Have You Died?

Several months ago my dad preached a message on the subject of dying--dying to self. Suffice it to say that it was excellent. That message really got me thinking about things. At the time my health had also taken another turn for the worse and I honestly had been considering what might happen if I died…physically died. I tried to prepare myself emotionally. It’s hard to put into words exactly how I was feeling. As I passed through what seemed like the valley of the shadow of death, I was literally in mourning as my dreams died within me. Based on the preaching, combined with my own thoughts and feelings, I had started a post but never finished it. Around that same time the Lord gave me part of a poem. This afternoon I sat down and looked at the little bit of progress I had made on it. Feeling no particular inspiration of my own, I asked the Lord to inspire me and sat there waiting. This poem is the result of that request. I hope the Lord speaks to your heart as He did to mine. =) 

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Have You Died?

I was once so miserable and forlorn,
I once even wished I’d never been born.
Living for Me was the thing I’d always wanted.
One day by my Self I would soon be haunted.

I thought I could do it all in my own strength,
Stubbornly holding God just at arm’s length,
Lashing out at people who only tried to care,
Vainly trying to hide my inward despair.

Bitterness and anger slowly eating me away,
To the disease of self-love I had fallen prey.
Licking my wounds and holding a grudge,
Yet, in my willful ways I continued to trudge.

Walking in circles, with no end in sight,
I had lost track of all that was right.
Blinded by Satan, caught in his trap;
On the edge of sanity, I was about to snap.

And then in my grief I remembered the Lord!
My soul’s long agony to Him was outpoured.
For my sin I felt regret and such shame,
And confessed that I was solely to blame.

Thus, from my prison and self-inflicted sentence
I was released when I turned in godly repentance.
I had it all backwards, for now I can see
That while living for Me I was never truly free.

I chose to live, and in living I died.
I thought peace came from being satisfied.
Fake happiness, artificial hope, empty promise is all I found,
But now I know true riches in Christ alone abound!

Oh, my heart overflows with such wonderful joy!
’Tis something my enemy has no pow’r to destroy.
The source is my Lord, and in Him it’s no surprise.
Shall I tell you the secret wherein my joy lies?

It began with the complete surrender of my will.
For only then could God begin to fulfill
The plans and dreams that He had in mind.
But my death certificate had to be signed.

I had to die before I could live;
The Lord had to take before He could give.
Was I willing to sacrifice my “Isaac” on the altar?
The ultimate test of my character--would I falter?

Would I be willing to offer my best
And trust God to faithfully provide the rest?
Could I consent to my own execution
And believe God could send the ram of substitution?

As Abraham, the great patriarch of old,
Whose account of faith in Hebrews 11 is told,
Would I trust God to raise, even from the dead,
The one in whose promise the future was said?

To cling to my own life would be to disobey.
So I let go and I let God take it all away.
Into His hands I committed my dreams, my desires,
Leaving the choice to Him in whom my love aspires.

I chose to die, and in dying I LIVE!
To the chains of Self no longer a captive.
Free in Jesus Christ, oh, so free indeed!
This is why my joy human knowledge doth exceed.

That men should fear before the Lord,
All that’s Self must be deplored.
Sin and pride must be denied.
I wonder, Christian, have you died?


Written by:
The Lord and His little “pen” ~
Hannah L. Huussen

Come Into the Ark

The Creator looked down upon His creation. All that He had once proclaimed as very good was now corrupt and evil before His face. He saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart were only evil continually. Once-perfect man had fallen into sin--willingly yielding--and now the earth was filled with the horrifying results. Like a plague, violence covered the face of the earth. Abel’s blood, crying from the ground, was now multiplied over and over and over.     

  

A groan of immeasurable sorrow was heard echoing through the courts of Heaven as God turned away from His creation in heart wrenching grief. He could bear to see no more. 

If only Eve had not eaten the fruit! If only she had refused to listened to the serpent! 

In His mind the snake’s sly words played once again. “In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” 

Satan’s suggestion presented godship--the ability to be all knowing. He continued to ponder. Was it so terrible to be innocent, Eve, only know the good things of life? Must you truly have longed to also know the evil as well?  

But she had done it. She had refused to obey His command. She had eaten the fruit and then offered it to her husband. And now this…this mess…    

Something must be done to correct the lawlessness that prevailed on earth. But, what could it be? All of Heaven seemed to collectively hold its breath as the Creator stood on the brink of decision. 

God thought once again of the horrific things He had witnessed below, and it repented Him that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. 

Suddenly His voice thundered, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” 

It was settled. Something would be done. A worldwide flood would wipe man and beast from off the face of the earth. Everything would die…all but one righteous man and his family. Noah--a just man and perfect in his generation, a man who walked with God--found grace in the eyes of the Lord.    

Noah was given specific instructions to build a huge boat that would carry his family and animals to replenish the earth once the floodwaters had subsided. Though the world had never seen a drop of rain fall from the sky, by faith, Noah built a boat that would shelter his family from the destruction God foretold. The Ark would be their salvation.    

