Notes on Hope Devotional

  The Bigness of God

Psalm 8:3, 4 (NIV)
 When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

Two weeks ago, the world watched as the moon went in front of the sun for a total eclipse. The rare experience evoked awe and wonder and incited a take-your-breath-away moment as people wearing funny-looking glasses turned their gaze toward the sky. These verses today offer a commentary on creation and the Creator: “When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place.”

During the eclipse in southern California, I was inside an office and unable to take a peek out the window. In the evening, I watched the news and saw the thousands of people in places where the sky went from light to dark in minutes. Even the news commentators had a difficult time expressing their awe. As I watched, I said, “Look what God did!” God was exhibiting His authority, power, and majesty for all of us to see. The bigness of God was on display.

In my living room, I have a picture of a French countryside from the photographer who took the photo. He gave it to me. I know who he is. We are given God’s creation to look at every day. We know who He is. There’s a magnet in us that draws us to God through creation.

With our eyes, we see, and, in our hearts, we know the Creator. Then comes the question in verse 4, “What is mankind that you are mindful of him?” Or in other words, “How can You notice of me, in the vastness and magnitude of the universe?”

David is cited as the author of these verses in Psalm 8, so my imagination wonders if he spent hours gazing at the night sky while tending sheep as a young boy. In that posture, we are forced to ask, “God, if you made all this, who am I, a speck on the planet, that You would even care for me?”

Embedded in this question is a sense of how small we are in comparison to how big God is. God, who created the universe, spoke the land, sea, animals, and every living thing into existence, is the same God who calls us by name, knows how many hairs are on our heads, and hears our wordless prayers. David eloquently expresses a response in Psalm 139:6 that we can resonate with, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Our brains are not fully able to comprehend our finiteness in light of God’s infiniteness.

However, we can know that Almighty God, in all of His majesty and magnitude, is the same loving God who sees, hears, loves, and cares for us by name. In His bigness, we are loved and seen.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We stand in awe of Your majesty and bigness. Thank you for being Creator over all, and at the same time, being a loving Heavenly Father who sees us in our humanity and cares about our deepest, unspoken needs. Help us in our humanity as we seek You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Notes on Hope Devotional

 Remember and Rest

Psalm 116:5-7 (NIV)
     The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.
    The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
    Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.

Over the years, I have written dates next to verses in my Bible. As I’ve gone back, I remember what took place at that time, a significant experience where I connected with a particular verse. Today’s Scripture is underlined and has the date of 2/9/21 next to it in my Bible.

In December 2020, I was with my two adult children at the Grand Canyon. While they went on a walk, I hung back and waited for a phone call. My doctor called with the results of a biopsy I had the week before. She reported I had invasive ductal carcinoma (well-differentiated Stage 1 breast cancer). After a deep sigh, telling my kids, and praying, I let it sink in. It was a pause-and-stop moment for me to wait, trust, and hold on to hope. I had surgery four weeks later and started radiation in February.

These verses became a repeated chant to me. Reading “The Lord is gracious and righteous, our God is full of compassion,” I was able to see who God is. “The Lord protects the unwary” (or inexperienced in the Christian Standard Version). Here’s where I see what God does. I was relying on God to be who He said He was and to do what He said He would do. Full of compassion, the Lord’s graciousness was evident as His protection surrounded me in the place I found myself: uncertain, inexperienced, fearful, and full of questions.

“When I was brought low, he saved me.” These words pumped air into my lungs. There was the hope I needed to carry me through. God was with me, for me, beside me, and protecting me.

Verse 7 gives the summary of the previous verses: It’s like, “Hey, look, remember who God is and what He has done!” “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”

The Psalmist is giving a gentle nudge to “remember where you’ve been with God? Go back to that place where you’ve seen His grace and compassion.”

When we recall how God carried us through a season of waiting and trusting, we see evidence of His goodness, His grace, compassion, and unfailing faithfulness.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your compassion, graciousness, and faithfulness to us. Truly, You have been good to us. Help us remember to go back to the place where we’ve known the rest that only You can give us. We rely on Your great faithfulness while we trust and wait. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Notes on Hope Devotional

Easter 2024

Romans 5:8-11 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Easter will be celebrated around the world this Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus is the pinnacle and culmination of Holy Week. Today’s Scripture gives us the reason we celebrate Jesus walking out of the tomb: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Easter came at a cost.

