Friday, August 30, 2019

Be Still


I haven’t written many songs lately.   A friend asked me recently if I was still writing, and I had to be honest.   Not much.    It’s not because I don’t want to or even because I don’t have any ideas to pen.   I simply haven’t had time.    Life with a 3-month-old, a 13-year-old, and a full-time job keep me quite busy.    It’s amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing but the days go by so fast I don’t even always realize how much time passes between attempts to sit and write or even just sit and worship.   If you have kids you can probably relate.  Fortunately, my daughter loves music so that definitely helps.    One thing I have managed to keep doing, is serving in church worship, a few Sundays a month thanks to an amazing husband and an amazing church nursery.  A few Sundays ago, during worship, I heard the Lord say very clearly “I am not afraid of anything.  Nothing makes me anxious”.   To explain, I have struggled pretty severely with anxiety since the baby was born.   I have struggled the last few years but the hormones and exhaustion have caused it to escalate some.   I have been working hard, through prayer, and really focusing on the triggers and causes to try and work through it, but it’s still hard almost daily.     So, this Sunday…. These words spoke to me in a biiiiiig way.   The Lord often speaks to me in times of worship which is why I know that it is important to make time for it.   But I have also been reminded lately that there are different ways to worship, when song isn’t an option.   Last week I led worship in the Middle School classroom and as I was preparing, those words He spoke were echoing in my head.  Lord led me to the passage in Psalm 46, verse 10 that reminds us, “He says, “Be Still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.””

I thought about this passage, and what it means to Be Still.  I decided to dig a little in scripture and came across these additional passages regarding this command to Be Still.

Exodus 14:13-14

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.””

Psalm 37:7

“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.”

Psalm 4:4-5

“Tremble and do not sin; When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.  Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.”



In general, I don’t like being still.  I like to be doing.   I call myself a busy body because I enjoy having tasks, and projects, working and moving pretty much all the time.   But truthfully, I don’t think that’s what the scripture is commanding in the above passages.   Taken literally, as we often do in the English translations, that seems like the logical referral.   But when you break down the Hebrew words and what they tell us, it shines a light on the true meaning of Being Still.



Psalm 46:10 the Hebrew word used here is raphah.   It means to cease, or let alone.  To become feeble or to let drop.   In this verse, in this context we are being commanded to stop.   To literally remember our humanness and drop what we are trying so hard to hold onto with our human hands.   To remember who God is, and let Him be God.  We try so hard to fix things ourselves, to take all of the workload onto our own shoulders when God is more than big enough, more than strong enough, more than able…and willing, to do it for us.


Exodus 14:13-14 the Hebrew word is yatsab.   It means to stay in one place, to remain, to continue.   Here the Israelites are being reminded that if they want to see the Lord move, they need to get out of His way.    To stay put and wait on Him to move instead of rushing ahead out of fear and trying to make things happen in their own strength.  Taking action with an anxious heart often leads to disaster.   Instead we are reminded to wait on the Lord.


Psalm 37:7 the Hebrew word is damam.   Is means to rest, to hold peace, to quiet oneself.   I imagine it to be like a screaming child, throwing a tantrum, and our Father gently saying, “It’s ok, I have you, calm down.  You don’t have to be afraid.  Take a deep breath, stop being upset and let me handle it”.   
   

Psalm 4:4-5 is the same Hebrew word as the above, damam.   Scripture uses the word silent here, but again we are commanded to hold peace, to quiet oneself.   This word also means to be dumbfounded or astonished.    This passage reminds us to be thankful, and humble before the Lord.   And not to sin, by walking in fear but rather trust in the Almighty who is more than able, and remember just who He is and what He is capable of.



I am so thankful for the Words Be Still.  I am so thankful that we serve a God who knew our nature well enough to remind us more than once that we need to stop, quiet ourselves, let alone our agenda, stay put, and wait on Him.  Even in the chaos of life, those are truths that bring freedom from fear. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

A Posture of Gratitude


I think one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves as believers, is how do I respond when the Lord answers a prayer?   It's so easy to become a spoiled brat Christian.  Like a kid who gets upset because they didn't get what they wanted for Christmas even though they got a lot of other really great presents.   When He answers, sometimes they way we had hoped and sometimes not, either way He is worthy.   Either way He is faithful.   Either way He deserves our praise.     And it's so easy to forget to stop and thank Him.   We hold out our hands with expectation, but forget to hold them up in praise.
 I was thinking the other day about how quickly I turn into an Israelites.    I pray earnestly for something and the Lord provides above and beyond what I could have imagined, but after a while I start to grumble.   I start to become dissatisfied with the thing that was at one point, Miraculous.       It's human nature to receive what we want and soon forget.  To fall back into despair when things don't go our way rather than remembering the faithfulness of our Father and all the things He has done for us.   It is important not only for our own faith but for the faith of others to remember.   To stop and acknowledge.   And to share with others in the struggles and the victories.  To join together in praise for the answers we are praying , even if we haven't gotten one yet.      To remember the times He has answered and blown us away with the intricate ways in which He weaves together beautiful stories of redemption, healing, fruitfulness, bounty, and provision.   The way He answers even those small prayers we pray that in the scheme of things are probably insignificant.    

