“Merry Christmas. May your day be filled with reflections of our humble God.” 

This was a Christmas message I read on Facebook the other day.   I was caught a little off guard by the concept of “our humble God” and as was wished upon me, my day was filled with reflections upon: Our humble God. 

The part of this greeting that most caught my mind and heart was how God is described.  He’s ours and more than that, He is humble.  Honestly, my first reaction was to resist the concept, worried that we were getting close to falling off a theological cliff.  Humble God? What?  That can’t be right. God is so…well, so great!  Perhaps I have a poor, weak concept of humility. As the words began to sink in, I realized that once again, our God was unveiling an unspeakable mystery about who He is.   I am awestruck by so wondrous a thought - His humility is profound, almost too much. 

Consider mankind – better yet, consider yourself.   Who are we, that God would acknowledge us and our deep need?   Please understand that I am not trying to make anyone feel like a worthless worm.  Our value is authenticated by the image of God stamped upon each living soul.  Yet, He is infinite, and we are puny. "We are but dust." But even beyond our state as small, created beings lies the harsh reality that we are a deeply fallen people, every one of us.  We rejected the very one who made us, shunned our only Hope by saying, “I’ll be doing life on my own, thank you very much.”  In our selfishness, we wandered far from God, each of us corroded by the blackness of grotesque sin.  And yet…

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

Unthinkable!

Forgiveness requires humility.  Anyone who has willingly chosen mercy over judgment will tell you that it’s simply not natural to release a sinner from their debt.  If you’ve been on the giving end of mercy then you are keenly aware of the humility required.  But just imagine an absolutely perfect Creator God CHOOSING to forgive that which He would have every right to judge.  Imagine this righteous God choosing to give freedom to the sinner rather than to condemn him.  Yes - that’s our humble God.

Now Consider God.  Or rather – try.  Creator. Majestic. Glorious. Holy. Eternal. Almighty. Humble. 

What we needed was more than forgiveness – we needed atonement.   Someone – and not just any Someone, but a perfect glorious Son - to stand in our place, to take the hit, to willingly receive absolute lethal punishment for our sin.  This kind of sacrifice would require an unimaginable, never-before-seen, depth of humility.  Unfathomable!  Our great God becomes puny man for you and for me.

This Majestic, Glorious, Holy, Eternal God chose to put aside divinity, don human frailty in the form of a helpless infant born in a stable one night, alone and dependent, subjecting Himself to life among those who have wandered – those who hate.  Seriously, who does that? 

Our humble God, that’s who.   

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!”  Phil 2:6-8

But why?  Why does Divinity choose humility even to the point of death when He could have justly walked away from us all? 

Because Love wins.

Love is the foundation of everything He is – His glory, His holiness, His majesty and yes, His humility.  In love He forgives us and in love He saves us.   In love He chose crazy unthinkable humility, condescending to the lowest of lows in order that we might be lifted up to the highest of highs, that is, with Him.   Love.

Because He chose humility, we can also choose humility.

Because He forgives us, we can forgive others.

Because He loves us, we can love others.

That’s freedom.  That’s salvation.

That’s our Humble God.

Sunflowers

One of the joys of this time of year for me is seeing the many brightly faced sunflowers in all their glory lined up at attention along the roadways, gardens and farmlands.  There’s something about those yellow beauties basking in the sunshine that puts a smile on my face.  Their strong, tall stature, their stunning, glowing faces and the fact that sunflowers produce such abundant seed (for both bird and man) sets these plants apart from any other!  Recently, I’ve been tempted, while driving, to pull my car over just to take a picture of these enchanting flowers, but each time I think to do it, I realize I can’t spare the time, and vow to stop NEXT time.    