Celebrating Easter without looking at what Jesus went through diminishes the power of the resurrection. We have no capacity to completely absorb what Jesus went through, from praying in the Garden, sweating blood, being rejected by his disciples, beaten, abused, and crucified.

When I saw “The Passion of the Christ” in 2004, I closed my eyes and couldn’t watch the scene of the Crucifixion. It was too much to bear. But it was Jesus’ death that allows us to celebrate Easter.

These verses in Romans 5 remind us of the glories of the resurrection; “…how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

As you celebrate Easter this Sunday, may you consider and ponder the cross, the demonstration of God’s love for us. The hopelessness of Good Friday gave way to the hope of the tomb, where Jesus walked out, defeating death, rescuing and reconciling us, and calling us his beloved children. He is Risen.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Our human minds cannot fully comprehend the cross and what You suffered. Thank You seems inadequate to articulate a response. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for the love that You demonstrated for us. Help us grasp the depth of Your love so we can fully engage in the celebration of Your resurrection. In Jesus Resurrected Name, Amen.

Notes on Hope Devotional

Finding Strength

Psalm 84:5 (NIV)
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

We are all on a pilgrimage of some kind, a journey, a path, a route as we traverse through life. Some paths are ones we have chosen. However, some paths are not what we would choose. What about the path that brings a diagnosis, divorce, or a death?

Last April, I became a pilgrim and took a journey to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. For centuries, thousands of pilgrims have walked the Camino de Santiago to experience spiritual renewal, to “go inside while going outside” to deepen their inner life.

When I found this verse in Psalm 84, I underlined it before my flight to Spain. It offered me two things. First, I needed to know I was not doing this on my own. God’s strength was going to uphold and sustain me as I walked 9-11 miles a day. But it wasn’t just a physical endeavor it was a spiritual and emotional endeavor. For me, it was a recalibration of my life after my husband died suddenly in 2018. 

Secondly, I needed to set my heart on being completely open to listen while quieting my cluttered mind and soul. I needed to unplug and disconnect from my noisy life at home. My prayer before I began the Camino was from a devotional by Tim Keller;

“Lord, I need Your love and presence to soften my hard heart, strengthen my fainting heart, and humble my proud heart.”

As I walked in the beauty of creation, it became apparent how scattered by senses were as I began to slow down and focus on walking. After a few days, I found a sense of being present to listen. Over the 10 days I walked, I came to a place of settling my soul and sensing God’s strength, comfort, and nearness. The time on the Camino was not wasted. It was a reset and renewal of my body, mind, and spirit. 

Daily, we are on a pilgrimage as we stay faithful to what God has called us to do.    We can rely and trust God to give us the strength to sustain and carry us as we journey together. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the strength that You supply as we walk the path You have laid out for us.
Let us focus our attention and affection on You. Help us quiet our minds so we can listen to You above the noise. In Jesus Name, Amen.

(On April 1, my book, Walking the Way, A 21-Day Devotional for Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago will be available on Amazon.)

Notes on Hope Devotional

Asking Why

Psalm 42:5 (NIV)
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

During the first months after my husband died, I went on a deep dive into the Psalms.  In my quest to find words to describe my pain, I found Psalm 42, a lament and a source of hope and comfort. Reading this passage was like peeking inside someone’s journal, full of feelings and questions. I found what the psalmist wrote to be weighty and real, as I clearly identified with the words on the page.  

The “why” question the psalmist is asking is much like what we ask when we are disappointed, discouraged, or depressed; “What’s wrong with me?” We are trying to determine our feelings and what’s causing them. Right at the beginning, the psalmist expresses a deep desire and longing for God. It sets up the rest of the chapter as he says, “his tears are his food” (verse 3), and pours out his pain, talking to himself, knowing that God is listening. Fear did not keep the psalmist from being honest with himself and God.

Interestingly, what he does next is a recap of where he’s been with God in the past. Like a Facebook memory that pops up on our phones, he has evidence of God’s presence and power in his life. While in the present moment, he’s in pain, he doesn’t have spiritual amnesia. He has a history to recall of God’s faithfulness, leading him to remember and revisit what he knows to do: put his hope in God.

