Living in Splendor

What does it actually mean to live in splendor? Webster’s define ’Splendor’ as magnificence or grandeur. When I think of grandeur it evokes visions of mansions on high cliffs overlooking the sea or castles perched on rolling hills in places like England, Scotland or Ireland. Magnificent homes that possibly kings and queens would dwell in. To use the adjective ”Breathtaking” would probably be an understatement.

As I spoke to some good friends yesterday I was recounting some of the places that I have been blessed to live in. While they were not castles of splendor perched on green cliffs overlooking the ocean they each held a beauty in their own right or at least many beautiful memories. I never looked at my dwellings as places of splendor but they were. You see, it wasn't what the outside of the homes looked like but it was the things that were inside that were grand and magnificent. It was the family, the laughter, the late night movies, baking Christmas cookies  and decorating the tree and the dinners around the Thanksgiving table. These all contributed to our dwellings being grand and magnificent. It's always what's on the inside that counts more you know. It's never about the facade but about the heart. 

Recently I was listening to an old hymn written by Fanny Crosby in 1873. She was blind but she had a magnificence on the inside of peace and contentment even though she couldn't see. In 1873 she penned the lyrics to the old hymn ”Blessed Assurance”. Her words captured the essence of joy, hope and contentment as we look forward to our home in heaven. It looked bad for her on the outside because she could not see in the physical but oh, how she could see on the inside in the spiritual realm. Her words just penetrate my spirit: ”blessed assurance Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine”! The chorus of that beautiful hymn though is what strikes me so hard when it says, ”this is my story this is is my song, praising my Savior all the day long”. When that chorus is sung my mind flashes back to a little girl of 5 or 6 years and she is sitting on the church pew behind her grandmother as she plays that song on the church organ. I used to love hearing her play and I would sing that chorus all the time because it was my favorite. At 5 or 6 I believed! I believed in all the things that I was being taught and held them even then, very close inside my heart. My story, my song started back then. My dwelling place of splendor was built the day I believed. The building started the day the door of my heart swung open and I allowed the one who holds the book of life to come in and dwell with me. My house is a house of ”splendor” and it's grand and magnificent because of who dwells there. So, you see, a king does live at my address and it's absolutely splendid. 

Psalm 96:6

Majesty and splendor are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

”I See You”

I am super happy every morning to be able to get up and usually straight away go out on my back deck and fill my bird feeders. The birds here in East Tennessee are hungry, let me just say, and have voracious appetites but they are also beautiful. Ive seen multitudes of blue jays, cardinals, red headed woodpeckers and finches. They're all so beautiful in their brightly colored suits and they are all vying for position at my feeders. The blue jays are the bully's of sorts as they are the largest so they make sure all the others wait their turns until they are quite full. When the jays leave the others then feel safe to come and eat. But the ones that melt my heart every time are the patient, sitting on the sidelines, little brown sparrows. They wait patiently until all the others have eaten and then get their fill and fly off to their next adventure. 

Sometimes in my life, if I can be honest here, it has felt like I am living out the brown sparrows life. The big guys, the ones with wealth and power just swoop in and rule the day so to speak. They get the best things, and have the pick of whatever they choose. The others are right there behind them to get or attain what the power players haven't gotten. And then, here I am, the brown sparrow, patiently waiting on the sidelines to get whats left over. 

In truth, as the Lord reveals to my heart, even though the other birds are bigger, more beautiful with their colorful suits, I "see" the brown sparrow and I make sure she has what she needs. She patiently waits, so I wait and watch and I make sure always that she receives what she has need of. 

So, God "sees" me! He "sees" you in whatever place or suit you find yourself in. The truth is that God sees us all and takes care of us accordingly. But if you are feeling a bit like I have at times, like a little brown sparrow, just know that God will also provide for you what you need when you need it. Sit back patiently on the sidelines if you must but you will have what you need when the time is right.

It says in Luke 12:7  "Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."

There are days when you may feel like a "plain Jane" or in this case, a brown sparrow, but take it from me and the Word of God, "He sees you"! 

Edifices Of Stone

Today I ventured into two cemeteries that were local to me. Of late I have found such a fascination and beauty in the old carved stones and statuary there. I especially love the carved angels that can be found in the older sections. The artists’ handiwork during the 1800’s was just breath taking. Today stones are laser cut and worked a small bit by hand but the older carvings that grace the rolling hillsides of the historic sections are unmatched. 

