Hope for the New Year

He will feed his flock like a shepherd.

He will carry the lambs in his arms,

holding them close to his heart.

He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Isaiah 40:11

These are troubling times.  As we look far and wide we see war, hatred and destruction everywhere.  Even here at home there is division and strife. And in our own hearts, turmoil and distress.  Where is the peace that is promised?  Where can we find strength and hope to face this new year?

The answer is found only in Jesus. By his words he exhorts us, “Let not your heart be troubled." ”Be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” and “Fear not little flock.”  By these words he is encouraging us to trust in him. He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” And again, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.” (John 10:11,14) We can have great hope and assurance and find great comfort in the name he gave himself - Good Shepherd.  

Imagine what a good shepherd is like.  He is there every day tenderly watching over and caring for his flock and every night standing guard protecting them from harm.  He carefully and tenderly cares for his own.  He leads them to good pasture land. He knows each one by name. He is aware of their individual needs and idiosyncrasies.  He is ever vigilant to see that they are taken care of.  As they come through the gate of the sheepfold, he inspects each one to see if they are troubled by sores or injuries or pests.  He applies medicine as needed or binds up the wounds or puts ointment on the raw places. Would a good shepherd move away when the sheep are in distress or sick or hurt?  No! He sacrifices himself and does whatever is needed to meet their need. So is our good shepherd.  Ever watching to comfort and help us.

In the short six verses of Psalm 23 we see the promise of every human need supplied. Here there is rest in green pastures and peace beside quiet streams.  There is new strength for whatever the day may bring. There is guidance to make good and wise decisions.  There is protection.  There is comfort. There is sustenance (not just a meager supply, but a feast!)  There is the oil of joy and health.  And always there is companionship.  The psalmist concludes by saying his cup is overflowing with blessings.  He has everything he needs in abundance, more than enough.   

The shepherd's care is continuous.  He will never leave or forsake his own. No matter what circumstances or troubles we face ahead we know we can trust in him.   “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”  (Isaiah 43:2)

You notice that the word is “when” you go through trouble, not “if”. He does not say we will be without conflict, strife and trouble but he has promised the overwhelming victory as we rest our hearts in him.  We know that in this life we will face trouble.  But along with the trouble we can be assured of his presence and of all that our good shepherd supplies.  We know that trouble will come, but we also know that God will provide what we need to weather the storm.  

As we face the New Year, we can be assured of his presence with us. He himself is our peace.  What do we have to fear?  Our Good Shepherd is in charge.  The circumstances may become more difficult but in the presence of our enemies he has prepared for us a feast of joy, peace and comfort.  Oh may we be partakers of that feast this year. He is our strong and beautiful shepherd and we are his precious possession. We can trust in him.

For he is our God.

We are the people he watches over,

the flock under his care.

 Psalm 95:7

He Came Down

 Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges,

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

Phil. 2:6-7

Lourdes, France

I was awestruck by all the beautiful cathedrals we saw recently as we traveled in France and Spain -  such amazing buildings!  Each and every city or small town had its impressive cathedral or stone church at the center.   Many years of painstaking work went into the creation of each intricate detail all beautifully hand done by accomplished craftsmen. All the elements, the spires pointing upward, the domes and arches, the pillars and carvings were designed to point the heart heavenward, to create a place of worship to the high and exalted God. Unfortunately, the beautiful altars were inaccessible to the people. Only the privileged clergy were allowed to enter there.

Altar in the Mezquita, Cordoba

Now at Christmas, I am reminded of a more excellent place of worship - a wooden feeding trough where a tiny baby lay.  How different to look upon our mighty God in the form of a helpless infant - the exalted One come down in all weakness and frailty to make himself accessible to all.

This is the true place of worship.  In the cathedral our eyes and hearts are lifted to thoughts of heaven, but we can never reach the heights.  But here, at the manger, our eyes and hearts see a God who in his mercy has brought all his glories down to us .

Oh God, how we worship you this Christmas season. We kneel before the infant, the innocent lamb with praise and worship in our hearts knowing that when we could not reach you, you reached down to us and now you will never leave us. Thank you for coming down so that we could be lifted high to you.

Rescue

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? 

James 4:14 (NLT) 

I was supposed to be extra careful. I told myself not to have any more falls after slipping and breaking my wrist on a muddy lake bank in Utah a few years ago. I guess this is a case of "never say never."  Watching the hikers walk jauntily on the rocks of the creek crossing ahead my first thought was, "That doesn't look good. Go for a safer route." Ignoring my wiser self, I plowed straight ahead, slipping, and falling hard on a big rock. I knew it was bad right away.


