Guidance

Pinnacle Peak, Scottsdale, AZ

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Prov 3:5-6 (NLT)

As you look forward to the New Year, perhaps, you are wondering what direction your life will take.  One of the tremendous benefits of our personal relationship with God is that he is very interested in every aspect of our lives and desires to guide us along the best path.  This is a tremendous comfort for me because I am often indecisive, not knowing which way to go and so, not moving at all. 

There is nothing too small or big for God.  He cares about every detail of our lives and delights when we ask him for his guidance in everything.  It is a good idea to make a habit of asking for his input at every point of decision no matter how large or small.  This is a protection for us, to keep us from impulsively going our own way which often results in missteps and delays.  God has a wonderful plan and path for us to follow if we will only open our ears and hearts to listen.

You may be afraid about a big decision you need to make.  Recognizing that you need his guidance and asking for it is the best safeguard.  He has an amazing way of causing circumstances and "chance" meetings to happen.  He brings the right people into our path at just the right time.  Look for him at every turn and he will direct your steps.  Don't be afraid.  Even if we step off in the wrong direction, he will guide us back. 

As the new year approaches, let us be open to new and greater things.  We need his courage to get out of our comfort zones, to get out of our restrictive boxes and stretch ourselves to greater heights and experiences.  I know God has great plans for us and I want to be open to receive all that he has in mind for me.  How about you?

 Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among us—

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations,

forever and ever! Amen.

Eph 3:20,21 (ISV)

 Show me the right path, O Lord;point out the road for me to follow.

Psalms 25:4 (NLT)

Lights of Winter

 Because of the tender mercy of our God, a new day has dawned on us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luke 1:78-79 (ISV)

I so enjoy the lights of winter when the days are short and cold. The twinkling lights cheer my spirit and remind me of the light of the world who came to bring light and warmth to a world of darkness.

The thing about light is it instantly fills up the darkness.  One little candle can dispel all the darkness in a room.  That is the power of light.  Jesus, the light of the world, fills everything with his presence.  

And yet, he goes un-recognized.  When that bright light of creation came into his creation in human form many did not recognize him.  Yet, when we do recognize him and open our hearts to the light, he comes in to dispel our darkness and give us new life.

In him was life, and that life brought light to humanity.

And the light shines on in the darkness,

and the darkness has never put it out.

John 1:4-5 (ISV)

 He came into the very world he created,

but the world didn’t recognize him. 

He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, 

he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:10-12 (NLT)

Gifts

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.

James 1:17 (NIV)

How I have enjoyed all the wonderful blessings and gifts of Christmas!

Our children and spouses, 

Conversation and laughter, 

Beautiful scenery, 

Fresh air and sunlight,

Peace and harmony,

Food and feasting,

Simple gifts,

A meal beautifully prepared,

A warm fire,

Lights shining on the tree, 

Love.

                                    

All of these are the gifts you have given. How rich we are, how blessed. 

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Cor 9:15 (ISV)

Don't trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, 

who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

1 Tim 6:17 (KJV)

Praise

The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  Luke 2:20 (NLT)

The lives of the familiar cast of characters in the Nativity story were suddenly interrupted by an astounding message - the message of a special baby coming into the world. 

Mary and Joseph perhaps thinking of their up coming wedding were visited by an angel, their plans suddenly drastically altered.  Zechariah going about his priestly duties, as he had done many times before, suddenly interrupted by a startling message.  Elizabeth in her old age finding herself unexpectedly expecting a baby.  The shepherds simply watching their flocks, as they did each and every night, interrupted by the angel chorus. And sky watchers from the East, in their nightly star gazing, noticed a star they had never seen before. Each one, when they heard and understood the message, were overcome with joy and responded with an overwhelming desire to praise and worship God.

What was so startling about this baby to be born?  It was no ordinary babe, but one born as a deliverer to save his people from their sins.  What other response could there be but praise for such a marvelous plan.  Sin, that damaging and destructive cancer that held the world long captive was about to meet its match in this tiny baby.  We, too, are held captive until we come to see in that baby the one who can save and deliver us.  When we think of all that was accomplished by the entrance of God into the world in the guise of this tiny baby we too will be filled with praise and thankfulness.  The realization that he has forgiven all of our sins, set us free and brought us near to God is cause for worship this Christmas and every day. 

Let God interrupt our unthinking Christmas routines and bring us suddenly to our knees to worship.  Let us join the chorus of praise, thanking God for this incredible gift. 

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary,

and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Matt 2:11 (NLT)

Mary

 Mary as played by Keisha Castle-Hughes. The Nativity Story

 

 

And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

be it unto me according to thy word."

Luke 1:38 (KJV)

I am struck by the beautiful response of Mary to the incredible news that she would become the mother of Jesus, the son of God - a startling and unbelievable word which she accepted, after a brief explanation, immediately and completely.  With incredible strength and determination she said, “Look at me. I am the Lord's servant. Let all that he said to me come true.” 

