Whirlwind

Whirlwind.

Life feels like that sometimes, doesn't it?

We all know a little something of whirlwinds. Whether it's the whirlwind of busy-ness we can find ourselves in, the whirlwind of time flying by, or the gale force winds of life's real storms... Oh yes. We all know about whirlwinds.

Recently I've come to see whirlwinds in a different way, in the beautiful way they exist in creation. About a month ago, after going through a particularly trying time, just as I felt God was finally getting back on my feet, He sent me a whirlwind. I was working outside on a perfectly calm and sunny fall day, when out of nowhere I heard the cornstalks rustling out in the field. It had been so very calm, and the rustling was so very great, it immediately caught my attention.

There it was, a whirlwind.

In the field, just across the road from me, it swirled by, shaking the stalks and stirring up the chaff as it moved along. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I halfway wanted to run out there and stand right in the middle of it.

And today, once again on the better side of one of life's many trials, I just happened to decide to step out the door quickly to let one of our dogs out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it... Again in the field... A whirlwind! The field has been recently harvested, so this time I could see the whirlwind from right where it met the ground, all the way up, swirling the chaff high into the sky, stirring the harvest.

As I watched, I thought about these whirlwinds, whether real or figurative, that stir us up. Not only does God give us beauty in a whirlwind, but purpose as well, for they draw us up closer to Him, just as the chaff of the field. God knows about your whirlwinds, good or bad, and He will never grow tired of getting you through them.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens... Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:21-31

Strength in Him

Today I ache.

I ache physically... Too little sleep? Not taking care of myself?

But more than that, I ache emotionally. Spiritually.

I ache with thoughts of past wrongs, past sins.

I visibly wince (though no one sees me) at the thoughts of my mistakes. I churn with my own iniquity.

This is not one of those instances where 'the body is weak, but the spirit is willing'. This is one of those instances where the body is weak and the spirit is flailing. I want to lie down. Lie down in the dirt outside our door. Lie down in the soft sunshine and gentle breeze, hear the rustling of the leaves. Lie down at His feet, cling to His robes, and feel His healing hand upon me. Let the tears of repentance flow.

As I laid down to sleep last night, dismayed, I was comforted by only one thought: The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Up until recently I had been reading in Nehemiah, how the people diligently began rebuilding walls. How they built their walls with one hand, while holding their weapons in the other, prepared to protect themselves from evil attacks. But I wandered away from this passage. Was lured away, perhaps. Now this thought, this revelation in the dark, brings me back to Nehemiah...

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:9-10

Do not mourn or weep! Do not grieve! The joy of the Lord is your strength!

The only thing -- the absolute ONLY thing -- that overpowers the thought of, "I can't do this," is the truth of knowing that I can't, but He can. I am not capable of repairing my broken spirit, but He is. I don't know how to use this brokenness for His glory, but He does.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him... Hebrews 5:7-9

Lord, thank You for your love. Thank You for your presence. Give me a heart like Jesus today. Help me to submit to You, to throw off everything that hinders, and live in Your grace. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” Nehemiah 4:19-20

Loving One Another

Recently I was reminded of the difference love can make in our lives. Most often, a person, in the midst of condemnation and judgement, struggles in a myriad of ways. However, that same person, in an environment of love, flourishes. I experienced this myself, in my relationship with my husband. I know that his strong and committed love was a major cornerstone of my development as a Godly woman. In this environment of love, I was able to move beyond old hurts and fears that were tripping me up. My husband was, and is, and earthly example of God's love for us.

But we struggle with this, don't we? Sometimes we feel that someone doesn't need to feel our love. Or maybe we don't think we have the time to express it. Sometimes we feel ourselves to be unloveable. And sometimes we find it utterly impossible to love another. At times our society can feel completely unloving. Gossip, judgement and criticizm run rampant on our televisions, in our work places and at social events, and even in our own homes. It is simply easier to harden our hearts. However, in Hebrews we read...

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

And in Luke...

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:32-36

Be merciful.

Those are powerful words. When I am having a hard time showing mercy to someone -- when it seems like their offenses are just too great -- I remind myself of my own sin. While I was a sinner, Christ died for me. I remain a sinner still, yet when I repent, the Lord forgives. Acknowledging that I am the recipient of such great mercy and forgiveness helps me to extend mercy and understanding to others. It softens my heart.

Let's look at the things love does/is, according to the Bible...

1. Patient (1 Corinthians 13:4)

2. Kind (1 Corinthians 13:4)

3. Rejoices in truth (1 Corinthians 13:6)

4. Protects (1 Corinthians 13:7)

5. Hopes (1 Corinthians 13:7)

6. Perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:7)

7. Never fails (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Things love does not do...

1. Boast (1 Corinthians 13:4)

2. Envy (1 Corinthians 13:4)

3. Exhibit pride (1 Corinthians 13:4)

4. Dishonor others (1 Corinthians 13:5)

5. Seek ones' self (1 Corinthians 13:5)

6. Become easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:5)

7. Keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5)

8. Delight in evil (1 Corinthians 13:6)

I would encourage you to examine your heart, confess your own sin before God, especially any sin that involves harboring an unloving spirit, and ask God to help you show love to someone today. If you ask Him for this, He will do it.

Grace for the Day

Can you recall a time when you felt like it was all you could do just to get through a day? Or even through a moment?

I'm in that place right now.

I'm actually questioning how I will even get through writing this devotional.

It is a hot day, I'm tired, we have too many things to do, and I don't feel all that well physically. In all honesty, I don't feel all that well emotionally either. Within myself, I'm simply a depleted individual.

Yet here I sit, praying that God will spill through me and out onto the page.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Weakness.

If there is any good thing I have learned about my own weaknesses, it is this: In my weakness is where I find myself on my knees before God. In my weakness is where I find compassion for others in need. In my weakness is where I confess my iniquity and depend on God alone to sustain me.

I wish I could tell you I was more like the apostle Paul, who goes on to write...

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

I do not delight in my weaknesses! I revolt against them. I feel anger toward them. I resist.

And then I berate myself about it.

For if God's power is made perfect in weakness, how can I resist?

I struggle with this, almost daily. However, as I grow in my faith, one of the ways I walk the walk is by recognizing God's grace upon each day...

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:21-24

His compassions are new every morning. So, I ask myself, "Has the Lord given me enough grace for this day?"

Not yesterday.

Not tomorrow.

Not the ten thousand things in the future I can so easily let myself worry about.

But today? And the answer is always, "Yes."

"And has the Lord provided me with all I need for this day?"

Again, the anwer is always, "Yes."

A dear friend once told me that her prayer for her children and grandchildren was not that God would give them more than they needed, but that He would always give them enough. When I take life one day at I time, in this way, and recognize in each moment, each day, how God is there, providing and loving me just as He has promised, I recognize that He is always giving me enough. It might not be what I think I need, but it is what He knows I need. This assurance is where I find His peace. It's where I find rest.

It's also where I find hope... Hope that God will continue to strengthen me in this way. Hope that I will grow in my faith and my ability to trust in Him with more ease... That someday I might be able to fast-forward through the resistance and self-beratement, and enter into each day, each moment, in full assurance of His provision.

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:25-26