One day last week while on my way to wok, I was determined to take the time to stop for a picture along the edge of a local farm.   I smiled as I came upon the property, anticipating the greeting I would receive from those happy sunflowers.   I was just about to pull the car over when I saw and realized....the sunflowers didn’t look happy.  Their faces were downcast, even in the morning sun.   Slightly disheartened, I lost interest in taking a picture and drove on by regretting that I had not taken the time earlier in the season to take one simple picture.  I said out loud to myself, “Aw, they’re not happy at all.  They’re so sad.”   And in that very moment, I sensed the Lord actually respond:

“Oh, they’re not sad – they’re just laden down with fruit."   "Huh."  He went on...

And in your heart, daughter, I’ve invested much fruit.  You carry around inside of you, My burden for the lives and futures of many – young and old.  There are seasons when that fruit is heavy with care, and yet heavy with hope - but heavy hope is NOT sadness.  Just like those sunflowers are bowed down, so do you bow down in prayer, even in travail because of the promise of fruitfulness. When you pray, pray in hope.”  Wow.  I love it when those sorts of encounters happen seemingly out-of-the-blue over simple, everyday things.  I had wanted to take a snapshot of a cheery sunflower, and instead, I received a glimpse into the heart of my Father.  What a happy morning.

UPDATE 9.4.12

So apparently the Lord had more to say to me concerning those sunflowers...

Sometimes, as I drive to work, I use that time to just think things through and allow those thoughts to turn in to prayers.  But this morning, as I was driving to work, I felt somewhat weighed down because of the concerns of many friends and my thoughts were sad and wearisome.  As I thought of the health needs of my friends, the many crises faced by those I love, it became difficult to find words to pray.  Instead, I sighed.  "God, I feel like I've run out steam.  I don't know what else to pray - how else to pray.  How does one keep pressing in prayer when it seems like there is no favorable response?"

It's hard when faith seems distant, but the needs seem overwhelmingly desperate.  I know it's not about the words I pray, but about my heart. I know God hears my prayers, but sometimes the disappointment I feel knocks the wind out of my sails, and I run out of words and hope.  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, mine just felt heavy.  My prayer to God became just one big question: "How does one pray on, in the face of a mocking, apparently immovable giant?"

It was at this moment that I happened by the same sunflower field I wrote of a few days ago.  I slowed down to get a better look - to drink in the scene of those gloriously arrayed yellow beauties, weighed down and "pregnant" with much seed.  And I sensed the Lord speak to me again ...

"Don't give up. If those flowers gave up right now - because of the weight of the burden, then those seeds wouldn't fully mature and be released.  The sunflower might look like "it can't go on", but it will. It has no choice, because it's a plant.  But you have a choice.  I'm telling you,  you have no idea what I have right around the corner.  Persevere to the end, child - there is fruit I will bear in and through you - and in and through others.  Stir up your faith - it's not about what you see right now, in the circumstances.  I see, what you can't see - and I see a harvest.  I see breakthrough.  I see healing and wholeness.  When you lose heart, and faith seems distant, look to Me and find strength to press on."

That encounter breathed a bit of hope into my soul as I began to pray with a cup of fresh faith and a gallon of tears, for those who desperately need a touch from the One who loves them most.  

Lord Jesus, have mercy and rescue your children.

Basic Need

Which of the following costs the most?

A dream vacation trip to the Bahamas?

A tank of gas for your car?

A glass of water?

Or air?

Now, different question: which is the most valuable? If you’re drowning under the surface of water, you’re not particularly interested in taking a vacation at that moment, nor are you going anywhere in your car or needing a drink of water. You’re desperate for just one thing: AIR! Strange how air is completely free, yet so incredibly valuable.

A dream vacation may well be on the top of your list of important things to do, especially if you’re weary and worn down from your day to day existence. A well-timed and well-planned vacation can do wonders to obtain fresh energy and rejuvenation so we can face life. In fact, it’s similar to filling your car up with gas. When you’ve run out of fuel, all you need to do is pull into a gas station and fill up and you’re good to go again! A vacation may refuel you, so you can face life for another year or two – although your car, of course, will need refueling much sooner than that.