While he’s telling himself to “put your hope in God,” he inserts a little word in the next phrase that might go unnoticed yet. Mark Vroegop, pastor and author of “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” says, “Yet means that I choose to keep asking God for help, to cry out to him for my needs, even when the pain of life is raw.”

We may be in a season of pain, asking questions that don’t have answers and facing an unknown future. However, we can pour out our pain and ask honest questions while knowing God is listening. In remembering where we’ve been with God in the past, we can place our hope and trust that we will yet praise Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for your presence in our lives, even in the pain and problems we face.  Thank You that we can pour out our hearts and know that You are listening, seeing, knowing where we are. Help us know that our feelings tell us where we are, not who we are. We are loved and know that You are with us. Give us hope as we trust in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Notes on Hope Devotional

A Holding Cell of Hope

One of the many dimensions of hope is seen throughout the Old Testament when the prophets were calling Israel to return to the Lord. Zechariah was given night visions where God was calling his people to return to Him while also telling of the coming Messiah. Today’s verse is in that context.

Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. Zechariah 9:12 (NIV) 

When I hear the word “prison,” I have images of the cells at Alcatraz Island, the historical prison near San Francisco. While taking a tour many years ago, I recall seeing the dungeon-like spaces of isolation, the bars and locks on the cell doors, and the cement walls. It was a place of utter hopelessness. Definitely not a place to dwell.

So, what’s this verse saying about “you prisoners of hope”?

Could it be true that we can be held captive by hope when we are suffering? Is there a place where we are confined and detained in the midst of a battle? I can’t help but believe there’s a holding cell where captivity is seen as the sacred place where hope forms and develops in us. Not as a punishment, but as a provision; not to let us out, but to let something in; hope.

Perhaps, we are invited to “serve our time” here on earth with a hope that sustains us while waiting for what is to come. 

C.S. Lewis said, “Hope...a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do.”  

Could it be, as fellow inmates, we are called to be prisoners of hope waiting for our release? Together, may we relish in hope in this present life and into eternal life.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being the Living Hope that sustains us, strengthens us, and supplies what we need. May we, like prisoners, be attuned to the Holy Spirit, who guards us and gently guides us, knowing we are loved and never alone. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Notes on Hope Devotional

What Hope Isn’t

Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Hope is hard to define. Like the air we breathe, we know it’s there. It’s like when we can see our breath in the cold air. There’s evidence under certain conditions.  We know it as we sense our chest inhale and exhale. It’s vital to our existence. So is hope.

Today’s verses look at how hope is produced. And what it isn’t. 

There’s a progressive process to develop hope. Verse 3 in chapter 5 of Romans is the starting point: suffering. Really, it has to start there? Suffering is the engine that drives the car toward hope. More often than not, we find ourselves avoiding, preventing, escaping, and denying when faced with suffering. If we live long enough, we recognize that suffering is unavoidable. Pain will come through the door in the form of a diagnosis, divorce, or death. It can come in as discouragement, disappointment, and depression. Pain is the entrance on our journey toward hope.

What does suffering do in us? Verse 4 says, “perseverance and character." The Holman Christian Study Bible says, “endurance produces proven character.” Endurance and character sound like qualities we would like to inhabit except they come at a cost.  Endurance comes from hanging in there, plowing through, and continuing when giving up seems easier. Proven character is the outcome of enduring trial and pain; a character that only develops through our suffering that results in hope. Verse 5 states, “hope does not put us to shame...” The Holman Christian Study Bible offers another version, “a hope that does not disappoint.”

If that’s what hope isn’t, then what is it? Pastor and author Paul David Tripp offers this; “Sturdy hope that does not vanish with the constant changes in situations, locations, and relationships that make up all of our lives-hope that simply will never, ever disappoint us-can be found only in one place. True lasting hope is never found horizontally. It’s only ever found vertically, at the feet of the Messiah, The One who is Hope.”

Let’s stay firmly fixed to this hope that does not disappoint.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being our Hope, here on earth and beyond. Grant us the eyes to see where we have misplaced our hope in people or things. Deepen our awareness of the hope that comes from our suffering as we keep our eyes fixed on You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Notes on Hope Devotional

Preservation and Protection

Psalm 73:28 (CSB)

But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.

