What did he see? What did he hear? How was he changed? Did he run into hiding? Did he stand by and watch, side by side with his master the high priest? Did he wonder at all he saw? Did he question his allegiance to his master?

When Jesus reached out to heal him, did He lean closer and say, “Malchus, let him who has ears to hear, hear!”???

One of the things that I have been musing about is a daddy’s love.

Fathers who aren’t attentive to the needs of their families have certainly come into the spotlight over the last years.  Science has shown the need for both young girls and boys to know that their father loves them, is proud of them and delights in them.  The stats that result from fathers that are either not present or not communicating when they are present are staggering. (Not to mention down right discouraging.)

So, my question for today is, “If it’s important for our children to know that their human father loves them, in order for them to be strong, healthy, successful people, how much more so for us to know of our heavenly Father’s love?

We know – and have probably quoted – the stats concerning little girls and their desire to remain pure – or not – being a reflection of the amount of love and care that they have felt from their dads.  Why wouldn’t we think that the Bride of Christ would be any less willing to allow her purity to be besmirched, by false teaching or deceitful men, if she were absolutely certain of her Daddy’s love for her?

I have heard many people say “You can’t teach the love of God over obedience to God.”  I hear – and appreciate – that concern.  But knowing flesh as I do, having had some for nearly…well for quite a while, anyway – I know that flesh loves the law.  Flesh loves the law for many reasons, but one is so that it can lord itself over others when it accomplishes it.  An understanding of Father’s amazing love for us removes the desire to lord it over anyone.  Knowing that He dearly loves us frees us from the need to look better than anyone else in our Father’s eyes.

What, you may be wondering, about John 14: 15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”?  I confess that for a long time that verse would go fist to fist in my head with Romans 2:4  ”Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”  THEN I read John 14 in Hebrew – it says, “If you love Me, the commandments the My keep.”  That sounds an awful like “If you love Me, then you – by My power, because of My love- will keep My commandments.”  Rather than this being a matter of our performance, is it not a matter of the work that He does in us, because of His grace?!  (ESPECIALLY when we pair it with John 15, when Jesus tells us, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”)

I am becoming more and more convinced that a weak and ineffectual understanding of the love that Father has for us, results in a weak and ineffective faith that causes us to have a weak and ineffectual testimony, presenting a weak and ineffectual Gospel to the world!   When we know how our Father sees us (and John 17:23 is a GREAT place to start) then we will grow like any and all other children who have loving daddies.  Confident, bold and ready to be all that we have been called to be – not to mention, honor and please our Father!

Jesus was never hurried – nor harried. He always walked with His Father, at His Father’s speed, in sync with each of His steps.  Not only did He time His steps with His Father’s – He walked with a true knowledge of who His Father was.

Meditate this – which of us, when told that a child was dying, would not run to help? Which of us would not feel the weight of responsibility, especially if we KNEW that we could assist in the situation – let alone turn it around?

Jesus could have done all those things. He could have run to Jairus’ home to heal his daughter.  He could have allowed the knowledge that He had the power to heal flowing in Him compel Him to race off to do the work that He was created to do.  It was only right, was it not?

BUT if He had, the dear woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and was surely weak from her infirmity, would never have been able to catch up to Him.  Because of His love for the woman, the Father asked Jesus to walk.

Because Jesus knew His Father and His heart of perfect love for Him, for the woman and even for Jairus and his daughter, He was able to walk,when every ounce of His flesh had to be demanding – SCREAMING -that  He run.  When we know our Lord, we are able to rest in who He is and what He is able to do and we too can walk, not run, trusting the results to His hands.

Let’s go to John 11.  I’m going to be quoting from ESV (and a little from the DCV, too) but that doesn’t matter, just follow along in your preferred translation.  You won’t be left behind, I promise.  :D

This chapter is the story of Lazarus’ death and subsequent resurrection.  It starts off telling us that Lazarus was sick and that he was of Bethany, the same city as Mary and Martha.  (Note the order – despite Martha being the oldest.)  Then John takes the time to explain to us that it was Mary who had anointed Jesus’ feet with the oil, even though the event hadn’t occurred yet. Because of Lazarus’ illness, the sisters send for Jesus.

As the story progresses, it becomes very clear that they wholly expected that Jesus would come and Lazarus would be healed. The idea that Lazarus would remain sick after Jesus arrived was a foreign concept to them.  They didn’t even consider it. (Note that the Pharisees expected it as well.  It never occurred to them that Jesus wouldn’t heal – so my note to self is, “If those that knew Him best – and those that liked Him least – all shared the exact same expectation, why wouldn’t I?!!”  but that’s another blog for another day.)

