On the Way...

 

“As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me…” (Genesis 24:27)

What a statement!  What a promise!  What a trip!! 

Over the past few months a pattern has developed in my life which includes reading three specific devotionals each day.  I have been learning much but there are some days when the three just seem to have been planned as they relate or build on each other so amazingly that I just revel in the mystery of God’s goodness.

Today was like that.  I don’t know about your lives but in ours there is always something going on that can be challenging, or stretching, or even threatening.  That really is the story of this journey on earth I think.  The opening sentence of Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest for November 14^th says “We should be so one with God that we don’t need to ask continually for guidance.”  Now, if there were nothing else challenging, stretching, or threatening in our lives, that sentence would do it!  Aren’t we supposed to be incessantly seeking to be in the “center of His will?”  Chambers goes on to say “If we are born again by the Spirit of God, our devotion to Him is hindered, or even stopped, by continually asking Him to guide us here and there.”  And aren’t we to be consistent in our lives?  Yet, Chambers challenges “There was never a more inconsistent being on this earth than our Lord, but He was never inconsistent with His Father.”  How often are we focused on our consistent behavior rather than on our consistent relationship?  I’ve definitely been there and it isn’t long until the behavior becomes unmaintainable as I recall.  But the most touching quote from this devotional for me is “We can all see God in the exceptional things, but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail.  Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God’s appointed order.  Be ready to discover His design anywhere and everywhere.”  Wow!  No boring journey possible with that kind of mindset!!

The second devotional I read is Reflecting God.  The title today was Extreme Living.  Uh oh!  I was waking up now…what road signs was God sending my way?  Do you ever just pray and pray for a concern or answer and it just doesn’t seem to arrive?  The author, Katie Heid, states “When asking a question, one must be prepared for the answer.”  Now that makes sense, right?  We wouldn’t ask a question if we didn’t want an answer!  Joshua 5:13-6:5 is the account of Joshua’s interaction with “a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.”  This took place just before the fall of Jericho.  Joshua asked the man whose side he was on.  I wouldn’t have been ready for his answer.  The man said “neither.”  The author writes “We say ‘Either God is on our side or he’s not.’  Instead, there is a middle ground we often miss.  It’s the middle ground of God’s will, God’s timing, and God’s perfect plan for our lives rather than the extreme demands we tend to place on him.”  Now, there’s another curve for contemplation. 

Finally, Psalm 149:1 says “Praise the Lord!  Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.”  Carla Sunberg has a blog named Reflecting the Image, which is my third stop along the way, and she made the observation “It was time for a new song.”  She pointed out that new songs were not an everyday occurrence but came about when “God had mightily intervened in the lives of the Israelites.”  How are we at singing new songs?  How am I?  Sometimes they seem forced on us I guess.  Changes come that were weren’t expecting, an answer that wasn’t what we were looking for.  She states “The new song was a reminder to the people of God to worship and praise Him for His mighty acts within the life of His people.”  He indeed is active in His disciples’ lives. 

But wait!  What was it that Chambers said?  “Never believe that the so-called random events…are anything less than God’s appointed order.”  That may well mean that we could see “new songs” more often if we realized that “the middle ground” is right where God is working out His will, in His way, in His time, as His plan for our lives.  That is exactly what the scripture reminds us was happening for Joshua and the Israelites isn’t it?  Could it be that if we weren’t so busy looking for our expected answers that we would see more often “His mighty acts within the life of His people” and we would have even more “new songs?” 

“As for me, being on the way…”  Lead on, O Lord…

Emmaus and Amaeus

I’ve been spending some time in Luke 24:13-35 the past few weeks.  Take a few minutes to read it.  The story is of the two men on the Road to Emmaus.  My motives are not totally my own…it is for a class I have been taking.  However, the story is one that has interested me for as long as I can remember.  A large painting of the scene hangs over the fireplace in my parents’ home.  I remember studying it many times and wondering how they could have missed Jesus in their midst. 

We have a grandson named Amaeus, derived from this town’s name.  I remember the night our son called and asked me what Emmaus meant.  In my heart I knew that would be our next grandchild’s name!  We did a “Google” search and discovered that there was no real meaning attributed to the word like many other names had.  The only reference we found was that the Hebrew word meant “warm spring.”  We also found references to it being a derivative from “people despised or obscure.”  Hmmm…not necessarily a meaning one would want to apply to their grandchild, and yet…something was very intriguing about it.  “Amaeus Jordan” he would be called.

Now, another review of this portion of scripture brings further reflection.  Have you ever thought about it in light of our five senses?  In its context…what is there in this story to see, feel, smell, hear, and taste?  Here are two discouraged and dejected men, traveling away from Jerusalem after our Lord’s crucifixion.  They had heard from the women that the tomb was empty and even a couple of the disciples had gone and verified their report.  I notice a progression to their senses when you take the time to look for it.