Turning the calendar to another year, there’s a sense of arrival in a new space. We can take a deep breath, consider where we’ve been, and set our sights on what’s ahead. Reflecting over the past year offers perspective on where we are now.

Today’s verse is the final verse in this chapter, where the Psalmist, Asaph, is lamenting and asking God questions, like, “Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?” (v. 13 CSB)
In verse 25, he asks, “Who do I have in heaven but you?”

These are good questions that ultimately lead him to a conclusion in the last verse of this Psalm.  It’s like he finally comes to a spot and says, “Wait,” there’s more. Whenever we begin a sentence with a but, you can be sure we are making an important point. Asaph knows something. He is certain that God’s presence is his good thing. He has made the Lord his refuge. Recently, my pastor spoke on what a refuge is: “Refuge is a place to preserve our wholeness.” Whoa!

When we know God as our refuge, we are secluded, surrounded, protected, and preserved. It’s where we experience true wholeness in body, mind, soul, and spirit. This place of refuge is where we experience fulfillment, satisfaction, and true intimacy with God. And there’s more.

Because of our position, our place of protection and preservation, we get to announce all God has done for us. It’s like finding a treasure in a cave. We can’t keep it to ourselves but have to tell somebody. A refuge is a place for you and God. However, what happens in that space is worth telling others. It’s not just about us. It’s for us, but needs to be shared. Children love to tell on one another to a parent so they will know. “But Mom, this is what happened.”

Once we’ve experienced our time in our refuge, we get to “tell on” God. We can’t not tell.

It’s part of the beauty of finding our refuge in the Lord.

Come, Lord Jesus

I’m in much need of slowing down this week before Christmas. My spirit is thirsty to remember what Christmas is all about; the birth of our Savior, coming with a purpose, becoming our sacrifice and taking our sin, and giving us the gift of eternal life.

I’ve selected a prayer and hymn to recenter our scattered senses and redirect our full attention as we celebrate the birth of the baby in the manger. Blessings on you this Christmas.

Lord Jesus,
Master of both light and darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparation for Christmas.
We who have too much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your Kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Amen
— (Henri Nouwen; www.dynamiccatholic.com)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel;
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of Hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. 
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

— Latin hymn from the 12th Century, translated into English by
John Mason Neale, 1851

Note: Emmanuel is derived from the Greek and Immanuel is derived from the Hebrew.
Both spellings mean “God with us”.

Staying Rooted

Colossians 2:7 (CSB) “being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”

On a recent hike near Idyllwild, California my friend and I maneuvered past the remains of a tree that had been uprooted. On its side, the tree was exposed and showed the massive root system that once gave it life. Over time, the wind and weather affected the tree. Erosion from the outside affected the tree, while disease and decay from the inside caused the tree to die. Life has a way of checking if our roots are strong and established. What makes for a good root system? How do we stay grounded in the storms of life?

This verse in Colossians offers several things to consider if we want to stay grounded; being rooted requires paying attention to where we are and what’s around us. We stand on the truth of who God says we are in a world that shouts we are not enough. Our roots require that we cling to the promises of God; that He is faithful and will never leave us on our own. To be built and established in our faith, we daily choose to walk the way of the ancient pilgrims, who stayed the course and didn't waiver in their belief. Being tightly tethered to the truth allows our minds to stay grounded when we face storms. God’s Word and the Holy Spirit are the only means by which we can withstand and remain strong amidst life’s storms.

In the classic hymn, “How Firm A Foundation” (anonymous), these words offer truth; “the soul on who Jesus does lean for repose, you will not - you will not - desert to its foes. That soul though all hell should endeavor to shake, you’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

In the last phrase, the outcome of staying strong and rooted appears, overflowing with gratitude. Gratitude is evidence of a rich root system. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” Amen!

Let us stay rooted, grounded, built up, established so we can be filled to the brim with gratitude.

God, root us in the truth of who you are, and we are not. Let us not merely have the appearance of life but find true life in you. Thank you for the joy you provide in humility.
Amen


Amie Cross, M.Div. Chaplain and Missionary
Biola University

Thanksgiving 2023

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Ps. 9:1 (NIV)

As we gather once again to celebrate Thanksgiving, it seems fitting to reflect on the words of those who have authored words that we can recite and make our prayer.