After many, many years of hard work, and that under the constant ridicule of their heathen neighbors, the Ark was completed. The animals boarded the boat. And the Lord said to Noah, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”

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“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Genesis 7:1 

Yesterday morning, as I was reading this Biblically historical account in the book of Genesis and picturing all this in my mind, this verse seemed to stand out and it got me thinking. 

God called righteous Noah and his family to separate themselves from their heathen friends and neighbors and enter the Ark He had designed for their safety. “Come thou...into the ark.” Certainly, as the sky grew menacingly dark and the earth shook underfoot as the fountains of the deep prepared to burst forth, Noah and his family not only heard these words as a command to obey, but as an invitation to flee from disaster.  

God is still calling the righteous to enter the Ark. The Lord says, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” What do you hear? A command or an invitation?   

Today God is calling Christians to come out of the world and be separate in holiness and righteous living. “Come thou...into the ark.” Sadly, many Christians hear only the tone of a command in these words and not the love-driven invitation. They linger only long enough to hear the stern order “Come away from the world,” and fail to hear the loving and kind request “Come into the ark.” God invites us to escape from the damnation that is coming to this world. However, it appears that we have chosen not to hear the love of His invitation. 

Unlike Noah and his family, who responded to God’s commandment with gladness, as a gracious invitation to safety, we begrudgingly climb aboard the Ark as thought it is some tremendously tedious favor being asked us. How horrible that we should be separate, and therefore safe, from the hidden dangers of this world! Thus, with feet just touching the wooden floor beneath us, barely hanging onto our morals and our standards, the rest of us hangs out of the one window of the Ark--“safe” on board, but still rebelliously clinging to any little bit of the world that is within reach. We walk the picket fence, doing the bare minimum requirements to stay in the Ark while viewing the world from a distance with longing eyes. 

We wear the right clothing but in an immodest way. Nobody can say we aren’t wearing a skirt. But it just barely hits the knee, and it’s so tight we can hardly walk in it. Tight fitting clothing. Highly questionable messages and symbols on our clothing. Faces caked with make-up. Men and boys with too-long hair, unshaven faces, and jewelry. These are the people claiming the name of Christ today. I don’t think HE would dare associate His holy, spotless name with what is called “Christian” today.   

We listen to music that is classified as “Christian,” but apart from the words, there is nothing with which to identify it to Christ. Sensual and earthly. If the Lord caught us mid-Rapture while we were listening to our music, He’d have to check us for identity and then compare it with His records just to be sure we were really His. Our music needs to get saved!

These are only two of the serious issues facing us. Time would fail me to present everything that needs consideration. I tremble and quake when I see what is in our churches today. Even in my own sinful state, I walk into these “houses of God” and almost feel sick. How must He feel? Truly, the Lord is merciful and gracious. I cannot comprehend WHY He puts up with the “Christianity” of this generation. “Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” How many righteous ones would Christ find if He offered that same invitation today…right now? Luke 18:8 says, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” How many faithful folk will He find? 

The fact is, “Come thou into the ark” is not only an invitation, but it is a command by God. As Christians we are supposed to be separate from this world. He said, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” He’s not begging us “Please…I really would appreciate it if you would just have some morals. I really would like for you to have some standards in your life. Would you pleeeeeeeeeease do this?” No! It is a command!!! “Come into the ark. Separate yourself from your friends, your family, from the pull of earthly things, and come into the ark.” We are called to be a peculiar people. That means we don’t fit in with what is considered “normal.” It wasn’t a popular thing in Noah’s day to build a boat. That would be about the equivalent of your neighbor building a spaceship in his backyard. Crazy, right? People didn’t know what a flood was. It wasn’t a popular move for Noah to enter the Ark. You can bet people laughed at him and mocked his family. No, it wasn’t approved by public opinion, but Noah was wise enough to have faith that God knew what He was talking about. 

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7

Noah’s name is one of the few found in the Hall of Faith--Hebrews 11. How did he make it there? He had faith in God! And his faith caused him to believe God when he had no proof. Noah had never seen a flood. Previous to the flood the earth was watered by a mist that rose from the ground (see Genesis 2:6). Noah didn’t even know what a drop of rain looked like, not to mention a worldwide flood! He had to trust by faith that God knew about the flood he knew nothing about and was supposed to prepare for. He was moved with a godly fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his house. Notice the verse. “Noah…prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Noah condemned the world by building that Ark. He defied what was considered “acceptable” and “cool” and “normal” and chose to obey God instead. Noah condemned the world and became HEIR of the righteousness which is by faith! Noah had faith and obeyed God. And in the process, he saved his house alive as the entire world drowned beneath him. 

If we are going to accomplish anything of worth in this life, we have to be willing to make unpopular decisions. It isn’t a popular thing to be saved. It isn’t a popular thing to be separated. But that’s what God commands. “Come thou into the ark.” Come away from the world and come into the Ark. And once we are in, we should be in ALL THE WAY! Lock, stock, and barrel! Stop looking at the world! SHUT the window! Few things are as undesirable as a Christian hanging half out of the Ark. A Christian like that looks like a fool to those inside the Ark and to those outside the Ark. Choose who you will serve! The fact is, we have no business looking out of that window! What is it that connects you to this world? What is the “window” in your Ark? TV, magazines, books, friends? Cut all ties and close the window. Stay in the Ark! It’s safe! It is your haven! God’s command to “come into the ark” is our privilege...our opportunity to flee from impending destruction. We are blessed to be allowed to enter the door of that Ark! We are privileged that God closed the door and locked us safely inside! Come into the Ark! Stay inside the Ark! 

