No More Lies!

No more sorrow. No more tears. 

No more goodbyes. No more fears. 

Endless Joy, 

Boundless, free. 

This, with Christ, 

Is Eternity.

These are all beautiful thoughts we have about our eternal home, heaven. And they are all true! What an amazing reality we will have one day. But I would add some more things we don't usually think about, that are all similar: 

no more lies. 

no more deception. 

no more falsehood. 

I was reading Psalm 63 last month and this verse practically jumped off the page at me: 

But the king will rejoice in God;

Everyone who swears by Him will glory,

For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Psalm 63:11

I read it over and over. Could it really be? One day the mouths of all liars will be stopped? I became downright giddy over this thought and almost broke out in the doxology! For some reason, whenever i thought of heaven, i had not thought about this truth.  I mean, i knew it, but how often do you hear this specifically?  This one verse filled me with so much hope and joy that morning!

This truth hit me so hard because i have been surrounded by lies and deception throughout my life. I have heard more lies than the average person, and that is not an exaggeration. I will not go into detail here, but i can tell you that it is exhausting.  

And it happens among professing Christians.

Just today i stumbled across something that someone had written that was full of lies, falsehood, slander, and full of malice...and it hurt. It hurt that people i love dearly were accused wrongly. It hurt that this person lashed out at the very people who had loved them, including me. 

But then i remembered God.

I remembered that He is the righteous Judge. 

HE IS TRUTH. 

And one day, the truth will be known. That situation where you have been falsely accused, lied about, slandered, deceived? He knows! He is your Shield and Defender! Even if it is never sorted out while you trod this earth, the truth will be made known that final day. Entrust yourself to Christ Jesus!

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;   1 Peter 2:21-23

This verse (Psalm 63:11) is also very sobering, because if there will be no lies, falsehood, or deception in heaven, that means that those who lie and slander and do not repent are going to be separated from Jesus Christ forever. It motivates me to pray for them, to pray for their eyes to be opened and for them to repent and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I pray that they will turn from their sin and turn to the Saviour. 

For those of us who are in Christ, we can rejoice that there is no falsehood in Him. We can trust Him completely. All His words are life and truth. We can turn to the living Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) and find rest, encouragement, exhortation, love, and TRUTH. And one day, we will be in the very presence of PERFECT TRUTH forever. 

No more sorrow. No more tears. 

No more goodbyes. No more fears. 

No more lies. No more falsehood.

No more deception. All is TRUTH.

Endless Joy, 

Boundless, free. 

This, with Christ, 

Is Eternity.

contrasts

It is striking.
really.

the contrasts of this journey.
the journey of faith.

In God's kingdom, it all seems upside-down.

beauty...from ashes.
light...from the dark places.
peace...in the midst of chaos.
poor in spirit...inheriting the Kingdom.
dying...that i might live.

learning as i go.
learning to lean in to the process.
His process.

learning to quiet my tongue more,
and pour out my heart to the One who made me.

learning to listen to His Word.
and let His Word satisfy my hungry soul.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

 

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces will never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

And saved him out of all his troubles.

 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,

And rescues them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good;

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 

Psalm 34:4-8

Understood?

Last week i was reading in one of my devotional books, Opened Treasures, and i came across an entry that i think many can resonate with. Have you ever been misunderstood? (yep, i can hear the "harrumph.YES!"). I don't know about you, but i have found that when i am really listening to the Word and attempting to live life according to the Word, i am misunderstood more and more. 

Are we willing to be misunderstood whilst we follow our Saviour? 

Here, the entry from Frances R. Havergal, in Opened Treasures: 

MISUNDERSTOOD?

Thou understandest my thought. Psalm 139.2

Who does not know what it is to be misunderstood? Perhaps no one ever is always and perfectly understood, because so few Christians are like their Master in having the spirit of quick understanding. But this does not make it the less trying to you; and you do not feel able to say with Paul, "With me it is a very small thing." But this precious Word which meets every need, gives you a steppingstone which is quite enough to enable you to reach that brave position, if you will only stand on it. "Thou understandest my thought." Even if others "daily mistake" your words, he understands your thought, and is not this infinitely better? He Himself, your ever-loving, ever-present Father, understands. He understands perfectly just what and just when others do not. Not your actions merely, but your thought--the central self which no words can reveal to others. "All my desire is before Thee." He understands how you desired to do the right thing when others thought you did the wrong thing. He understands how His poor, weak child wants to please Him, and secretly mourns over grieving Him. "Thou understandest" seems to go even a step further than the great comfort of "Thou knowest." "His understanding is infinite." 

