No Trespassing

 "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup: you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16: 5, 6

    We once had a neighbor who was a tad off. He did his best work alone, at night, when most everyone was tucked in. Though I knew he meant no harm, it was a bit disconcerting to be awakened by a scritching noise, peer out the bedroom window and see him below in our yard, pulling weeds and watering the garden.

    As I write this, I gaze out upon our back yard where we now live, gratitude welling in my heart for this lot to call our own, at least for a breadth of time. The only trespassers we experience these days have feather or fur (or snake skin!).

    There's a house on the corner yonder way which has several "No Trespassing" signs posted. When I walk past, I think, "I wouldn't want to go there anyhow. I have a lovely yard of my own."

    Spiritually speaking, my Lord has given me a lush Garden of Eden where I am sustained by the Bread of Life while rivers of grace fill my cup to overflowing. The parameters He has set in place render security and keep predators at bay. The Bible describes this as a fortress, a haven of rest. 

    Should I ever roam, as I have regretfully done in the past, He comes looking for me. "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." (Ezekiel 34:11) He brought me back to the fold.

    Is it a coincidence that the word "trespass" is a synonym for sin? When saying the Lord's Prayer, we implore, "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." (Matthew 6:12) When I trespass, I wander into territories that are fraught with dangers, like entering unknown properties. What is there to gain in that when I have a beautiful place to call my own?

    And so, in Christ I have my home, my dwelling place for all eternity where I am protected from all evil by his rod and his staff.  There's no place like home.

"Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever." Psalm 112: 1, 3

No Fear

 "Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes." Psalm 112:6-8

    Have you ever disturbed a nest of ants and observed their frenzied displeasure? Last week, Satan poked a stick into our family's nest.

    Our daughter called from Texas: "I've an emergency! Please pray." Our granddaughter, Esme, aged two and a half, fell from a second floor window to a bed of river rock below, landing on her back. Our frantic reaction to this news began requests for prayers which were dispatched immediately.

    Meanwhile, in the ambulance, plans were discussed to divert the course to a hospital that specialized in spinal cord injuries when Esme was unresponsive to sensation on her feet. 

    The Bible assures us that God hears our prayers. "I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears...The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." (Psalm 34: 4, 17) We were crying out and He was listening because that little gal wriggled her toes! There was no need for a spinal specialist because the Great Physician gave the diagnosis.

    Scans revealed no fractures, only a mild concussion. A follow up visit proved the sovereignty of God as the baffled doctor stated, "Someone was watching out for this little one!" Today, she is an active as-if-nothing-happened toddler.

    Why is it so important to attend church, especially if there are so many great sermons online? It's because, like those ants, there's unity in the body of Christ. Had this tragedy occurred to an unbeliever, calls to friends and family may incur thoughts and bring assistance, but how much more power is there in the prayers of the righteous being heard by the living God?

    When one of God's children sounds the alarm, an army responds. I thank God and all who prayed.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3

When Time Stood Still

 "Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge." Psalm 16:1

    On this sunny Saturday, I had just finished devouring the sixteenth Psalm over breakfast when our daughter called. 

    "I've an emergency! I need prayer right away!" she implored.

    At that moment, time stood still as my heart thudded in my ears and tears sprang to my eyes. Though we stay as closely connected as possible given there are 1400 miles between us, the distance at that moment was incredibly palpable. A helpless dread threatened at the door.

    But I serve a risen Savior, One who is active in my day-to-day, so when fear engulfed me, faith took command of the situation. All the basic training I'd ever received at bible study boot camps sprang to life as I hit my knees, rapidly claiming the promises of God as if I were drawing up a battle plan. Memorized verses came from my holster. I initiated waves of communication to the family of God to pray without ceasing. And when the words would not come, the Holy Spirit interceded for me (Romans 8:26). 

    Had I lived in her town, of course I would have gone straight to her, but Jesus, to Whom has been given all authority under heaven, has the power to enter hearts and hospital rooms that would have been closed to me. He was in the ambulance. He directed the physicians. He posted his angels on guard. All hail the power of Jesus' Name!

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

Bend the Knee

 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26

    Beneath the brilliant sky of blue, my husband and I attended a track meet to see my sister's grandson compete. As we approached the field, it was easy to spot Mason, tall and blonde. Finding a vantage spot on the fence line opposite the pole vault area, we enjoyed the sunshine watching students from many local school districts competing. 

    Time and again, this student and that one did their best to vault above the bar until finally I saw Mason grasp his pole. I was excited to see how he'd do, but it was what he did prior to his athletic attempt that both thrilled and humbled me.

    He bent on one knee and bowed his head to God in prayer.

