My Testimony is His Faithfulness

 Psalm 119:90: “Your faithfulness continues through all generations…”

“Time and time again, You’ve proven You’ll do just what you said. Great is Your faithfulness to me.” –Maverick City Music “Promises”

The other day I was listening to “Promises” by Maverick City Music and told my friend, “That’s my testimony. God is faithful.” Of course, there’s a lot of complexity, depth and breadth to my spiritual journey and my relationship with the Lord. But ultimately, if I had to sum up my beliefs, my experience, and my relationship to the Lord in one sentence, that’s it: “Great is Your faithfulness to me.”

Both Old Testament and New Testament passages in the Bible extol the enduring faithfulness of God in general terms which apply to all believers. And I believe those statements to be true. But my testimony, my witness to His truth, is that He is personally faithful to me. The lyrics of “Promises” proclaim that “Your faithfulness, it never runs out. I put my faith in Jesus, my anchor to the ground, my hope and firm foundation, He’ll never let me down.”

And He hasn’t. He protected me when I nearly drowned, when I fell headfirst out of a car, when I swerved on a busy interstate and spun-out into the median. He’s provided work when I had none. He’s stretched my finances so that I have never missed a bill. He’s brought me prayer partners to encourage, comfort, and strengthen me. He’s comforted me when I’ve lost loved ones. He’s given me strength and courage when I’ve faced all sorts of challenges. I may not always understand His will or His ways, but I can always trust His faithfulness.

Checked Off and Checked Out

 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”  -Colossians 3:23

I’m not really sure when I began making to-do lists. Junior high? High school? Birth? Order has always been paramount to me and making lists helps me organize my time, my life, my goals. I get a sense of satisfaction when I draw a line through an item or put a check mark, sometimes with a flourish, in front of a task. But I recently discovered there’s a dark side to all this list making and marking.

It happened a few weeks ago as I multi-tasked my way through the end of the day, and silently tossed up a prayer in response to a friend’s request. While still heartfelt, the communication felt a little perfunctory. It happened a few other times with prayers and also with exercise which I normally really enjoy. I realized I was just going through the motions, completely disengaged from some important things in my life. Somehow life had been reduced into a series of tasks to be accomplished and I was mindlessly attempting to finish them in order to move on to the “next thing.”

I wish I could say that since that epiphany I have changed and am now intentional about each of my prayers and all of my words and actions. That would just be a lie. Sometimes I am still checked out as I check off my lists. But I am trying daily to be more present in my own life, more aware of the inner narrative that is subtly and profoundly impacting my life and the lives of those I care about. And I’m drawing close again to the One who made me, understands me, and loves me whether I mark off all the tasks on my list or not.

Sparrows

The January morning started out cold and drizzly and bleak. But to me, it was a beautiful day. It was just days before my birthday, a time which brings up all sorts of wonderful memories—many of which occurred on similarly bleak winter days. On this particular frigid Monday, I was in the middle of praying when God prompted me to look out the window at a cluster of leafless trees, diamond-like raindrops clinging to their spikey gray branches. A sudden quick movement among the bare limbs caught my eye, and I realized there was a tiny gray and brown bird flitting around in the treetop. I don’t really know what species the bird belonged to, but I imagined it was a sparrow. And I was filled with peace as I watched it dart from one branch to another, scrounging for food. The bird was simply being a bird, oblivious to the cold and rain and the pandemic that has bound us all in fear for nearly a year.

I smiled, thinking of the Bible verses about sparrows. Matthew 10: 29-31 says: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” The moment was a culmination of weeks of God bringing to mind sparrows. A friend had sent me a link to a video of Audrey Assad’s song “Sparrows” which is based on the classic gospel hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” Cory Asbury’s “Sparrows” was another song God had been using to direct my focus to the deep love and concern expressed in the verses in Matthew. The chorus of his song says:

“You take good care of me.

You know what I need before I even ask a thing.

You hold me in Your hands with a kindness that never ends.

I’m carried in Your love no matter what the future brings.”

I’m grateful not only for these songs which have encouraged me, but especially for the little bird God sent as a tangible reminder of His presence and His provision. I will never cease to be amazed at a love the depths of which I will never truly comprehend.

All Is Calm, All Is Bright

For so many people, 2020 has been a bleak year filled with fear and despair. Life was also bleak for many who lived in Judea 2000 years ago. The humble carpenter Joseph faced the difficult decision of whether to marry his betrothed or expose her pregnancy with a child he did not father, and risk his community stoning her. Mary faced the overwhelming choice of whether to submit to God’s will and become the mother of His Son. Even once they chose to obey God, life and Rome handed them another challenge when Caesar called for everyone to return to their hometowns for a census.

For a poor couple in a desert land long before cars were invented, this was an arduous trip, made even more difficult by the fact that it was just about time for Mary to give birth. Once they arrived in Bethlehem, they found there was “no room in the inn.” So, they spent the night in a stable, (which scholars say was most likely a cave), filled with animals. For Mary and Joseph, the night was probably filled with fear, uncertainty, pain, and disappointment. Until Jesus was born, and they held a miracle in their arms.

