Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Anticipation



Anticipation heightens delight. I am making sure everything is dusted, there's food in the fridge and special plans in place to enjoy time with my daughter and son-in-love.

The count down is almost over. I've tried to control my excitement so I could pay attention to my regular to do list, but two days before arrival, I had to call my daughter. I left a voice mail, my tone high with excitement: 'I can't wait to see you!'

We keep the relationship alive through phone calls, prayers, and visits. I'm getting to know my new son better, and our relationship keeps growing as we spend time, discuss issues, pray, and laugh together.

We experience our Friend, Jesus, in similar ways. We read His letters, talk, laugh, cry, and work together. We haven't seen Him yet. But we love Him as surely as if we had.

Even before I called Samira, I realized that, if I were Jesus, I'd enjoy that kind of anticipation of my coming.

The hard thing is that we don't know exactly when His coming will be. I wonder if that's why we keep the excitement controlled. Perhaps,because we've waited for years and He hasn't come yet, we've backburnered anticipation and gotten consumed with today's to do list.

Remember, though, He told us to watch for Him. To live in anticipation because His coming could be anytime.

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy"(1 Peter 1:8).

Maybe this reminder will fire our passion for seeing Him. Maybe we can allow the Holy Spirit (present in us) to fill us with "inexpressible and glorious joy" as we experience Him now, while anticipating Jesus' coming to get us.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

How often do you think of Christ's return?
What difference does that make in your life?
What difference do you wish it made?

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Reflections on Psalm 77

It's past midnight and your thoughts won't quiet.You shift your face on the pillow, but its softness is no comfort for worry. So you cry out silently to God. You beg for sleep and ask the Lord to take care of each situation that's playing in your mind.

That's what Asaph did.

"Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever?.... Has God forgotten to be merciful?" (Psalm 77:7-9)

Distress blames and makes innuendo. Fear stands in the background, and worry stews.


Regardless of our source of worry, we have a choice. We can continue worrying, counter productive as it is, or start recalling God's interventions.

That's what Asaph did. It works for me too.

He meditated on God's mighty interventions. In His people's great trouble, Jehovah, more powerful than any opposition, intervened. Directing creation, He opened a path through the sea. It's true the Israelites could not see God, but they saw His work. He had promised to deliver and He kept His promise.

Like a shepherd who cared for his flock, the Lord delivered the people He loved (verse 20).

Troubled? Remember to meditate on God and His help. Your confidence will grow, and your relationship with the Lord will be revitalized.

True rest is the reward of trusting our Shepherd's guidance and power.


FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Cherish a memory when God made a way out when you were backed in a corner. Let that revive confidence in God's help. 

Will you take 30 seconds to praise the Lord for His "mighty arm"? That can set the tone for the next 24 hours if you so desire.