Outrunning the Bear

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"- Isaiah 40:31 (NIV).

Have you ever fainted? I have one time. There's been two other times that I felt like I was going to faint. It's hard to describe the feeling unless you've experienced it. It's a feeling of weightlessness. You're there, but not really. All three times were due to physical trauma. When our bodies are traumatized they start shutting down, logging off. Your body can't handle whatever is being asked of it at that moment. Fainting is not helpful if you've got a bear chasing you. Today's Scripture is saying those who hope in the Lord have God upholding them. Yes, you could still faint. That's not what the Scripture is saying. The devil tries to make you focus on the bear chasing you; He wants your focus off of God. His purpose is to keep you from running the good race (Galatians 5:7). If we keep our focus on the Lord, He will guard our souls so we can reach the finish line. Then, like Paul, we can say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). You won't grow weary, you won't faint. You will have outrun the bear. 

Built On The Word

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain"- Psalm 127:1 (NIV).

I have a friend who built a house about seven years ago. Once the house was framed in, she went around and wrote Scriptures on the boards. She invited her friends and family to do the same. Afterwards, the Scriptures were covered with sheetrock, paneling, brick, and siding. Her house was completed and she now enjoys a home that is literally covered in Scripture. Beneath the visible layers is God's unfailing Word faithfully inscribed on the support beams of her house. Reading God's Word does the same for our bodies, our "house;"  the Word upholds, confirms, protects, promises, reassures, guides, and instructs. His Word builds us up and then stands guard over us. If not, the “house” will not stand. We will have labored in vain. Christians have His Word inscribed upon our internal support beams. Praise the Lord! He is a Master Carpenter. "Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

Ordained Day

"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be"- Psalm 139:16 (NIV).

'All' the days, not just the good days, but the bad days, too. I have to remind myself who the Author is that wrote the book, especially when I see family and friends suffering through divorce, death, unemployment, sickness, loneliness, fear, etc. Late in 1986, our home was burglarized while we were at work. It felt like we had been physically violated. It took a long time before sleep came soundly again, as a wide range of emotions dominated our minds. The insurance company wasn't a joy ride either. They made us feel like we were responsible for the theft and the damage. March of 1987 brought news that our adopted daughter had been born. Adoptions are expensive, but in a timely fashion (also known as Divine intervention) the insurance money for the burglary processed through and covered the cost of the adoption. I don't know where we would have gotten the money if we had not been burglarized. Thank God we were burglarized! "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). 'All' the days; 'All' things: 'All' according to His plans. This day, today, has been ordained for you by your Heavenly Father. Rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). 

Inconceivable

"However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"--the things God has prepared for those who love Him"- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV).

Innovation is the product of great imagination. Once, moving pictures and railroads took the world by storm. Look what Walt Disney accomplished in his lifetime. That seems small compared to the latest advancements in technology. You can now have a virtual reality experience while your dentist works on your teeth. Ultrasound equipment can give expectant parents a view of their baby in 3D. Why wait to see their little face when you can sneak a peak at them while still in the womb? Our forefathers would be amazed at what we now take for granted and common place. Even with continued innovations from the wildest imaginations, from now until the day of Christ's return, nothing will compare to what God has prepared for His children; for us. All the oohs and aws, over the latest cellphone release, will pale to the reaction we will have when we finally see what God can create. We can try to imagine it, but it's inconceivable. That's a release we don't want to miss.

Ten Words

"You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you"- Nehemiah 9:6 (NIV).

I saw an interesting piece on the morning news. I knew ostriches didn't really stick their head in the sand, but did you know that alligators place the tip of their nose out of the water as it freezes so they can breathe, and then they go into a hibernation period? It was discovered by a man who wondered what was sticking up out of the frozen water. The video showed a surface area of water with something like small pieces of wood sticking up through the ice. That's how alligators survive in frozen water. Who knew? God does amazing things and, at 62, I'm still finding amazing new things that God has created. There was a woman, Eris Yelton, who years ago, when I was a young person, who wasn't sure of an eternal Father, who made one statement to me: "How can you look around and not believe in God." I've thanked God for putting Mrs. Yelton in my path those 40 some odd years ago. One sentence; ten words, that still resonate in my mind and now in my heart. A harvest reaped with ten words.