 

Meditation

This morning i read Psalm 19. It dawned on me as i read that this would be a GREAT Psalm to put up in our schoolroom. It speaks of how wonderful the precepts, statutes, commandments, and law of the Lord are in verses 7-14. Actually, it reminded me of a summary of Psalm 119! What a beautiful prayer to pray as well at the end of the chapter. 

Here it is...may we all be encouraged and reminded of just how beautiful, marvelous, and powerful the Word truly is.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

restoring the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true;

they are righteous altogether.

They are more desirable than gold,

yes, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey

and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?

Acquit me of hidden faults.

Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;

Then I will be blameless,
 And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

~Psalm 19:7-14

The Real Deal, Baby

i am an emotionally intense person. this is not a bad thing, it's just who i am. But, until recently, i thought it was a bad thing. We all get a little intense when talking about things that are important to us, but some of us are intense about everything! I would be one of them.

this is why i can cry most every time i sing Amazing Grace and And Can It Be? It is why i laugh easily and cry easily. i, like one of my sweet daughters, feel everything with every fiber of my being.

i still cry during Wall-E. every.time.
i still cry watching Pride and Prejudice...for the umpteenth time. (Oh, and Facing the Giants, too).
i cry during a cheesy, old, love song.
i cry reading missionary biographies.
i cry reading practical Christian living books. (okay...i have even cried reading the descriptions in the Vision Forum catalogue sometimes). 
i cry listening to God's Word preached.
i cry reading God's Word.
i cry listening to a friend share her heartache or her deepest joys.
i cry when i think of how loved i am by my husband.
i cry when i realize how loved i am by God, my heavenly Father.

i think you get the picture. i cry. A lot. Tears of sadness, understanding, joy, thankfulness, etc.

BUT....

i also laugh. often. and easily.
i laugh during Wall-E. every.time.
i laugh listening to cheesy, old, love songs (especially when i look at my 13 year old's face).
i laugh reading missionary biographies.
i laugh reading practical Christian living books.
i laugh with joy sometimes when reading God's Word.
i smile from ear-to-ear when worshiping.
i laugh with my friends, at their stories.
i laugh with my husband.

I used to think being this way was a weakness. Now i can see it as simply the way God fashioned and formed me...i am, after all,  fearfully and wonderfully made...we all are! (see Psalm 139).  i used to think that if i cried when trying to explain a sermon or a song i heard, that i was too emotional, or too weak. I would try to justify my tears, justify my emotions, like i was on trial. Now i can see that it is the way i was wired....The promises of God are precious and true, living and active. i have been rescued from great darkness, and when i hear something that reminds me of the depth of His amazing love, i am still floored.

We are not all wired the same way :) and we don't all respond to things the same. Trust me, i know.  i married and Englishman. I am Italian. We are a bit different (~;. But i am done trying to hide my  tears when they are flowing. i am embracing how God has made me. He made me an intense person, emotionally. And that is wonderful.

May He use it all to His excellent glory.

an idol

For far too long i have cared more about what others think of me, than what God says about me. ouch. That, my friends, is idolatry. egads!!  i just said the word. An idol is something that means more to you than God, to put it simply. i have put the opinions of others about me above the Truth of God's Word.

Realizing this the past couple weeks has brought about a freedom and peace that is liberating. Walking in repentance is freeing. yes, FREEING! The example from my life right now is that i have let the actions and words (or lack of actions and words) from 2 people run my life the past few years. I have believed the lie that those words (or lack of) are an accurate picture of my worth and value, even if 100 other people told me the opposite. Thankfully, a godly Christian counselor helped me to see my need to repent in this area and find my worth in God alone. AMEN. I have the peace of Christ.

Is there an idol in your life? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;  And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24.

He is faithful.

Then, put on Christ...
"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.   The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.   Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. ~Romans 13:11-14

AND...
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.   The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." ~Philippians 4:8-9

"Do Thou for Me"

But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. Psalm 109:21

I recently read a devotional from F.R. Havergal. It is from her excellent work Royal Bounty. I found myself praying it just last night, when i had reached the end of my own resources in many situations..."Do Thou for me, O GOD!" Below, the writings of Ms. Havergal, which were so challenging and inspiring...

