Now I Realize the Truth

Although this song hit me over four months ago, I heard it afresh again last night. When it came to this part of the song, I stopped what I was doing and just listened. It was these words:

Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

I just smiled and said, "Yes, Lord". While not necessarily my favorite thing to do, I realize the valleys are just as necessary as the mountains for life. Life with God. And that's really what I want.

It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
Psalm 119:71

All for now,
Lisa

My Ebenezer

Just as Samuel set a stone to mark the spiritual journey out of idolatry and into full commitment to God for the Israelites, God has given me the unique opportunity to mark my spiritual journey out of idolatry and into full commitment to God with letters, emails, journals, songs, writings, Bible studies, prayers, and conversations. And for some reason I've been able to capture dates - when different events have happened.

And on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of seeing those rainbows I thought I would give God the credit and the glory for not only loving me enough to want the best for me, and for weaving such a wonderful tapestry, but also for showing it to me so incredibly plainly. Ebenezer means "stone of help" and I've been putting together my Ebenezer in Microsoft Excel. How very 2009 of me, isn't it?

I've been amazed how intricately He's weaved it. I'm putting it together in a chronological fashion but am not doing it sequentially. Meaning, as events come to mind I enter them into the spreadsheet in chronological order. What I am finding out is as one event happens, practically the next day He basically comes to my rescue. I didn't realize it as it was happening and am only realizing it now.

It made me wonder about those in the great hall of faith (Hebrews 11). I guess for most of my life I had thought they were completely aware of what was happening at the time it was happening. I'm only realizing now that that's probably not the case. It was probably only in retrospect that they could realize just how much God had been right there all along, taking wonderful care of each one of them.

Thus far the Lord and helped me. I shall serve Him alone. I pray that it can be said that by faith Lisa simply was because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise.

All for now,
Lisa

Truth Without Love is Like Sodium Without Chloride: Poison, Not Salt!

While this is a direct quote from a recent article from WORLD magazine, it's been a recurring thought for a while. As a matter of fact, I wrote something about this early last month. So when I see recurring "themes" like this, it gives me cause to stop and pause to think about what the Lord is telling me.

You see, there is a battle. And at its most basic it's a battle between the natural and the supernatural. And the crazy thing about it all is that you can be naturally "right and moral" yet not be supernaturally "in truth and love". I suppose that's what I was trying to say in my earlier blog entry... you can be right yet so terribly wrong. Because truth without love is like sodium without chloride. It kills not saves.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:13-14

I have been down that road of self-effort... of self-piety. Of knowing God yet not following His lead. Of being the other prodigal. I've learned that what drives me should not just be being "right" but knowing, obeying, and walking with Him. I want to be someone who not only knows truth but also someone who wants to be a fellow laborer with Him. And that is driven by love through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

And that ministers.

All for now,
Lisa

Faith and Deficits

I thought this was good... and from the NY Times! :-)

Faith and Deficits

and would you believe this is the second time recently that George Herbert was quoted!

REDEMPTION

HAVING been tenant long to a rich Lord,
Not thriving, I resolved to be bold,
And make a suit unto him, to afford
A new small-rented lease, and cancell th’ old.

In heaven at his manour I him sought :
They told me there, that he was lately gone
About some land, which he had dearly bought
Long since on earth, to take possession.

I straight return’d, and knowing his great birth,
Sought him accordingly in great resorts ;
In cities, theatres, gardens, parks, and courts :
At length I heard a ragged noise and mirth

Of theeves and murderers : there I him espied,
Who straight, Your suit is granted, said, and died

by George Herbert

All for now,
Lisa

Ever Had An Isaac in Your Life?

Have you ever had an Isaac in your life? No, I'm not really talking about a friend named Isaac or a pet named Isaac, but something you held dear that you knew God asked you to give up!

As you know Abraham was promised and Abraham received. But what happened after Abraham received? God asked him to give Isaac up! And not just "give him up" but "offer him as a sacrifice!" Can you imagine? I truly cannot fathom it (and I don't even have kids).

I would have thought Abraham thought God was crazy! But he didn't even question him. Not once. I've read through the account multiple times and each time am convinced that Abraham completely trusted God. He had already had multiple accounts of trying to do things on his own. And each time ended up in a mess. This time it ended perfectly.

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Genesis 22:15-18

You know, the first commandment explains this perfectly

You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:3

It was the spiritual surrender alone that God required. Holding on to something results in idolatry.

I have had three "Isaacs" in my life in the last 15 years. And as much as God has called me to surrender these things, I have seen God's provision in two of them (so far). Yet through it I have felt the Spirit's presence and the fruits of the spirit very evident (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) most of the time. :-)

It reminds me that it is God who calls, Jesus who saves, and the Holy Spirit who gives empowerment for Godliness.

I am trusting God. And through this spiritual surrender I have seen more clearly a God would loves me and provides for me. And I'm learning what it means to live by faith!

All in all, God is my inheritance!

All for now,
Lisa