Burst!

When's the last time you burst out of bed radiantly because it's a new day? 

Rejoicing like an athlete eager to run the race? 

This is how God describes the sun rising each day (Psalm 19). 

"God made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. 

Nothing can hide from its heat."

He made a home for it and every day it follows its course from one end to the other and 

nothing can hide from its heat.

I hate to admit it, but most mornings I drag myself out of the bed and look forward to returning to it. I am not facing the day with radiance nor am I eager to start running!

Something's gotta change. A new practice must begin so my 'start' can be transformed. My mind needs to be renewed. I want to live in anticipation like a great athlete ready to run.

How? David makes it clear in his journal. Rejoice! Praise! Sing a new song! The sun begins each day rejoicing and so shall I. The sun brings heat even in the coldest of climates and the stormiest seas. Simply by rejoicing, and living in line with how it was created and the reason for its existence.

Am I being too simplistic? I don't think so. My days are also sovereignly mapped out by the Creator, and I exist to bring my own 'heat' to each moment. The life of the Spirit (fire) in me. God has made a home for me and every day I can follow His course and nothing can separate me from His Spirit.

So, my new practice shall be to REJOICE first thing when I wake up; hopefully with my first conscious breath. Giving thanks in all things throughout the day is a very good, life-giving practice. However, rejoicing and praising God early in the morning needs to be my first breath. This practice will bring awareness to my mind and heart that my course is set and my purpose is to follow Jesus all day long. This is why I exist. My joy.

I'm going to start with this 3x5 card next to my bed from Psalm 150.

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary (which is ME! wow!)
Praise Him for His mighty works (name some in the last 24 hours)
Praise His unequaled greatness (review His attributes)
And then...make some noise! Praise Him with blasts, music, singing...even clanging (which my singing can sound like).
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Will you join me? Let's put this into practice and see what takes shape.

Rocky Waters

I haven't been posting lately because I have been in a turbulent time and feeling raw and a bit fragile and have lacked the mental energy to write. The picture I have is of me in a boat that is on stormy seas and the waves keep coming! However, more than ever, I feel Jesus AWAKE in the boat with me. He's steering, He's conducting the storm, and He's holding me. I have more peace and deeply held joy than I've ever had. It's all because of His grace.

And that's what I want to draw your attention to today. GRACE.

Did you know that the word GRACE is mentioned over 120 times in the New Testament? And only a handful of the times when highlighted is it referring directly to the act of eternal salvation somewhere in the future (think fly away). All the other times Paul, Peter, John are encouraging us to LIVE NOW in the full experience of God's grace.

EVERY ONE of Paul's letters begins with this phrase..."May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace." And, every one of his letters closes with a phrase of grace. Paul knew that the secret to abiding was the gift of grace. Paul points out again and again that GRACE is a GIFT given by the Father and His Son and then he prays we'd grow in it, stand firm in it, and have it be upon us. The last sentence in the Bible highlights, you guessed it, grace.

Grace isn't just a gift we've received, but it's a way of life we experience in God; every day, all day, for eternity. I can boast in my weakness, because in this place I know the powerful reality of grace. One teacher puts it this way: grace is the enabling power of God in us.

Although I hope the waters calm, my hope is not in the calming of the waters. My hope is in Him. I more deeply hope this understanding of His grace never fades. I hope that I won't forget the intensity in which He's revealed His Presence in this trying season. And, I hope I can spread the news through my life and words how "He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:7-8).

My 'flesh' wants to pay attention to the waves. My heart, soul, mind and spirit are being attentive to Him (Psalm 123)...and He is proving over and over again that He is able, through His mighty power (grace) at work within me, to accomplish infinitely more than I might ask or think. (Eph.3:20-21)

Glory to Him. Happy New Year. May you live it in grace.