in the words

There is so much depth to God’s Word. Beyond searching out… yet we try, we seek, we explore, we ask. We read again and again, we memorize, we pray…

but…

Who am I to understand God?
How can anyone really comprehend?
Why the parable, the hyperbole, the paradox?

1 Corinthians 2
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. ² For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. ⁴ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

⁶ We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— ¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. ¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 

¹⁵ The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for, 

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

Thank you Holy Spirit that you are one with us and one with God. That you are the counselor and guide to reveal God’s mysteries and truth as we seek understanding. Let this week bring us new wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You as we seek Your heart and Your ways.

showing wisdom

One Lord One Church

I’ve heard it suggested when you are reading the Bible, if you don’t understand a verse, press in to find out. I think our normal practice is to ignore it and move on to what is easy and comfortable. Another said we should look closer at the verses we have not underlined in our Bibles. I definitely take that to heart when digging into a specific area.

A recent verse I have discussed with others is in bold below. 

^9 …This plan, kept hidden for ages by God, the Creator of everything, ¹⁰ is for the rulers and authorities in heaven to learn, through the existence of the Messianic Community, how many-sided God’s wisdom is. Eph 3:9-10 Complete Jewish Bible

How does the “church” (not a building or pastor, but the body of believers) make God’s wisdom known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places?
Please share your thoughts as well…

Who are the rulers and authorities in heavenly places?
Does this include both angels and demons?
Do we really have more wisdom then they do?
How are we teachers to them?

Manifold wisdom is “many sided or multi-faceted” and that definitely describes our God. I think of the verses that talk of “making known” what God has done and how He doesn’t just call us servants, but friends and shares “His business” with us (John 15:15).

Do you think we as a “church” know God’s business?
Are our weekly gatherings about His wisdom?

Another place of having more questions than revelations…at this time. Definitely a section of scripture I will pray into further.

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. Eph 3:7-13 ESV

Thank you Lord for the richness of your word and that You do want Your mysteries brought to the light. Give us the wisdom and revelation we need to know You better. 

 

discovering goodness

I find both positive and negative parts to a Michigan winter. Though I am not a fan of the cold – I wanted to share some thoughts today. I’ll let you decide if they are good or bad.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. Proverbs 25:13

Snow is beautiful as it blankets the roads and lawns in a clean fresh coat of white. It make even the moonlight reflect to lighten the sky. The peace in the silence and stillness can take your breath away. The extra fluffs resting on branches seem like cotton fields in their fullness. A beautiful excuse to hibernate with tea and reading or be intentional to go visit another. To see the signs of extra visitors as the prints reveal their true paths.

I know many get more excited with skies, mobiles or shoes, but for now, I’ll settle for the gentleness of the season, warm my tea and ponder some powerful words…

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:10-12

your story

Free to Soar

The story of Jesus is laid out in advance in the OT, long before Mary and Joseph were even born. It was foretold, where He would be born, how He would be known and even the way that He would die. His story is our history, our heritage, our legacy.

The word of God also points to your story – 
Made in His image, in His likeness (Gen 1:27)
Created for His glory (Isa 43:7)
His workmanship (Eph 2:10)
Not just servants but friends (John 15:15)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Thank you Lord for creating all of us as part of You. That Your word gives us the best picture of our true identity and You know the best ways to guide us on this journey. I pray for our hearts to be enlightened further to know the hope of the calling we have in Christ Jesus – for Your glory and Your story!

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1

 

depth of words

Often its just a word that comes for me to dig into. Today was “fathom” and I hope the verses will speak a rich story to your heart.

Fathom – an open arms measurement – usually to measure the depth of  water but also in depth of thought or embracing of something. 

I used to think that God was just too angry, too mysterious, too distant, too great, too big to be known or understood. And even more – who was I that He would care about me or my life. BUT GOD – rich in mercy and patient with our learning…shares so much through Jesus and the Holy Spirit to show us more of Himself.

I pray today you can open your arms, your heart and your mind to know His greatness and the depth of His unconditional love for you. He has created you in His image and calls you amazing!

