Reliance
On the Court: Part II
The faith illustration didn’t stop there for me, however.
The coach’s instruction, audible to those listening intently, was one simple word: “Doubles.” The girls immediately shifted their defensive strategy and double-teamed their tall, ball-carrying opponent.
We’re not meant to go through life alone.
Especially when facing challenges or a powerful adversary. God calls us to a strategy of ‘doubles.’ Read More
First Light
I wasn’t sure I liked what it said.
My pastor suggested reading Psalm 63 as a daily practice during Lent. I embarked on it with anticipation, certain that I’d have the whole thing memorized by Easter just from reading it consistently. Day in and day out, I was pricked by just the first verse, the first few words:
You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
— Psalm 63:1a NIV
The word earnestly was my sticking point. It seemed to be the critical word in the sentence and yet I was uncertain of its intended meaning. Read More
Indebtedness
I just wanted to be nice.
I had the ability to give a small gift and I wanted to do something for them. My daughter was going to be in the dentist’s chair for an hour, so I had both the time and, fortunately, the money for a run to the coffee shop. So I offered to treat the office staff to an afternoon indulgence. They were eager for lattes, but misunderstood my desire to pay. All three opened their wallets, counting out the bills and jotting their orders on yellow sticky notes. I protested, reiterating my offer. They hemmed and hawed, reluctant to permit me the pleasure of giving. Read More
Fold ’em
My four children were all between the ages of two and five.
Simply venturing out into the world required the equipment (and courage) of Seal Team 6. Armed with diaper bags, snacks, toys, books and what little remaining patience I could muster, I’d run only the most critical errands. I’d select the grocery cart that resembled a Hummer, buckle everybody in and try not to take out entire end-cap displays as I whipped around corners. Read More
Unbiased Ears
“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
— John 10:3b, 4 ESV
It’s right there in the text, as plain as day.
But it’s easy to miss.
This passage of scripture is subtitled “I am the Good Shepherd” in our Bibles (though subtitles aren’t in John’s manuscript). As westerners, the subtitle conjures an image of a man cresting a grassy, green hill with his staff in hand, prodding the sheep along from behind the flock. Perhaps dogs are chasing the wooly creatures to keep them from falling into harm’s way as well.
And yet, that’s not at all what the verse says. Read More
Forerunner
I received a comment on last week’s blog post Heaven’s Anchor via email that was too good to not share with you all – as a post all of it’s own. You’ll recall the verse:
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
— Hebrews 6:19, 20 ESV
The commenter said: Read More
Heaven’s Anchor
Hope. There’s a word we throw around quite easily, whether it’s a casual ‘fingers crossed’ for a specific birthday gift, or the earnest belief of triumph despite tragedy. In my musing meanderings this week, I decided I needed to know what it really meant.
As I reflected on these four heart-buoying letters, my initial thoughts were that it simply conveyed confidence about future expectations. My mind’s eye conjured images skyward, ethereal and misty. When I went to the scriptures, however, I found a different picture in Hebrews: Read More
Reliance
The road wended its way toward home, with the river and its steep, rocky embankment on the left. First a slight drizzle, then a light, pretty snow. I was relaxed after some time away with my sister and felt at ease on the roads. I was driving our reliable-but-aged SUV and casually commented to her that I was “so grateful for my all-wheel drive vehicle” in weather like that.
No sooner were the words out of my mouth than we began to slip. The initial fraction of a second alerted me, but I then realized that we were really sliding. Really sliding. The road was curving to the right and we were headed – quickly – for the ravine and the river. My prayer was a simple, “Oh, Lord” as I steered into the slide. Still sliding, I was way across the yellow line, about five feet from going off the guardrail-less road. “Oh, Lord.” A moment’s recovery. Sliding again… this time towards the concrete barrier on my right as the road was beginning to straighten out and turn left. My sister began praying, too, except she somehow had the wherewithal to utter more than my simple, “Oh, Lord.” More sliding and then sudden traction, just a couple feet before colliding with the barrier. “Oh, Lord.”
I burst into tears immediately. I was terrified, relieved and thankful, but none of these were the reason I was crying.
Scripture had leapt into my mind instantaneously:
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. –Psalm 20:7
I was so humbled by this Word of correction that I was utterly beside myself. I had, moments before, given voice to my previously unspoken trust in a thing. I wasn’t trusting in God; I was trusting – quite literally – in my chariot. I was relying on my worldly goods for my safety, well-being and comfort. I should no more count on guardrails for my safety than my car. I was not relying on God. And He is too good to let me continue in that sin.
In hindsight, I don’t think we were ever in danger. It was as if God had His mighty hands on either side of the road, hemming us in where the guardrails were missing, yet allowing me to see the gravity of my misplaced trust. It felt like a bumper-car bounce when we regained traction, though we didn’t hit anything.
I’m asking God to show me my other chariots. I must not trust in them.
I must rely on God and God alone.
Please be sure to check out the Thanksgiving Offerings Project.
Send me your thoughts!