Waves

Waves, white capped carriers of events, ribbons decorating time, minute by minute, day by day, changing – unchanging - seemingly eternal, is anyone in control? 

One after another, they wash upon the shores of our lives. 

I recently spent some time at Ft. Robinson in Nebraska.  As I looked into the history of that place, I was struck by the changing face of that area – like waves on the shore, changing the story, minute by minute, year by year.

Before 1868, The Great Sioux Nation used Nebraska as a hunting and skirmish ground.  They moved through the area in relative freedom.  But as the white men moved west, things changed.  Land changed hands.  The Native Americans were tricked or forced into giving up the land they called home.

In 1868 this area of Nebraska became a distribution point for goods which were meant to reimburse the Indians for their land and their freedom.  

In 1878 it became Ft Robinson.  1887 brought horses, as the area became a cavalry post.   With the first world war raging, it became a testing ground for military use of the bicycle.  The waves continued, and in 1919 when the war ended, it was the world's largest training, care, and breeding center for army horses and mules.

A gentle wave in 1935 brought the Olympic equestrian team to the fort.

Another Wave – The busiest years at Fort Robinson were those of World War II. With cavalry regiments being dismounted, large numbers of horses were shipped to the remount depot. By 1943 there were 12,000 horses at Fort Robinson. Here the horse herd was gradually decreased.  Pack mule training at the post increased during the war years. By the end of the war nearly 10,000 mules had been trained or issued.

At different times the fort became a war dog training site, a German POW camp, Civilian Conservation Corps camp, regional headquarters, and hospital center.

A wave that seemed it would flatten the fort came in 1948 when it was declared surplice and ended its military use – but not the end of the story. 

In 1949 the fort became a USDA cattle research station and in 1954 a USDA soil conservation training facility. 

And then in 1955 it became the Ft Robinson State Park, where we stayed and played on a 4 day vacation this summer.  As I sat and looked at the old buildings, and looked at the beautiful buttes surrounding the fort, I thought about the people who lived and died there and almost felt as if I were part of their lives too.  I felt that I had been washed by the waves that battered it. 

This area of the country has stood through the waves of change.

Now Let’s talk about the waves that have washed upon your life. 

You were a baby, a child, an adult, maybe now a senior citizen – you’ve lived through moves, marriages, children, illnesses, and death of loved ones.  These events were the waves washing up on the shore of your life.  Sometimes they were gentle and pleasant waves, and sometimes they played havoc with your world. 

But one big thing that we always need to remember about this ocean of life is that someone is in control.  That someone – our Father-Creator, watches the waves. 

Sometimes He changes the course of their flow.  Sometimes He shields us, if the waves would mean destruction.  Sometimes He stands beside us in the sand to make sure the waves don’t wash our feet out from under us.  Sometimes He revels with us in the cool refreshment of gentler waves.  He’s there to help and to guide.  But He’s also there to enjoy the relationship we have with Him. 

Do you ever think about God walking through this life with you – splashing through the waves with you?  Do ever think that He actually enjoys being with you? 

Picture yourself on the seashore; you’re sitting on the sand as the waves come in.  It’s a hot day and the cool ocean brings refreshment.  God is by your side and you’re laughing and talking about the stuff the surf is bringing as it washes over you.  Then picture the waves bringing something that’s not so much fun, that’s even maybe pretty awful.  But you aren’t afraid.  After all, the one who is with you in the waves is the one who made the ocean – there is no need to fear.

  

He made the waves – the waters

Remember Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. – God created the ocean, the waves, and the water.  And he’s hovering over those waters.  Watching out for us.

God can control the waves – the waters.  Mark 4:35 tells us how Jesus calmed the storm.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. . . . .  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”  That’s funny, they were afraid of the storm – but maybe even more terrified at the power that Jesus had over that storm.

Also remember that He is with you in the waves, in your life, on your walk. 

Isaiah 30:31 says

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

Because He cares for you, you don’t have to worry about what the waves will bring into your life.

In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we read

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

So as you think about the waves that made the history of Ft Robinson and you think about the waves that have washed up on the shores of your life, changing it – sometimes for the good and sometimes in a more destructive way, remember

He made the waves – He’s the creator.

He can control the waves – He’s all powerful.