Jesus responds to the news of Lazarus’ illness, saying, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  John goes on to say, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister.”  (What?  No mention of Mary by name?)  ”So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”  HOLD THE PHONE!  Jesus loved Martha and her sister…SO, because of that, He remained two days longer?  That “So” throws me for a loop.

Let’s skip to verse 12.  The disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”  So Jesus has to speak plainly to them: “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.  But, let us go to him.”

May I just say, I’m pretty sure that would have been me?  A wee bit on the dull side, there. I can see Jesus walking on ahead and me still standing there, just looking at one of the other disciples and saying, “So…is Lazarus dead or is he asleep, cause I’m kind of confused here.”

NOW, here we get to the REALLY AMAZING part.  Jesus is heading into Bethany and Martha hears He’s coming – she runs out to Him and says, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died….”   Jesus says to her, “Martha, your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live and everyone who lives and believes  in Me shall never die.”  He takes the time to minister to her and reassure her that her brother’s life is safe in Him.

Now, Jesus doesn’t even leave the place that Martha met Him, before Mary hears that He’s out there and goes running out to Him, as well.  The difference is, she falls at His feet.  It seems like Mary’s position is most often at His feet, doesn’t it? But – this is the wild thing – she says the exact same thing to Jesus, that Martha did: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  But look at the difference in response – Jesus doesn’t offer her reassurance.  Instead, He looks upon her weeping and He is moved and then He too weeps.

All my life, I have heard that He is moved by compassion for her pain – even the Jews  watching said, “See how He loved him!” But, interestingly enough, the Hebrew says that He groaned in the Spirit and was troubled Himself.  The word groaned means to stir to anger, to admonish strongly.  HUH?!!  I was just rolling this around in my mind when I began to wonder….

What if…what if someone I considered more dear to me than most questioned my words to them?  What if they allowed themselves to be moved by the lies of the enemy to question my love for them?  What if they were willing to believe the exact same thing that someone who knew me less believed?  Would that not move me to be stirred to anger (not at Mary, but at the enemy)?  Jesus knew what was coming.  He knew that by returning to Bethany, that the Pharisees would be irked sufficiently to put Him to death.  He knew that soon, He would be facing His greatest trial and in the midst of that, one who had shown her great love for Him was looking at Him with doubt.  Would that not cause me to weep?

Then, as I pondered that, I was moved myself – and *I* wept.  I know that I too have asked questions and doubted my Savior in ways that someone who has walked with Him so closely ought not to.  Mary dealt with this in real time, but I have the benefit of His holy Word. Over and over and over again, I can seek out His words and “sit at His feet and learn of Him” – and yet I question.

At the exact moment where I would be tempted to walk in condemnation and stand in judgment of myself, I realize again what an incredible Savior I have – for He who has the right to judge me, does not.  Instead, just like with Mary, He takes that which is dead in my life and gives it new breath.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!

I have a rawther large project to complete – it has already been most elusive – running from my fingers, like a disobedient child – for days!  So, Jeff and I had set aside this week to allow me the time I need, in order to demand compliance from them, requiring that they obediently line up as they ought.  (Me tapping my pencil on my desk, in marching cadence, while these words march and assemble themselves on the page like ants marching to get out of the rain…hmm. I digress….)

In the midst of my work, Danica came bursting in, her face glowing – someone had blessed her with this absolutely beautiful bag for her lenses and other photography tools.  Knowing that she would contact our friends to thank them, I felt strongly impressed to stop work and thank the artist who made the bag.  (Isn’t Etsy SO much fun?!)  As I went to her page, there was nothing listed for sale – thinking I had followed a wrong link, I went to her blog. (Dare I confess I went impatiently, wanting to get back to work?!  How is it that I can miss the wooing of my Lord so easily?)

There I find that this Sister in the Lord is not sewing right now, as she is standing firmly in the care of our Lord to heal her body from the enemy that has invaded it!  She is embroiled in an all out battle with cancer.

The hand of the Lord carefully, specifically led our friends to HER page on Etsy, knowing that the moment I saw her battle, that I would grab my sword and stand back to back with this Sister as she holds fast to the Lord and Savior that we share.  I don’t need to know her – she’s a part of the same Body that I am!

The ability the Internet provides to connect the Body is one of the things that I enjoy the most about it.  In the hands of the  saints, it is a powerful tool to allow us to help the Kingdom be about the work of our Head.  So, Body, stand with me and reach forth your hands in prayer for our sister Judy, that the Lord would be near her, that He would POUR out His peace on her and that He would heal her – head to toe!