Martin Rinkart, was a German theologian who wrote the following hymn during the 30 Years’ War during 1618-1648. In the text describing the setting of his writing this hymn, “It is a tes­ta­ment to his faith that, af­ter such mis­e­ry, he was able to write a hymn of abid­ing trust and gra­ti­tude tow­ard God.”              

Let this be our prayer this Thanksgiving: 

Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

2 O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.

3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Psalter Hymnal (Gray), 1987

Glimpse of Glory

Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” 

There’s a stretch of highway on Camp Pendleton in northern San Diego County that runs parallel to the ocean for approximately 10 miles. It offers a viewpoint for drivers to pull over and take a photo. Whether during the day or night, it offers a breathtaking view. Recently, I was driving on this part of the freeway and out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed the moon’s reflection on the water. I sighed and silently said, “Wow”! It captured my attention for the smallest moment.

The sky was telling me something about God’s glory. The magnitude and majesty were evident in the meeting of the sky with the ocean, with the moon as a beam of light on the water.

These verses in Psalm 19 portray the heavens as God’s canvas, displaying His creation for us to enjoy. Whether in the hours the sun is shining or in the darkness, there is a wordless story taking place. What words can we put to the story of God’s heavenly handiwork?

During the day, the sun shows up faithfully in the same spot, always giving light and life to all living things. Sunsets put on a show of color and beauty to behold. 

At night, there is a sense of wonder and awe that invite us to take time to gaze and consider the vastness of the universe and that God set in place each star.

Could it be that the heavens convey the greatness and power of our God while we recognize our smallness? In looking at the heavens we are offered a glimpse of the glory of God that precisely and perfectly placed each star, planet, and galaxy in position. Now can we consider that same God knows us by name, has numbered each hair on our heads, and constantly listens to each prayer we pray.

God’s greatness overshadows my smallness. However, it doesn’t diminish His love and care, but only amplifies it so I can rest in His arms. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your power, majesty, and might. As Creator of the universe, we see the works of Your Hands. As our Heavenly Father, we see how You love and care for us. Open our eyes to look for the numerous ways You show Your love to us. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Waiting Well

Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

This verse makes me uncomfortable. It is telling me to do two things that I find extremely difficult: being still and waiting patiently.

How do we silence ourselves and “be still before the Lord?” What does “waiting patiently” look like? 

We don’t come to a place of stillness overnight. It takes intentional planning and practice. We need to create a space where we can practice being quiet. Maybe there’s a chair in a room or outside on your patio in the cool morning that offers a quiet place to sit. Distractions will always abound, both physical and mental. Telling the thoughts in our head to “sit down and be quiet” might have to be what you say to yourself, so you can begin to create the space to be still. Allowing yourself to “not do it right” is okay. Like starting an exercise program, we won’t master it right away. But we can start with a small step to sit quietly before the Lord and be still.

Waiting offers another opportunity to consider how we might be attentive and attuned to the Lord when we are not running 100 miles an hour. Just like the waiting room at the doctor’s office, we pause and take time in the moment, expectant for our appointment. Waiting is temporary. Waiting is not wasted. Waiting enhances our faith and builds trust.

As this verse offers us the instruction of what we can do in being still and waiting patiently, it also reminds us of what not to do; do not fret. Our media-crazed culture bombards us with seeing what everyone else is doing. Comparison is rampant to get us to feel less than and not enough. Getting worked up over what other people are doing detours us from being able to be still and wait well.  

Thankfully, we are not left to figure this all out on our own. The Lord is waiting for us to admit our weakness and is ready to supply the strength to be still and wait well. Our Heavenly Father is generous and faithful to hear our prayers and answer. We can be still and wait patiently as we continue to desire to grow closer to Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that You don’t leave us to figure everything out on our own. Thank you for Your grace and gift of the Holy Spirit that helps us in our weakness. Increase our desire to be still so we can listen and wait for You to speak. Thank You that You faithfully hear us and will answer. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Beauty in the Dark

Isaiah 50:10 (NIV) 

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.” 

We’ve been taught to fear the dark. In high school, I watched a movie with Audrey Hepburn called, “Wait Until Dark” at a slumber party. I don’t think I slept at all that night….It wasn’t a horror movie, but the music and imagery was powerful to evoke anxiety-producing fear. 

In Genesis 1, darkness is where we find God creating the heavens and the earth. In Psalm 139:12, David describes how “the darkness is as light to You.” Something is going on in the dark. 

