. First, I must grow in grace. This requires humility, a stepping-aside in love to be a better listener, to get off my high horse and wash the feet of others (John 13:14). Second, I give Him the glory both now and forever! Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing (John 15:5).

    When Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, he said, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19, emphasis added)

    Upon reading that, I wondered how I can know something that "surpasses knowledge"? 

    It wasn't until I looked back upon the doodle I had made when journaling the verse. I had drawn a horizontal line to demonstrate how wide and how long is the love of Christ. Then, I had drawn a vertical line to express how high and deep it is. Lo and behold, there before me was a cross!

    If I want to be a know-it-all, I must set aside my Bible and just bask in the Presence of Christ, to let His love pour over me. 

    Life goes full circle. Before the Fall of Mankind, Adam used to walk with God in the cool of the day, perhaps talking about the animals or gazing up at the galaxies in wonder. Since sin entered in, God and Man have pined for one another, keenly missing the blessing of that fellowship. Thanks be to God, the bridge has been mended by the Cross! The vertical and the horizontal meet in the middle as the vortex of history swirls around Calvary. 

    When the ascended Christ restored the repentant Peter over breakfast on the shores of Galilee, He did so by asking, "Do you love me?" (John 15-19) Jesus asks the same of me and of you before bidding us to "Follow Me." 

    That's when the real learning begins.

"Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." 1 Corinthians 13:8

     

The Rainbow and the Cross

 "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of the flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Colossians 2: 13-15

    After Bible study the other night, my friend and I were treated to an awesome sky designed simply to delight us. As we drove home, it was challenging to stay in my lane as I craned to see this spectacle. The dark cloud bank on one end lay in stark contrast to the setting sun at the west, where the brooding bunch reluctantly parted, ushering in a golden splendor that bathed shadowy trees in a holy illumination. 

    As we rounded a bend, the crowning glory came into view as a full rainbow arched across the dramatic vista stealing our breath. By that time, it became clear I needed to pull over to take a picture. After obtaining the best view, I shared it with my friend, lamenting the telephone pole that stood in the way of the otherwise perfect pic. 

    Then my friend wisely commented, "But did you notice the pole is in the shape of a cross?"

    Indeed, what I had perceived as being "in the way" became the focal point of the photograph as the cross, with all its redemptive hope, took center stage over the now secondary rainbow.  It was a blessing to see these two symbols of God's covenants with mankind occupying the same scene. 

    Once home, gratefulness for God's promises filled my heart as I pondered the photo.

    After the great flood, God said to Noah, "Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life." (Genesis 9: 14-15) 

    Just as the ark saved Noah and his family, the blood of Christ provided salvation to all who believe in His name. As Jesus said at the Last Supper, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:20) By His death on the cross, He ushered in the new covenant spoken of in the Old Testament when God said, "I will be their God and they will be my people...For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31: 33-34)

    How many people have stumbled over the cross, seeing it as an offense that is "in the way" rather than the very thing that has the power to save them from an eternal doom? My prayer is that the love of God breaks through their clouded heart with holy illumination, accepting Jesus as their personal Savior.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18   

    

Land of Their Dreams

 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

    When the realtor first showed us the home we ended up buying ten years ago, the goosebumps on my arms told me this was the right place for us. And it's true; we are very content here.

    Be that as it may, this is not my dream home. That is yet to come!

    A friend gave me this poem while at church yesterday. It's too divine to keep to myself:

Some glorious morning they will come

From all nations, from every generation;

Side by side, they will march

Into the celestial city of Jehovah.

And in perfect harmony

They will begin humming a new song,

A song composed by God, arranged for his children.

As the saved by grace approach the land of their dreams,

The Host of heaven will step aside;

Even the angels will be silent,

For they cannot sing this new song,

For it is a song reserved for voices

Who once cried out for the Redeemer -

Those washed in the blood of the Lamb -  

Yes, these are the Redeemed.

    As I was pulling weeds this morning, I kept thinking about "the land of their dreams." Tis the place Jesus spoke of in John chapter 14: "My Father's house has many rooms...I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

    If you are bogged down by a mundane task today, or troubled by grave circumstances, lift your hearts to God and let Him remind you of the dream home you will someday occupy as one of the Redeemed. Then go out and tell others of the wonderous things God has done in your life. Maybe they will come, too. There will be plenty of room (and no weeds!)

"And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35: 8-10