In his Christmas carol “Silent Night,” Joseph Mohr described the night this way: “Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright, ‘round yon virgin mother and Child.” His words evoke the peace and hope that only Jesus can provide. Even now when life seems unstable, chaotic, uncertain, Jesus’ presence can inspire us to still proclaim that all is calm and all is indeed bright in the midst of the Light of the world.

Dwell in Hope

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 

“Therefore, my heart rejoiceth . . .  my flesh moreover shall dwell in hope.”

–Psalm 16:9 Darby Translation Bible

Last week in a phone conversation, my dear friend described an experience she had a couple of years ago as “being on the sharp edge of hopelessness.” As she comforted and encouraged me, I told myself I was not in that place. Discouraged. Frustrated. Overwhelmed. Weary. Unfortunately, that sounds dangerously close to hopelessness to me. Perhaps that’s why for months now God has encouraged me to focus on the word hope. It became a theme in my hand-lettering art and one day while looking for inspiration, I stumbled upon Psalm 16:9, which in the Darby translation ends “my flesh moreover shall dwell in hope.”

As the pandemic continues unabated and violent riots have swept the country like a scourge, I have continued to meditate on the verse. Strong’s Concordance says the word for “dwell” in Psalm 16:9 comes from the Hebrew yis-kon which is used to mean “to settle down, abide, to dwell.” It’s a strong word with the connotation not only of really living and being very present within a place, but it also speaks of contentment and peace.

The words “in hope” are lā-ḇe-ṭaḥ which Strong’s defines as “securely.” In the Bible, hope often is connected to faith which stems from our choice to trust God. Therefore, we can have hope and rest secure when we trust in God’s perfect, unchanging character and His eternal, unfailing love. As Savior, Redeemer, and Healer, Jesus is the very embodiment of hope so choosing to “remain, abide, and settle down” in His presence is choosing to dwell in the only secure source of living, lasting hope.

Cinderella's Worth

Cinderella has always been my favorite fairy tale. The glass slippers and glittering ball gown. A fairy godmother to grant all my wishes. A dreamy waltz with a handsome prince. And true love. When I was little, those were the things that drew me to the story. But as I’ve gotten older, I began to wonder why was Cinderella, and not another princess, really my favorite. The topic has resurfaced recently as I’ve been working on a fairy-tale themed display at work. 

So as my thoughts again turned to Cinderella, I began pondering her character rather than her wardrobe. She is a humble, optimistic girl who endures the loss of her father, the alternating abuse and neglect of her stepmother and stepsisters as well as their ridicule as she is made to live like a pauper while they live like royalty. Despite her challenges, Cinderella never lashes out at her tormenters. While her response might suggest she is weak, scripture would say otherwise. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. /Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-18, 21) 

Even in the midst of heart-breaking mistreatment, Cinderella manages to love her enemies and “do good” to those who hate her (Luke 6:27). When her step-family receives an invitation to the prince’s ball, Cinderella’s positive attitude shines through as she assumes she is invited as well. When her relatives then cruelly destroy the dress she had planned to wear, she still finds hope in her fairy godmother. Throughout all her trials, Cinderella perseveres, while maintaining her joy, hope and optimism. Her grasping, merciless stepmother and vain, spiteful stepsisters could never see her worth. But perhaps it’s Cinderella's strength of character more than her physical beauty which won Prince Charming’s heart. In the end, Cinderella’s goodness triumphs over the evil in her life. Now that’s a fairy tale princess I can believe in.

A Strange Easter

The last few weeks I have heard so many folks, Christian and non-Christian alike, say, “These are strange times.” Indeed, they are and as a result, this Easter was a little strange, too. This morning, my friends and I drove to church where an attendant held out a six-foot length of PVC pipe to help us park a “safe” distance away from other vehicles. We waved at the cute baby beside us then tuned the radio to the proper channel so we could hear the audio for church and turned our gaze to a giant screen, reminiscent of ones for drive-in movies. The only measure of normalcy was that the praise team led worship as usual followed by the pastor’s sermon. 

As I reflect on this morning’s unusual service, though, I think of how odd that first Resurrection day was. There was a violent earthquake. Angels whose “appearance was like lightning.” And an empty tomb. The women who loved Jesus and went to His grave expecting to anoint His broken, dead body must have been bewildered when they arrived and found Him gone. Then they heard the exultant angel’s message that Jesus had risen, “just as He said.” And there was Mary Magdalene who mistook Jesus for a gardener, yet instantly recognized Him when He called her by name. That evening, Jesus walked through a locked door into the room where His disciples were cowering in fear and declared, “Peace be with you!”

That first Easter was incomprehensible. It still is. The perfect Son of God died an agonizing death so we could have eternal life with Him and the Father. As if that gift is not enough, His sacrifice also offers us “abundant life” while we still walk this earth. All we have to do is believe in Him, accept Him as our substitution, and confess our sins. Out of His extravagant love and His overwhelming grace, the God of the universe and all creation, humbled Himself to take our place and endure the punishment we deserve. Strange indeed.