  

The Hot Water Bottle

I've just started reading He Gave Us a Valley, the autobiography of Helen Roseveare, a missionary doctor to the Congo. I did a search for her name on the Internet and happened upon this true account--the story of a dying baby, a child's prayer, a hot water bottle, and a doll. I couldn't get through it without misty eyes. God's power never ceases to astonish me. I hope you find this a blessing, as I did, and an encouragement to trust God always.

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THE HOT WATER BOTTLE

- A True Story By Helen Roseveare, Missionary to Africa -

One night, in Central Africa, I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all that we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter.

We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive. We had no incubator. We had no electricity to run an incubator, and no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts.

A student-midwife went for the box we had for such babies and for the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly, in distress, to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "...and it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk; so, in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over a burst water bottle. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can; sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with many of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chilled. I also told them about the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt consciousness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, the baby'll be dead; so, please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of corollary, " ...And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything--the Bible says so--but there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time that I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel! I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone; so, I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then, there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children began to look a little bored. Next, came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas--that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. As I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be? I grasped it, and pulled it out. Yes, "A brand-new rubber, hot water bottle!" I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone: She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday School class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. One of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child -- five months earlier in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "That afternoon!"

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

The Hiding Place

On Saturday my sister and I watched two little boys from our church. Actually, for the past three Saturdays we’ve watched them because their mom is in the hospital trying to keep from having her third baby prematurely. In the meantime, we are trying to help Bro. Glenn out by watching their two little boys so he can do some things in the house, etc., without having two little boys in tow.

We’ve really had a lot of fun with Daniel (age 3) and Nathan (age 2). (We call them our “chocolate babies.”) It’s not been at all difficult because their parents are good parents and discipline them and are training them the way all good parents do. We especially had a lot of fun last Saturday. After lunch I set up a “tent” for the boys, putting two kitchen chairs together and covering them with a blanket from the couch. They loved it, especially Daniel, and immediately began playing under it.

Once he was under the tent, Daniel started talking about a bear. He somehow got it in his little head that my mom was the bear, so every time Mom walked past she would growl, and Daniel would scream with delight. Both boys would cautiously approach her as she was busy doing things around the house. Then Mom would turn around and growl at them, and they would both scurry for the safety of their tent, all the while screaming and shouting with glee. It was so funny!!!

Lydia put Nathan down for a nap later on. She and Mom were both upstairs, and I was busy cleaning the messy kitchen floor after lunch and doing some other things. Daniel came to me and excitedly told me that “the bear” was coming. Then he clutched my hand and urged me into the security of the tent. He got himself all settled inside and then looked up at me with those big brown eyes and began telling me in jumbled-up childish words that “the bear” was outside, and “the bear” wanted to get us. He was so adorable! As I was “hiding” in the tent from the big bad “bear,” and listening to Daniel whispering to me, I had a revelation. Daniel and I were just playing a childish game, but suddenly I began thinking about it in a different light…in a way that made our game seem very real. So, without further ado, let me share some thoughts I had on the matter with you.

At one time or another, I think every adult can look back and remember the great fun of playing games as a child. Especially games that involve hiding. Didn’t you feel so safe in that little corner, hiding behind the couch, or snuggled under a blanket? Those were wonderful days. I remember always wanting to be big when I was a little girl. My goal was to grow up so I could do adult things…fun things. Little did I realize that being a child, with no responsibilities, when the worst thing that could happen was scraping my knee…little did I realize that those were some of the best days of my life. But that’s just the way we are. We are always wanting something else…something better…something greater (or so we think). As we grew up, we somehow came to the conclusion that hiding games were something that children played. We were above such childlike foolishness. In our hurry to grow up, we put away “childish things,” and hiding games were forgotten.

You know, I think we adults miss out on so much. Having finally attained our great “maturity” and independence, we have forgotten our childhood games. We have forgotten what it was like to feel insecure as the “bad guy” searched for us. We have forgotten what it was like to need to find a good hiding place where we felt safe. As grown ups, it is important to be strong, but sometimes I think we forget that it’s okay to be weak. We have underestimated the importance of finding a hiding place, having a higher opinion of ourselves than to admit that we have a need…that we are human…that we are vulnerable and long for protection…for security in a cruel world. We have failed to realize that our childhood playtimes have carried on into real life. Only, the “bad guy” isn’t just another child pretending. And what we thought was something to be afraid of then has multiplied. There really are dangers out there. There really are things we should fear. It’s fine to be strong and ignore the harsh realities of life, but it takes a bigger man (or woman) to acknowledge them and then wisely find a hiding place.