On average, I fill up my gas tank about once a week. But let’s think for a minute about our need for water. It’s definitely a priority – more valuable than a vacation or a tank of gas, yet it’s much more accessible to those of us in America. It’s a basic need and we require water to refuel are bodies far more often than once a week! At the bare minimum, we need water at least once a day! If we never get a vacation or acquire a tank-full of gas, we will not perish, however, water is essential. You can go a day without water, but you can’t go more than a week (unless you are under miraculous conditions!)

Now here’s the thing: as important as water is, air is more-so. Most people cannot go for more than 8 minutes without oxygen before serious brain and heart damage occurs at which point, death is imminent. We typically take breathing for granted, until of course, our breathing is restricted and then we can think of nothing else except getting that next breath! We depend upon it, moment by moment, breathing in the free and abundant blessing of air, enjoying its enormous benefits as it supplies our entire physical being with necessary oxygen so that we can go on with life, moment by moment.

(Ok, Kath – time to get to the point. :) Now, let us consider the blessing of (and needful) encounters with the Presence of God. Those times when all life stands still, and we are freshly washed in a wave of glory as God touches our souls with His breath and transforms our lives. We love those special moments, when our awareness of God’s nearness and the tangible sense of His presence overwhelm us. We revel at the altar, receiving fresh grace when it seems the pressures of life fade while the reality of God’s closeness restores our soul. But I wonder, do I only look for those moments like a rare vacation, or a refueling once a week at a church service, or even a daily tall drink of His presence (aka morning devotions)? Or do I realize that when the veil of the Holy of Holies was torn at the death of our Savior, that He actually meant for us to GO into the Very Presence of our most Holy God and live and move and have our being every moment of every day?

Perhaps you were told at one point in your life, as I was, that you “can’t live on the mountaintop all the time because it’s not reality.” I guess I’m here to gently challenge that thinking. Maybe the Lord wants us to reevaluate what we call “reality” and consider that His Kingdom IS our reality and His Presence can be our constant expectation. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m aware that there are ebbs and flows of life and circumstances and sometimes we are more aware of God’s presence than at other times – I’m just not sure He’s always the one who is “ebbing” :), as if He doesn’t want us to get too caught up in the wonder of His glory. From what I understand of scripture, and the plan of salvation, I believe we can anticipate that through the cross, we have full access to the very presence of God every moment of every day, kind of like air! And if He obtained that for us, at such an exorbitant cost, even though it’s free to us, then perhaps it is as necessary as the very air we breathe! Sometimes I think we try to suck it up and live life until the next conference rolls around – like a Bahaman vacation – so we can refuel in God’s presence to go out and face the world again for another year. (for the record, I really appreciate Christian conferences!) Or perhaps we “tank up” on God at our weekly church services, hoping that the sense of His presence will hang on through the course of the whole week.

Honestly, my need for God’s presence seems to increase day by day. I am currently desperate for His presence far more often than once a year or once a week – even more than once a day! But I confess that sometimes I will try to live with less, because rather than seeing His presence as a basic need of the soul, I sometimes think I can get by on yesterday's manna. That's the equivalent of choosing to fast from breathing for a couple of days. It doesn't make sense in light of the fact that He provided access to His presence through His sacrifice every single moment of the rest of my life! I believe, based upon the truth of God’s word that we can fully anticipate the abundant provision of that which we need most: His very presence! Maybe the Lord means for those of us who are called His very own children to actually live in the place of His presence, rather than just visit every so often. Maybe we as His sons & daughters need to believe by faith that His door has swung wide open, and His invitation is fully extended to us to run into His loving arms, and find complete rest in His glorious embrace! Tell me, is it possible to live in the awareness of God’s presence, while still living the everyday life He has given us?

