Be Still and Behold

A month has sped by and I’m remembering the fun and fury ushered in during December 2023. I describe it as Christmas chaos. Having downsized to a two bedroom condo, my husband and I have little space to offer guests. The challenge to occupy our modest place with our visiting family began three days before Christmas and lasted a week. 

The days were noisy and chaotic, thrilling and extraordinary, full of food and surprises. But nighttime didn’t bring the needed rest as the toddler slept on a small bed with us, his grandparents, in one bedroom and the baby slept in a crib by his parents in the other. Terror, tears, feedings, and fears beset us all as we dealt with the two young children adjusting to a cramped and strange environment in a different time zone. Sleepless nights evolved into bleary days. 

As time ticked on, we gathered together with extended family members, creating more disorder and at times, discord. Tis’ the season, right? To gather and give thanks for the Savior baby with the families we love who also infuriate us. Merry Christmas. 

Whenever I got the chance to hold my four month old grandson, I wondered about Mary and her baby boy. What a chaotic mess to be pregnant and traveling by donkey to the hometown of her husband. Arriving and awaiting delivery, they found no place to stay. No room in the inns. 

They finally settled into a stable as a birthing room and placed the newborn babe in a manger or trough where animals feed. Mary probably felt some anxiety and stress. But oh to behold Him, the One who was a special delivery from a Heavenly Father. What honor and joy she must have felt to bring into a chaotic world the Prince of Peace, Immanuel the God with us. 

Silently studying my grandson as he lay defenseless in a crib, I realized his helplessness. With stillness all around, I thought of my God, my Savior, the Creator of the world. He came into our world, the one He created, to live like His created ones. What sacrificial surrender! What supreme humility! What amazing love!

Suddenly the chaos became hushed harmony. Behold, shepherds and magi came from afar to see the fulfillment of the promise of a newborn King. And far off into the future, many more people gather to celebrate the birth of this Promised One, Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world. 

Praise the God who entered our chaos and gave us a silent night of promise. 

Hope Fully

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)

          Hopefully, she’ll get better and be released from the hospital. Hopefully, their marriage will grow stronger. Hopefully, my prodigal child will return home. We hope for things to go well despite past experiences of shattered hope. When heartbreaking memories intensify, our utterances begin to express doubt that stem from wishful thinking. Uncertainty increases as confidence dwindles. 

          When I learned my dad had fallen ill and was placed in a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, we rushed to be by his side. Alarm, panic, dread, distress, worry—these emotions agitated my gut while tears dripped onto my shirt. Even though these sentiments obstructed most of my thinking, I hoped he would be healed and return home. But it wasn't to be. With life support pulled, death was inevitable. Hope faded as despair loomed. I promptly left my dad’s room in search of the hospital chapel. I needed time to pray and reset my thinking. 

          Sitting in the small chapel, I cried out to God. I thanked Him for my daddy’s salvation through Christ Jesus and pleaded with Him to peacefully carry him to his heavenly home. Quietly pondering God’s promises of salvation, my mind became fixed on eternal life. A peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) overwhelmed me, and even though tears continued to fall, I knew I could face the future with God’s help. Death has no power over those who belong to God. I would see my daddy again.    

          My thoughts then turned to Jesus’ disciples. What devastation they must have felt when they witnessed their beaten and bruised Friend and Messiah nailed to a cross. Any hope they had held onto dwindled as Jesus bled and died. What would they do? Where would they go? The days surely hung heavy with sorrow as they hid in horror and fear until news spread about an empty tomb. Some of the women who had followed Jesus were saying He had been restored to life, resurrected three days after His death. Can you imagine their uncertainty and astonishment? Several of Jesus’ disciples couldn’t run fast enough to see for themselves. Were they hopefully wishing all would be well?

          During the weeks after the resurrection, the risen Jesus appeared to His disciples causing them to reset their thinking. Their doubts turned to certainty, skepticism turned to trust. And when Christ returned to heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to embolden His disciples, their confusion became complete confidence. Their hopefully had become hope fully, not wishful thinking but abiding hope. Their Savior and Friend had conquered death—He was alive. Because of their belief in the resurrected Savior, they could hold onto hope, a living hope. They would see Jesus again. 

          The certainty of new life through our Savior Jesus Christ changes wishes to fact. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God holds an imperishable inheritance in heaven for those who believe in the Savior. Yet while on earth, the believer can cling to living hope, the essence of faith in God through Jesus Christ.

          Even though the disciples suffered excruciating trials because of their faith, they placed their hope in the power of their resurrected Savior. They set their minds on Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to empower them to hope fully. 

          I carried immense sorrow into the chapel as my dad lay dying in his hospital room. But the Holy Spirit enabled me to walk out with stronger faith. As I set my mind on Jesus’ resurrection, God reminded me of the imperishable inheritance saved in heaven for both of us. I fixed my hope fully on eternal life. 

          Hope fully in the risen Savior Jesus Christ’s power over death. Hope fully in new life on earth with Jesus and eternal life in heaven with Him. Because we have a Savior who defeated death and rose to victory, we have a living hope. We don’t have to hopefully go to heaven when we die. With our minds set on Christ, we can hope fully on the finished work of Jesus, and receive an imperishable inheritance, waiting for us in heaven.

“God rewards fearless hopers with the fruit of their hope.”

— Chris Tiegreen

          All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

          So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:3-7 (NLT)

When Clouds Gather, Listen to Him

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” Mark 9:7 (NASB)

A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”  Luke 9:35 (NIV)

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”  Matthew 17:5 (NIV)

Voices all over the world have uttered intense declarations during the last few months. The noise level seems to have reached fever pitch, especially in the United States. Covid, quarantine, masks, riots, protests, violence—these extreme experiences have generated enormous fear. Has the multitude of mouthpieces distracted us from the one voice that spoke all of nature into existence? The one voice that expresses deep love for all of His creation? 