He’s with you in the waves – it’s a relationship.

He cares for you – His love is in the waves.

Words

John 1 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . ."

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

God's chose to reveal himself to mankind in a person (Jesus, the Messiah, the Logos, the very Word of God.)

In Hebrews 1 1-3 we read. 

"Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.  He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word"

It’s amazing to think about Jesus participating in the creation of this world, but think about this!   He sustains all things – keeps them running.  He keeps the sun in the sky.  He holds this world in place.  He brings rain to support our green earth.  He continues to be active in our universe, by his powerful word. 

Jesus, The Word, is the one who helps us to know what God is like, what God’s heart is like.  

John 1:18 says. 

“Jesus is God’s only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.”

We see the Word in creation. In Genesis 1 we read

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.   And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

The creation narrative goes on.  It tells us that “God said” and He divided the waters.  And then, “God said” and there were trees and flowers and such.  And then, “God spoke” the sun, moon and stars into being.  Then after speaking everything else into existence, “God spoke” and He made man.

Words!

I thought about how I use words.  There are many instances in the Bible that God mentions our words.  He instructs us to use our words (our tongues) wisely and carefully. Do you remember reading in Ecclesiastes about a “Time for Everything?”  It starts out telling us that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.  The one I’m interested in today is

“a Time to be silent and a Time to speak,”

Sometimes I need to speak out, particularly when I see injustice.  But that doesn’t mean I need to say everything that’s on my mind. 

The Bible tells us that it’s smart to limit our words. In Proverbs 17 it says.

 “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint.”

and then a few verses later it tells us.  

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”

Here’s a quote from Abraham Lincoln that says much the same thing.

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Words!

What about God’s word, the Bible? 

Over the ages the Bible has sold more copies than any other book ever written.  I looked this up on the internet and all of the resources agreed that it’s sold over 6 billion copies.

Do you know how many people read those billions of Bibles that are out there?  I found that only 59% of Americans said they read their Bibles occasionally.  Guess that’s better than I thought.  Only 37% read it at least weekly, and only 11% read it every day. 

Think about that – the Bible is a letter from God to us.  It tells us about Him, about His love for us, about the future and the past.  It gives us instruction.  It gives us hope and comfort – and it’s not read.  That’s really sad isn’t it?

Psalm 12:6 tell us

“And the words of the Lord are flawless, 
    like silver purified in a crucible, 
    like gold refined seven times.”

Isn’t that beautiful.  The words of the Lord – flawless, silver, pure pure gold?

Hebrews 4:12 says

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

It’s alive, sharp, penetrating, judging our thoughts and attitudes.  That sounds pretty important.  If we don’t pay attention to God’s words, our words will not glorify Him.

I really want to make sure mine glorify my Father, how about you?

Room in My Heart

In Luke 22:11, Jesus is talking to Peter and John about the Passover.  He told them to go into the city and find a man carrying a water jug.  They were to ask the man, "Where is the guest room in which the Master could eat the Passover with his disciples?".  Jesus said that the man would show them an upper room, all furnished, and that they were to make preparations there.

I wonder if Jesus is looking to meet me in the guest room of my heart.

There's a room in my heart God is wanting to use

for daily communion with me.

He is waiting for me to open the door

to the pleasure of His company.

But the landlord must open the door to his heart

He must sweep out the dirt of his life for a start.

He must clean out the cobwebs of worldly care

and dust off the stillness that needs to be there.

He must then close the door that shuts off the words

of the world that intrudes, and demands to be heard.

The room's ready now.

Preparations are made.

Now the hour is at hand

and the supper is laid.

In the stillness He comes,

Awesome God, gentle friend

to the room in my heart -

still small voice in the wind.

It's Spring

Lord it's spring

I saw a field one day 

and looked for signs of You.

I saw a fresh green sprout and early morning dew.

And then I saw the can, the box,

and old car part,

and wondered -

when You saw them ruin all Your art,

did You cry for beauty gone

for freshness ruined there?

Because dear God I know 

You keep even flowers in Your care.

Lord, today I saw that field again 

and lingered there so long

to gaze upon the trees and hills and listen to the song

of Your gentle creature of the sky as they greet the morning sun,

and I looked around again to see the damage man had done.

But today there's something different about what's in my sight.