With the help of my friends, I was able to drag myself out of the creek and on to the bank. Two hikers ran off to get help.  As we waited, Kaydee encouraged me, sang a song of comfort over me and covered me with branches like a lean-to to keep the sun off.


Several hours later we heard the helicopter coming, circling around stirring up all kinds of debris, looking for a place to land. The medics arrived, stabilized me on a stretcher and carried me to the waiting chopper. At the trail head another helicopter was standing by to transport me on to the trauma center.  An x-ray revealed a broken femur near the hip.


We never know what each day may hold.  I started the day happy to be going on a hike with my friends and ended the day in the hospital awaiting surgery.  Not what I expected. We may plan our way, but things can change in an instant. But this we know, no matter what happens, God will be with us. He will provide runners to go for help, angels to sing songs over us, friends to stand by and rescuers to save us.  Even if we are all alone, he and his support team will be there for us. God says not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow is in his hands and he will be there for us, no matter what.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will bring its own worries. 

Today’s trouble is enough for today.

 Matthew 6:34 (NLT) 

Here's the song Kaydee sang over me:  Quiet My Mind, Mary Barrett

Pictures by Teri Ferro 

Looking Heavenward

 “Look, I am making everything new!” 

 Rev. 21:5

 And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

  Rev. 7:17

Recently the word redeemer has come to my attention. It is such a beautiful word as it applies to our Savior because it speaks of the price he paid to buy back all that was lost and restore everything to its original condition.  

Are you tired of the futility and frustration of this broken world? Are you exhausted by sin, suffering, and death?  Are you burdened with the pain that lives inside you and outside you? Your Redeemer knows.  Your Redeemer understands. Your Redeemer cares.  His grace has been unleashed and its work will not be done until every last sin-broken thing has been fully and completely made new again.  Be encouraged, your Redeemer is at work!*

Isn't this good news. It is good to know that our Redeemer, knows and understands when we are feeling the pain and sorrow of our own sin or are affected by the sin of others.  It is good to remember where we are headed, that in the end he will redeem all things from death and decay. It is good to keep our gaze heavenward where we anticipate entering into glorious freedom, where all our tears will be wiped away and everything will be made new.

But with eager hope,

the creation looks forward to the day 

when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom 

from death and decay.

  Ro. 8:21

Listen:  My Redeemer is Faithful and True, Steven Curtis Chapman

*Tripp, Paul David, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional, Crossway, 2014, pg. 102.

Image:  Looking Heavenward by Marcia Breznah

The Blessing of Trials

So be truly glad. 

There is wonderful joy ahead, 

even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) 

When troubles come your way,

 consider it an opportunity for great joy.

 James 1:2-3 (NLT)

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials,

 for we know that they help us develop endurance. 

Romans 5:3 (NLT) 

"Count it all joy!"  "Rejoice!" "Be truly glad!" When life is easy and fun and going smoothly, that makes sense.  But to be glad and rejoice when we run into problems and troubles and trials, really? It is paradoxical to think we should be happy and joyful when we are hurting and sorrowful and in painful circumstances. 

Why then would Paul and Peter and James all tell us the same thing?  Did they know something we don't? What they knew and had experienced was that trials work. They had gained the understanding that trouble accomplishes things that living a carefree life could never do.  Going through trouble humbles us and creates something of eternal value in us. Impurities are burned away like gold that has gone through the fire.  All of the unnecessary things in our lives are stripped away, leaving us with things of true value. 

How can we rejoice when we are full of fear and dread, anxiety or pain. Only by faith, by looking away to the one who endured all, by trusting that all difficulties are working in us new and better and higher things.  Believing that God is good and that he will bring good from what ever we go through. Then we can say like Job, "When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)  When he brings us through, we will see his hand.  So rejoice, be glad, be happy when you encounter all kinds of trials for God is working in you to accomplish his great purposes.

Thank you, Lord, for your refining work.  Thank you, Lord, for the humbling that comes when my trials bring me to the end of myself. I rejoice in your work and all the good you are creating in me.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. 

Yet they produce for us a glory 

that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

2 Cor. 4:17

Click here: Andrae Crouch singing Through It All

Lifter of My Head

But you, O LORD, are a shield around me;

you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the LORD,

and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety,

 for the LORD was watching over me.

  Ps. 3:3-5

In every difficult circumstance of life when doubts and fears threaten to overtake us, God has promised to be our protector.  He has promised to be a shield around us to keep the discouragement of the enemy from penetrating our mind and emotions. When life weighs us down, and we feel our shoulders slumping, he gently lifts our head so that we can look up and see hope for our future.

When we are faced with difficulties and troubles, let us not hesitate to cry out to our God.  When David cried out, God heard and answered.  There, in the midst of the ongoing threat from his enemies, he was able to lay down and sleep in peace because he knew God was watching over him and working behind the scenes.

