Anchor For The Soul

I love what John Bunyan has said:  "Faith is the anchor which enters within the veil; Christ in us the hope of glory is the mighty cable which keeps us fast to that anchor. 'Faith lays hold of that end of the promise that is nearest to us, to wit, in the Bible -- Hope lays hold of that end that is fastened to the mercy-seat.' Thus the soul is kept by the mighty power of God. They who have no hope, enter Doubting Castle of their own free will -- they place themselves under the tyranny of Giant Despair -- that he may put out their eyes, and send them to stumble among the tombs, and leave their bones in his castle-yard, a trophy to his victories, and a terror to any poor pilgrim caught by him trespassing on Bye-path Meadow. Hope is as a guardian angel -- it enables us to come boldly to a throne of grace 'in a goodly sort.' The subject is full of consolation. Are we profanely apt to judge of God harshly, as of one that would gather where he had not strawn? Hope leads us to form a holy and just conception of the God of love." 

 Charles Spurgeon once said, "We make our troubles much greater than they need be by turning them over, considering them from all points of view, weighing them and meditating on them..."     

Doubting Castle and all castles weren't just built upon the ground, their builders trenched down to the bedrock, they stood tall and foreboding, speaking loudly of the Lord of the Castle's power.  Let's consider what Spurgeon said above.  When we've allowed ourselves to end up in Doubting Castle, stuck there, we ponder every angle of assailing troubles until the doubts take hold and like black shadowy fowls, they nest in our minds. Quickly, they hatch and the offspring of doubts sting our thoughts and sap our peace.  But reach out one hand and remember to take hold of the scarlet thread of the Bloodline of Jesus Christ!  Remember the words of John Bunyan above that hope is anchored by faith to the mercy seat of God.  

English author, William Gurnall said, "Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation (balm of hope-filled encouragement - Barbara's definition), that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called "the rejoicing of hope"  (Hebrews 3:6b).

Some Go Down To The Sea

Desired Wave Haven

I just returned from a phenomenal women's beach retreat in Cherry Grove & N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The waves were faithfully relentless in performing their job.  In and out, rhythm and force, splash and crash, gleaming and foaming, they were wonderfully inspiring.  God always speaks through His waves. 

Waves of emotions.

We're taught to control our emotions so that we always appear rational, but sometimes we habitually stuff true feelings down into the pit of our hearts so much that our rational appearance becomes idolatry.  Identity based on appearance leads us down the path of p-r-i-d-e and that is a sure-recipe for all levels of spiritual and relational disaster.  I'm not saying to become a raging, emotional volcano or to be immature, but if you are reading this, then you are probably still walking the earth in a flesh and blood body.  Emotions are healthy human responses.  God doesn't deny that His intention is that we be whole, healthy human beings in body, soul and spirit; that includes healthy thoughts and emotions.  How we "frame" our thoughts - what we allow to "flesh-out" and become reality - will be vital factors in our becoming more like Jesus and living that mission out in front of others.  

Proverbs 23:7a  "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..."

Doctors tell us to pay attention to what our body is telling us - what little red flags is it sending up to signal that something needs adjusted or corrected?  Listening to the emotional aspect of our lives is just as important.  Do those same waves drift up to the surface of your heart and mind?  We thought those waves had passed a long time ago.  Do you hear an emotional pain crying out for attention and pleading for a healing balm?  

Is God saying, "Something is not in order, attend to it!"

The Lord spoke a word to me several years ago.  Literally, one word.  The word was "groundswell."  It was a curiosity to me because I had dreamed about being devastated by a huge tidal wave that literally had a menacing personality and was threateningly full of "body language."  It seemed to look at me and chase me down.  Not long after the dream our family faced a dark night season and the menace of that wave hung over us like a fog.  We all had opportunity to soul search and allow our personal groundswell-tidal wave to do its business with our emotions.  Getting to the root, the seat of our hearts, we determined that we would hold on through the storm, but watching the deep heart-dredging was painful.  It was soul surgery that seemed painfully grief filled but so necessary for healing and going forward.  Emotions bubbled up over and over again as the Lord's groundswell waves dealt with the deep "ocean floor" of our hearts, dredging and dealing and delivering.  He reminded us that He had made man's heart bigger than the wide sea and He was Master of the waves on it.  

