Christian Meditations

Aching for Heaven

As my husband and I were relaxing watching TV, we saw a commercial for a luxury resort in the Carribean. He asked me if I wouldn't just love to go there. No, I wouldn't. No one, regardless of where they are physically, can escape the burdens of this life. There are always health issues, and heart issues (like feeling the burden of a loved one's unbelief). Even if you could entirely forget your worldly cares and burdens for a few days, they will be waiting for you at home. All the bills, all the insurance phone calls, the burdensome people . . . there will be no real rest until we get to Heaven. "We're just here to learn to love Him, we'll be home in just a little while."-Amy Grant
I'm so glad that, as Steven Curtis Chapman said, "There's more to this life, than living and dying, more than just trying to make it through the day." This life would be an unbearable burden if it only consisted of trying to make it through another day. Thank God that as Christians we have a guaranteed hope of something infinitely better than anything that could be imagined.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Clothed in Immortality

Christ long ago won the victory
against Satan, sin and death.
We've been living in immortality
since the time of our first breath.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

No sheep in the fold ever looked forward to the sight of the rod, or the staff. Little did the sheep know that those tools of pain and discipline really showed the shepherd's loving care and protection for them. The rod was used at times to break a prone-to-wandering sheep's leg, to keep him from wandering from the fold, out of the sight of the shepherd who would protect him. At these times, when the sheep was in the most pain, he would often be carried on the shoulders of the shepherd. This illustration translates well into our own lives. We are often closest to God after He has broken us with an affliction. God also uses the staff, more subtle and gentle reminders to keep us on the straight and narrow road, the road that leads to green pastures, and eventually leads to His house where we will dwell forever. Do not fear the rod or staff, for though they may cause momentary greif or pain, they will keep you on the right path that leads to eternal joys above.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

My favorite song of comfort.

Be Still, My Soul by Katharina von Schlegel, born in 1697~

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide. In every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul, thy best, thy Heav'nly friend, through thorny trials, leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake, to guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake. All now mysterious will be bright at last. Be still, my soul, the waves and wind still know, His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul, the hour is hast'ning on, when we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

This song is sung to the same tune as O Give Us Homes, and We Rest On Thee. My favorite version is sung by Amy Grant on her album, "Legacy . . . Hymns and Faith."

Monday, August 13, 2007

From Groanings to Glory

As God prepares to free His people from the oppression of the Egyptians, and lead them to the Promised Land that He has for them, a land of beauty and bounty, flowing with milk and honey, He assures and reassures His people time and again that He has seen their suffering and taken compassion on them. When we suffer, it is such a comfort just to know that someone-anyone-has seen our suffering. Not only had God seen their suffering, He had the power to do something about it. Not many people can do anything for us to ease or end our suffering . . . even when they really, really want to; but God can.
Reading through the Psalms, the difference between God and mankind is made so clear. God loves us, and takes compassion on us in our suffering and weakness. I also take compassion on the sufferings of those I love, but here's the difference: I can only pray fervently for God to intervene, and do something. I don't have the power to take away my friend's chest pains, or to keep my mom safe while she drives. God has both the love and the desire to protect us, AND the power to do so. He exercises that power daily.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Comfort for the lonely

Reading through the Old Testament, one cannot help but be struck by God's concern for the aliens and strangers among His people, and His compassion for the orphans and widows. It goes much farther than that: in Psalm 113:9, He promises to settle the barren woman in her home, and in Psalm 68:6, He promises to set the lonely in families. God, in Jeremiah 31:9 assures us that He is a father to His people. He comforts us in all our afflictions (including loneliness), and requires we follow the pattern He gave us. As He has comforted us, so are we to comfort others. (1 Corinthians 3:3-6.) We are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, invite in the stranger, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick, and go to those in prison. (Matthew 25:35,36.) We are called to visit orphans and widows in their distress, in the name of pure and undefiled religion. (James 1:27.)
On a personal note, I can truly say God has settled me here in my home with my husband, and allowed me to be a "mother" to friends, and the children of friends. He's extended my family to include biological family, and also my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world; and not only this world . . . Hebrews 11:40, 12:1 and Romans 15:4 tell us that we are also spiritually unified to the saints of old, and the full kingdom of God will not be whole until we all are gathered in. (Revelation 6:11.) I have been invited in and fed by strangers-you know who you are-and I've been visited while I'm sick at home, feeling like I'm under house arrest because of my illness and need to stay home and rest. God has comforted me mightily through His children--so I cofort you, cyber-visiting you who are sick, lonely, downtrodden and world-weary.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

The Good Shepherd prophesied

Ezekiel 34 describes the bad and unfaithful shepherds of Israel, and details God's plan to shepherd His sheep Himself, and protect them and deliver them from all evil. Verses 1-10 speak of the former, stinky, shepherds who did not tend well to their flocks, while verses 11-31 speak of how God plans to bring all His sheep lovingly into the fold, bringing on them showers of blessing, delivering them from slavery, banishing their fears and causing them to live in security. He will give His flock rich land to graze on, and lead them to rest. God promises to "seek the lost, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick." God's flock will no longer be prey to other, stronger, flocks. God's plan was to send David to feed and protect His flock, and to see that His covenant of peace was faithfully carried out. We know from reading John 10 that our current good shepherd and overseer of our souls is Jesus Christ. He is, even now, seeking His own flock to gather us together to be with Him one day in Heaven.

In Ezekiel 34:31, God says to His flock, "As for you, my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, you are men, and I am your God."

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