The problem is that, as adults, hiding behind the couch doesn’t work anymore. We are too big to fit in the tiny spaces that once hid our small frames. Neither will a blanket do to shut out the traumas we face. It just won’t solve the problem. Where can we find a hiding place? We can go on vacation for a while. But the problems will still be there when we return. Where can we find a hiding place? This is the question of millions today. This world is full of people who are searching for some kind of hiding place. Anything to shut out the fear…the loneliness. Some people use addictions like smoking, drinking, drugs, porno, etc., etc., as a means of escape. But it is only temporary. Others use things that seem innocent, like eating incessantly, to take their minds off of their troubles. A person could be using a romantic relationship as a way of staying afloat…as a reason for living. The lifelong quest of the human race is finding a purpose in life. And at some point, when the distractions fail to sidetrack our minds from life’s trials, we realize our need for a hiding place…a shelter. But, where can we find that hiding place?

As I sat with Daniel in the tent, and he looked up at me with those big brown eyes, I thought, not about the hiding game we were playing, but the spiritual application of hiding. The whole game takes on a new meaning when you think of it in a spiritual light.
Satan is the “bear.” He hunts us like prey, seeking to destroy us. He will stop at nothing. Like a furious bear, his ultimate goal is to track us down and tear us apart. He wants to destroy our lives and then send our souls to a burning Hell for all eternity.
Jesus Christ is our “tent.” He is a shelter and a refuge. As He bled and died on the cruel cross of Calvary, Jesus made a way of escape from the fearsome claws of Satan, the destroyer. He offered Himself as a sacrifice in our place, taking the punishment we deserve. Jesus became a hiding place from the licking flames of Hell. We can run to Him for our security, trusting in His saving blood and asking for forgiveness for our sins. And then He will be our hiding place...our eternal security. I have found my hiding place in Jesus Christ. He is my security. He said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Jesus welcomes all those who are weary of their troubles and their addictive distractions to come to Him and find the rest they have been searching for all along. Jesus offers relief to those who are tired of trying to outrun the “bear,” Satan. Truly, there is rest in Jesus. At the end of broken dreams, He is the open door, waiting to shelter the crushed soul.

The thing is, we have to be willing to admit that they can’t go on any longer. Daniel’s little tent had just a tiny entrance. In order to enter the tent, both of us had to stoop to the ground and kneel to enter the shelter. In the same way, we have to bow our will and bend our stubborn pride to enter the small doorway that leads to eternal security in Jesus Christ. In order to enter the small gate that leads to Heaven, we have to leave our sin and pride behind. Pride will keep us standing outside the gate, and sin will make it impossible to enter in. Is it worth it? Would you let your sin keep you from entering the hiding place? Would you allow such an insignificant thing as your pride restrain you from rushing into the open arms of Jesus? David’s testimony is this: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” (Psalm 130:1-4) David cried out for mercy, and he obtained forgiveness for his sin. There is forgiveness to be found in Jesus Christ. Proverbs 22:3 points out that “a prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Wise men and women admit that they are helpless to hide from Satan, the “bear,” and run to Jesus, the hiding place, instead.

Not only is Jesus a hiding place for our souls in light of eternity, but He is a shelter for us throughout this present life we live.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
“For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Psalm 61:3

If you are a Christian, then you know that just because you got saved it doesn’t mean you are safe from the prowling of Satan, the “bear.” Upon receiving Christ as our Savior, we obtained eternal security for our souls, but the “bear” has not given up on tormenting us in this present life. In fact, often things get harder after we become Christians. Satan is enraged that our souls no longer belong to him, thus, he seeks to make our temporal lives as miserable as possible. Jesus said in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” When the “bear” comes in search of us, we can run to our Hiding Place, the Keeper of our souls, and find peace. Jesus said, “In ME ye might have peace.”

Psalm 27 is my favorite Psalm. I can’t tell you how many times I have drawn strength from those 14 verses. One verse that has always soothed my troubled heart is this: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5) Pavilion. The secret of His tabernacle. Those words intrigue me! Have you ever taken a moment and thought about what God’s pavilion must look like? Have you ever considered what it must be like to be hidden in the secret of His tabernacle?

I like to picture things in my mind, and in my imagination I have formed images of these mysterious dwellings. I believe a girl’s hair should be long enough to cover her face when she prays. According to 1 Corinthians 11:15, a girl’s hair is given her for a covering…a veil. In prayer one day, as my hair fell around my face, encircling it like a curtain, I began to realize what Psalm 27:5 meant by the word “pavilion” and the phrase to be hidden in “the secret of His tabernacle.” I shut my eyes, and in my mind I pictured myself kneeling on a thick, soft carpet in the center of a large room. It had no walls, but thick tapestries of deep and rich colors hung all around, acting as a wall…sheltering me. Scarlet is the color I remember the most. Those beautiful tapestries were gorgeous prints of crimson red with threads of gold. I saw myself knelt, as if in prayer, in the center of this room. So small, insignificant, and almost helpless was I, in this large place. It appeared that I was alone…and yet an enormous Presence seemed to occupy every space. The air surrounding me was warm….the perfect temperature. All was quiet and still. An unspeakable peace reigned there. A gentle serenity and warmth filled my entire being. It was as if Someone was holding me with love so intense that it seemed to seep into every pore and calm my soul. I felt safe. Oh, so very safe!