Facts as well as fiction have rendered anxious hearts, causing panic and alarm. The more information we’ve heard, the more confused and distressed we’ve become. The only thing that seems to be certain is uncertainty. Earthly life is certainly unpredictable. 

Peter, James, and John possibility faced trepidation when they experienced a startling phenomenon. After traveling with Jesus to a high mountain, they stopped to gaze at the lush plots of green growth, patches of brown barrenness, and villages situated throughout the region below. Everything appeared tranquil until they witnessed Jesus radiantly glowing within a bright light. Before their eyes, Jesus was transfigured while conversing with Elijah and Moses. Wait a minute. Weren’t the prophets Elijah and Moses dead? 

Seeing Jesus in dazzling white array and speaking with apparitions had to be unnerving. As if that wasn’t enough, an immense cloud had formed around them as a thundering voice rumbled in their ears saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

What an encounter. It’s likely Peter, James, and John stood before Jesus, shaking with fear and trembling. What emotions erupted as an enormous cloud engulfed them? What thoughts transpired as that single thunderous voice trumpeted from the cloud? 

The initial fright experienced by Jesus’ disciples may resemble the recurring fears we’ve undergone the past few months. From one disturbance to another, we’ve faced many challenges. A multitude of voices carrying a medley of messages have contributed to mass confusion. But the disciples met the clarity of one message through the voice of their Heavenly Father. “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Prior to Jesus’ transfiguration, the disciples had seen Him perform miracles. Peter had declared Jesus to be the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Jesus had predicted His death. And He had informed them that in order to be His disciples, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. 

Imagine reasoning with those memories after seeing the transformation of their friend and teacher. Surely the event verified Jesus’ identity after God’s voice broadcasted His instruction from the cloud, “Listen to Him!”

Throughout Scripture, clouds have symbolized God’s presence, protection, and guidance over His people. God’s people, in turn, knew they should obey His instructions. Even if the disciples walked down that mountain with more questions than answers, they chose to follow the One who had called them. They decided to listen and obey.

In the midst of a pandemic and disastrous riots, are you listening to many voices or one voice? Are you making decisions based on society and culture or on the truth of God’s Word? 

The confusion of mixed messages from various voices distracts, causing disorder and chaos. Uncertainty increases and fosters fear. If the gathering clouds fill us with doubt, indecision, and angst, our lives will begin to unravel. 

On the contrary, a message of truth from one well defined voice provides clarity and peace. Assurance develops and faith strengthens. If we choose to believe God’s Word about a Savior who loved us enough to die for us, then those gathering clouds will remind us that God is near.

God is a God of order. He offers peace in a disorderly world. Pay attention to His voice through the reading of His Word. Hear Him when He says, “Jesus is my Son. Listen to Him!”

Will we allow dissenting voices to prick our ears or will we choose to listen and obey the voice of God? As Jesus has said, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.  James 1:22-25 (NIV)

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 
1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV)”

Be Still

“If we dwell on a perceived threat, panic will take over. If we dwell on Christ, peace will prevail.
~Franklin Graham”

I’m a visual learner. I can listen to a speaker, take notes, and try to remember everything I’m hearing, but a displayed picture lingers in my mind creating prolonged memory. Now don’t get me wrong—I love words, reading and writing them, but an image speaks volumes. A picture expresses an understanding that can’t be explained any other way. A picture is worth a thousand words. 

That adage seems to be as old as time. It’s been credited to several people from across the globe. It’s been used by many people all over the world. It’s easily understood because a picture is worth a thousand words.

God expresses Himself to me with His artistic creations, the natural beauty within His heaven and earth. I’m compelled to pause and pay attention to Him. Have you ever taken time to stop, look, and listen for Him in your natural surroundings?

Suddenly many people of this world have time. We’ve had to halt hurried routines due to a pandemic. The eerie emptiness of stores, restaurants, businesses steeps fear and anxiety within many souls. Life and death hangs in the balance. Uncertainty crowds the future. Time stands still, giving us more of it than we want. 

What can we do with this time that’s been forced upon us? Be still. Allow the serenity of God to overcome the eeriness of society at a standstill. Look up and around at God’s beauty. Listen to the quiet. Read His words in Scripture and hear His heart. Rest in Him and receive His peace.

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46 (NIV)

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a groom coming from the bridal chamber;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
It rises from one end of the heavens
and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

The instruction of the Lord is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable
and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey,
which comes from the honeycomb.
In addition, Your servant is warned by them;
there is great reward in keeping them.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19 (HCSB)

I exalt You, my God the King,
and praise Your name forever and ever.
I will praise You every day;
I will honor Your name forever and ever.

Yahweh is great and is highly praised;
His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation will declare Your works to the next
and will proclaim Your mighty acts.
I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty
and Your wonderful works.
They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring acts,
and I will declare Your greatness.
They will give a testimony of Your great goodness
and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 145 (HCSB)

Hallelujah!

How good it is to sing to our God,
for praise is pleasant and lovely.

The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;
He gathers Israel’s exiled people.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
Our Lord is great, vast in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The Lord helps the afflicted
but brings the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
play the lyre to our God,
who covers the sky with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
and causes grass to grow on the hills.
He provides the animals with their food,
and the young ravens, what they cry for.

He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;
He does not value the power of a man.
The Lord values those who fear Him,
those who put their hope in His faithful love. Psalm 147:1-11 (HCSB)

Turn away from panic. Instead………

“The greatness of God’s power to create and design and form and mold and make and build and arrange defies the limits of our imagination. And since He created everything, there is nothing beyond His power to fix or mend or heal or restore.
~Anne Graham Lotz
”

PRAISE THE LORD!