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ… For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:13 & 18

Signs & Symptoms

My son, Phil brought a little excitement to our lives recently when he called, asking what he should do about the tremendous abdominal pain he was feeling. We talked and texted until he found himself waiting to be seen in the local Emergency Department. While sitting there, he had waves of pain, chills and light-headedness. Finally, he was seen by a doctor who ordered IV fluids and pain medication as well as a few tests to determine what was going on. It was discovered that he had a very high white blood count, indicating a serious infection. An abdominal CT scan then revealed appendicitis and he was quickly taken to surgery to have the offending appendix removed. After surgery, the doctor reported that Phil’s appendix had ruptured and therefore a tube was inserted to drain the infection over the course of the next several days. In addition, potent antibiotics were given to him intravenously around the clock in order to combat the raging infection in his gut. Thankfully, Phil was fever-free in 48 hours, gained strength during his hospital stay, and was discharged almost a week after the initial onset of symptoms. We are grateful for the prayers and the medical care he received during this crisis.

I was thinking the other day about how appendicitis could be compared with an issue of brokenness in a heart. Sometimes it’s hard to know what lurks in the dark recesses of one’s heart and quite often we are content to cope and cover in order to hide an issue under “proper behavior” and ignorant bliss. But alas, the Lord who cares deeply for us, won’t allow broken issues to hide for too long before revealing the ugly effects one way or another. We hate crisis – but sometimes I believe God allows difficult things to reveal what lies under the surface. He doesn’t do that for our hurt, but rather for our well-being. It’s like the fever of infection – it’s not to harm us, but rather to alarm us. It moves us to action! Desperation has a way of bringing us to the threshold of transformation. In our distress we may finally come to a point of crying out to God who is able to heal us and free us of the bondages in our soul. I wonder how often we refuse to pay attention to the warning signs of an infection in the soul? A small offense grows into a mountain of bitterness, and relationships are wrought with tension and strife, choking out any joy in living. At what point do we recognize the sure symptoms of disease, stop blaming others and turn to our Physician for healing? And what happens if we choose NOT to do that?

What if Phil chose to suck-it-up and ignore those symptoms of abdominal pain and shaking chills? Or, what if he chose to get checked out, but then settled on pain medication and fever reducers to deal with the negative symptoms, without pursuing the actual cause of the problem? What if he refused to lay down for the surgery, fearing the pain of the procedure or the lengthy recovery afterwards? What if after surgery, he refused follow up treatment of antibiotics, fluids and bed rest? At any step during this journey, had Phil turned his back on the next phase of treatment, he would have put his health and in fact, his very life in jeopardy. We wouldn’t think twice about getting the necessary help to deal with a physical festering issue like a ruptured appendix. We don’t suffer shame and guilt from having to have surgery. Why is it then that we would choose to ignore the infectious issues that plague our heart? Do we not realize there is Help? Do we think we have to suck-it-up and cope? Are we embarrassed to admit the struggles of our soul? Have we fooled ourselves into thinking we are healthy, and not in need of a Healer? Do we gain points from being “healthier” than the next guy? It is only when we can see and admit our own sickness that we embrace our need for the Healer, Jesus. To be so dependent upon the Lord is NOT a shameful weakness, but rather our only hope for grace and strength. Our Physician is the best in the business. Furthermore, He’s the One who loves you most, knows how to root out the infection completely, and has a vision of wholeness for your future. Let Jesus expose to the Light, what’s been lurking in the darkness. It’s going to be ok-you can trust Him with your healing and your full recovery.

"Those who are well have no need of a Physician, but those who are sick.” Luke 5:31

Flight Control

So, I flew to Italy a month ago, and now I’d like to confess something to you: I can become somewhat uncomfortable whenever I am in an enclosed space, and more so when I am in places of notable height. The experts call it claustrophobia and acrophobia, but I’ll just combine them both and call it clacrophobia. As a “clacrophobist” it was no small feat for me to intentionally, of my own freewill, board an enclosed space with a massive wingspan that would ultimately soar 30,000 feet into the highest of heights … over the frigid North Atlantic! (I’m not really afraid of water, just falling into the frigid North Atlantic. I wonder what they call that phobia.) Furthermore, I paid dearly to put myself in this perilous, precarious position! What was I thinking?