As I opened my eyes that picture fled from my mind, but it left an indelible impression on me. I was reminded of Psalm 18:19 and Psalm 118:5. “He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” “I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.” After that brief experience of God’s presence, I might have an idea…some clue of the meaning of Psalm 27:5. The Lord set me in a large place, in His pavilion, and He hid me in the secret of His tabernacle. Jesus, my hiding place. When life becomes too hard to bear and I feel about to break under the pressure, I run to my Hiding Place and find shelter there, in the loving embrace of my Lord.

“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:7
“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119:114

Remember how I wrote that whenever “the bear” was nearby, Daniel would call for me to come to the tent and be safe with him? On one occasion as I was busily working around the house, he came to me, and, grabbing my hand, he tried to pull me into the tent, all the while telling me that “the bear” was coming to get me. Well, that got me thinking as well. You know, sometimes we Christians are just plain dumb! We go through life in ignorance, totally unaware that “the bear” is on the prowl, tracking our scent. All around us our friends and family are urging us, like Daniel did with me, to hide in the safety of “the tent.” What does the tent mean, in this case? It could mean any number of things. A deeper relationship with the Lord. The security of the church. The wisdom and counsel of a spiritual leader, etc., etc. You know what “the tent” means for you in your circumstances. Dear Christian, if your pastor, parents, siblings, friends, or brothers and sisters at church are taking your hand and pulling you into the security of “the tent,” don’t fight against them! They are trying to help you! They love you and long to know that you are safe from the lethal claws of “the bear.” Only a fool rejects the loving warnings of those urging him into the safety of “the tent.” Christian, I plead with you, lay down your pride and flee from the attempts of Satan to violently attack you! Run to Jesus, your hiding place. He offers peace and rest. He longs to set you in a large place and shower His love upon you!

Jesus can bring you through whatever difficulties you are going through. He offers peace in a world wracked with fear and rest in a world full of anxiety. Are those problems too much to bear? Enter into the secret of His tabernacle. Lay down your burdens before the Lord in prayer. Your trials were not sent to crush your back but to bring you back to your first Love, the Lord Jesus. He asks that you lay them before Him. Surrender it all to Him. His shoulders are broad and strong enough to carry that which would cripple you.

Bear not a single care thyself;
One is too much for thee.
The work is Mine, and Mine alone;
Thy work ~ to rest in Me.

Remember the words of “I Must Tell Jesus”:

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;

I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.

Remember how fun it was to hide as a child? You can hide once again! Simply forget your grownup maturity and leave off your brave independence. Those who have these qualities of self assurance are the first to be sniffed out by Satan, the devouring “bear.” It takes a bigger man or woman to admit weakness and then run in childlike faith to Jesus, the hiding place.

Will you flee to the safety of the Hiding Place?

You are my hiding place,

You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of the Lord.
You are my hiding place.

I will trust in You!

The Gift

One sunshiny morning, shortly after Christmas, the father silently entered the room of his daughter. He found her lying tummy-down on her bed, reading one of her favorite books--a book he himself had written and given her. Intent on reading, she did not hear her father or see him as he tenderly gazed down at the little girl he loved so well.

Quietly, so as not to disturb her, he knelt at her bedside and studied her face, waiting for her to notice him.

The young girl looked up suddenly as she felt the presence of someone in her room. Her eyes met his and love reflected there.

“Good morning, Father!” she smiled brilliantly. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Good morning, my precious girl!” was his reply. “I have something for you.” He smiled knowingly. “It’s something you’ve longed to have for a very long time.” His eyes sparkled with the anticipation of giving this treasure to his daughter.

“Really?” cried the girl with excitement and sudden interest.

Gently, the father lifted a beautifully wrapped gift onto the bed and watched his daughter’s eyes open wide with wonder.

“How beautiful!” she sighed. “Is it truly what I have always dreamed of?” she asked in a soft whisper.

The father, knowing the secret desires and intense longings of his daughter’s heart, replied in a voice filled with emotion, “Yes…yes, it is.”

For several seconds all was quiet in the room. The father watched his little girl as she gazed at the gift in amazement, hardly able to comprehend that this was for her.

She briefly turned to her father. “Can I open it?” she asked eagerly as she fixed her eyes on the gift and began reaching for it.

“No!” came the sudden and shocking answer. “Not yet.”

The girl turned to look at her father, questions filling her eyes. No? Why would he give her a gift and then tell her she could not open it? Confused tears began to form in her eyes as she searched her father’s face for some explanation.

Tenderly, as if to ease the pain of the things he must say, the father took the small hand of his daughter and pressed it in both of his. His eyes were serious, his words earnest.

“For many years I have been secretly fashioning this gift. I have kept it for you until this time. I want you to have it. It is yours. But you must not open it until I tell you to do so. Something beautiful is being molded inside this box. But it is not ready yet. It is not complete. If you open this gift before the time that I give you permission, it will be spoiled…ruined. You must wait. You must trust me…and wait.”

Again, there was silence, as father and daughter studied each other. And then, as the girl thought about the precious gift given to her, her disappointment was temporarily forgotten. The glad light returned to her eyes, and her face beamed once again. She had waited so long for this gift. Surely she could wait a little bit longer. She would trust her father and wait as he had said.