Psalm 107:23--30  "Some go down to the sea and travel over it in ships to do business in great waters;  These see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.  For He commands and raises up the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.  [Those aboard] mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the deeps; their courage melts away because of their plight.  They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits’ end [all their wisdom has come to nothing]. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.

He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still.

Then the men are glad because of the calm, and He brings them to their desired haven."

Can you feel the emotional stirring of the waters?  Do you see a great groundswell wave rising over the horizon and targeting your heart?  Does the Spirit of God need to "do business" with your heart?  Do you hear your emotions crying for healing attention...again?

The Lord's final say so in these matters is that He has a desired haven for you.  The groundswell that rises up because of the silent, deep, ever resident stirring can have a beautiful outcome of release from the old hurts; wholeness and emotionally healthy spirituality are your's (and mine.) There is hope in the face of the groundswell waves.

Hold On!

Hold on ~ photo credit:  Jake Schnake

When the mountains are in front of you, don't let go, don't give up, don't despair, keep going; even if you feel like you're going at a turtle's pace, determine that you won't stop - tell yourself, "At least I'm still going forward!"  

A friend encouraged me years ago with, "If there's still a pulse, you still have a purpose."

The decision to go through major surgery came just after we moved twenty-seven years worth of business collateral out of our leased suite, which occurred just after we sold our family business, which occurred just after we returned from our son's amazing wedding, which occurred just after my rock-of-the-family mother-in-law "graduated" to be with Jesus, which happened just after my close friend's husband also "graduated."  

The recovery time was a season to really reflect tremendously; to revisit places in my soul with the Lord that I had skimmed over during my fly-time as a business co-owner all those years.  I re-invested my heart in the fearsome dream of committing my thoughts onto the typed and written page.  Oh, how my patient husband has encouraged this activity through the years, never losing confidence in me and he would never let me let go!  (I'm sure God has a special crown awaiting him.)  He is my belay partner.  (OK, I have to be transparent before my son and daughter-in-law bust me for pretending to know what I'm talking about!)

I can now empathize, to a small degree, with what my husband's Mom went through in the long nights of waking up and trying not to disturb your spouse's sleep.  Lying there, asking God for the strength and grace to hold on.  She climbed to the very top of the very last mountain that her earthly destiny called her to.  God gave her "hinds feet to walk upon her high places."  
      
"The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make      me to walk upon mine high places."  Habakkuk 3:19

I echoed her favorite encouragement verse over and over again, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

I'm now praying with my sister and the rest of my family as my bold-hearted brother-in-law fights through the mountains and valleys of cancer in his body.  He is a determined man of faith who is holding on to his Father God's hand and climbing with sure-footed hope of God's best plan being accomplished.  Please join us in prayer for his health and strength.

Waiting in hope.  That is really a place where the fire in our impatient souls is stoked.  It can feel like you are hanging onto the sheer side of a mountain without a rope.  (By now you know that I have never done this in the natural realm - you guys are figuring me out, yes.) 
Nevertheless, it is just as real emotionally and spiritually.  In that place, the Holy Spirit, our ever-present Teacher, is weaving the substance of faith even stronger inside our hearts and He is perfectly recalibrating our spiritual vision and saying, "Open your eyes now that you have climbed higher, a little closer to your Father's perspective."  He seems to massage His amazing grace into our weary hearts like oil until we have assurance that we can continue to wait for God's good outcome. 

Be determined to hold on until you have the assurance that you will see His best be accomplished for you, His purposes manifested.  Hold on and be convinced that God has been doing something good for your benefit, and He has been working, even if in secret, all along the way up your mountain.

After months of being at home, missing my church family, but abundantly blessed by the nurturing care of my natural family, we finally climbed up the Blue Ridge to Harvest House Church in Boone.  That first day back, I was blessed as a few wonderful "sisters in the Lord" performed a powerful choreography with banners and signed the words to the following song just for me.  The climb up my mountains is training my hands for the battles and training my hinds feet to hold with hope in the ascents.  