As I drove through the winding lanes it was very somber to say the least but as I continued down lane after lane I found myself compelled to take photos of the beauty of the art there. These carvings were very sizeable as well. Oh, some were two foot high but most were towering over their place and stood at least 10 feet high and more. 

It was very thought provoking to imagine a 10 foot statue being commissioned and placed to mark where someones life was laid to rest. Beautiful memorials carved out of timeless stone to mark that life and stand watch through the years over them. 

As I slowly drove on through the memorials I began to imagine what it would look like on the day Jesus returned. As quiet and sobering a place as it was today, the pictures that played in my mind of that day were a bit unsettling. 

”For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

I imagined that very moment, if I was a witness to it, to be amazing and awesome unlike anything I've  ever imagined or Hollywood has tried to portray. The dead that are in Christ will come up out of their graves and be changed.  Can you even imagine standing there to be a witness to that? Well, not for long right! Because it would just be a blink and I'd be right behind them. 

Think of it though, their spirits would meet with their new bodies and they'd be raised to perfection and glory. That moment would be one of profound worship standing there on Holy Ground. That gloomy, sad and somber place would suddenly become a glorious piece of Holy Ground where one of Gods greatest miracles will unfold. From those quiet rolling hills will come resurrected, glorified and well memorialized believers I might add, that will be snatched up and taken to their glorious reward in heaven. It was as if the edifices of stone we're poised, waiting and whispering, ”soon, soon our watch will be over”. 

The beauty of the statues, the beauty of that moment in time, the beauty of His great love for us is unmatched. 

If you get the chance, go, go stroll through those hallowed places and admire the handiwork of the carvers and makers but particularly, if you don't do anything else, make sure you'll be a heaven bound traveller when the clouds roll back and King Jesus calls us home. The beauty of that trip will far surpass a trip down the angel guarded lanes of the Memorial Gardens you can be sure of that!

Tight Fisted

The oddest memory flooded my mind today as I was doing my quiet time. It was a visual of my daughter in her high chair in my kitchen some 40 something years ago. It made me smile because I think God reminded me of it to simply illustrate what I was studying. He's good at that you know. She was in her high chair and was a bit fussy and I was preparing dinner for everyone at the same time. I was making her a bottle because it was growing close to her bedtime. I did possibly the ”unspeakable” in some mothers’ eyes. The thing was that it was simply out of desire for a little contentment and peace from the crying. So, I gave her a little jelly smeared on a crustless piece of bread until I could juggle the rest of my duties. Well, it was magic! The crying ceased, there was a happy baby and I could finish prepping her bottle. Well, once the bottle was ready and dinner put on simmer I went to take the jelly bread from her little fists and she wasn't having it! Have you ever tried prying yummy food from a tight fisted baby? Not so easy. The battle ensued the war was waged but in the end I won! Yay! 

Here's the thought. . . . If she would have just let go easily of the thing that she was holding onto, the thing that she thought was the best thing in the world, well then she could have more readily had exactly what was needed to give her peace and eventual rest. 

Today I was reading in Luke 14:26 and it read, ”If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”. What! I read on and what Jesus was saying was that you can't hold onto things, things you think are more or of most importance and still follow him fully. It also says in I John 2:15-17 ”Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

This world does hold everything that would try to seat itself ahead of God or become of more importance than He is on the throne of our hearts. And ”yes” that would include our families and even ourselves. You see that is a very very hard pill to swallow or wrestle out of our fists because we hold onto those things most tightly. It's our family that we count most dear and when push comes to shove for most, we would even take a bullet for them because they are of such importance. But what Jesus is saying to us seems to be quite the opposite doesn't it? But let me say with assuredness that what he's saying isn't hopeless at all but instead very very hope filled.  You see, he wants ALL of us and if we hold ”tight fisted” onto things or people while trying to serve God then that just doesn't work!