The grass grown green upon the ground is covering the blight.

and

I thought about the blight of sin

and how You died to cleanse all man.

I thought of how that fateful day

You washed man’s guilt and sin away.

Unlike the grass upon the ground, which only covered up the mound

of can and box and old car part, - the things that marred creations art,

You took my life’s dark sin away

and brought a fresh new life today.

Thank you my wonderful Lord.

A New Beginning

Easter is next Sunday – I look at Easter as the dawn – a new beginning for this world.  When Christ died on the cross and rose again, He gave us all a new beginning, a brand new start.   I’m sure you remember many Easter’s in your life – so many New Beginnings.

But it didn’t start with Easter Sunday, did it?

Let’s talk a little bit about what happened prior to Jesus’ resurrection.  Mankind sinned and needed redemption – the price of sin is death and somehow that price had to be paid.  God planned for it to be paid by His Son dying on a cross, atop a hill, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. 

Think about that death.  Jesus knew it was coming.  So many times in our lives we know something is inevitable – it’s coming and we’re not thrilled about it.  Jesus didn’t look forward to dying on the cross for our sins.  He even asked His Father to keep it from happening.  He asked His Father if there was possibly any other way to bring us back to Him.  But it wasn’t to be – the price had to be paid.  The perfect, sinless sacrifice had to be made.

Yes, He asked for another way, but He was still willing to die for us.  He said, “Not My will, but Yours, Father.”  Jesus knew that, if His Father didn’t come up with another plan, He would have to pay the price for us all.  

That really humbles me.  You know, the fact that Jesus asked for it not to happen, but went ahead and gave His life up for me, touches my heart so deeply.  If He hadn’t asked God to take the cup away, if he hadn’t asked His father not to make Him suffer in the way He knew He would – I’m not sure I would have as good a grasp on His love for us.  Because, you see, He knew ahead of time.  He had time to think about just what would happen – the pain, the humiliation, the separation from His Father.  Even then – He was willing.

The price was higher than we can ever imagine. I’m sure you realize that. 

We've all seen the pictures of our suffering savior, so we have some idea of the cause of the pain He went through, but what about His loneliness, have we thought about that? 

Yes, there were people around, a few of His followers and His mother who cared about him.  There were soldiers and the two other men who were crucified at the same time.  But even then Jesus was entirely alone in this world.  Even His Father could not partake in that aloneness.  The price for our sin was not only death, but it was separation from His Father.  When He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me,” I believe that His Father God hurt like He had never hurt before in all of time and before time. 

I believe He could have stopped the suffering of His son, but He would not – He loved us too much.  I believe He could have protected Jesus from this terrible burden, from paying the price of salvation for us, I believe He could have made sure that His son knew He was there, but He did not.

 

And it did not end there!

Thank God it didn’t end there!  Spring was coming – a new day was dawning – God knew what He was doing. 

It was only a matter of days until the story made a remarkable change.  In only a short time, sorrow turned to gladness.   In the darkness of our world a new sun was shining.  In a blink of an eye in eternity’s time the whole history of man changed from darkness to dawn.  Christ burst from the tomb, and the heaven was filled with singing.  The whole world woke up to spring.  It was a new day, a new beginning.  

Jesus’ disciples changed from the timid, beaten down, men they were – from the fraidy-cats that ran away and denied knowing Him, to real men who spoke out, who were willing to stand up and be counted as followers of Jesus.  The world would be changed forever because of this one event in history.  Wrongs would be dealt with; hospitals would be built; charity would be given; children would be protected; slavery would eventually be ended, all because of this one event in history. Isn’t that exciting?

You see Easter isn’t over!

Easter isn’t over, and it will never be

Christ paid the price to bring the Spring – and set this captive free.

May your Easter this year mean more to you than it ever has before.  May you be more aware of how much God loves you than you ever have before and may that warm your heart and comfort you.  He loves you so much.  

Do You Know Him?

God is closer than a brother, a husband, a wife, a parent, a friend. 

He is higher than a skyscraper, a tree, a mountain, the stars, and the sun. 

He is more powerful than a thunderstorm, a tornado, an earthquake, or a hurricane and more rare and beautiful than a perfect diamond.

He is more - so much more,

than we could ever imagine.

He is loving.  He is kind. 

