Warren W. Wiersbe

“When you and I hurt deeply, what we really need is not an explanation from God but a revelation of God. We need to see how great God is; we need to recover our lost perspective on life. Things get out of proportion when we are suffering, and it takes a vision of something bigger than ourselves to get life’s dimensions adjusted again.”

Join the Dance and Give Praise

I witnessed a dance between bees and butterflies.  Flower to flower they change partners seeking the sweetness that is offered there then on to the next partner that promises a new fresh taste; never staying long enough to drink deep or fully of what is there, of what is freely offered.  This dance, orchestrated by God, has its purpose: nature cannot survive without this dance.

Could we also be dancing the same dance; church to church seeking truth?  A tidbit here, a sweet taste there.  We are touched by and we leave behind our touch.  Jew to Catholic to Protestant (Baptist to Presbyterian to Methodist to Pentecostal to Anglican to Lutheran to Mennonite and on and on and on) to Muslim.  Cross pollination of belief and understandings until the day truth is fully revealed as the Church Militant on earth to the Church Triumphant; the bride of the lamb.

We no longer pretend it doesn’t happen.  It is real.  There will come a time when all Christians sit down for one supper; all accepted at table without the verbiage to confuse and divide but the love and heart to join.  We will all one day sit together Jew, Muslim and Christian on the Holy Mountain and recognize our universal God.

So I dance.  The music of old rings in my head and my heart sings praise.  I bow, I raise my hands, I sit, I kneel and/or I prostrate, but I dance.  I rehearse my whole life long that I will be found worthy to dance the finale. And so I praise: Jehovah be praised, Allah be praised, Jesus be praised, God be praised.

The Chair: Sentinel of the Gate

For weeks now this chair has haunted me.  I first encountered it towards the end of a short walk and found my mind contemplating the idea of the ancient throne of God come down to earth.  A recent news report had shown that Christianity in America was on the decline and so my mind conjured up the idea that God was abandoning his kingdom on Earth, at least the part of it on American soil. That thought would explain its rusted appearance and plant life attempting to overtake it. 

The next day I again encountered this chair at the beginning and ending of a long walk.  Early on my mind still played with the idea that it was the throne of God but it had become a beautiful thing.  It beckoned me to come into a glorious day of bright sunshine, crisp morning air and the beginnings of spring.  Yes, the throne of God is truly a place of hope and renewal and I began my walk with the hope of finding that very reality of kingdom living.

As I approached this same chair at the end of my long walk I began to reflect on how that walk had been a metaphor for my life; the joy along with the pain and suffering.  The chair now reflected a dual presence; one holy the other sinister.  It became a visual reminder that there are gates to hell as well as heaven and I began to see the chair as a sentinel to both.  We must chose our path well for scripture reminds us that the path of the world is well traveled and smooth but the path to heaven is hard and cannot be traveled without struggle and perseverance.

Matthew 7:13-14

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

 

 

 

Even Nature Bows Before God

Luke 19:36-40

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

We can learn much from nature.  An early morning school drop off allowed me to remember an important aspect of spiritual life:  we should begin our day in prayer before our creator and lift our face in praise and thanksgiving throughout the day. 

As I returned to the house from dropping my daughter off at school I glanced at the front of the house only to discover that the tulips bowed in the early morning.  

 

I couldn’t resist the picture; raindrops had left their residue and there they were in all their glory.  Later in the day when I looked at the same flowers they were standing at their full height, open. 

I will be the first to admit I don’t know much about flowers and I can’t tell you if this is normal.  I know that in the morning they were 

bowed and later they were erect.  This led me to reflect on the idea that they bow before God in the morning and then lift themselves to praise God stretching toward heaven as they glory in the light and warmth they receive.

All through nature we see aspects of God; in the plants and animals, in the formations, even in the clouds.  If we would just take a few moments each day to meditate on what we see before our eyes we would find more of God exists than we every realized. 

The Unfinished Symphony

Genesis 1:3-5

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”  

 

John 1:4-5

The Word gave life to everything that was created,

      and his life brought light to everyone.
 The light shines in the darkness,
      and the darkness can never extinguish it.

In anticipation, as if calling and beckoning, the creatures of the earth begin to stir and call out.  Only the dimmest of light has begun and the voices of the earth call.  They hunger; they hunger for all that the creator has to give them.  A symphony of sounds rises throughout creation.  Each creatures add its own voice to blend melody and harmony.

The sun begins to kiss the morning sky and darkness retreats into itself.  A new light is entering the world and the earth and all its creatures are awake to greet it.

My own soul hears the silent cry:  “Come into the light.  Come and bask in its glory.  Come and feel the warm kiss upon your flesh.  Come and experience the love of the creator.”

Slowly my mind comprehends what the creatures of the earth already know.  Slowly my mind listens to what my heart has been screaming.  Slowly my mind relinquishes to my soul and the spirit within me rejoices in the coming light.  My voice joins the creatures of the earth and adds unique notes to the symphony; notes only it can play.

The unfinished symphony continues its journey through the world and through time.  The composer invites new voices to join in.  On and on it goes til all voices have been invited and given the chance to be heard.

Everything Given…Everything Received

      Tiny lights flicker at your feet,

          the flames of sheol, hungry hoping for a meal.

     Surrounded by the masses of people;

          taunting, jeering, insulting, mesmerized.

     Your blood, trickling down your face from tiny thorns;

          the crown meant to mock you, torture and humiliate.

     Your blood, dripping to the ground;

          from hands and feet nailed into place.

You took your place;

     lovingingly stretched out your arms,

          the whole world to embrace.

You knew it was coming,

     you knew how bad it would be,

          you took the lashes, the beating

               you took the nails.

You took it all for me.

I do not deserve this,

     You did not deserve that.

The thorns of my frivolity pierced your brow.

The lashes of my ambivalence tore at your back.

The nails of my sins hammered into your flesh.

You did all that for me; for me.

I do not understand this love; the depths of where it comes from.

I do not understand why or how you could love me.

I only know that you do; I see the cross and I know.

You gave up everthing so that I might receive everything.

There on the cross you handed it all to me;

     all mine to have just by opening my heart.

Even the Trees Dance

 

“Let them praise His name with the dance;
         Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.”  – Psalm 149:3 (NLT)

 

“Come, come and dance with us.”

The trees beckon me to join them in their worship.

Hands held high swaying side to side, they praise their maker.

Bodies shaped by God alone they seem almost human.

They move to a distant tune sung by angels.

Oh, can I dance?  Can I dance to praise my creator?

Where is the music?  I can’t hear the music.

Oh, God open my ears to hear the heavenly tune.

I want to dance in praise; where is the rhythm?

I stand, not moving, barely breathing.

 

One step and then another.

Slowly I sway and move.

The music, a distant sweet sound.

Lord, you are my creator.

You send music on the wind.

Your creation dances.

It dances in praise of you.

I dance in praise of you.

Surrounded by the majestic trees;

I join their dance of worship.

Hands held high sway to the heavens in time with a distant tune.

Hands held high reaching for my creator.

 

The Bright Dawn

Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path of peace. – Luke 1:78-79, GNT

As I read these words the light from the dining room window caught my eye. I had noticed the early change of light in the sky and had thought to take a picture but no, I did not. But when the sun began to peek just above the horizon I opened my devotion book only to find the words “…the bright dawn…” and there it was before me.

Oh, God, thank you for the visual reminders of just how your words mean so very much in our daily lives.