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted. Job 5:9 & Job 9:10

Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? Job 11:7

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3

He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the human heart;
yet no one can fathom what God has done
from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord,
or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Isaiah 40:13

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. Isaiah 40:28

If I have the gift of prophecy and
can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

 

a new thing

One of my friend’s favorite sayings is,
“God is doing a new thing!” 

After hearing this many times and knowing it was part of a verse, I looked it up and committed more if it to my memory bank.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

And then you start to notice same and very similar words are used in many more places. God has always been making something out of nothing, bringing life where there was death and flowing water even from rocks. Nothing is too hard for Him. He loves the impossible, the improbable and taking the foolish things to confound the wise. And many days – I’m confounded in ways that bring me even more AWE and WONDER at His great creativity!!

The Message version is fabulous here – verses 16-21
This is what God says,
    the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
    who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
    they lie down and then can’t get up;
    they’re snuffed out like so many candles:
“Forget about what’s happened;
    don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
    It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
    rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’
    —the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
    rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
    the people I made especially for myself,
    a people custom-made to praise me.

I pray even this week, you will see God making a way where there seems no way and will recognize His hand at work in your life and relationships. He is so very generous and loves to give good gifts to His children! 

 

 

you are needed

Where’s Your Focus?

It’s always interesting to talk with new believers and hear the concerns they have in their blossoming relationship with Jesus. Thinking they have done too much wrong in there life (so did I), were committed at one time and walked away (so did I), don’t quite know what His plans are for them (with ya), and just feel like they missed the boat (been there).

It is wonderful to be able to show them how vast is His loving forgiveness and how far the east is from the west. The redeeming power found in the blood of Christ and how He showers us with grace after grace. He even knows ahead when we will take those detours but is still willing to guide us where we need to be.

He knew each of us before the creation of the world and HE ACTUALLY NEEDS US TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSES on this earth. 

It’s not just our need for God – He needs us, doing what He planned long ago. God will do all that we let Him to bring that to be.

The choice is ours.

Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come. Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out). Proverbs 19:20-21 AMP

crowned with glory

Do we have to receive glory before we can give glory?? I often have five more questions arise when searching out answers.

In Ezekiel, those who encountered the glory fell facedown.
How often do we “fall” before the Lord?
I don’t think this was all their choice and effort of reverence to get on their knees.

Is that like the fear of the Lord, to also fear His glory?

Hebrew – kabod: abundance, honor, glory

We are to give glory to God but if He desires to give good and perfect gifts to us, should we be saying no to them?

Psalm 8
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Thank you Lord that we can come to You and Your Word with questions and when we ask for wisdom, You are willing and generous to give it. 

glory to another

leaning in

In yesterday’s post I wrote on God giving to us, His grace and glory. Another of those places in scripture where yes and no are both true.

I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. Isaiah 42:8

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another. Isaiah 48:11

The Glory of Zion
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60:1-3

Guide us Lord in understanding what it really means to fully be Your children, Your beloved, Your church, Your disciples. Your words have been covered and twisted for too long. Give us wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Let the scales come off and the eyes of our hearts be enlightened to really see the right reflection of Christ in us, the hope of glory!

framed and named

Fill ‘er Up

Solo Flight

In the midst of other things in life, I finished these local scenes for an upcoming exhibit. Hope you like the sneak peek. Portraits are not my forte but I do love to capture people and movement. The local Splash Pad is filled with both on a warm summer day! It was a treasure to watch, snap some photos and imagine how I could bring different things to life.

So often painters are asked, “How long does it take you?”

I often say, “Until it’s finished.”

Just like God’s work in our lives, it really depends. Some journeys are smoother than others.

The more detailed boy – went quickly. I had several photos of the water spray and none include the little girl in that position. I pieced three photos which all had her profile. Her face and head shape seemed wrong with each paint edit. A few days later, the head movement idea came and though difficult to get a pink ear to show in blond hair – it worked.

I think they will bring some great smiles to those viewing our “Art Around Town” showing at Zeeland’s Second Reformed Church. A great gallery space our Zeeland Artists group is thrilled to work with on this plein air project.

I pray you find some extra joy and exploration in your week!