She becomes for us a picture of God's choice of the humble and lowly whose hearts are open to receive.  God delights in paradox.  In his kingdom up is down and down is up, the weak are strong, the poor are rich. And so the King of Kings was born not in a palace but in a stable to a humble peasant couple.  

When Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant, they rejoice together over the wonderful things that have happened.  Mary bursts out in a song praising the God who exalts the humble and brings down the proud. 

  

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 

  How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 

 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, 

and from now on all generations will call me blessed. 

 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.   

 He shows mercy from generation to generation

to all who fear him.   

 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! 

He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.  

  He has brought down princes from their thrones

and exalted the humble. 

   He has filled the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away with empty hands. 

He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.   

 For he made this promise to our ancestors, 

to Abraham and his children forever.”

Luke 1:46-55 (NLT)

The weak inherit and the strong lose out.  Those who are hungry, he fills. When we declare our low estate and trust God to fill us with good things, he comes in. Let us respond like Mary, “Here I am.  May all your desire for me come into being.”

Dealing with Depression

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Psalms 139:11-12 (NIV)

Even in our times of darkness, discouragement and depression God faithfully stands by to help us through.  He never abandons or condemns us when we are suffering in low times.  This is what we need to keep in mind when dark and negative thoughts flood our minds.  As we mature and grow we realize that these moods are not the final state and these thoughts do not define the ultimate reality of who we are.  The more we can hold onto God's truth and his word the sooner we will rise from our despair and the more comfortable and accepting we will feel as we are going through it.

So many successful people have admitted that they were subject to down times of discouragement and doubt. (Picasso, Van Gogh, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill.) 

Amy Grant in her book, Mosaic, writes: 

Whenever I am in a bleak mental state, I think about these people whom I admire and realize that this condition is not unique to me.  

Probably my age and the circumstances of my life have softened the downward spirals for me, but winter is still a struggle every year.  Maybe subconsciously that is part of the reason I've made so much Christmas music - to focus on hope and joy and store up a lot of good thoughts for the dark months ahead.

What I've learned so far is that depression can be, but is not necessarily, about circumstances or about a particular event.  It is physical.  It is hereditary.  It is cyclical.  Its onset is like traveling down a road and suddenly hitting a patch of deep sand, wheels spinning and no visible forward motion.

The good news is, I've learned to recognize it and not be ashamed of it.  I know as surely as it comes, it will go.*

Perhaps, during this darkest time of the year, you are suffering with depression.  Don't be down on yourself.  Remember there is no end to God's faithfulness.  He never changes. The light of his love shines continually as bright as the sun no matter how cloudy your day may seem.  Encourage yourself.  Even if you feel discouraged and sad, put your hope in God.  He will lift you again and restore you to the joy of his presence. 

 

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

Psalms 42:11 (NLT)

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Psalms 31:24 (NLT)

Listen to Amy sing Breath of Heaven
http://youtu.be/6RVTZDgcpqM

*Grant, Amy, Mosaic:Pieces of My Life So Far (New York: Doubleday, 2007), pp.167-168.

Snow

Snow in Tonto Hills, Arizona

 “The rain and snow come down from the heavensand stay on the ground to water the earth.They cause the grain to grow,producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word.I send it out, and it always produces fruit.It will accomplish all I want it to,and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)

God's ways are so much greater than ours; his plans so much higher.  He has things in mind for us that we can't even imagine.  He can bring good to every situation, no matter how evil.

Our pronouncements of what should happen or what should be done have little power and often have a negative effect bringing the opposite result of what we wanted.  But, God's word goes forth with great power and accomplishes exactly what he sends it forth to do.

Lord, expand our minds and our vision to see what is possible because we put you in charge.  As we make you Lord of every situation you bring new, creative and powerful ideas for solving every problem.  Let us wait on you and your word.  Give us words to speak that will accomplish your good purposes.

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

Our snowy backyard.

Growing In Knowledge

Put on your new nature,

and be renewed

as you learn to know your Creator

and become like him.

Col 3:10 (NLT)

Growing in our knowledge of God yields great benefit to our lives.  As we learn more about him, as we see him in action, as we spend time with him, a spiritual transaction takes place, his nature rubs off on us and we become more like him. Our new nature is continually being renewed and changed into his likeness as our knowledge grows.  God is love.  The more we grow in love the more like God we become.

Knowledge of truth sets us free.  Ignorance or misconception keeps us in bondage. Lord, help us to learn.  Help us to grow.  We ask for right knowledge of you.  Shine your light into our hearts so that we may see and know you as you really are. Correct our thinking where we are in error so we may be transformed and changed into your very likeness.

Then you will know the truth,

and the truth will set you free.

John 8:31-32 (NIV)