ESPERANZA

Simply translated: hope. This is the belief that something good will happen to us in the future. It’s that expectation as we longing wait with patience and trust. Oh if only it were that easy!

We waited so long for summer and now we are in the throes of fall. For over 2,000 years, believers have been waiting for the return of Christ. Pregnant women anticipate the arrival of their newborn. Students sit in class waiting for the bell to end class. Other times, we check the mail each day for that card to arrive. We patiently wait and nothing seems to happen. I’m sure that is how the Israelites felt as they wandered in the desert for years. Maybe that’s how Joseph hoped as he sat in Potiphar’s jail wondering if the baker or cupbearer would remember him. Waiting was the delay between a prayer and an answer when Joseph was finally delivered from the prison.

Romans 8:25 says But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Waiting is that space between, where God refines our soul, exposes our impatience when we want to move forward without His guidance, but He teaches us to hear his voice more clearly - if we’re listening.

Waiting wears on us in our impatience; makes us second-guess all our decisions and has us longing for an escape from the stillness. Our problem is often that if waiting is only about getting what we want, it’s an escape. But what if we flipped that and said that waiting is about drawing closer to God?

Thankfully, we serve a God who will never lead us into a situation that is wrong for us. He loves us too much to leave us where we are; but asks us to trust Him in the process. He is the compass for the direction He wants to take us. Waiting is never wasted time. He protects, prunes and provides. We need to draw near to Him and trust. That might be in prayer, reading and meditating on His Word or simply letting go to let God do what He has always done.

I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

Gardez la foi

“Keep the faith” - Not all battles are ours to fight when we try to do things on our own. When our strength runs out, it’s time to lean on Jesus. When fear yells in our ear, makes our heart beat wildly; its time to believe and have hope. When heaven seems quiet and no answers show up, it’s time to keep praying. When the path is blurring and we feel lost, we need to keep walking in faith when we can’t see the road ahead. Life won’t always go the way we want it to. That’s okay. Jesus never leaves our side.

Recently I listened to a sermon about Ruth, the Moabite widow who was part of the lineage of Jesus. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, lost her husband and two sons, and decided to return to Israel. One daughter in law, Orpah, chose to stay behind, but Ruth chose to follow and walk alongside Naomi on a 50 mile journey. She could have stayed behind, been safe in familiar territory and perhaps married a Moabite man. Instead, she uttered these words to her hurting relative from Ruth 1:16-17 (The Message):

“Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!”

Ruth devoted herself to walking in faith beside Naomi all the way to Bethlehem. She could have stayed behind. She could have chosen a different life, but thankfully she chose to walk the road she could not see.

I sometimes wonder about the choices we make. Why do we succumb to our thoughts when God has given us His Word and tools for change? Why do we think we can do it all on our own when all we need to do is ask for help? Why do we worry, fret and fear tomorrow when even that is not promised to us on this earth? Why do we get angry and disgruntled when things don’t go our way? God tells us in His Word to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) Perhaps it’s time for a reset.

Ameliorate

Over the course of time, the evolution of technology and the vast knowledge we have acquired, man believes he has improved - not only his world and all the things in it, such as advanced technology, but himself as a human. Can we “outdo” our creator?

When it seems as if we communicate more, we really don’t. People are “wired” for balance but we are in “overload” mode with our reliance on conveniences, comforts and entire electronic systems. We thrive on service to our ambitions. One only has to view social media to show the evidence of our culture, yet self-esteem is at its lowest today. Undoubtably a paradox. Many suffer from depression, spiritual disconnect and trauma. Our human experience is suffering, which in itself is part of life and our human condition.

Perhaps we need to get rid of the “old growth” of our falling away from God; quit taking cues from our culture and grow our hands back.

The Handless Maiden is a fairy tale about a young woman who suffers. The story tells of a maiden whose father unknowingly trades her to the Devil, who demands her hands. When she loses her hands, she still maintains her spiritual purity. Through deception and hardship, she is forced again into exile, only to find safety, protection, and eventual regeneration in a forest refuge. Ultimately, her hands regrow through miraculous means, restoring her physical wholeness and symbolically marking her inner psychological rebirth. This tale explores innocence, betrayal, sacrifice, endurance, and the process of self-renewal. There are countless versions of the story, but it is about the redemption, restoration and revival in our lives.

The bible - a library of stained glass experiences - reveals countless characters like Leah who was traded for her sister Rachel, and led to the consummation tent by Laban, her father. She is powerless to object. Because of Laban’s actions, Leah is bound to Jacob who did not love her.

In Leah’s story, the progression of boy names represents her silver hands. Leah names the first boy Reuben, which means, “because the Lord has seen my affliction; for now my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:32). How cold are those silver hands of being wife and mother in title only! The second and third names highlight the same sentiment. But the fourth boy is different. The scriptures are silent about Leah’s spiritual journey but the handless maiden paradigm gives insight to the fourth naming. Leah reconciled her discontent. Judah’s name has nothing to do with her anger toward Jacob. On the contrary, Judah means “praise the Lord” (Genesis 29:35).