Weeks passed. No one knew of the special gift the father had given his daughter. It must remain a secret for a time, concealed and hidden, for it was far too precious for words. But often, as the girl went about her daily business, a peaceful smile would play on her lips as she thought of the gift--the treasure that was hers and hers alone.

And then there were a few occasions when doubts would creep into her mind. Perhaps she had just imagined that wonderful morning when her father came to her bedside offering his gift. Was it a dream? In childlike dependence the girl would quietly approached her father, seeking his loving assurance. “Father,” she would ask with arms wrapped around his neck in a hug, “did I only imagine it…?” At these times the father would gently take her hand and lead her into his secret chambers. There he would show her little bits of evidence of her gift and reassure her that it was hers, but she must let him continue his fashioning work. She must be patient. She must wait and trust the loving heart of her father.

And wait she did! She waited very patiently for weeks...weeks that often felt like years as the longing for her gift increased with each new day. Time passed and her father said nothing of the gift or its completion. The girl grew impatient and frustrated--frustrated with the gift for taking so long to be ready, frustrated with her father for taking his time as he worked, and even frustrated with herself. She began to silently question the timing of her father. Sometimes she felt angry with him for showing her such a wonderful thing when it was not finished and then withholding it until the time he felt would be proper to give it to her. And then, as though he knew her very thoughts, she could hear his kind voice. “I showed you because I knew I could trust you to trust me. It was time for you to know what I plan to give you, but not time for me to entrust it wholly into your care.”

Oh, for just a glimpse of his astounding workmanship!!! “Father, why must I wait so very long?” she would cry. “Because, I am not finished yet, dear daughter!” would always be her father’s calm reply. He felt no need to rush. He worked steadily, at his own pace, in his own time.

She must wait. It seemed that more and more often the admonishments she read in her father’s little book were to rest in the knowledge that the gift he had presented was hers indeed, and she must simply leave the mysterious unknown to him. He would work out the details. One day in the future the gift would be perfectly fashioned by the father, and he would present the precious gift to his daughter. This time she could open it. And she would find that it was worth the wait to obtain such a treasure!

What is your gift? Are you willing to wait?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:3-9

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

I Believe to See

Abigail Miller

This world is a place where we believe what we can see.
The tangible, the visible is what must really be.
But, He who would be wise must see with different eyes,
We live by faith, where miracles should come as no surprise.

Chorus:
I believe to see the goodness of the Lord.
I believe the promises He gave us in His Word.
I don't need to know the outcome of His plan.
I will trust His ways, though I can't see His hand.

We're looking for a city that's not made by human hands.
We're living for a purpose that so far exceeds our plans.
When trials take their toll beyond what we control,
We rest upon the Faithful One, the Keeper of our souls.

Chorus:
I believe to see the goodness of the Lord.
I believe the promises He gave us in His Word.
I don't need to know the outcome of His plan.
I will trust His ways, though I can't see His hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the van on the way to church last night I read some verses the Lord has recently given me, and on the way home I silently thought about things as I looked out the window…about the preaching, and I pondered the sweet promises and assurance the Lord has given me. Since it’s winter, it is dark outside by the time we’re driving home. A thick mist fell as we drove closer to home. The lights from the highway and the car lights ahead lit our way, but other than that it was very hard to see what was ahead. Off to my right, beyond the yellowish lighting of the highway, the fields were shrouded in a dense fog. It felt slightly eerie, but inside my heart, I felt the joy of the Lord and His warming comfort as I meditated on Him and His wonderful works.

And then I thought about how often life is just like that. All around me are unknown and frightening circumstances looming ahead in the darkness. I don’t know the way that lies before me. It is just as dark, misted over, and foreboding as the Dutch countryside we were passing by. But, even though the future might look a little scary with its uncertainties, I believe to see the goodness of the Lord. His soothing assurance fills my soul.

A few words of the song above ran through my mind. I sat in the van wracking my brain trying to piece the words together. Then, as if the Lord knew my thoughts (I believe He did), I suddenly heard the song, and caught the words I was trying to think of. Josiah was sitting behind me, listening to “I Believe to See” on his itouch. For just a second I heard it, and then he must have turned the volume down…or something. But it didn’t matter, because suddenly I knew the song I was thinking of. The words began filling my mind. I quickly turned on my own mp3 player and listened to the song. (It’s the one I got for my birthday. I used my mp3 player for the first time on Sunday morning. I really like it! I’ve already learned something new in my 21st year!!! And without Josiah having to guide me step-by-step. I’m proud of myself! (chuckle)

I believe to see the goodness of the Lord.
I believe to see… What do I believe to see? I don’t know what my future holds. It is dark and unknown, but by faith, which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of unseen things, I believe to see the goodness of the Lord. You know where that line comes from? Psalm 27:13, which happens to be my favorite Psalm. “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” I can’t see what lies ahead, but I can trust that my Father has everything under control. He knows the way that leads to the “exceeding abundantly”--the things He longs to give me, the things that surpass my grandest hopes and wildest dreams. I need only to follow…and then I will see the goodness of the Lord.