(From:  Bethel Music / It Is Well lyrics)
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see

And this mountain that's in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

-  Chorus
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name...It is well it is well with my soul

    

Hope Sees

"So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life, look at your life through heaven's eyes"

(lyrics by Brian Stokes Mitchell, "Through Heaven's Eyes" 
on the soundtrack "The Prince of Egypt," 1998) 

In the movie, young Moses had run to the desert to escape the wrath of Pharaoh and God began to paint for him a whole new identity; from an Egyptian Prince to a man of God, who the Almighty so loved that he called him His friend. (Exodus 33:11, Numbers 12:8)

You and I are beloved sons and daughters of the Father of Life!  Jesus has written your name on the palm of His hand and I believe He looks at your name and mine every day and traces it with His fingers until the day He will literally caress our faces in His loving hands when He tells us how long He has waited for that day!  Oh, what a day to hope for!

Let's look at two men who loved to see through Heaven's eyes.

The Apostle Paul began his career as a man who was greatly feared among followers of Christ.  Paul, or Saul, as he was called then, believed with all of his heart that he had been commissioned by God to rid the land of this "heretical teaching" when he was struck blind during a personal visit by the resurrected Lord Himself! Jesus corrected Saul's vision by blinding him! (Acts 9)  The outcome of that encounter with the glorified Lord was that Saul became Paul, his heart and mind were renewed, he became blind to all of his past, he accepted new life as a beloved son of God and was no longer a performer of dead religious traditions. Paul's spiritual eyes were opened as he was stricken with blindness.  He received a vision of his place in the body of Christ and was filled with hope for the race that was set before him.  We see in his letter to the Corinthians that he literally saw from heaven's perspective.  (2 Corinthians 12)  Paul was strengthened to endure the perils on the path - he ran the course of his race until the day he met the Lord who had captured his vision and his heart. 

David was a shepherd boy who had watched as Almighty God straightened many winding paths before his feet. I believe he made the Lord's Presence his "Google Maps" as he led his herd of sheep through treacherous middle eastern lands.  "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip."  (2 Samuel 22:37 KJV)  The eyes of David's young heart were thirsty for glimpses of heaven...and God delighted in that...and God satiated his thirsty soul!  David knew of the deep love between Moses and his Lord and he desired the same.  

     "He made known His ways unto Moses..."  Psalm 103:7 

David was called by God to become the next king of Israel but we know that he had to wait many years before this was realized.  How David nurtured great hope in his heart for the accomplishment of his rise to the throne, as God had promised.  The stirring, power-laden Psalms still ring out with the hope and love that David had in his heart for his Lord.  God allowed David to tap into and taste a New Testament-type grace in those ancient days simply because he yielded his heart to the Lover of his soul.  David understood grace and we see how he shed grace in many ways in the scripture-history of his life.  One awesome example is the account of the rag-tag, destitute, in-debt outcasts who were drawn to David as he was in exile at the cave of Adullam. (1 Samuel 22)  These broken spirited men lived and fought side by side with David, who sang to the Lord and sought His instructions for victory in battle.  They were transformed into the mighty men that we can read about later in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 12.  Through the revelation that David had in his heart - that he was a beloved son to God and not a performing slave - those men grasped the treasured glimpses from Heaven themselves and the negative self images and the depression and the grief and the loneliness left.  The longings of their hearts began to be realized, hope swallowed up the despairs of their past lives and they saw through Heaven's eyes what their true identities really were - they were not just mighty warriors for David but they were mighty treasures to the Lord.  

"Lord, thank You for opening the eyes of our understanding and letting us see through Your eyes."

Hope Flag

Have you ever declared with absolute resolution, "I will not......"  (fill in the blank)

I can personally say that those words can be a dangerous or challenging statement.  Dangerous when we, ignorantly or willfully, are shaking our fist in the face of logic, or, at  times in the face of God, Who really does desire the best outcomes in our lives.  That is a battle of the will power and we have the classic and ultimate example of its detrimental outcome when we read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28.  Or, it can be taken as a personal challenge.  

