Going Differently Into The Darkness

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

give thanks

  in all circumstances,

for this is the will of God

in Christ for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5. 16-18

In everything,

everywhere,

these things are always

   the will of God.

Leave a witness there.

Live with a new imprint.

Just because it's hard

 does not mean

 we are not in God's will.

We may not feel thankful

   for all circumstances,

but we can be thankful

           in them,

knowing God is weaving

       His gospel and glory.

Go differently

           into the darkness.

How to handle it?

Rejoice, pray and

   give thanks.

That is the through line.

O LORD,

Help us to not just see

our situations differently,

but to experience You

  with a new heart in this.

Our lives bear witness

   to Your transforming

   love in us.

May we approach

            and navigate

difficulties differently

    in Your will

and with Your strength.

 

Thriving Out Of Sheer Rock

Blessed is the person

who trusts in the LORD,

whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree

planted by water,

that sends out its roots

        by the stream,

and does not fear 

  when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious

  in the year of drought,

for it does not cease

         to bear fruit.

        Jeremiah 17. 7-8

Not just surviving

            but thriving,

no matter the circumstances,

the drought,

that tiny dribble of water,

growing even

         out of sheer rock.

God places us

   in the most unlikely places,

   for His glory

and roots us firmly there. 

Trust Me in this.

Do not fear,

do not be anxious,

and do not cease

           to bear fruit.

O LORD,

Empower us to grow

and stand tall

and honor You

   even out of sheer rock.

You have strategically

      placed us here

in barren places,

valleys,

or on the mountaintop,

   for Your divine purposes

and for Your glory.

We need not waste

   our energy on fear,

worry and anxiety.

Even where we 

   find ourselves today,

You are nourishing us.

Our trust is

      firmly in You.

You hold us tight.

 

Changing Our Appetites

 

Your words were found,

and I ate them,

and Your words became to me

a joy and a delight of my heart,

for I  am called by Your name,

    O LORD, God of hosts.

              Jeremiah 15. 16

When God's Word becomes

   a joy and a delight to us,

   we pursue different things.

God changes our appetite.

We desire something deeper.

We want more of Him.

And nothing can remain

       the same.

O LORD,

You grant us the opportunity

        of Your Word every day.

And it is a a movable feast

that nourishes our very souls.

And influences everyone

       all around us.

Change our appetites,

                 O LORD,

by Your Word

        for Your will, 

        for Your ways,

        for Your glory.

Not Working For God

Whatever you do,

work heartily as for the Lord

and not for men...

You are serving the Lord Christ.

            Colossians 3. 23-24

Whatever encompasses 

all the 5 W's and an H--

who, what where, when, why

            and how,

no matter if it is

ever recognized 

         nor acknowledged.

But we can serve Christ

even in what we

         don't see as ministry.

Serving Jesus

        is not working for God,

but God working in us.

And that changes everything.

No restrictions,

no matter what,

    or what happens.

O LORD,

Find us faithful

   in serving You

in all things,

      great and small.

And to realize

  You are glorified

  in the very details.

Infiltrate Your joy

    into our hearts

    and into our work.

We love You in it.

 

All Wrapped Up

 

There is none like You, 

           O LORD.

You are great,

and Your name is

       great in might.

      Jeremiah 10. 6

When we sing God's name

    all over our situations

    and desperations,

do not fear

   takes us on a different path.

And prayer keeps us on it.

God is great. God is good.

   comprise not a mealtime blessing,

but an absolute promise 

   we can stake our lives on,

even in the really hard stuff.

O LORD,

There is none like You.

Remind us daily

  that we can lean on You.

You hold us tight.

And in Your strength

   we can face tomorrow.

Help us to not pray in fear,

        but in Your might.

We do not know the outcome,

          but we don't have to.

 You've wrapped Your name 

                           all over it.

Shining into the Brokenness

 

Thus says the LORD:

Let not the wise man

   boast in his wisdom.

Let not the mighty man

   boast in his might.

Let not the rich man

   boast in his riches.

But let him who boasts

       boast in this:

that he understands 

            and knows Me,

that I am the LORD

who practices steadfast love,

justice and righteousness

                 in the earth.

For in these things, I delight,

     declares the LORD.

           Jeremiah 9. 23-24

Boasting in the ancient Hebrew

   means pretty much the same

--that in which one glories, 

         praises, and celebrates.

   What shines in our lives? 

On whom is the spotlight centered? 

      On God or ourselves?

In any worldview,

   boasting in oneself is

            sheer arrogance.

Giving God the glory

   changes us on the inside

and alters the trajectory

     of our work, our loves,

     and our lives.

O LORD,

May the desire of our hearts

   be to delight in knowing You.

Shine through us

  into this broken world,

bringing Your healing, grace

          and glory here.

May we know, understand

          and love You

   a little bit more each day.

Reveal Yourself

     in and through us.

But Where Are The Wonders?

 

You are the God

      who works wonders.

You have made known

  Your might among the peoples.

            Psalm 77. 14

Victories, wonders

   and all things marvelous

  don't just happen

      like a magic trick.

God does not work that way.

God does not

     bring them about,

  but reveals Himself

already in our situation.

  No matter how troubled

  or difficult,

    He is here among us. 

Talk to Me,

      walk with Me through this,

not only to the other side

   but all along the way.

But where are the wonders?

We are just in 

     the middle of the chapter.

God brings about the extraordinary,

His redeeming in the impossible,

His light filtered in our despair,

that which is unexpected,

    supernatural and spectacular.

He works, unfolds, prepares,

   makes ready, appoints,

                and completes.

Now watch this! He whispers to us.

    That we may know Him.

O LORD,

We come to You in our struggles.

We do not pray to 

     the god of favorable outcomes

      or glimmering idols of success,

                 but pray to You.

Grant to us Your strength.

Help us to see You here,

looking for sacred 

     in whatever we face today.

We cannot yet see wonders,

    but we can know 

            You hold us tight

in the darkness and storm.

And then someday, somehow,

   You bring the sense to it.

And right before us,

when we least expect it,

            the sun rises

   and the shadows evaporate.

And Your glory is there