    There, in the center of a busy field of activity, time seemed to stop as I saw this young man of fourteen humble himself before his Savior. 

    It caused me to ask how many times have I paused to pray in public areas? Or am I prone to go along with the crowd, not wanting to call attention to Jesus by my actions?

    Though Mason's way was not pharisaical in any way, he introduced Jesus to others who may not know Him by putting his faith into action.

    Whether he won the competition or not became secondary to the victory he claimed on bended knee in an athletic field. He is a winner.

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2: 9-11 

Heaven's Scent

 "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him."                       1 Corinthians 2:9

    Though the day was briskly cold, I determined to walk to the lagoons anyway. To my delight, along the way was a gift from my Creator - a fragrant bouquet of dark violet lilacs in full bloom. As I paused to graciously receive this aromatic blessing, I wondered about the scents of heaven. 

    Our eyes shall behold the promised Holy City, coming down in all its brilliance like that of a very precious jewel. In our ears will reverberate the din of the multitude, like the roar of Niagara with loud peals of thunder and shouts of Hallelujah. 

    But what treats await our olfactory senses? 

    When I was a child, my family loved to dine on the back porch where the summery aromas of the honeysuckle vine overpowered any culinary offerings. This sweet scent spurs memories of long ago with such clarity that the passage of years evaporates, and suddenly I am there once more.

    I hope heaven smells like that, and I am quite confident it will. The God who infuses our earthly home with whiffs of jasmine or the glories of gardenia will most certainly satiate our senses with the richest of aromas in our new abode. 

    Such an anticipation is heaven sent.

"Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple." Psalm 65:4

    

Glass Houses

 Jesus said, "'Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' 

    At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

    Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'

    'No one, sir,' she said.

    'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.'" John 8: 7-11

    In our local paper, on the front page, there was a report of a woman I knew some years ago. It surprised me to learn she had been convicted of theft.

    It pleases me none to say my immediate thought was to call so-and-so and spread the news. After all, she was fair game, being in the paper and all. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit reminded me to have compassion on her. What if a sin of mine was posted for all to see? 

    Perhaps you have heard of this proverb, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." Though Solomon did not write this, its premise is biblical, hearkening back to the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. She was front page news as her accusers dragged her before Jesus for all to see, demanding she be stoned in payment for her deed (as quoted above).

    Indeed, God's word says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 3: 23, 6:23) However, before you slump in dejection as the memory of your sins weighs upon you, finish reading these verses!

    "...for all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ." and " ...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

    Obviously, sin is not okay with God since the Lord caused his only Son to suffer as our sacrifice. "The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) That is the very essence of the Good News.

    We all live in glass houses. When we see another stumble in the chains of slavery to sin, let's remember to pray for that person to meet the One who has the power to break those chains.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:16-21

  

Even There

 "Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:10

    One of the perks of being a senior is having a colonoscopy.

    Of course, I am speaking facetiously since the entire procedure (for me) is akin to having a hood placed over my head as I am led to the gallows. Yes, yes, I know it's for my benefit and all that, but I am a coward when faced with all things medical.

    To enlighten those who may not have participated in this experience, the preparations leading up to this rather odious screening of one's colon involves a gradual weaning of the very sustenance that keeps one alive, that is food and water, so that, in the final six hours, not even an ice chip may pass one's lips. 

    So, it was in this very weakened, sleepless condition that I entered the doors of the endoscopy clinic. Upon arrival, a cloud of angst settled 'round me like a raiment of doom. It didn't help matters when the receptionist quizzed me about having a "Do Not Resuscitate" order on file. By the time I was ushered behind the curtain, fear had so fully engulfed me that I timidly asked the nurse in a thin voice, "How many people have died on the table in this place?"

    She calmly assured me of the rare occurrence of that particular danger. As she turned my right arm to administer my IV, she commented on my tattoo which bears the reference of my life verse, Isaiah 41:10. "So do not fear," I began to recite, "for I am with you..." The nurse smiled in full acknowledgment, assuring me she also knew that verse. 

    Ah, the words of the Lord that are "sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:10) coursed through my veins, bringing His strength and peace. The Holy Spirit within reminded me to "Consider Him who endured such opposition." Thoughts of my Jesus, who went forty days and nights without sustenance in the desert of temptation, was tended by the angels when it was all over. I knew He tended to my needs as well. 

    Is God present in an endoscopy clinic? Yes! Even there. I can attest to it.

    Feeling much better the following day, I opened my Bible and randomly selected a Psalm where David's words, penned to God while in the Desert of Judah, became my own:

"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you. I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips I will praise you. On my bed I will remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I will sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me." (Psalm 63: 1-8)