Now, personally, I recall making that declaration in High School during a drama class monologue.  Our teacher had invited noted community leaders to be in our audience.  My mind froze and I completely panicked.  I walked off the stage declaring that I would never speak in front of people again!  Fast forward...now I have several mental images of myself addressing hundreds of people doing one thing that I love to do - encourage others in the scriptures. (God has a way of turning things around for our best.)

Earlier this year I also heard myself saying, "I will not..."  That declaration was made to my doctor when he knew the best route for my physical benefit and strength was immediate surgery. "But God!  I have waited for You to heal me!"  "My hope has been in You, Lord!"

I thought back to years ago when I found the first tumor.  I had fought the fear of the unknown for months before seeking advice.  After I was told that the best route would be surgery, I promptly declared as I left that doctor's office, "I will not have surgery!"  Fear crept in.  I fought against the imaginations for several years. I memorized, ruminated, meditated, studied, quoted, shouted 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 91, Isaiah 53:5, Luke 10:19, Psalm 103, John 14:27, and many, many more.  I love the life of the Word of God.  That Life replaces negativity and refills our souls with so much hope!  But ---- I did not receive a physical healing.  What was God doing?  

So many wonderful friends and ministers prayed heart-felt and fervent prayers for healing to manifest as I continued to declare, "I will not..."

I held on to hope.  

My awesome family and friends stood with me throughout the ordeal.  I felt like I was climbing a mountain without the right gear (like I would really know what that is - my mountain climber son and daughter-in-law will laugh if they read this) The mountain was crumbling down on top of me as I held my little "Hope Flag."

Psalm 31:24  "Put away fear and let your heart be strong, all you whose hope is in the Lord." (Bible in Basic English)


Matt Redman's song, "Never Once," says:

     Standing on this mountain top
     Looking just how far we've come
     Knowing that for every step
     You were with us

     ...scars and stuggles on the way...

Romans 8:28 drips with redemption as we watch the Almighty turn things around for His name's sake and for our overall good. "But we do know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him-those who have received the Call in accordance with his purpose."  (Twentieth Century New Testament)

Five months after having submitted my, "I will not..." to God and holding my little "Hope Flag" up high as I continue to climb the mountains in front of me, I feel Him strengthen my heart. You may have an ominous mountain in front of you.  God will lead you over it or through it (that's what my friend, Diana prayed for me!) - but either way you will overcome it!  Say "yes" to the climb, grab Abba Father's hand, and determine that you will strike your "Hope Flag" into the ground on top of that mountain!  

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  (KJV)








 
 

Bubbles of Hope

Bubbles by John Everett Millais

My husband and I bought this print in Williamsburg, VA years ago.  I fell in love with it.  Can't you feel the hope in this little guy's heart...hoping that beautifully iridescent thing that he had just created will float on the air forever for him to cherish?  

Then in an instant it bursts and the beauty and wonder are gone. 

This little guy also reminds me of another little guy that I haven't met in person, but was anticipating our meeting about the time I found the painting.  I know the two look alike - the bubble craftsman and my sister's miscarried little wide-eyed blond boy.  My mother-in-law, who "graduated to Beulah Land" last year loved to hear my own little blond guy giggle and chase the bubbles she created for him.  I'm really looking forward to blowing bubbles together, all of us, in Heaven.  Surely the silver,  rainbow-catching bubbles won't burst into nothingness in Heaven's breezes.

 It really hurts to watch our dreams break apart and float away.  It is so disillusioning  when our beautiful, hope filled bubbles burst.  Then all the questions flood in and we wonder if we should keep trying.  Old self-doubts stab at our hearts:  Do we really have what it takes?  

Bethel Music's Amanda Cook has crafted hopeful lyrics in her song, "Wonder"

     "...wide eyed and mystified, may we be just like a child, staring at the beauty of our King

     ...You are beautiful in all Your ways..."