Do Thou for Me.
'Do Thou for Me.' --Ps. cix. 21.

The Psalmist does not say what he wanted God to do for him. He leaves it open. So this most restful prayer is left open for all perplexed hearts to appropriate 'according to their several necessities.' And so we leave it open for God to fill up in His own way.

Only a trusting heart can pray this prayer at all: the very utterance of it is an act of faith. We could not ask any one whom we did not know intimately and trust implicitly to 'do' for us, without even suggesting what.

Only a self-emptied heart can pray it. It is when we have come to the end of our own resources, or rather, come to see that we never had any at all, that we are willing to accept the fact that we can 'do nothing,' and to let God do everything for us.

Only a loving heart can pray it For nobody likes another to take them and their affairs in hand, and 'do' for them, unless that other is cordially loved. We might submit to it, but we should not like it, and certainly should not seek it.

So, if we have caught at this little prayer as being just what we want, just what it seems a real rest to say, I think it shows that we do trust in Him and not in ourselves, and that we do love Him really and truly. There is sure to be a preface to this prayer. 'Neither know we what to do' (2Chron.20:12). Perhaps we have been shrinking from being brought to this. Rather let us give thanks for it. It is the step down from the drifting wreck on to the ladder still hanging at the side. Will another step be down into the dark water? Go on, a little lower still, fear not! The next is, 'We know not what we should pray for' (Rom. 8:26). Now we have reached the lowest step. What next? 'Do Thou for me.' This is the step into the Captain's boat. Now He will cut loose from the wreck of  our efforts, ladder and all will be left behind, and we have nothing to do but to 'sit still' and let Him take us to our 'desired haven,' probably steering quite a different course from anything we should have thought best. Not seldom 'immediately the ship is at the land whither' we went.  

  What may we, from His own word, expect in answer to this wide petition?

 1. 'What His soul desireth, even that He doeth' (Job 23:13). Contrast this with our constantly felt inability to do a hundredth part of what we desire to do for those we love. Think of what God's desires must be for us, whom He so loves, that He spared not His own Son.  'That He doeth!'

2. 'He performeth the thing that is appointed for me' (Job 23:14). This is wonderfully inclusive; one should read over all the epistles to get a view of the things present and future, seen and unseen, the grace and the glory that He has appointed for us. It includes also all the 'good works which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them.' It will not be our performance of them, but His; for He 'worketh in you to will and to do,' (Phil.2:13). and 'Thou also hast wrought all our works in us.' (Isa. 26:12).  

3. The beautiful old translations says, He 'shall perform the cause which I have in hand.' (Psalm 57:2<possibly the Geneva Bible>). Does not that make it very real to us to-day? Just the very thing that 'I have in hand,' my own particular bit of work to-day--this cause that I cannot manage, this thing that I undertook in miscalculation of my own power, this is what I may ask Him to do 'for me,' and rest assured that He will perform it.  'The wise and their works are in the hand of God!'

4. He 'performeth all things for me.' (Psalm 57:2). Does He mean as much as this? Well, He has caused it to be written for us 'that we might have hope;' (Romans 15:4) and what more do we want? Then let Him do it. Let Him perform all things for us.

Not some things, but all things; or the very things which we think there is no particular need fro Him to perform will be all failures--wood, hay, and stubble to be burnt up. One by one let us claim this wonderful word; 'the thing of a day in his day,' 'as the matter shall require,' being always brought to Him with the God-given petition, "Do Thou for me.'

Do not wait to feel very much 'oppressed' before you say, 'O Lord, undertake for me.' (Isaiah 38:14).  Far better say that at first than at last, as we have too often done! Bring the prayer in one hand, and the promises in the other, joining them in the faith-clasp of 'Do as Thou hast said!' (2 Samuel 8:2). And put both the hands into the hand of Him whom the Father heareth always, saying, 'Do Thou for me, O Lord God, for Thy name's sake,' for the sake of Jehovah-Jesus, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, yet the Saviour of sinners.  

It was long...but wasn't it worth the read? i now find myself crying out..."Do Thou for me, O Lord, my God!!"