You see, if my daughter had not given up the jelly sandwich in her little fists then she couldn't have held the bottle of warm milk which had everything she needed to sustain her and bring her to that place of peace and rest. We’ve all probably heard the term ”Let Go And Let God” but never truly saw the depth of it. It says also in Philippians 3:8,  ”Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”. Paul spoke truth here in saying that it's all rubbish (the things we hold on to). Nothing, I repeat nothing can have place in our lives higher than God. You see, those family members, those things, those possessions they all being to Him anyway and he cares for them. We must let go of holding so tightly to them because we are afraid of losing them or think that we are the only proper caretakers of them. Who's a better caregiver than the one who cares for all? It is put to us then, choose to hold onto our jelly sandwiches and be tight fisted or let go and open our hands so that he can add things back to us that are good and nourishing and hold all we need to sustain us and bring us peace and life! Deuteronomy 30 says, ”See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”  So, open those hands and choose life!

Chosen To Wait

Have you ever been part of a large crowd in a banquet hall or possibly a wedding and the table numbers were being called in an order so that you could get your food. Ok, so then maybe you know that feeling of being the last table called as your stomach rumbles and your patience level plummets. Or maybe it's sitting in the DMV and your number seems to be ”305” and they're calling out ”99”. Your ability to be patient and hold on is tested beyond belief. Whatever the situation I think we all have moments when we have had to learn to wait. So, what if you are supposed to wait? What if you aren't first? What if the plan calls for you to be number ”305” in the plan of the day? And here's a really funny scenario for you. . . . . what if you were number ”5,000”’who sat on the far away hill on the day Jesus and his disciples fed the 5,000? Hmmmmm, What would you have looked like that day? 

Would there be a dry patch of earth at your feet from all the impatient pacing around while you waited?  Would you have fallen asleep and missed the message and the meal because of weariness in waiting? I'd like to believe I would have sat and listened and hung on Jesus’ every word until the bonus of lunch came my way but truthfully, probably not. Do you ever wonder if there was grumbling In the crowd on that far away hill as they all waited for the meal? Would there have been people saying ”when are we going to eat?” like the people in the banquet hall waiting for their table to be called? 

But here's a thought for you, ”What if you were ’chosen to wait’ ”?That's right, ’chosen’! Ridiculous thought right! Maybe not. 

Here’s another, maybe impatience has put us in the same place as the person on the far away hill, the person that was there because they actually had a need for something that they weren't readily recognizing. They didn't see that what they.needed was healing. Maybe they were ”chosen to wait”! You know Jesus himself said, ”many are called but few are chosen!” (sorry my pinach for the ridiculous gets in the way sometimes ) 

Well, what if we were chosen to wait because Jesus needed to perfect something in us that was lacking? Here's the really beautiful part though. It's 2 fold! In II Corinthians Jesus said, ” my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness”. So, while Jesus is perfecting something in us, He is being glorified and it's because of our weaknesses that his power is made perfect and he is glorified. Just chew on that for a minute! It either tastes good and nourishes you or you still need to wait for the revelation of that. Whatever it looks like,  I believe that there is a time that it will come to you and maybe the longer the wait the greater the revelation. 

The greatest and deepest need that you and I have in our weakness should not necessarily come in the form of quick relief or a quick fix. It's not necessarily being given number ”99” by some kind soul when number ”98” is being called. Perhaps the greatest and deepest need is for us to be number ”305” or that person on the far away hill. It's doing something in us! It's producing something beautiful that will not only bring healing to us but power and glory to Him. 

So, if your frustration in the waiting is causing you to squirm, grumble or exhibit tendencies of a entitled princess just know this. . . . know that when the things that we need that give us sustenance (bread & fish) are being passed out, that Jesus can see you in your far away place and He knows all too well what you have need of. You were most likely chosen to be number 5,000 on that far away hill for a reason. You were most likely ’chosen to wait’!

Insight insert: Calling on those of you out there who may be encouragers. Before you run headlong into situations that call for your encouraging heart to rush in and rescue, take a moment. Ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance on how to proceed. We encouragers tend to lead with our hearts at times which can prove a bit reckless if temperance isn't applied. Pray and ask the Lord if the situation calls for ”waiting” because God is trying to do a work in that persons heart. In the waiting we can also learn to be better listeners and glorifying God all the more. 😊

Scripture:  Romans 5:3-5

”More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

 

A Scrim Life

If you’ve ever been to a theatrical production or have ever seen “shadow dancing” Then you will possibly understand what “scrim” fabric is all about. Scrim is a fabric much like gauze that allows us to see shadows or the outlined images without exposing exact detail. It’s a beautiful fabric used in the theater quite a lot to project the images of scenery, vague shadows of people or background scenes. When backlit it becomes quite magical.