Lord, thank you for hearing my cry.  You are a shield around me.  Set me free from my fear and anxiety, lift my head and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Lord, when doubts fill my mind,

when my heart is in turmoil,

quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer.

Ps. 94:19

Oil of Joy

Ugandan Children's Choir

 "You love justice and hate evil. 

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,

 pouring out the oil of joy on you

more than on anyone else. 

Ps. 45:7 

Jesus was given joy above any being and he has an abundance of joy to give.  His kingdom is full to overflowing with an abundance of joy and peace.  

He longs to share his joy with his people just as he said to Jerusalem,

"How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me."  (Luke 13:34)

How he longs to bless us.  Jesus is in the business of transforming our lives.  We are very sad creatures indeed without his love and his spirit to lighten, lift and encourage us.  He wants to transform our darkness into light.  And he will do it.

When we are in a state of sadness, depression or anxiety we need his mercy and grace to help us.  We can call out to him for mercy and expect an answer in his time and in his way because he is our helper.  Let's not be like those in Jerusalem who were unwilling.  Let us open our hearts and believe that he will turn our mourning into joy. 

You are amazing, Lord. You are our deliverer.  Make us willing to receive all you have for us. In our times of sadness or despair, we cry out to you for help and mercy.  You are the one who can turn our sad days into dancing days taking off our mourning clothes and clothing us with the oil of gladness.  

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

 because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

 He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

 to proclaim freedom for the captives 

and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,

 to provide for those who grieve in Zion--

 to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

 the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

 and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. 

Is. 61:1-3

His Grace is All I Need

So to keep me from becoming proud, 

I was given a thorn in my flesh,

 a messenger from Satan to torment me

 and keep me from becoming proud. 

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need.

My power works best in weakness.” 

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses,

 so that the power of Christ can work through me.

 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses,

 and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles

that I suffer for Christ.

 For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NLT)

God is so gracious to bring about circumstances in our lives that bring us to the end of ourselves.  Only then are we in a position to receive.  Their is only one stance of receptivity - on our knees.  When we have realized that we have no power or control over our circumstances we finally come to the place where we are humble enough to receive.

This is what happened to Paul.  He kept struggling against his pain asking God to take it from him, until God spoke to him,  "Don't you realize, Paul, that I have given you this thorn to bring you into a blessed state of humility where you can receive everything you need.  From that place of submission all of my power can be released."

Only then Paul was able to let it go, to cast it all into the hands of God, realizing that the suffering and pain could not be compared with what God had in store for him. He actually took pleasure in his sufferings.  His thorn became his blessing.  All of our sins, failures and shortcomings, all of our cares worries and concerns, become the place where God can pour out an abundance of grace.

Lord, thank you for bringing us into this place of humility where we can cast upon you all of our weaknesses, sins and troubles. Open the windows of heaven today and pour our that abundance of grace and power that we need.  Your grace is sufficient for me. 

 I will boast only about my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:5 (NLT) 

Listen to: Your Grace Is Sufficient

Humility

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Good and upright is the LORD;

 therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 

He guides the humble in what is right 

and teaches them his way.

 Psalm 25:8-9 (NIV) 

Our scripture today reminds us of the need for humility. According to this Psalm it is the humble that enjoy the Lord's guidance and instruction. And James 4:6 reminds us that God resists the proud, but gives favor to the humble. I don't know about you, but this quality of humility often alludes me as my self-will raises its ugly head.  I so want and need the Lord's favor and guidance but recognize my need to humble myself moment by moment so that I will be in a position to receive. But how can I overcome my natural inclination toward pride and self-will?

Here from David Paul Tripp in New Morning Mercies is the suggestion that even this, the ability to humble ourselves, is a gift of God's grace to us.

This is why grace is essential.  It takes powerful rescuing grace to transform me from a self-rule junky into a person who willingly and joyfully submits to the plan and purpose of another.  It requires powerful mercy for me to become a person who surrenders self-appointed authority to the authority of God.  It takes grace for me to acknowledge that there is a King and that he is not me.  It takes God's rescuing hand for me to forsake the purpose of my kingdom and take up the purpose of his.  Jesus submitted himself to the Father's will even to death so that you and I would have the grace we need to do the same. *

I like how he says "powerful rescuing grace".  We are unable in ourselves to humble ourselves, but God's grace and the spirit of Christ within gives us that power.  

Lord, I admit that many times I am not humble.  I know I need humility.  I ask for your grace to humble myself so that I can become a recipient of all the good things you have prepared for me.

But he gives us more grace. 

That is why Scripture says:

 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

 James 4:6 (NIV) 

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* Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional, (Crossway, 2014), 58