The Value Of God’s Flock – As Viewed By God

The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. 

They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

(Zechariah 9:16)

 

The God Who Calls Us Home – Right On Time

On October 17, 1651, after hearing of the death of his father, the brilliant mathematician, physicist, inventor and (whew!) philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote to his sister to comfort her in their grief. The letter itself is several pages in length due to Pascal’s uncanny ability to run on and on and on. For your benefit, the following is a brief excerpt of his note to his sister.

Here, Pascal reminds her that her ultimate consolation must come from God –

“. . .  we should seek consolation in our ills, not in ourselves, not in men, not in any thing that is created, but in God.”

Then in regards to the timing of their father’s death, Pascal comforts his sister with the consolation that their father has died . . . in the exact timing of God’s Providence –

” . . . [God’s] providence conceived from all eternity to be executed in the plenitude of its time in such a year, such a day, such an hour, such a place, such a manner; and, in short, that all that has happened has been from all time foreknown and foreordained. . . and in the inmost part of the will of God, in the justice of His decree, in the order of His providence. . . ” 

The bottom line is that Scripture confirms the reality that our lives are in the hands of our Sovereign Creator (thankfully). It was King David who wrote: “My times are in Your hands;” (Psalm 31:15a).  And again,“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16).

Knowing that the number of our days are marked out before we give our first cry at birth should give us every reason to consider the value of each day and the overall purpose of our lives. Will we live out what God has gifted us to accomplish before we die? Will we have brought the glory to God our creator, with the potential for which He has prewired us?

With the Psalmist we call out to God, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

May your days be met with a God-given sense of fullfillment and contentment in Him and to His Glory Alone!

God’s Best,

Dar

 

 

 

 

 

 

The God Who Created, Owns and Rules Over Every Nook And Cranny

“. . . and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s” (Obadiah 1:21).

In the prophecy of Obadiah, we find an assurance to God’s people of his triumphant justice working on their behalf. The prophet ends this short pronouncement with the hopeful promise and divine confirmation that,  “. . . the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.”

In reality the world has been, is now and always will be God’s. It is true that evil exists here and at times it may seem that the planet has indeed been entirely taken over by agents of sin, corruption, disease, death and suffering. But often appearances are misleading and in this issue – that is the case. The world is in fact still firmly in the grasps of its Creator, Sustainer and Redeeming King!

But how can I say this when we all know the reality of present pain, injustice, immorality and wickedness?

First, I can say it because God is, in fact, the Creator of this world and of all that we can see and can’t see. The first verse of the Bible is one of it’s clearest, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Despite the naysayers of this present age, everything in nature shouts of a divine and loving Architect/Builder who has brought into existence an endlessly complex  world, full of astounding beauty, majesty and wonder.

Secondly, the very Word of God makes plain that this world has not been either abandoned nor taken completely over by an alien force. Just a quick glance at the Psalms reveals the confident and certain words of the writer, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). “For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). And,  “. . . for the world and all that is in it is mine” (Psalm 50:12b).

Thirdly, even though there is an undeniable presence of evil in this world, we are assured that at a future date known only to God, he will completely eradicate all evil. He will rule and reign over a world without devils, decay and destruction. The apostle John writes in the letter to the seven churches, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever'” (Revelation 11:15).

Finally, just as the first book of the Bible speaks of a pristine creation, the last book speaks of a re-creation, restoration and renewal of all things. Not only will the devil and all his demons be dispatched forever, but all sources of mourning, crying, pain and death will be erased. God is quoted as saying, “Behold, I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5).

I’ll close with a hymn entitled, “This Is My Father’s World.” After his death in 1901, Maltbie Babcock’s wife published this hymn favorite that sings of what Scripture states and also to what our souls relate –

This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world,
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world,
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heav’n be one.

God’s Best. Your Friend In Christ,

Dar

The God Who Writes . . . The Story

Check out the story . . . click on the link below and enjoy.

The Story (Darwin Box).

May this Easter be the beginning of your story!
Your friend,
Dar

Time To Turn The Page

Turn, Turn, Turn (to Everything There is a Season) – The Byrds

In October of 1965 the American rock group, The Byrds recorded “Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There is a Season).” The following month it became a No. 1 hit on the top 40 charts.