There’s another dimension of darkness that allows us to see what’s in the dark more clearly. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to find a space where there is complete darkness with no other lights around so I can gaze at the stars in the heavens.

Earlier this year, my friend Nancy, invited me to hear Anne Graham Lotz speak at her church. In her teaching, Anne was contrasting darkness and light. One of the questions she posed to the audience was, “What’s the black velvet in your life?” In her illustration, she focused on how a jeweler uses a black velvet background to display the beauty, light, and clarity of the diamond. When we consider the “black velvet” in our lives, we can ask the question, “What magnifies and displays the glory of God so others can see Jesus?” Can the darkness actually illuminate and be the means to display beauty and light? 

In examining these words in Isaiah, there’s a remedy when we find ourselves in the dark, when we can’t see or find our way—trust and dependence. We are not alone in the dark. We have the God of creation, who made light standing next to us. We can trust what we can’t see. We can trust the One who can see. We are not left alone. We have a Savior who is faithful to keep His promise to be with us in the dark. God brings light into our darkness as we trust and rely on Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your promise that we are not alone. You are with us in the darkness. When we can’t see, You can see. Help increase our trust as we rely on You in the times we are afraid and alone. Thank you for being light to the big world and our little worlds. We praise You.
In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Weak and Needy

Psalm 69:33 (NIV)

The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. 

We all long to be heard.  Being listened to is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other.  Once you have experienced being heard, you walk away with a sense of deep satisfaction and validation.  With multiple distractions interfering with our conversations, it takes enormous effort and intentionality to focus to pay attention and listen well. 

“The Lord hears.” God is listening and paying attention to our wordless cries. In this Psalm, David is pouring out his pain, lamenting, and crying out to God to rescue and save him. For 28 verses, he tells God about his suffering. Then he begins to praise God and remind himself of who God is and what God does; God listens. God hears. God sees. God knows.  

David doesn’t shy away from telling God what he’s experiencing. In verse 29, “I am in pain and distress.” He’s honest, vulnerable, and transparent. He doesn't wear a mask and pretend that all is okay. In other words, he admits he’s needy. 

Not a word we like to use to describe ourselves. Weak, needy, and helpless are not what we post on social media; not how we describe ourselves. When someone asks, “How are you?”   “Oh, I’m needy and weak, today. How are you?” We are taught to guard and protect our hearts.

In God’s upside-down kingdom, He is drawn to our weakness and neediness. God listens to us and is lovingly attracted to our weakness. Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle Church, says, “God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for his power.” How freeing is it to know our weakness is the door to show off God’s power! 

The last phrase of this verse, “and does not despise his captive people” identifies the way God views us. God’s character is flawless. God’s love is faithful. God’s heart is drawn to us, and He is not annoyed, or mad at us, and doesn’t ignore us. In our humanness, we get trapped into thinking that the way we’ve been treated by people is the way God sees us. We are using an inaccurate way to view God, based on our human interactions. God loves us in our neediness.  

We are his people. We belong to the God of the universe, Creator of all things, who sees, hears, knows, and loves us.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
Thank you for hearing us when we cry out to You. We are weak and needy. Every day we face our humanness. Thank you that You do not ignore us. Thank you for Your faithful love and listening ear. Help us in our neediness to run to You and rest in the promise of knowing You hear us and love us. In Your Mighty Name, Amen.

Embracing the Familiar - Psalm 23

(1) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (2) He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, (3) He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

My first cup of coffee when I get up is part of my morning routine. I inhale the aroma as I hold the warm cup and sip the brown liquid slowly. Part of the ritual is taking my time to appreciate all the senses I use to drink my coffee. I consider Psalm 23 to be a similar experience; I want to savor the words and imagery using all my senses. These words are so familiar. Slowing down to inhale the beauty of each phrase allows us to experience the words in a deeper way.

(1) “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want.” My first thought is I belong to God. He is MY shepherd. A shepherd takes care of, protects, provides, guards, and guides. As my shepherd, God makes sure I have everything I need. Just like sheep I must follow and be led. My full dependence is on my Shepherd.

(2) “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” This imagery evokes a sense of gently providing a place to rest and be present with the Shepherd. Green pastures and quiet waters allow space for us to calmly trust the Shepherd, knowing we are secure. Our good Shepherd tenderly takes care of all of our needs.