I believe the promises He gave us in His Word.
And the very next verse after Psalm 27:13 says, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” That’s a promise! Wait and be of good courage, and the Lord will strengthen your heart. That is a promise! I wish I could share all the beautiful things God has been telling me in His Word lately. Sometimes I feel like I could burst with joy. God is speaking to me! His promises strengthen me, and the sweet assurance of His leading hand cheer my heart. I believe the promises He’s given me in His Word! They are more precious than gold!

I don't need to know the outcome of His plan.
Sometimes when my faith fails, I become impatient, and long to know what lies ahead. I want to get a peek into the future. But this is wrong. I don't need to know the outcome of His plan. I trust that God is doing things that I know nothing of. He is accomplishing His perfect will, in His own way, in His own timing. If I knew what was ahead, I would only get in the way. I would ruin God’s perfect plan. I don’t need to know the outcome. I just need to trust.

I will trust His ways, though I can't see His hand.
It is my duty not to worry and fret about tomorrow, but simply to trust God’s ways, though they are foreign and strange to me. Though I walk in present darkness, unable to see the Lord’s guiding hand, I can trust that the way on which He leads me is a safe and happy one. Why? Because God is with me. I have been assured that He will never leave me or forsake me. Whatever lies before me, though I cannot see His hand, I can trust the loving heart of my Father.

I believe to see the goodness of the Lord!!!

Mary’s Miracle

I recently started reading the Christmas story in Luke and finished chapter 1 in amazement. Sometimes you read things in the Bible that you know are the truth, but the human mind can barely comprehend it. That an old woman and a virgin conceived is just…inconceivable! It doesn’t happen, except by a miracle.

On Sunday morning I started reading Luke chapter 2, but I never got past the 7th verse. I started thinking about a bunch of things I’ve never really thought about before. Then , after our church service we watched ‘The Nativity Story.’ It is an excellent movie about the birth of Christ. I dare anybody to watch it without using at least one tissue and feeling the swelling joy of Christ’s miraculous birth.

Since I started reading in Luke, I’ve been thinking about Mary. She was an exceptional young woman. Mary must have been a godly girl, because I really doubt God would have chosen a rebel to give birth to His precious Son. When an angel appeared to bring her news of God’s plan for her, she asked how it could be. Both Mary and Zechariah asked this question, but Mary must have asked with a different attitude, because Zechariah was struck dumb and Mary was not. What I think is so interesting about this is that Mary had more reason to be unbelieving than Zechariah did. Though Elizabeth was too old to bear children, she had a husband. Mary was a virgin. Virgins don’t have babies. It just doesn’t happen! Yet, Mary believed and yielded her will to God’s will.

I’ve heard godly Christian ladies in the fulltime ministry confess that had they known all the difficulties of the ministry, they might not have been so eager and willing to follow in God’s will. I wonder… If Mary had known what lay ahead for her, would she have said to the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”?

Mary bore the shame and reproach of what looked like a pregnancy out of wedlock. She was unmarried, yet she was pregnant. In Bible days women were stoned for adultery and fornication. Mary had broken no vows of purity, yet, it appeared that she had, as her body began to show that a baby was growing inside.

What must Mary’s parents have thought when they discovered she was pregnant? What would have been their reaction when she told them that an angel had appeared to her and announced that she was chosen to bring God’s Son into the world? I doubt the Jews were expecting their promised Messiah to be born in such an unusual way. Perhaps Mary’s parents accused her of being immoral. It must have crossed their minds.

And, what must Joseph have thought? He knew that he was not responsible for Mary’s baby. Yet, the neighbors didn’t know that. Joseph and Mary were engaged. Since Mary was pregnant, folks naturally assumed Joseph was guilty. Either he would have to claim Mary’s baby as his own and shared in the shame of it all, or he would have to accuse her and have her stoned. Joseph was in a serious predicament. He surely felt shock, confusion, anger, and betrayal. For all he knew, Mary was not the righteous girl he thought he was engaged to. She had promised to be his wife, but it appeared that she had been with somebody else.

What must the friends and acquaintances of Mary have thought? The Bible doesn’t specify what occurred as Mary’s pregnancy became known in Nazareth. Mary was a virtuous young lady. Most likely she held the love and respect of all who knew her. She was a godly girl, known to be morally upstanding. But suddenly she was pregnant, and the whole story sounded a little fishy. People grew suspicious and made assumptions. Mary wasn’t the girl they thought she was.

I would imagine that as this news spread around town, the result was rejection. Shunning. Scowls, as Mary passed other women in the market place. Girls who were once her best friends whispered behind her back. She bore the shame and disgrace of what appeared to be an unwedded pregnancy. Mary must have cried. She could hardly comprehend this herself, yet she knew it to be true. She was innocent of the crimes thought of her. She must have felt like everyone was against her. A question that may have crossed her mind often might have been this: “Why is it me God has chosen?” It’s no wonder that the angel’s greeting was, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women,” and “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” The Lord must have known that in the coming days Mary would need these words of praise and the reminder to not fear as her family and friends turned against her. Still, in what probably seemed like the darkest days of her life, Mary had found favor with God. This was the beginning of a great wonder that would astound the world and rescue a dying human race.

