"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." ~ Hebrew 6:19
The following song first touched my heart at a Women of Faith conference in 2004. The words so perfectly and beautifully described the total transformation that my lost heart underwent when I came to the Lord in March of 1984. So often since that time, I have through my own selfishness, fear and prideful desires taken back and chosen to wear the ashes rather than to glow in the beauty of total forgiveness which the death of my Lord Jesus on the Cross lavished upon me. Hearing the song this morning in Worship, once again brought me to that place of brokenness and recognition that only the foot of the Cross is big enough to hold ALL my burdens as I lay them down.
At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You've received
And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart
Now I can trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me
I lay every burden down
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross.
~ Kathryn Scott
Father God, thank you that You lift me up. When I am tormented with shame, You tell me that the Cross covered all my shame. When I feel like a failure, You tell me that because of the Cross You see a precious and beloved child. Even now, I come to You asking forgiveness, and I thank You that You not only forgive me, but also remove my sadness and shame. My heart can sing with renewed joy because Your love lifts me up from the depths into your cleansing light. Amen.
'Take a good look at God's wonders--they'll take your breath away.' ~ Psalm 66:5 MSG
So often I get carried away and detained from doing my daily tasks as I look around me and see the simple wonders of nature. Whether it be a floating cloud, leaves rustling in the wind, watching the birds visiting my feeder, being mesmerized by the gently floating snowflakes dancing outside my window pane or delighting in a flower's unique beauty or the striking colors of the sunset as it radiates on dusk's horizon. As it is usually very nearby, I pull out my camera and I try my best to capture the gift before me. I don't consider myself a photographer by any means, but in these moments I cannot stop myself from taking picture after picture of all that my eye beholds. On many a sleepless night, I find myself going to the comfort found in His Holy Word. Next to it lays a photo album with my favorite shots. What He has promised me in His Word and painted in His creation slowly but surely soothe this tossing soul. Praise and prayer join in the early morning worship as the darkness is illuminated and once again I am reminded I have been given so much. Often I am compelled to pick up that unique looking stone, shell, twig or pebble and keep it to myself so that I can see it every day and be reminded of God's gift of creation on those days when nothing looks so inviting. Or, I'll be taking out our husky, Lila, one last time before bedtime and my gaze is automatically pulled upwards. And there they are on a clear night, those beautiful diamonds shining and piercing through the darkness. In that instant, I think of God speaking to Job and asking, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?" (Job 38:21) And with the Psalmist I ask, "what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4)....
Father God, I thank you for the beauty of creation You have so magnificently bestowed upon us. I ask that You continually open the eyes of my spirit to see and appreciate these tangible reminders of Your great and inexplicable love for me. And in all their majestic grandeur, may I always give praise not to the creation, but to the Creator who had me in mind when He spoke them into being. To You, oh my God, be the glory and praise and power forever and ever. Amen.
‘When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.’ - Psalm 94:19
Another day, and what I know for certain without a doubt is that I can see the world You created around me. I can easily close my eyes and hear the rhythms of Your unrivaled symphony all about me, I can taste the richness of Your bountiful nourishment which I have never been in want of, I can feel the softness of my favorite four legged pals and the gruffness of my husband's unshaven beard. Those are the easy no-doubters indeed. The tough ones are those that come in direct conflict and attempt to seize and bring down my faith like the wrecking ball bringing down yesterday’s obsolete downtown office building. Such as the wrecking ball of fear, as it brings doubts to Your promises, and then it continues it ravaging path down the road to bring doubts to my faith, capitulating with the voice of failure and that screaming, nagging, doubt that says ‘you’ll never amount to much, stop wasting your time, just give it up’. And alas, the king of all doubts, the wrecking ball that keeps me isolated in my corner, always doubting my worthiness and the direction of my next step. The gears seem to get stuck on that one all too often. But then You step in. Gently You remind me that doubt is natural. That without it our faith would have no foundations. You tell me in Your Word that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb.11:1). You ask me to remember that guy named Thomas who doubted who You were even as You stood before him in his very presence. Yet, in his doubt, You did not scold him or turn away in contempt, but asked him to stop doubting and believe (Luke 20). You focused Your attention on him and asked him to examine for himself Your nail pierced hands and side -- the evidence set forth before him. In the same way, You ask me to bring my doubts to You, and You will listen and reassure me even as you did Thomas on that day…
Father God, I thank You that in my doubt You continually challenge me in a new way. I pray that through my doubts, I continually draw closer to You and not further away. Father I ask that as I desire to draw closer to You, that You give me the strength to trust You through the journey. I rejoice that no matter what my situation, You help me take that next step in faith. Even as Thomas did, I long to bring my doubts directly to You, and know that You will not leave me alone as I candidly pour out my heart to you. And as Thomas, give me the common sense to review the evidence set before me, remember Your faithfulness throughout the generations, and to go forth in firm and undeniable proclamation that You are indeed my Lord and my God! Amen