Leah did experience a relational change within her lifetime. This is evidenced by Genesis 49:31. Jacob, on his death bed, entrusts his burial to the cave called Machpelah “…there I buried Leah.” (Genesis 49:31)

We are in need of a change - a falling into the mind of Christ. Only in death can we stop pretending. We need to become new creatures - born again into His kingdom by repenting and accepting Jesus as our Savior. We suffer, are deceived and experience loss, but knowing Jesus is the answer to “growing our hands” back. We can ask for forgiveness and be born again - spiritually. Eternity is forever.

FOXY

“The fox provides for himself, but God provides for the lion.” William Blake

My siblings and I recently scattered the ashes of our brother after a Celebration of Life with family and friends. And the fox returned.

On the morning of the day they discovered our brother’s body - lifeless - a fox entered the yard, gazed around and disappeared into the forest. According to Thai culture, there is a mythology that the cycle of life, also called samsara, is a belief that souls continue on after death, born into a new life. Although people are influenced by Buddhism, many native Indigenous peoples also believe in the afterlife. Even though these beliefs vary from tribe to tribe, they believe the souls of the dead pass into the spirit world. Some believe that the fox was a reminder that my brother has gone, but was there to remind us that he exemplified the traits of a fox and was not to be forgotten.

As Christians, we too believe in the spiritual. It’s a battle that we engage in with the enemies of darkness every day. But we put on the armor of the Living God and take up our Sword of His Word and the shield of faith. God established both the fox and the lion.

When we read Psalm 24, God reminds us

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
  who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

Being “foxy” may be evident in many lives as we strive to do things on our own, to figure it out and to rely on ourselves, until we realize the need to be lionlike. We need a boldness in our faith and a recognition of the majesty of the King of glory. When you “go on your own” - your soul will eventually long for the lion.

Oh, that we may roar like the lion and declare our faith, so others will come to know Jesus!

PARAKLETE

Who doesn’t love a delicious meal? The food tingles our taste buds and sometimes even the presentation looks inviting. Sharing food with others moves eating to a whole new level. As we get together this Easter, may we experience that togetherness.

The bible tells us that we can experience God by inviting the Holy Spirit to live in us.

It’s all Greek to me when I see the word, “Paraklete”. The translation is “one called to come alongside.” I know when I’ve been through a tough stretch, I am thankful for people to come alongside and support me. We love to have our family and friends or others give us a helping hand but we can be blessed when we help others as well.

Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as our advocate, counselor and comforter or helper. In John 14: 15-31, Jesus shares with his disciples before His death, how to experience God. In verses 15 - 17 Jesus tells them:

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

The world only offers us circumstantial peace and often times our “train goes off the tracks”, but when we have the Holy Spirit living in us - even in the midst of chaos, confusion and conflict - we can find peace.

When faced with tough decisions, the Spirit is our guide. This Spirit of truth is our advocate and as we grow in our faith, He is at work in us. We can grow closer to Him through prayer, scripture, encouragement and accountability; trusting that He will lead us in every season of our lives.

Jesus told us He would never leave us. Obeying Him is not always easy, but excuses don’t count. When we reveal our love to others, we are demonstrating the love of the Father. There is a peace beyond all understanding. Maybe our circumstances don’t change, but we are changed within.

Jesus knew that he was going to die, but He went to the cross for us, so that we could have life. He kept his promise of never leaving us, by giving us the Holy Spirit. Oh that I could be courageous and faithful in all my circumstances. Happy Easter! He is Risen!

FREQUENTIA

Do you feel it? Can you see it? I can’t hear it, but I sense it. Frequency.

We listened to the heavy metal music. We consumed the junk fast food. We swallowed the pills from Big Pharma. We experienced the advance of technology. The thistles of darkness pricking our humanness. The cars used to be colored. The birds sang and tweeted in the branches and passersby would smile. The frequency has changed.

And yet, God is still here. God is still good. His mercies are new every morning. Maybe we need less loudness, cleaner food, natural healing and even turning off the screens. Why are we afraid of the quiet? the solitude? the aloneness?

Jesus is a testament to both the quiet solitude and the busyness of healing, preaching and teaching. Solitude was his 40 days in the wilderness and finding lonely places to pray. Perhaps we need time to draw nearer to him and to seek a closer relationship in those quiet moments?

During this time of Lent (the season before the greatest reason for believers); Jesus demonstrated his choice of solitude. In Luke 4 v. 1-2 and 14-15, he prayed in the wilderness and was in a spiritual combat with Satan before He began his public ministry. His heart was grieving the beheading of his cousin John the Baptist in Matthew 14: 1-13 when he went away by himself. He also showed His devotion to prayer just before he sent out His 12 disciples for ministry in Mark 6:30-32. But even before that, in Luke 6:12-13, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer before He chose those 12 men. There were multiple times in scripture where Jesus communicated with God alone. Just hours before he was arrested at the Mount of Olives, He knew what He was going to face and He prayed away from His disciples. They couldn’t stay awake, but He fell to His knees “Let this cup pass from me” in His time of distress only to utter in His next breath, “Thy Father’s will be done.”

As we see the world in distress, as we are tempted and filling our days with social media, news and busyness, maybe its time to change the frequencies of our life from the storms, as we limp weak kneed, and crave a need to experience the pure joy of communicating one on one with Jesus. He hears us, knows us and our hearts. Meeting with the heavenly is a love gesture. He wants us to spend those quiet moments alone with Him. So, in the noise of the world, may you find those precious moments to draw near to Him.