This is how it is for us Christians sometimes. With our salvation, God changes us from the inside out. Things start to change dramatically, and people begin looking at us differently. Our high standards and separation are looked down upon by this world. They misunderstand us, thinking that we think ourselves better than them and assuming that we judge them. The Gospel is offensive to the lost, and we are offensive because Christ shines through us. We are not of this world, and, as a result, we are rejected by the world. Family and friends turn their backs on us, and we feel pain and abandonment. But even as it seems that life is crumbling around us, God is doing a miraculous work in our lives. We need to wait on the Lord and trust Him. He knows what He’s doing! Like Mary, if we expect to see the fruits of the Lord Jesus blossoming in our lives, we need to be prepared to bear the reproach of men. “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isaiah 51:7

Mary’s trials weren’t over. As if these false accusations weren’t enough, Mary had a long journey ahead of her as she traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem. The Bible says Mary was great with child. Traveling under the blazing sun through sandy deserts and over barren rocky mountain slopes, with the ever present threat of being robbed and left for dead, would have been frightfully difficult enough, not to mention that Mary was in the last uncomfortable and tiring weeks of her pregnancy. I’m sure she would have preferred a comfortable rocking chair to the constant jolting of the donkey’s back on which she sat. She probably would have chosen to rest in bed over walking those long miles through the heat of day and the cold of night. Mary might have had the option of staying home, but she decided to follow her husband, and, in doing so, the prophecy of Micah 5:2 was being fulfilled. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

This causes me to think about missionaries who leave their snug homes, the love of family and friends, and the country of their birth to travel to foreign lands with the Gospel. Perhaps God’s call comes at a time that seems inconvenient. It would seem more profitable to stay in the States where there is such a great need for preachers and teachers. Yet, God chooses to take us out of our comfort zone and place us elsewhere. We are “great with child”; the message of the Gospel is inside, waiting to be “born” in the country of God’s choosing. The Lord awaits in the place appointed, eager to carry out His will through us, but we must be there! Like Mary, we must go! We must follow in obedience.

During such a long and wearisome journey, Mary surely comforted herself, thinking that once they arrived in Bethlehem she would be able to rest in a nice little inn. They could buy some fresh food, and then she could sleep in a warm bed. But this is not what awaited an exhausted, pregnant girl upon reaching journey’s end. As Joseph went from inn to inn, inquiring after an unoccupied room, the answer was always the same. There was no room. Everything was filled up. I can imagine the increasing alarm that must have filled Mary’s being. Where would they stay? Where would her baby be born? How could this be happening? And then, as young Mary was about to collapse with fatigue and despair, God provided, as He always has and always will provide for those who love Him.

A little shelter was pointed out. A cattle shed. Dark, dirty and drafty, with hay strewn on the hard-packed floor. This is not where Mary imagined giving birth to her first born son. Yet, God had a plan and was carrying it out to perfection. In this humble dwelling, as the animals looked on, a little king was born. The Creator entered His creation, not as a man of power, but in the weakness of infancy. There was no cushioned cradle in which to lay God’s little boy. Only a rough feeding trough, filled with course hay. There were no blankets in which to wrap His tiny body. Just rags. As Mary tenderly rocked her son in her arms, the silence of night was broken as the soft cry of a tiny baby mingled with the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen. A star beamed from the dark sky above, casting a warm glow on the shabby dwelling below. Strangers came to greet this little baby. Lowly shepherds left the fields, and wealthy wise men traveled from distant lands. Angels heralded His birth, and in the temple an old man prophesied His future. There was a quiet understanding among all who heard. This was an exceptional child, destined for great things.

The Bible says that Mary pondered all these things in her heart. What must have run through her mind during these precious moments? A miracle had occurred, and it had happened in the most unlikely of places, in the oddest of circumstances. Perhaps Mary thought of the shame and rejection in Nazareth or remembered the long journey and again felt the ache and exhaustion and moments of dismay. Nine months ago she was just a poor young Jewish girl. Would she ever had dared to dream that she would bring the Son of God into the world? Could she have guessed what it would cost her? She would be brought to the end of her strength and the limit of her resources. Yet, God’s strength would sustain her, and His resources would never be depleted.

At that time, I doubt that Mary fully understood the miracle that was taking place; it seemed that a nightmare was unfolding. But she believed God anyway. She trusted God. And this was her reward. The baby she softly cooed to sleep, the small face she tenderly traced in the darkness, the tiny form she held to her bosom, was the One who would one day lay down his life to redeem her soul. As she planted a warm kiss on her baby’s velvety cheek, she was kissing the face of God. This was Mary’s reward. If we could ask her today, “Mary if you had known of all the suffering beforehand, would you have done it?” Her answer would be, “Yes!”

We need to be more like Mary. When God calls us to fulfill His will, we need to say, “Behold the servant of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” We need to be willing to bear the reproach of men as Jesus Christ blossoms in our lives. We must learn to endure the pain of rejection. When God calls us to travel the long and difficult road of Christianity, in the path of His will, to the place of His choosing, we need to be ready to follow obediently. When it seems like we will be crushed under the load of anxieties and broken with despair, God will provide for our needs. It may not be just what we expect, but He will provide in His own perfect way. And, when His will has been accomplished through us, we, like Mary, will be able to say it was worth it all, because God worked a wondrous miracle in our lives!