(3) He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Here we land as the result of being led and lying down in green pastures; we are refreshed, renewed, and restored. We can rest. Surrounded by the provisions from our Shepherd, we can recenter our scattered senses. God as our Shepherd will continue to guide us in the “paths of righteousness” in the future as we consider how He has already provided, protected, and brought us to a place to rest and be restored.  

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for being my Shepherd. Thank you for leading me, guiding me, protecting me, and providing for me. Help me grasp the reality of all You do to take care of me. Let me rest in You as You restore my soul. Thank You, in Your Mighty Name, Amen.

Here’s a link to a version of Psalm 23 in a song that I found a few years ago. It’s one of my favorites now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpTXb_-sir8

Courage

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

By Cathy Leyland

Courage isn’t something we keep stored away in a warehouse. We can’t stockpile it. It’s something we seek when faced with danger, fear, or challenge.

What springs to mind when you think of courage? Do you think of times when you’ve had courage or times when you’ve lacked it? Do you look to others for it? Is courage something you’ve desired, but often feels out of reach?

Courage comes in many forms. A classic test of courage we can all relate to is seen in a toddler standing on the edge of a pool, beckoned by a parent with outstretched arms to jump into the water. The child hems and haws while the parent calmly calls her name and promises to catch her—if she’ll dare spring from her safe, secure perch. 

We look at such an image with experienced eyes, yet it stirs something within us. We’ve been that child, compelled to leap while gripped with fear. Full of apprehension, we yearn to respond to the fear urging us to be brave and jump. The desire is great, but the fear seems greater. How long do we stand there squirming? When will we muster up the courage to take the plunge?

I’ve been there. Perhaps you’re there now. 

I can make a big deal about doing something for the very first time. I fear failure and looking stupid, and I don’t like making mistakes. I want to avoid that awkward feeling of being all thumbs. And if I’m honest, sometimes I don’t even want to do what’s required and would rather someone do it for me. Writer Emily P. Freeman says, “There’s nothing that insults our ego like realizing you are a beginner.”

What beginning are you facing? The beginning of a new form of treatment? The beginning of the end of a relationship? The beginning of grief? 

The courage of new beginnings.

All of our new beginnings require courage.

I remember feeling like an imposter as I stood quaking before my first college classroom of students in China. They were seasoned English teachers, most of them older than me, and had been granted a sabbatical to study with “the foreign experts.” My only credential was that I was a native speaker with a college degree. Most of them knew English grammar better than I did, but the goal was to bring the language alive for them. It was a faith-stretching, character-building, life-changing two years. A few years later, I married my Canadian teammate and embarked on another adventure—moving from the Pacific Northwest to Toronto. Though Canada and the U.S. are neighbors geographically, the history and politics are vastly different, and the cultural subtleties have taken years to absorb. It’s been over 30 years, and I’m thoroughly acclimated; the courage required back then is but a faded memory. 

Courage looks different in different seasons of life.

Courage has been needed to begin again, to marry again, to trust again. Courage is needed to live with estranged family members, to stick with a friend who’s lost her faith, to love those who are hard to love.

None of the courage to do these things comes easily, but I’ve found humility to be a companion of courage. It requires me to ask for help and accept it with grace and gratitude.

Matthew 14 offers insight into where we can find courage. It’s the middle of the night, and Jesus appears to the disciples on the water! They are terrified and fear he is a ghost. The first thing Jesus says to them is, “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.”

What does it mean to take courage? Does Jesus offer it, but we must grab it? After we’ve put our trust in Him, does it get easier to trust Him the next time? Does God ever tire of proving He is trustworthy? Is God ever ready to equip us with what we need?

Are you in need of courage? What would it look like to take courage in a particular area of your life? Can you put words to it, either in writing or in conversation with another? Will you ask the Lord to give you what you need?

Rock of Refuge

Psalm 61:2 (NIV) 

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

As I listened to a devotional online this week, the speaker prayed these words, “re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.” I love this phrase. How do we “re-center our scattered senses upon the presence of God?” Today’s verse is a good place to begin. 

Fatigue and weariness affect our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. When I’m tired, I don’t make good decisions or extend patience to my loved ones. This verse is the reminder I need to call on the Lord even before I become completely exhausted. “I call as my heart grows faint.” 