Almost all the words come from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. The words make clear that time itself will bring about inevitable changes to our lives. But, on the other hand some changes are not inevitable, they are a result of our own choices. These changes have the potential to be positive, both for ourselves and for others, but we must be willing to turn to them.

There are some things in life we can’t change. For instance we can’t change our own personal histories. We can’t reverse the rising of the Sun and go back in time for a few redos of our life events. For most of us, there are a few things that, given the chance, we would really like to do over.

The lack of taking many of my classes in high school very seriously sort of jumps out at me at the moment. But if I think about wrong decisions in school, I have to be honest and say it all started in kindergarten for me. That’s when it was determined that I couldn’t be trusted with scissors in group activities. I had never been trusted with scissors before I got to kindergarten and I guess, as it turns out, for good reason.  But alas, the fact remains – what is done is done and anyway, hair does grow back.

With this New Year, we “turn the page of our lives” again. In a way it is a real opportunity, if we choose it, to have our own personal redo. Not a redo of the past but a present change of course and a future direction for our lives. For many of us that’s good news. What would you like to change (that can be changed) about your life this year? With God’s help change for good is not only possible but highly probable.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian Church that “For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” In Christ, we can turn the page. We can turn the page on wrong actions and life choices we have made in the past. We can turn the page on things that have kept us from enjoying the kind of relationship with Christ that deep in our hearts we long for. We can turn from grudges to forgiveness, we can turn idle thoughts into action, we can turn from our complacent self-centeredness to a renewed trust and service to our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. For it is in Jesus and Him alone that we find sure and certain strength for the road and guidance for our paths.

The last line of  The Byrds rock ballad, “Turn, Turn, Turn,” is a soulful pleading, “I swear it’s not too late”. And of course in Christ, as long as we have the breath of life, it is not too late – but why wait? Today is the day to turn the page and live a new song.

Turning The Page – In Christ, Through Christ And For Christ – A New Song I Sing!

Dar

The God Who Calls His People To The Ancient Paths

. . . ask for the ancient paths, (Jeremiah 6:16).

With graduation ceremonies flourishing this time of year I’ve had opportunities to hear valedictorians, salutatorians, pundits, politicians, celebrities and entertainers wax eloquently with advice for young graduates. Many of these talks are inspirational, inspiring and packed with the latest worldly wisdom. And honestly, often there are nuggets of crisply packaged understanding that could prove quite useful in future decisions and careers. In reality though, a tidbit or two of this new-found advice may be remembered for a season, but unfortunately or fortunately, depending on one’s own perspective, much of what is said will not be remembered past the parking lot!

But while these modern visionaries offer the best of current thinking, there is One who still calls those who would be wise to the ancient paths. It is God Himself. He speaks not of new paradigms or innovative strategies, but of time-worn truths and unchanging principles. He speaks of eternal promises that are worth staking one’s life on, because they are backed by God’s own faithfulness to His Word.

What would God say to young graduates? I believe He would call them to consider the roads that they will begin to travel. In that regard, Jeremiah recorded these words from God, ”Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). God’s desire for those who chose to follow Him is that as they traverse the up and down terrains of this life, and there are many. that they would be safely guided along the way. Further, that they would be bountifully provided for, enriched, enlivened and encouraged by His Presence and His Power during both long days of silence and dark nights of storm.

As it is, in life there are many roads that one may consider traveling. These roads may not all look the same but they all have one thing in common:  they all lead to a destination of one sort or another. And no, all roads don’t eventually lead to the same point on the map of life, either in this world or the next. Each road is very different. Each has its own tolls to pay, rewards dispensed, memories to haunt one’s soul or to graciously bless, and each will lead to its own harbor’s end.

When all is said and done, the question to seriously consider is this: “Where do you want your journey to end?” In Lewis Carroll’s, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the disappearing Cheshire Cat and bewildered Alice have this exchange:

Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”

Alice: “I don’t much care where –”

Cat: “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

Ironically, while it may not matter at the moment for Alice, almost every reader realizes that the destination of one’s travels does in fact, matter a great deal.

Jeremiah knew God’s ancient path and where it led quite well. God had called him as a guide for those with eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts pliable enough to respond to God’s leading. Jeremiah preached and pleaded to all who would listen, to turn from a reliance in their own path blazing abilities, and turn instead to a belief and trust in the One who created the stars, hung the moon, holds all history in His hands and through His Own Self-Sacrificing Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension, lays a Sure and Certain Path of Abundant and Eternal Life.