The flight attendant goes over the safety instructions, but who’s kidding who? So what if my tightened seatbelt keeps me safely tucked in my seat as we sail 30,000 feet to the earth below? And what if I can’t find that laminated safety card mid-fall so that I can quickly review the oxygen mask run-down? Those people sitting in the roomier exit rows aren’t even paying attention to the instructions on how to unlock the big doors! What happens when they’re called to active duty, scratching their heads because they forgot to listen to the teacher at the beginning of the flight? Don’t just sit there enjoying all that leg room, listen to the lady! Wait – are the floatation devices under my seat or in the overhead compartment – why can’t they be more specific?

I look out the window to try and distract myself. Wow – that wing is huge. I wonder how much it weighs. I wonder if all those rivets holding that baby on to this Airbus are able to handle all that weight. I understand it can get pretty windy up in the clouds. Speaking of weight, how much does this plane weigh? The wise side of me thought it best not to research that bit of information at this point, but the wise side of me also chose to stay safe and sound on the ground back in Rochester. Over 500 tonnes? What is a tonne and how do you pronounce tonne? It must be similar to a ton….oh, here it is. 1 tonne equals 1000 kg, otherwise known as a metric ton. Oh, but look here – they were able to shave about 15 tonnes off by using a non-metal product on some portions of the plane. Nice. Good to know. I wonder if paying more attention in Physics class might have helped alleviate some of this angst rising inside. I never understood the whole aerodynamics thing. In my mind, big, heavy objects generally are harder to get off the ground than say, a butterfly. I purpose not to think too much more on the fact that I have willingly strapped myself into an enclosed space aboard an “Airbus” that weighs well over 500,000 kg knowing it’s about to take off, soaring to unthinkable heights for several hours, over the frigid North Atlantic, entrusting myself, my husband and my child into the hands of a couple of guys (probably younger than I), who have stripes sewn on to the shoulders of their crisp, white shirts, and their hands on the wheel of this bus in order to take us from point A to point B . Breathe, just breathe.

So why does a clacrophobist willingly put herself in such a position? I had about 8 hours to think about it on the way over the ocean. First of all, my desire to arrive at point B was far stronger than my fear of the process required to get there. Let me say that again – MY DESIRE TO ARRIVE AT POINT B WAS FAR STRONGER THAN MY FEAR OF THE PROCESS REQUIRED TO GET THERE. After all, my daughter and her husband were at point B. An adventure with my family was at point B. History and encounter and wonder were at point B. I have to tell you, I love point B – and the fear that might have wanted to hinder my journey, had to admit defeat when I buckled my seatbelt on that plane. “Click – I’m going to Italy, Fear, so deal with it. “

Perhaps of greater significance however, is the fact that this recovering clacrophobist had previously chosen to entrust her life, health and well-being to the care of a Heavenly Father who promised never to leave or forsake her. Whether I’m on the ground or in mid-air, I am confident the Lord is with me, and knows how to manage my life. On this flight, the Lord kept me company and in the course of our flight, He reminded me that in this uncertain life, I may lack complete knowledge of specific things like aerodynamics and microbiology and sanctification and such – but that doesn’t make those things less trustworthy. My knowledge of those things doesn’t put me more in control and it doesn’t make me safer. They are principles and truths that are not dependent upon my understanding them to hold true. In some weird way, I think if I “get it”, I’ll be safer, but that’s just a desire to control my world. So I guess that’s the real confession here: not that I fear enclosed spaces or high places, but that I tend to want to control my world in order to feel safe, when in fact, my salvation is already assured by the One who knows everything, holds everything and loves me dearly.

I wonder - do you have a desire in this New Year to get to a point B? Perhaps you would like to learn a new skill, or you would like to adopt a spiritual discipline, or be more outward, or be a better example of the love of Jesus. Maybe, like me, you just want to learn to trust God more fully. Sometimes, the transformation process can be very unsettling as we look towards point B, but can I encourage you to click the seatbelt and trust your Pilot? He knows what He’s doing, He knows where you need to go, and He knows how to carry you there. Breathe and trust Him.