Recently a friend sent me an image of a tree that I loved very much. It very much took my breath away. I have an extraordinary love for trees and she knew that so she sent the picture that you see above. It is quite magnificently backlit by the sun, which in turn reveals all of its glorious features. Every branch, every limb, every leaf, every inch was revealed as the sun shone through its boughs. Quite noticeably as the sun was the backlight for the wondrous display of this tree, the sun itself was presenting a glorious show. You could see it’s centermost bright spot and it’s rays extending like arms surrounding every branch. It was as if the suns extended arms were enfolding the tree in an embrace and at the same time giving applause and gratitude for its performance. I know I know, my thoughts are quite dramatic here but it does evoke all sorts of wonder and awe if you keep looking at it. My thoughts though, however theatrical they may be, take me right to the thought of my own life. You see, I believe when we allow the light of the Word of God and the illumination of the Truth of that Word by the Holy Spirit to shine through us then our lives will become like this tree. We will be like the scrim fabric in a way, an instrument to display his glory. When we allow Him to back light our lives, every detail of who He has made us to be will be spot lighted. Every gifting, every trait he’s given us, every creative talent, every piece of fruit or things we’ve produced in our lifetimes will be showcased. Every detail of our lives will be illuminated and the light of the Word that shines from us will be a glory and an honor to his great name. It is a dramatic but a most glorious production of sorts. Our own tree or the story of our life illuminated puts on a magnificent reveal here so that we are His wonderful creation displayed.   It says in John 8:12.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

His promise to us is that if we follow after Him and live for him that we will forever be illuminated by His light, His love, His discernment and understanding, His care, His provision and His presence. All of that and more! 

We will be displayed for His honor and glory for all to see. What a beautiful picture of how he loves us. We can’t live in darkness and display who He is but we must be that wonderful and magical fabric like ”scrim”, and showcase Him! A beautiful life taking center stage in a story entitled ”The Gospel”. 

Fill The Need: Water & Seed

I was sitting out on my patio this morning and I asked the Lord to show me something to imprint me that I could possibly write about. Well he hears me before I speak! All was quiet for a while as I drank my coffee and then the friendly little chipmunk that graces my patio each morning stuck his little head up over the edge of the step and was staring at me. Well I began to talk to him

as I always do but he disappeared as quickly as he had come. “Ok”

I said. Then, 30 seconds later his head popped up again and he looked at me and again he disappeared. This little ritual went on for about 5 minutes before it occurred to me that he wanted something. The lightbulb came on finally and I knew immediately that it was the birdseed that I usually sprinkled in the same spot each morning. I put it there so that I could watch him eat. His glaring at me was my signal to get up and get him some seed. As I rose from my cozy spot with coffee in hand to fetch the seed

I noticed that my Celosia flower was drooping  badly from lack of water. The phrase “Water and Seed, Fill the Need” came to me. I stood there and chuckled because God had indeed seen this whole little scene before it happened and that was my “imprint” for this writing. 

You see that little chipmunk had become dependent on my giving him seed and now he expected it so that he could add to his winters stash. My flower was of course in need of water because it was potted and positioned to not get the rain. So, they indeed needed what I had to give them. You see, there are always those outside of our own little worlds that have needs and whether you know it or not you may be the one who can fill their need. Whether it be financial because God has given you an abundance or to be a physical presence in someone’s life because they are lonely. Whatever that may look like, you have something to fill someone’s need or to seed into someone’s life. God is ultimately the provider of all things but He indeed uses people. He uses us all the time. So, if you see a need take time to ask God how you can be a part in helping to fill that need. If you see someone struggling with situations of this thing called life then ask God also what kind of seed you can sow into others to encourage and help them along in their journey. We all need seed to grow and we all need water to flourish. So, water and seed and fill the need. Like my little chipmunk, those in need will be glad you did when the winters of adversity come beating hard on their doors. It may be just the thing to “imprint” their lives in order that they too can water and seed. 

Insight insert: Today I challenge you to look around you, look at the needs that are knowingly present in your circle of family and friends. Ask God what seed you have to offer and/or how the water of kindness or encouragement or friendship might be applied as well in someone’s situation. Truth is, we all have something we can give. 

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:7

“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”

Luke 6:38

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”