What else would God say? I don’t really presume to know for sure, but I think He would at least mention two things. First a warning to heed to those head sure and confident of their own wisdom: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD'” (Jer. 17:5). He reminds us that we must turn away from self . . . self-trust, self-promotion, self-reliance. This road is deceptive and always leads to profound emptiness and despair.

Secondly, God would offer the promises of His blessings to those who  trust not in themselves but in the LORD, who is the fountain of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding. “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence (reliance, hope) is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jer. 17:7-8). This is the road that appears risky. It means trusting in and believing in Someone Else and not ourselves. But as it turns out, it is this road and  no other that is the path traveled that makes all the difference – eternal difference. Choose wisely. It matters.

Charting My Course on the Charts of Christ,

Dar

The God Who Saves To The Ends Of The Earth

“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isa. 45:22).

In the course of living life, we are all exposed to hearing the voices of many different people. We must weigh their words. At times, the words may not make much difference to us – at other times, our hearing and response to someone’s words may be the difference between life and death.

The supreme example of this is our hearing and heeding the call of the One True God. In the sea of fraudulent spiritual voices heard from around the world – One voice rings true. One voice speaks to the ends of the earth. It is the voice of the One Eternal Triune God. His call goes out to all that is His: every valley, every hill, every nation, every island – all the world. This is in fact, His world and all that is in it.

This God, as He reveals Himself in the old prophetic book of Isaiah, speaks to every single human being who has ever lived or will live.  God’s voice goes out into a world that desperately needs to hear His voice and invites any who will hear Him, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat . . . Give ear and come to me; hear Me, that your soul may live” (55: 1a, 3). “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (45:22). He speaks to all people groups and cultures. Why, because they are all His. For He alone is God and He has made them and they are rightfully His and not another’s.

In his book, The Silver Chair, C. S. Lewis writes of a young school girl Jill, who is all alone in an enchanted forest and hears the voice of  the Great Lion, Aslan, who is resting between her and a refreshing stream. . .

“. . . the voice was not like a man’s . It was deeper, wilder, and stronger; a sort of heavy, golden voice. It did not make her any less frightened than she had been before, but it made her frightened in rather a different way.

 “‘Are you not thirsty?’ said the Lion. ‘I am dying of thirst,’ said Jill. ‘Then drink,’ said the Lion. ‘May I–could I–would you mind going away while I do?’ said Jill. The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

“‘Will you promise not to–do anything to me, if I do come?’ said Jill. ‘I make no promise,’ said the Lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. ‘Do you eat girls?’ she said. ‘I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,’ said the Lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.

“‘I daren’t come and drink,’ said Jill. ‘Then you will die of thirst,’ said the Lion. ‘Oh dear!’ said Jill, coming another step nearer. ‘I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.’

“‘There is no other stream,’ said the Lion.

“It never occurred to Jill to disbelieve the Lion – no one who had seen his stern face could do that – and her mind suddenly made itself up. It was the worst thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up water in her hand. It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted.”

The invitation by the fictional Lion, in C. S. Lewis’s story, is a reflection of the invitation given by the Living Lion of Judah. To the spiritual thirst of people in every nation, in every tribe and tongue, and to the ends of the earth, the invitation of Jesus Christ stands: ” . . . whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 6:13-14).

Listening To The Living Lion And Lord Of Legions,

Dar

The God Who Meets Our Guilt With His Grace

“. . .  your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (Isa. 6:7b).

The definition of guilt: In general terms, is the sad realization of being responsible for having done wrong, and is usually accompanied with the nagging recognition that the offense committed deserves punishment or payment. Guilt is a universal state of affairs. Everyone, everywhere has been or will be guilt of some type of offense. But for our purposes, lets consider for a moment the specific act of rebellion of mankind against God.

Consider the fact that God (who has made us all and given us life and all the joy and benefits that come with it) has also made a fairly simple request of us. His request of us is that, just as He has faithfully and generously given us His love and loyalty, we would then simply trust Him and that we would reflect back to Him the perfect love and loyalty that He generously and graciously demonstrates to us.