He is Father.  He is God - The God - The one and only God.  

Do you know Him?  

There is so much to know about God.  Do you remember hearing the story of the blind men who were able to touch and feel parts of an elephant and then asked to tell what it looked like?  They all came up with different ideas.  The one who touched the tail thought the elephant must be something like a rope.  The one who touched the ear, thought a fan.  The one who touched the leg, thought a stout pillar, the trunk, a snake and so on.  They were all right to some degree, but not being able to touch and feel the entire elephant, they had a very limited view of its physical attributes.

Sometimes we’re like that with God.  Some people see only judgment – when we read the Old Testament, there is a good deal of that on the nations that refused to believe in Him.   “Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?  Job 21:21-23

Sometimes when we look at our world, we see His power and might.  And when we look into the scriptures we see many instances where God displays His power and His people praise His power.  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  Heb 1:3

The Bible tells us that He is our Father.   It talks about God – the Father of all.   But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Gal 4:4-5

Sometimes God's comfort shines through and we feel comforted with His word and the knowledge that He cares for us.   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, 2 Cor 1:3 

Or He is our teacher, His Spirit teaches us, through the Word, our conscience, and God’s people.  These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God 1 Cor 2:10 

Do we see Him as our savior?  When Easter time rolls around, we get a clear view of the price He paid for our sins.  We see Him on the cross and risen from the tomb.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

Do you feel His love, His judgment, His fatherly discipline, His Help, His might and power?  If we see Him in all of those facets, we get a clearer picture of the God we serve.

When I hear that word, facets, I always think of diamonds. 

There’s a saying - Diamonds are forever.  It’s partly true because they are the hardest natural material ever known to man.  Even though they are beautiful and expensive and mean a lot to people because of that beauty, they are also useful.  In some cases they’re used for cutting or polishing extremely hard materials.

Diamonds are known as a symbol of love. The word “diamond” came from the ancient Greeks – adamas – which is roughly translated as untamed or invincible.  Before diamonds began to be cut and polished, they were left uncut and mounted into their settings.  This gave each one a dark, deep mysterious look, unlike the polished look we see today.  I like that picture, deep and mysterious, it fits more closely the original Greek word “untamed.”  Would you want a tame God – I don’t think I would.

Since they’re so rare, they are also the most expensive gemstones in existence.  And isn’t our God the costliest and rarest gemstone to ever exist.  Just as the diamond, He personifies endurance and strength. He is dark and deep and mysterious, yet He shines brilliantly.   He is the diamond, the symbol of love.

Diamond facets are the smooth surface areas of a diamond which have been cut, polished and placed at different angles to allow light to enter and reflect back from the stone. The cut of these facets enable you to see the sparkle.

When we look at the different facets of God, His majesty, his love, his judgment, his fatherhood, his role as our savior, as spirit as comforter, we can see his brilliance and beauty.  We must see the whole picture of Him to really appreciate Him for who he is.  Diamonds come in all grades and clarity, from industrial to perfect.  Their colors range from totally clear to more cloudy and brown.  Some diamonds look wonderful when  mounted in a beautiful setting, but under a microscope you can see flaws. 

That’s not so with our Diamond of a God.  He has no flaws and there will be none found.  His facets: 

Dear friends. I received a note from my sis recently. I have edited the content just a bit, but I believe we all need to think about it. This is a vital election year. There are many issues to think about and no matter where you are on the political spectrum, you will want to ask God’s guidance in deciding who and what to vote for and who to support. Please don’t delete this just because you think I’m talking politics right now. It’s not politics; it’s our country and our lives and children’s lives. Will you join me in prayer each evening? I believe that God loves us and wants the best for us.

ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT

We all need to be on our knees. Do you believe we can take God at His word? Call upon His name, then stand back and watch His wonders unfold.

2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us, as Christians, the ability to call upon God to heal our nation. The scripture states 'If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'

During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute, to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect, as bombing stopped.

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America.

The United States of America, and our citizens, need prayer more than ever! If you would like to participate, each evening at 9:00 P.M. Eastern Time (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific), stop whatever you're doing, and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world, the upcoming election, that the Bible will remain the basis for the laws governing our land, and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.

If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Thank you.

Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us as well.

God bless you,

Diane