Stones of Memorial - Ebenezer!

March 23, today is Bev’s (my late wife) birthday. She would have been 64 today, but now she is ageless, an eternal being of unimaginable splendor.  Last night, I paged through pictures – our wedding, her with our kids and grandkids, scenes from the life we enjoyed together. Each one  brought up a memory – some happy, some sad, some wistful.  I spent some time at my Ebenezers. (What? Read on)  

I’ll stand at her grave later today knowing full well that her body is decaying, but that she is, not was; that in a way that I cannot fully understand she is present with the Lord she served and loved. And, I will bring to mind the promise that Jesus gave us - “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25)

The loss is hard, grief real. I am not without hope nor do I consider myself ‘abandoned’ by God.  I am convinced that "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives." (Psalm 37:23, NLT)  I have no idea why He allowed Bev to be taken so soon but I walk in faith. I remember her, yes!   

The four decades of life are full of “Ebenezers,”  places where we knew God, in the good and bad, the wonderful and the awful -as the Faithful One.  Ebenezer comes from this passage -  "Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer—“the stone of help”—for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!” (1 Samuel 7:12, NLT)

Are you in a time of victory and celebration?  Make a memorial so you will remember!  Are you living through frustrating situations, stressed by multiple problems for which there are no ready solutions?  Visit an Ebenezer!  (I am not just encouraged by my own experiences. I love to read of the faithfulness of the Lord in other’s lives, too.)  

 In preacher Malachi’s word, we read about God’s people receiving a harsh rebuke and their response was to turn to God and to remember. "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name." (Malachi 3:16, NIV)

Even if we cannot see past our present hardship, even if Heaven seems far away, there is a choice that we make, supported by the Ebenezers we have built along the way – Obedient surrender. We hold onto the promise that here or perhaps in Heaven, His ‘delight in every detail of our lives,’  will become evident.  And, as understanding comes, faith will become sight!

Here is a word from the Word - " I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:3-6, NIV)

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Here I raise mine Ebenezer

Hither by Thy help I'm come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wand'ring from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

From the hymn, Come, Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing

A Drink Unlike Any Other

Water; for most Americans is resource of abundance, so much so that we turn on the spigot without a thought.  A readily accessible drink of clean water seldom occurs to me as a thing for which to be grateful.  Can you imagine walking for 30 minutes to a well and carrying water from that source back to your dwelling?  There are millions of people in our world who do just that.  In some cities, particularly on the African continent, even the municipal water supply is unreliable, unavailable for days at a time. 

Water is critical to our life! A person can survive weeks without food but the human body starts to shut down in 3 days without water. We are more than 60% water. It lubricates our joints, flushes toxins and waste out of us, and is a key to health.  Perhaps next time you take a long drink of fresh, clean water you will offer God thanks for the supply.

Jesus spoke of ‘living water’ in His sermons and talks. John tells us about an encounter with a woman whose soul was parched. She had tried to find life in multiple relationships, knew something of spiritual matters, but was still thirsting.  As the Lord Jesus conversed with her at that well in Samaria, He said “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14, NIV) Her response makes me smile. She was eager to find this source of water so she would not have to make the trek to the well every day. How natural her desire. But, when Jesus redirected her to spiritual truth, she found eternal life, a soul-satisfying drink of the Spirit.

Do you love the Presence of God with an intensity similar to the thirst you feel on a hot Summer day?  Do you even recognize the thirst, or do you sense some longing, only to try to satisfy it with stuff, with entertainment, with achievement?  “Come and Drink!” Jesus invites. When we raise our hearts to Him, turning our face to Heaven, He promises a refreshing drink of the Spirit. In worship, in expectation, we find Him. The Psalm paints a vivid picture for us. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2, NIV)  

On another occasion, “Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit.”) (John 7:37)  How I love this promise. Not only will the Spirit quench my thirst, He will make me a fountain from which a thirsty world can find refreshing.  Yes, those who are dying, alienated from the Lord, who are slaves of their lust, greed, Self, or stuff – can come alive like a desert that blooms with life after a rain – when the Spirit is poured into their lives.