But the sad truth is, we all fail in this endeavor. . . we fall short. Not just a little bit short, but waaaaay short. How short? So short that no one ever born could possibly escape an honest and universal reply to God: “Guilty as charged, your Honor!” But why, you ask is mankind universally guilty before God? Because, instead of choosing to love the LORD our God, we choose to love ourselves more and seek our own satisfaction above God’s. Instead of choosing loyalty to our Creator, Shepherd, King and Redeemer, we choose to serve our own self-interests, to seek self-gratification, self-glory and rule our own lives as we see fit. This condition is universal.

So, to the equation of life before God, we bring our guilt. But thankfully, that’s not where it all ends. There’s more to the story God has written for us. As we stand before a Holy God, it is God Himself who steps down from the judicial bench, intervening on our behalf.  It is Our God and Savior who stands in our place and bears the punishment of our guilt. God’s universal free offer to humanity is,”I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you,”  (Isaiah 44:22). God’s Grace trumps our Guilt. But how does he do this? Chapter 53 of Isaiah gives the answer.

In this chapter, a portrait of a prophesied Suffering Servant – a Savior, is sketched out. This Savior is  pictured as our innocent substitute who is “led like a lamb to the slaughter” (v.7). “He is pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities” (v.5). “The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (v.6).

As we continue to read we find that “it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer” and it is the LORD who “makes His life a guilt offering” (v.10). Because of God’s Plan of Grace, His “righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for He will bear all their sins” (v.11, NLT).

This is the story of our guilt being met head on, dealt with and dispensed with. And it’s the story of God’s Grace being poured out on us, making us right with Himself through Christ, baptizing us with His Righteousness, adopting us into His family and clothing us with eternity.

In Chapter 55 Isaiah shares the invitation of God to all who thirst for the offer of His  free Grace:  “Come , all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, by wine and milk without money and without cost. . . Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. . . turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy . . . to our God, for He will freely pardon” (vv. 1,6-7b).

In light of God’s Gracious offer, our prayer should be like that of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan: “LORD, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you. For Christ’s sake, amen.”

Gladly Giving The Grief Of Guilt – To Gain The Gift Of God’s Generous Grace . . .

Dar

The God Who Accomplishes His Purposes

” The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand“ (Isaiah 14:24).

What’s your anxiety level set at these days. There always seems to be something to turn the distress dial of our minds up just a notch. Have you heard anything lately about how  global warming is simply out of control? Have you checked to see what the local pollution levels are today? And do you even dare go outside?  Could there be another hurricane, tornado, hail storm, earthquake . . . etc., etc., lurking just off the radar screen?

If none of that bothers you, how about the world scene? Is there a country out there somewhere that seems to be at relative peace? Not if you are faithfully paying attention to the world news! How about our own country? Apparently our economy is out of control and there’s political bickering on a major scale.

It would be easy to let the accumulation of these things weigh you down. But don’t let them.

Digging through the Ancient Scrolls of Isaiah, we continue to uncover the truths about God that enable us to experience an unwavering confidence and security in the midst of a world of uncertainty. God speaks:

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,‘ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it “ (Isaiah 46:9-11).

It turns out that despite what the enemy would have us to think . . . the Creator of this world is still working His plans. His Plans for good and not evil. Plans that will give us a hope and a future. God is still in control and no matter what the circumstances of life appear to be at any given moment, we need to remember our Gracious, Loving and Personal God cares about us and has not abandoned us to the fates of evil.

No, in fact Scripture affirms that we are in fact . . . more than conquers through Him who loved us! Paul reminded the believers in Rome: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according too His purpose.” God’s Eternal Purposes will be accomplished! In Chapter 14:27, Isaiah tells us, “For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”  The answer: no one, no thing, no event, no circumstance . . . absolutely nothing!

I don’t presume to know all of God’s will for your life but I’m pretty sure He wants both you and me to be at peace and not panic. Calm and not worried. Trusting and not hopeless. Believing and not anxious. As Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

In case you are wondering the answer to Jesus’ question is: yes! yes! yes!

Trusting Totally in the Tremendously Terrific God Who said, “Let there be . . . And there was” . . . And there will be . . . Trust Him!”

Dar

St. Patrick’s Prayer

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Here’s my Irish Gift for you,
St. Patrick’s Prayer of faith anew.

If you’ve never read it through,
this should be the day you do!

***************************

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet ‘well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the Prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

******************************

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit . . . Amen

Dar