"SWEPT CLEAN"

The salty beach air quickly drew Ed into a deep sleep. Within seconds he suddenly awakened and told me of his silly dream. With business on his mind while we were vacationing for a few days, he dreamed about his guy’s back home working. In dreamland he was informing them that he had ordered a new tool for them. He emphatically told them that they did not need to wait for his return before using it. Funny thing is, the tool was a dustpan.

A dustpan is for removing dirt, trash, and waste. The floor is swept clean but then must be swept into the dustpan and thrown out. Please tell me that some of you have done the same as I. In a pinch, instead of taking time to grab the dustpan and totally remove the trash, you quickly sweep it behind the door or under the shelf to be properly removed at a later time.

I fear that the church of Jesus Christ, His beloved bride, is doing the same thing. We are giving a quick nod acknowledging God’s correction, but then we promptly sweep it in the corner or under the rug. Out of immediate sight, we are deceived into actually believing that the sin has been dealt with.

Sin calls for confession and repentance, not just acknowledgement!

When God says: “You did it; you thought it; you enabled it; you covered it; you ignored it, you judged it”, my response must be full agreement. I say, “Yes Lord, I confess it. You are right. Lord, forgive me. Thank you for your blood that cleanses me from this sin against you.” A simple nod is sweeping it in the corner.

We see it in Joshua 7 through the story of Achan. Against God’s command, Achan had stolen items that had been devoted to the Lord. He disobeyed and hid the stolen treasures in his tent. He dug a hole in the earth and tried to cover his sin. What he failed to remember was that God sees and knows all things. It was costly not only to himself but to all of Israel. His disobedience cost everyone. Hidden sin never disappears but grows tentacles birthing devastation to me and to those around me.

God is calling His church to clean up. We can’t wait for His return to use the dustpan. He is returning soon and He will return for a clean, pure spotless bride.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:25-27

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev. 19:7-8

Let’s invite Holy Spirit to search every corner; lift every rug; uncover every hidden thing that we might confess our sin and repent. The cross and His blood have given us all that is needed to be ready for His return. Lord, thank you for forgiveness!

Awake and Alert

And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the [a]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the [b]saints (God’s people), 19 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength. Eph. 1:18-19

Sitting on the deck overlooking the ocean, I was totally engrossed in my writing. The deafening sound caused me to flinch, but my eyes were locked on the computer screen. It was a familiar sound around our condo, because of the nearby air force base. Many times we have stopped and stared at the fighter jets practicing formation. It was only when my husband stepped outside to ask about it, that I realized I never even looked up to catch a glimpse of the jet. Rightly so, he was shocked because it sounded like it was flying right through our deck and into the room where he was. I had no answers to any of his questions because I never saw it.

Pause……

I’m sitting here now a little taller and definitely alert. I closed one document and quickly opened a new blank document. I may have missed the jet experience but I am very attuned to the Spirit that is now speaking.

The Spirit of God speaks in all things. He waits to be heard and seen and known. Even though I missed something in the natural, I will not miss the spiritual.

This is exactly how we go through much of life. Engrossed in our work or pleasure, the familiar sneaks right past us even when it shouts to be noticed. It’s not only the quiet hummingbird, but the terrific sonic boom. What glorious surprises we must miss! God’s creation all around! A familiar family member or friend! The pretty pink sky and the mist lying on the ground! The snore proving there is life! A whisper and a shout! A surprise just to delight us! The little daily things!

Common. Missed. Neglected. Ignored.

The familiar crowds out many delights and opportunities in life. The common becomes more common until we don’t even acknowledge it. It breaks my heart to think of how often I do this with family. I hear the familiar voice, but don’t even look up and give my full attention. I quickly take for granted the small. And then there is the silent scream for help that goes right past me like an unseen fighter jet.

A twenty-three year old memory jets into my thoughts. My heart was still breaking in grief over my deceased husband as I listened to the speaker that day tell how God had sustained her through her own March 3rd nightmare. As she shared her story I felt that I had met someone that knew me and would understand. I waited in a very long line while she graciously spoke to every woman as she autographed books. Knowing that I was last in line, I knew she had to be very tired and spent. I had decided to not connect with her on a personal level but speak and receive my treasured autographed book. As I stepped up to the table, I took a deep breath. I will never forget her response! “Yes? What were you about to say?” She heard me! She heard my soft gasp for air. She looked up with genuine love and treated me like the only person she had seen that day. She wooed me to share my story. Standing up from behind her book table, she held me and healed me.

Who are you missing? What is drowning out the holy?

Lord, awaken me! I have fallen asleep to the common and the familiar. I want to see and hear as you see and hear. Tenderize my heart to others around me. Open my eyes to the wonder of life. I want to live wide-eyed and mystified.

Meet Me At The Table - Part 3

Today is the last of a three part series of “Meet Me At The Table”. Go ahead and pull up a chair and come close as we join Jesus with his twelve disciples at the Table of Satisfaction.

I can hardly believe that as Jesus was knowingly facing the cross, He took time to sit with His disciples for a meal. This wasn’t just any meal, but an observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the Passover meal. The disciples knew well the historical event of Israel’s deliverance from slavery, but at this table Jesus took an old symbol and filled it with new meaning. They didn’t understand until after the resurrection that now this meal represented His atoning sacrifice. It all pointed to His death, burial, and resurrection. A new covenant was being established. He was becoming the bread and the wine.

Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

Symbolically, He was saying, “I am all you need. I will satisfy your hunger and thirst forever. As I feed you and give you drink, my very life inside of you will be sufficient. I will satisfy you.”

I’m reminded of a recent meal shared with a few of my family. A fancy little restaurant in Atlanta was chosen and our orders were placed after a long wait. Except for the two burgers, the other hexagon shaped plates looked like a beautiful joke. There were tiny little portions of food with decorative herbs and sauce drippings, but most left the table unsatisfied. My husband was wide- eyed but silent over the cost of the pretend meal. We all know what it is like to leave the table unsatisfied. Unlike our decision that night to never re-visit this place, it seems that in our spiritual feasting we continue to re-visit the wrong table.

This never happens at the Table of Satisfaction with our Lord. He offers His all. He withholds nothing. To be honest, there is more than enough if you choose to eat! We receive all of Him and we can have our fill. He demonstrated this when He miraculously fed 5000 plus people with two fish and five loaves of bread.

“They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.” Mark 6:42-44

Have you eaten and are you satisfied? If not, run to His table and let Him feed you. We snack and nibble on the world’s pretty plates and always walk away hungry. We gorge on our self -provision, and leave the table full but unsatisfied. His food, His ways, His word, His will is always more than enough and fully satisfying.

Lord, we are hungry and we are thirsty for more of You. Forgive us for seeking satisfaction in anything or anyone but you. We repent Lord of eating at the wrong table. We run to you today. Please, feed us with Thyself O Lord.