See:  the long road to Emmaus > a Strange man > frowns and sadness > the village > the table and the meal > Jesus! > the short road to Jerusalem > the eleven disciples

Feel:  the loss, sadness and woe > the hot evening > tiredness and hopelessness, a yet a stirring of the heart > sore feet > the hard floor at the dinner table > the bread in their hands > the realization that the Stranger is JESUS! > renewed vigor, hope, and joy > excitement, shortness of breath from the brisk walk back to Jerusalem > the hard road beneath their hurrying feet > the breeze of the rush back to Jerusalem > the rejoicing with the eleven and the other believers

Smell:  the hot, stagnant air > the dust of the long road > the sweaty bodies > the town > dinner > the closeness of the room the eleven and the others were hiding in

Hear:  the sadness > the discussion and debate of the past days’ happenings > the greeting of the Stranger > the questions…always the questions > the truth of the Stranger’s Words > Jesus’ blessing of the meal > the astonishment and joy > the quick steps on the road > the eleven and the others’ stories and responses

Taste:  the tears of sadness > the sweat > the dust > the meal…did they eat…the reality of Jesus’ presence drove away the need > the tears of joy

I don’t know about you, but pondering the humanness of this story makes the divineness of it all the more wondrous.  They are just a couple of people, so overcome by their earthly situation that they miss the risen Lord of all right there in their midst.  How often this happens to us…to me.  And yet, as they said, do we not also "feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"  He comes to us, no matter how “despised or obscure” we are.  He comes to us as a “warm spring” and as a “warmed heart.” 

Back to our grandson’s name…Jordan means “down flowing.”  So, Amaeus Jordan…a “warm spring”…“flowing down.”  Jesus, the water of life, came down to man and offers life.  Revelation 21:6-7 says “He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.’”  No greater promise can we desire!  No greater presence can we crave.  May we recognize HIM on our way...

Fires and Wasps

Finally, we have arrived…not only to the day on the calendar when a much needed vacation begins, but to the destination.  It’s a day later than planned but my own exhaustion dictated that we not go any further on the winding, mountain roads last night so Days Inn beaconed and we responded.  After a good night’s rest the trip on in to Fairfield Bay, AR was enjoyable and beautiful. 

One of the highlights we remembered from our last visit here was the nightly fire.  Oh, it isn’t like home where wood logs are used and a roaring fire can be built.  We’re limited to Duraflame but it still makes for a nice atmosphere and takes the chill out of the air.  Our supply of wood unloaded, dinner in the oven, and the football game in process, I decided it was time.  Keith placed the log and opened the flue, then asked the all-important question…”Did you bring the matches?”  Of course I did!  I think I did…let me dig through my purse…ah, there’s a book…old and tattered, but they look like they might still work.  And work they did!  The log took flame and began to light up the fireplace hearth.

But wait…I see something moving…uh-oh…wasps.  They must have decided to winter in the chimney!  Now all I could imagine is that they were all slowly waking up!  How many of them might there be?  “Keith, do you have your car keys in your pocket?”  He looked at me questioningly and replied “No!”  I was planning our getaway to the office and wanted to make sure we didn’t get stuck outside in the cool night.  I called the office and they calmly assured me they would send “the man with the spray” over right away.  In the meantime…the wasps keep coming.

The “man with the spray arrived”…he killed the one we hadn’t gotten so far and left the spray saying “it’s not to be used indoors so don’t use too much!”  Over the evening Keith has killed six disturbed wasps.  They seem to come in small groups.  Oops…I just heard another bang of the fireplace shovel, our weapon of choice, as Keith assumedly gets number seven. 

Isn’t that just like a fire?  Stirring things up?  As I’ve retreated to my designated “closet” for the week (for safety!) my mind goes to the spiritual lessons that can be learned from tonight’s experience.  Anytime the fire of the Holy Spirit comes on the scene one can expect some “stingers” will appear.  As with our wasp, these must be put to death.  When the fire of God arrives it will drive out attitudes, concepts, practices, and maybe even beliefs that need to be conquered in order for the fire to be truly and totally enjoyed. 

What are some of these “stingers?”  Maybe it’s an idea like “we’ve never done it this way before” or a practice of gossip.  Could it be that we misunderstand the tears and emotions that come when a sentimental song is sung in worship as God’s manifest Presence when really the words just tug on our heart strings for human, earthly reasons? We need to realize that experiencing God’s manifest Presence is life changing and requires sacrifice on our part.  It requires our staying close to His fire despite the “stingers.”

Waiting prayer will bring fire.  God honors those who wait on Him.  I’ve spent a lot of time in Isaiah the past 18 months.  Isaiah 40:31 is well known.  “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.”  Hope is another word for wait…many versions say “those who wait on the Lord.”  I want to wait and hope, and experience God’s Presence.  I don’t want a good feeling that lasts a little longer than a song.  I want His Presence every moment of my life, despite the “stingers” that come along to try to disrupt the flow.  I noticed that it was not the fire that the wasps threatened!!!