Solace for the Soul

Thinking about a statement I read today:

Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds: joy whenever this world reminds us of the next, and solace whenever it doesn't. 

Randy Alcorn in Truth, A Bigger View of God's Word

While Alcorn's statement wasn't in the context of our current Covid-19 circumstances, much of what I read these days I tend to relate to that; perhaps you do as well. As I was sitting on my back porch listening to the birds whistling to one another, watching the morning gild the sky, feeling the fanning of the cool air, I had a momentary sense of how the newly created earth must have been, and how it will some day be renewed. It brought joy to my heart and mind to think of it.

There are times, though, when we recognize that this earth is groaning in travail, awaiting the renewal that will be the New Earth. Covid-19 is a reminder that all is not well on Planet Earth. Nor has it been for thousands of years. Sickness and death surround us. Insecurity and fear creep into many houses. Anger gnaws at the soul because some fear they've lost control. They've never really had control of Planet Earth anyway. But some think they have, and loss of control is a difficult blow. And so they think someone must be to blame.

Yet, it is also times like these that can remind us of the next world. For we long for all to be right, for that cool morning sunshine and the sweet chirping of the birds to be steady, unbroken, uninterrupted. To waft through all of Creation. To know that all is well on New Planet Earth. And so it will be, for God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4).

Such solace for the soul. We have the best of both worlds.

Image ~ A Quiet Read in the Shade, George Goodwin Kilburn, 1839-1924

public domain via WikiGallery

A Turn Toward Joy

I stopped by to see my mother this morning, and talk naturally turned to Christmas now that Thanksgiving has come and gone. The opening gate of the Christmas race is upon us, although Halloween is vying for that position as we've seen Christmas decor in the stores for more than a month already. The powers-that-be know that we'll keep shopping until the closing bell at the midnight hour, no matter when the race begins.

For many of us, Christmas has deeper meaning than shopping and gift-giving. For us, our thoughts can meander through the various facets of our cultural celebrations, and we can enjoy many of its colors. We hold tightly to the eternal and loosely to that which soon dims and fades.

For some, though, the giving of gifts can easily become a burden. I was saddened to hear of my mother's dread of going through the season once again. And yet, I can understand how overwhelming it is to her as she thinks about the physical aspect of shopping itself. She has difficulty getting around these days and tires easily. I encouraged her to shop online, but she doesn't like to use the Internet. She's also easily overwhelmed when thinking about what to purchase for those she loves.

As I've considered how I may be able to help her work through some of the hindrances to her Christmas joy, this may be a gift I can give her. Perhaps a shopping trip next week will do her some good. The sooner the gifts are gathered, the sooner she can relax her mind and reflect upon the aspects of Christmas that do bring her joy--rejoicing in the birth of our Savior and Friend. He is the only One who can bring us joy. I pray that her celebrations will soon take a turn toward true joy.

Scrooginess can easily set in if we aren't alert to it. So for us, dear one, let us continue to look for the true joy in Christmas. He is there.

Painting ~ Walk In, John George Brown 1831-1913

Wiki Art public domain

Fullness of Joy

We went to the Worship and Thanksgiving service today of a wise, godly elderly gentleman. We feel blessed to have had the privilege of getting to know him in our small group for the short months since we've moved here. We are so glad our paths crossed for even such a brief time. Sorrow for now, but we shall see him again someday, when we, too, journey Homeward.

Death, to the saints, is the door by which they enter into the enjoyment of God; the dying Christian is almost home, yet a few pangs and agonies more, and then he is come to God, in whose presence is the fullness of joy. The same day we loose from this shore, we shall be landed upon the blessed shore, where we shall see and enjoy God forevermore.

~ John Flavel, Method of Grace

Photo ~ Sunset, giani, Pixabay CC0

Refreshing in His Presence

The Luncheon, Claude Monet

I’m continuing to read through the Bible chronologically, and today I paused at this verse:

Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). 

These words were spoken by the Apostle Peter when he explained to the Jewish people that they had disowned and put to death the Prince of Life, Jesus the Messiah; that He was the one the prophets had spoken of who would suffer for our sins, and that God had raised Him from the dead. Peter tells them that he knows they acted in ignorance and calls them to repent.

What struck me about this verse as I read it today was that in repenting and returning to God, we find refreshing in His presence. This is what most of us are trying to find—refreshing amid the struggles of life. Oh, to be able to convince those who think they have no need of God! How often we live our lives in ignorance of what is true and right. Oh, to be more aware of that myself when I struggle with my own ignorance!