Recognize them.   Respond to them.   Rejoice over them.   Remember them.

3 weeks ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.   She is the most amazing gift I have ever received and I can't imagine my life without her.  The Lord answered so many of my prayers with this child, in so many sweet ways that only the Lord could do.     But there are moments, when she is fussy in the middle of the night, it's easy to forget what a miracle she is.   It's hard, it's exhausting, it's a whole new set of worries, and struggles.   But that does not change the fact, or minimize in any way, that she is an answer to so many prayers.   And I remind myself daily to thank my Father for this amazing gift.   To rest in a place of gratitude because it makes the tough moments a little brighter, and the sweet moments a little sweeter.  

It takes intentionality.   A posture of gratitude.  

In Psalm 20 verses 4-5 David wrote
"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.  May the Lord grant all your requests."   

David recognized that all victory comes from the Lord.   That every victory should be shared and that they should celebrated and praise the one who gave them victory!   

I think we need to stop regularly and ask ourselves, are we acknowledging what He has done for us?  Basking in the grandeur of His goodness, faithfulness, glory, and greatness.  Do we find it impossible to resist praising Him for who He is, for His total worthiness.     He is the King.      He is the All in All.  He is the maker of the heavens and the earth.  Nothing is more important than His presence.   Nothing and no one deserves our full attention and focus like He does.  Absolutely nothing compares to His great love and affection for us.    Absolutely no one can fill us like He can.       His answers to prayer, weather we understand them or not, weather we can grasp the full reality of them or not, are sovereign and holy.     He cannot lie, cannot fail, He cannot do wrong.  He is a good Father and He deserves all of our gratitude.   

Friday, January 25, 2019

Know You By Name


The past few Sundays, I was asked to lead worship in our Middle School and then High School group at my church.   I lead fairly often in one of the two rooms, and have grown to really love worshipping with these precious teens and preteens.   I remember how forming those years were for me in regards to my relationship with the Lord and my desire to, and understanding of worship.

 Watching them grow in their faith, and encouraging them in their walk with the Lord has been a joy.     Every Sunday I pray for the Lord to download something into my heart that will reach these kids.    Life and culture are different then they were when I was their age, but that doesn't change our Father or how He works.      And every Sunday I pray that the things that are said, prayed, or shared will sink beyond the momentary participation and stick in the hearts and minds of he hearer.     The past 2 Sundays the Lord put the same thing on my heart.    Something that in some ways I think He downloaded more for me then for them.   But it is still resonating with me now as I type this.     About 6 or 7 years ago, my brother, who I have always been close to, who grew up in the same household, going to the same church, having many of the same friends, confessed to me, that he no longer believed in God.   My brother has always had strong opinions and has always been a bit stubborn, but even with him majoring in philosophy and theology in college, I didn't see this coming.

My heart was broken and continues to break for him as I pray daily that the Lord would draw him back, like the prodigal son.  That his heart would be softened to the truth and that he would realize the lies he has been believing are nothing but the enemy.



But as I thought about this, on this Sunday morning preparing for church, I heard the Lord say "What he (My brother) chooses not to believe, does not change the who I am.  It does not change the Truth".      And I was reminded in that moment, that the magnitude of the majesty of our creator and King, is neither affected by or altered by what we choose to believe or not believe about Him.  That our opinions don't change His power.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more.    And our thoughts about Him do not change who He is....they change who we are.     We have the choice to encounter Him, and learn more about Him, not because He owes us an explanation, or is affected by our opinions of Him, but because He wants us to know Him, He wants us to experience His love, His goodness, His kindness, His fullness of life.   

I was reminded this past week of the story of Moses from Exodus 33.   The Bible tells us that Moses would meet with God in a tent and the Lord would speak to him, face to face as to a friend.   And while in the tent of meeting, Moses would plead on behalf of the Israelites.   Asking the Lord not to leave them or send them away without His presence.    The Lord responds in verse 17 saying "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name".    They had an intimate, relationship.   The Lord honored Moses's request for an entire people because of their relationship.   Because of Moses's faithfulness and heart to serve and honor Him.     And then the Lord showed him His glory.   

Here is the thing.....we no longer have to rely on someone to plead for us, to meet with the Lord on our behalf.   To communicate with the Lord and then tell us what to do or how to obey.   We no longer have to encounter the Lord vicariously through someone else.   The veil has been torn.  Jesus has come and made a way for us to be with our Father.   We have direct access to His presence and to have an encounter with Him just like Moses did.    We can seek His face, we can know His heart, we can meet with Him at any place and time.      A huge part of the act of worship is taking the time to do just that.   To spend time in His presence, experiencing an encounter with the Living God, to see His glory, and hear His voice.    And lift up His name.   And I believe that the heavens move when we spend that kind of time with our King.   Intentional, "Tent of Meeting" kind of time.  And maybe what our country needs right now more than anything, is for the children of God, to spend more time encountering Him.  More time in His presence, getting to know Him more intimately and seeking His glory above all else.    That He would say of us, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name".