I've been singing this song for two weeks now.  Finally, I have to ask myself, do I really believe that God is beautiful in all His ways - in the pain of watching family members wretch under cancer's claw - in the insecurity  of "more month than money" - in the battle to believe that "there's some good left in this world and it's worth fighting for" (credit Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings, but that's another blog for another day!)

Can I see the Lord of all beauty and hope in all the pathways he leads me on?  The bottom line is that I must.  I must, and I really would like to see you do that as well. 

1 Peter 3:15 "...and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..."  (KJV)

The reason for this hope and the secret of its buoyant life inside the believer's heart is that we can trust that there is an open door into our eternal home with the presence of our King accessible at any time!  Look to Jesus, Who has anchored our hearts to look forward to the resurrected life and sent the Holy Spirit to seal that hope in our hearts everyday.  The Spirit of God Himself leads us personally into constant reflection that we have distinct stories that testify of how God has led us through battles and made our songs sweeter through the struggles.  Therefore, who can argue with you about the hope in your heart that is actually founded upon the evidence that God's strong hand has led you through your storms?

Be ready when they ask, "How did you come upon this hope?"  "What does it consist of?"  "What is the key to me getting the same hope in my life?"

Be encouraged to stay "wide eyed and mystified" and full of hope as you expect the God of the unexpected to be His beautiful self in all the paths He leads you down.

Harps of Hope

Walking out the doors of church to the car yesterday, I heard someone singing and looked to see, Josh, the pastor's youngest son tossing things into his seat as he was getting into his car to leave.  Our church shares a common parking lot with local businesses that are open seven days a week so I'm not the only one who heard Josh, the songbird...and he seemed totally oblivious to any of us.  He's one of those Tigger personality types with a huge, bright smile and he bounces around with so much life and energy, the epitome of the joy of the Lord.  

"Why am I not singing?" I thought. I was definitely happy and blessed, two amazing women had prayed for me and the Pastor's teaching was one of the most memorable analogies I'd every heard: Lessons from the Vineyard.  Did I check my harp at the door before leaving and suddenly stop the wells of gratitude from gushing out like Josh's?

I want to carry the continual fragrance of that awesome fellowship time on into my week;  I know I'm going to need it and I know people around me would be encouraged; what better way to stir up that fragrance than by singing some of the worship songs? (At least humming them.)  

But it can be like digging for a well in the drought-parched desert land sometimes, can't it?  Once we're out in the business of the week and chasing ourselves in our schedules, who can remember what we even sang during a worship service (unless you can YouTube or Vimeo it up).  Do you feel like you can sing out loud despite the world spinning around you in all of it's craziness?

I imagine that's what the captives felt when Psalm 137 was written:

     1  Alongside Babylon's rivers we sat on the banks; we cried and cried, remembering the good old days in Zion. 2  Alongside the quaking aspens we stacked our unplayed harps; 3  That's where our captors demanded songs, sarcastic and mocking: "Sing us a happy Zion song!" 4  Oh, how could we ever sing God's song in this wasteland?  (Message)

Can you identify with that sentiment?  I can. 

Then, we have to remember what we talked about last week...how Jeremiah made himself "recall things in his mind" and stir up the residual hope that God could and would continue to "show up and show out" in his life.

It is in days like these present times that each of us have to purpose to ponder again personal victories and intentionally revisit days of past experiences with Jesus Christ - our Victory in tribulations. 

Paul and Silas stirred their hearts with hope by singing...Hannah sang out in her joy over her son, Samuel...Debra's song of victory over the fierce enemy rang out...

Jason Upton asks, in his song, "A Hammer And An Awkward Nail," did you ever get tired and want to change the rules, Jesus?  Now, if anyone felt the pressure that tries to squeeze all joy and hope out of him, it was Jesus.  But what did He do just before He was called to pour out all of His life and see His soul and body broken for all of our redemption?

He sang a song with those most precious to Him. (Matthew 26:30)  He helped them "pick up their harps" and reinforce their souls in the ways that God was unleashing the Kingdom of Heaven's power for all of mankind through His Son on that Passover.
 
 Thank You, Jesus for singing over us.  Zephaniah 3:17 "17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing"  (KJV)

Will you pass me my harp, please?