Jesus the Christ is the very one who brings times of refreshing. His ways are not grievous. They are the very antithesis of that. His ways are the refreshing waters for our spiritual drought.

You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

(Psalm 16:11)

Painting ~ The Luncheon 1872, Claude Monet 1840-1926
Wiki Commons public domain

Looking Out the Window

It seems that when God has His finger on an area of my life that I come up against it pretty consistently. I've been discouraged lately about something that I'd thought had been conquered. Not so. Disappointment struck again, and I've been dwelling on it far too much--which digs a deeper disappointment ditch.

I read Lost in the Middle / Midlife and the Grace of God by Paul David Tripp not long ago, and God used it to lift me to much higher ground. But I have much further to go.  He uses His Word over and over again to give me more understanding of His grace and comfort. How to respond to disappointments and deferred hope?

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,...  Proverbs 13:12a

How do we find encouragement in discouragement? How do we keep from turning inward and missing God's grace? First, we draw closer to God. Instead of pulling away because we don't feel His presence, we need to draw closer to Him so we can walk through trials with Him. We need to pursue Him. We also need to follow Paul's example in his distress. He turned his eyes away from his personal affliction and rejoiced in the evidence of the faith of those he loved.

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you; for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; ....  For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you.      ~ 1 Thessalonians 3:6-11

As I heard it expressed some time ago, I need to stop looking in the mirror and start looking out the window. In other words, stop focusing on myself and look more intently on others, rejoicing in the evidence of their faith and love. Let them be reminders that God is actively working in the lives of His children. I may not see Him at work in my own situation at the moment, but that doesn't mean He isn't at work. It just means that I don't see it. My sight may be impaired for whatever reason--sin, discouragement, or God's choice. For whatever reason, He wants me to trust His heart even though I don't see His hand.

There's another phrase in this passage that strikes me as well-- that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you. We can encourage others by letting them know that we think kindly of them and long to see them, that there's something about them that we appreciate.

There's a third aspect of encouragement and joy here as well... "as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you."  It's important to be together, so much so that the Apostle Paul says he prays day and night for it--most earnestly prays. But hope deferred makes the heart sick. Yes, but Proverbs go on to say

... but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12b

So, I ask myself--Am I showing my care and concern about others? Do I let them know that I think kindly of them? (Just thinking it doesn't count.) Do I let them know what I appreciate about them? Do I let people know that I'm truly glad to see them? Do I let them know that I've missed them when they're gone? Do I even notice when they're gone? Am I allowing the evidence of their faith to encourage me in mine? Am I getting my care and concern off myself? Do I pray--day and night-- that we'll eventually be together? Which do I do more often--gaze in the mirror or look out the window?

Painting ~ Waiting By The Window, Carl Holsoe 1863-1935
via Wikimedia Commons public domain

On Imperfections and Failures

I spent a good part of the day taking out the quilting I'd done on the baby quilt I'd hoped to finish this week. I got about a fourth of it quilted yesterday, but it was a really sloppy job. I'm attempting to learn to do short-arm quilting on an EQ3 frame. Half of me wants to give up. The other half wants to learn how to do this. So today I meticulously picked out all the sloppy quilting I'd done and started over. The first change was to use a thread color that wouldn't show up as much. That way I could hide a lot of mistakes! I watched a couple of videos online and re-racked more precisely. I'm glad I started over. It's looking a lot better.

Don't you wish life could be that way? Just rip out the failures and start over. We've been going through family pictures and getting our daughters organized into years. Birth-1-2...8...15...19...23... Married and gone. Our time together went so quickly. So many joyful years, yet many things I'd love to just start over and do differently. But that would be a life of perfection, and it simply doesn't exist this side of heaven.

That's a good thing. As much as we'd like it to be otherwise, imperfections and failures in ourselves, others, and life's situations send us to the Redeemer. He is the only one who can give us beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise for heaviness.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. ~ Isaiah 61:3

Be further encouraged with these words from C.H. Spurgeon....

"It shall not be the spirit of praise for the spirit of heaviness, though that were a fair exchange, but as your heaviness you tried to keep to yourself, so your praise you shall not keep to yourself, it shall be a garment to you, external and visible, as well as inward and profound. Wherever you are it shall be displayed to others, and they shall see and take knowledge of you that God has done great things for you whereof you are glad."

I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. ~ Psalm 13:5-6

Painting~Summer Evening at Skagan, Peter Severin Kroyer