Would you join me in praying to drink of the Living Water and then to become a source of renewal in this spiritually barren world?  There are many who are consumed with hate, whose love for Self is so all-consuming that they are like a hot, dry wind.  Let’s make it our heart’s desire to be the people who overflows with the water of the Spirit. Ah, may our Christianity make us much more than just ‘nice’ people. May He make us life-giving, vital, creative, holy, and beautiful sources of Life!

The preacher, Joel, said that a day would come when God, the Holy Spirit, would live in us! “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:28-29, NIV)  We live in that time! This is the age of the Spirit. On the day that the Church was born, after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, the Spirit fell and those who received Him were ecstatic, speaking in unknown languages, and rejoicing with such abandon that some accused them of being drunk. Peter explained - "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." (Acts 2:16, KJV)  

Christian friend, we need renewal of the Spirit, to drink deeply of the Spirit.  Will you pray today for His overflow in your life?

Here is a word from the Word. "Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20, The Message)

Oh, Lord, give us of the blessing of Your Spirit that we may be refreshed and overflow with your life-giving water. Amen.

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Holy Spirit

(a beautiful song, a prayer, listen at this link)

There's nothing worth more that will ever come close

No thing can compare You're our living hope

Your Presence, Lord.

I've tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone

In Your Presence, Lord

Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your Presence, Lord

Your Presence Lord

Your Presence Lord

Your Presence

Oh God how we love Your Presence Lord

Let us become more aware of Your Presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness (Lord)

Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt

© 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Do you know your place?

The happiest people I know are those who know who they are and why they are walking this earth. They are grounded, real, and content.  That person builds relationships, is effective at what she does, and generally makes her world a better place.  By contrast, those who are always wanting to be someone else, somewhere else, are a source of misery. He who looks around enviously, wishing for a different life, brings discord and unhappiness to himself as well as to those who have to deal with him!  

John, the Baptist, became a popular preacher in his era. People flocked to hear him. His name was on everybody’s lips with some speculating that he could be God’s Messiah. Then, Jesus appeared, and people started to listen to Him, following Him.  One of those ‘wonderful people’ who like to stir up controversy went to John and told him, “Everybody’s going after this new guy!”  The Gospel gives us no reason to think that he had even a hint of envy or jealousy. His reply is rich with lessons for us -  "To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:27-30, NIV)

“This is Jesus’ wedding and I’m the best man, happy for Him.” He is not just resigned to his place, giving up a great sigh, grudgingly accepting his role. He embraces the call of God to be who he is.  He does not chalk it up to luck. He says that it is God who gives us our gifts and calling. Knowing that, he finds contentment and is able to honestly step back to a lesser place as Jesus ministry begins.

Have you found God’s call for your life?
That does not mean that you have to become a pastor, by the way.  
Do you know who you are, your strengths, your gifts that are unique to the situations in which you live? 
Are you content in that place, making the most of those opportunities?

Let me make a confession. Since Bev went to heaven a little over two years ago there is one area in which I find it hard to accept my place. When I see other ministry couples working together in a church, I feel some envy!  Bev was a big part of the work I did for four decades. Though she was often quiet, behind the scenes she was my number one counselor, my confidante, who let me work through the difficulties that come with leadership with her listening ear and prayerful support.  I miss her partnership, but am I right to envy another couple?  We both know the answer to that.  This is the place where I must now walk in contentment, accepting the grace God has for me at this time.

What robs your contentment, your joy in the Lord?  Will you bend your will to His, accept the place He’s given?  “He must become greater; I must become less.”

The word from the Word is short one today. Pray that God will help you to find contentment so that He can use you with maximum effectiveness today. "Godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6, NIV)

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To Be Used Of God

To be used of God

To sing to speak to pray

To be used of God

To show someone the way

Oh how I long so much to feel

The touch of His consuming fire

To be used of God is my desire

When I think about the shortness

Of my earthly years

I remember all the wasted days

The wasted tears

I long to preach the Word

To those who've never heard

Of the One who can dispel all fears

Audrey Mieir

© 1954 Manna Music, Inc. (Admin. by ClearBox Rights, LLC)

CCLI License # 810055