With this prayer comes the recognition that I am weak, God is strong. I am human, God is God. I have limits. God is without limits. 

The prayer continues as David expresses his desire to refocus his attention, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” David is seeking a different view of his life; to be above, to look down, and stand on the rock that solidly keeps him safe and steady. Tim Keller says, “David piles up images; God is his rock, a secure place where he can see things from God’s perspective.” 

I find when I relocate my mind and heart, I can see things differently.

Where are you today? Feeling weary and tired while looking at what’s going on around you?

God is inviting us to call on Him in our fatigue as He helps us re-center our gaze on Him. The promise is that God is going to lead us as we lean on His unfailing strength.  

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being the Rock of Ages, that is above all the earthly distractions around me.
Thank you for hearing our prayers and caring for us as sheep who need a shepherd.
Help us lean into You and find strength for each day as we cling to Your promises.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

Bearing Fruit

Psalm 92:14, 15 (CSB)

They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, “The Lord is just, he is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

We’ve been given some faulty information about getting older. Jokes and birthday cards are filled with the funny side of aging. There are definitely limits as we grow older. However, these verses in Psalm 92 have something different to offer. We can still “bear fruit in old age, healthy and green.”

Reaching age 65 does not disqualify us from being used by God. It might actually propel us into doing more for the kingdom. God called Abraham when he was 75 years old. God allowed Sarah to give birth past her prime. Our age does not determine our value in God’s kingdom.

Beth Moore said, “Growing older is a privilege denied to many.”  

What does it look like to bear fruit, healthy and green? 

Being older has given us experience and wisdom. We can share what we have learned with someone else. We have the opportunity to invest and cultivate in those younger than us.  Maybe it’s your children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews. Maybe you are a mentor or an encourager for younger mothers in their early days of being a mom. Teaching Sunday school or helping in the nursery is a valuable way to serve the parents of the children at your church.

Verse 15 hinges on verse 14….While we are bearing fruit, we are proclaiming to the world who God is and what He is able to do through us. The basis for our bearing fruit is directly related to knowing God is source of producing anything good. God’s power and faithfulness “he is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Having another birthday is a gift.  Being able to offer what we have learned along our journey with God is an opportunity to give to others as we “bear fruit, healthy and green.”

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the opportunity You give us, as we age, to serve You and give to others what we have learned. Help us age gracefully and graciously as we trust You and share our lives with each other. Thank you for Your unfailing faithfulness and unending strength.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Source of Help

Psalm 121:1-3 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not slumber.

Sometimes I think I have a case of spiritual amnesia. I easily forget who God is. These verses today give me a visual reminder of His majesty, power, and protection. The entire chapter in this Psalm refers to God’s absolute power to supply what we lack and to take care of us.

Two years ago, I went to the Grand Tetons for the first time. The majestic mountains and beauty were incredible. My favorite spot was at a lake where I saw the reflection of the mountain that was next to the lake. It captured my attention as I sat on a log and remained quiet to take it in. Gazing at the mountain I remembered this verse. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?”

Mountains are powerful representations of who God is; the Creator of the entire earth, every mountain range in every continent, each ocean, river, and stream, and the expanse of every living thing. Seeing God through creation gives us the visual reminder of His power that we can cling to for the help we need.

Daily I encounter an opportunity to ask God to help me. My dependence has increased over the last few years to include things like, “Lord, help me, do this and not injure myself,” when I try to trim the bushes with the electric trimmer. “Lord, help me” when I lose my contact lens. (I actually prayed that at church when it popped out while listening to the sermon. I had people helping me and praying. After a few minutes of scouring, I found it in my Bible where it had landed during the sermon!) What do you need help with today that God will faithfully supply?

Included in verse 3, “He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not slumber,” is the attribute of God’s protection. The Lord faithfully guards, guides, protects, and provides. The fact that God does not sleep is a truth we need to embrace. God is not human, but the Creator, Sustainer, Provider, and Protector that sees us and helps us in our need.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being a God who doesn’t sleep, but always has Your eyes on us. Thank you for protecting and providing the help we need when we need it. Help us remember who You are as we run to You for help with absolutely everything. Thank you, Lord.
In Your Mighty and Majestic Name, Amen.