You’re Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous, Victorious, Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty, Healer, Deliver, Shield and Defense, Strong Tower and My Best Friend, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon Coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything!!!!

(Lord, You are Holy by Karen Wheaton)

The above prayer might sound holy to you.  It might sound Biblical to you.  It might sound like the heart of one who desires to give all for the sake of the Gospel.  But, I’m going to challenge you to think deeply about it, in light of the Word – because to me – the sentiment of the above prayer is reprehensible.  It’s reprehensible because it implies that there is ANYTHING that I can do to become more holy…or please God more.  The work of Jesus is totally complete and needs nothing from me or my efforts.

NOW, lest you misunderstand me, before I go any further, I want to clarify something – I do believe that we are absolutely called to give of ourselves to others in ministry and love for the sake of the Gospel.  I believe passionately that we are called to embrace the things that Father has for us to do in the Kingdom. But, I also believe that the Bride has allowed her thinking to become skewed – just enough to make what we are believing a matter of self exultation, rather than the glorification and magnification of our Lord and Savior.  Please, allow me the privilege of explaining what I mean.

When the Lord came and spoke to Abraham, He said, “I am God Almighty, walk before Me and be blameless that I may make covenant between Me and you and may multiply you greatly.”  God Almighty.  It sounds like He is all powerful, doesn’t it?  Yeah – well, He is – but that isn’t what this name of God means.  It means All Sufficient One.  You have a need?  He is sufficient.  You have a problem?  He is sufficient.  You have a fear?  He is sufficient. There is NOTHING – NOTHING – NOTHING that can come into our lives that His fullness is not sufficient to take care of.

Walk before Me.  I always wondered about this – if Abraham walked BEFORE God, he would be the one leading. So I decided it COULDN’T mean that.  If it meant like walk before My eyes, that would mean that God was only an observer in Abraham’s life.  For a God that had just said, “Abraham – ain’t NOTHING in your life – now or in the future – that is more than I am sufficient to take care of,”  it just didn’t seem like Hands-Off Observer was the posture that He would take.

The phrase “walk before Me” is actually two different words.  One of them, halak, does mean to walk – it’s the same walk that God and Adam did in the garden – it’s a forward movement – it’s a going forth in life.  But the second part of that phrase that we translate “before Me” in Hebrew means “to faces of Me.”  Hmm….”Walk, moving forward in life, to faces of Me.”   Face of God.  Ever heard that expression? Unlike the Face of Boe in Dr. Who, the Face of God isn’t one face – it’s His character.  It’s the fullness of who He is. It’s all the glory and all the wonder of our God.  Our Lord was calling Abraham to a life of complete submersion in Himself.  (WALLOWING!!!!)

That in itself is worth stopping and meditating on, isn’t it? “Walk, moving forward in life, in the fullness and wonder of who I am…” and be blameless.  Ahhh, here’s the catch, huh?  In order to do this, Abraham has to be blameless, if he can’t pull off blameless, he’s outta luck. Well, not quite.  You see, the Hebrew reads “and become you! flawless.”  It’s not a call for Abraham to be perfect – it’s a promise that walking in the fullness of our Lord will cause Abraham to become flawless…not perfect performance, but without any flaw, like a diamond. The word means whole, complete, entire, sound.

Are you catching a glimpse here of what this covenant with God meant to Abraham?  Let’s take the pieces that we have so far – and re-read it: “I am your All Sufficient God, Abraham.  Walk in this life, completely submerged in Me and My sufficiency and you will become complete.  You will lack nothing.”   Okay, what is Abraham’s part in this?  In order to lack nothing, what must Abraham do?  Walk with his God, in deep relationship with Him.  That’s it?  Yes, that’s it  - Abraham is to do this, that God might be glorified before the nations AND so that Abraham might be a blessing to them.

(You’re wondering if I’ve strayed from my original topic aren’t you?)   Let me now connect some dots.  The life Father was offering Abraham was a life of fully trusting Him to supply all his needs – a life of letting the Lord be ALL that he needed – letting the Lord be his El Shaddai.  Father hasn’t changed – He still desires to be our El Shaddai as well – He tells us so in 2 Peter - as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.  Guess what? It has the same proviso Abraham had, too – it comes through the knowledge of Him.

When we the Bride look at situations and circumstances around us and believe that through our best accomplishments, our sacrifices, our making do with less, our sacrificial giving that we can minister to the nations, we make our efforts the focus of the glory.  In doing that, we cheat the nations.  Our efforts aren’t enough.  Our efforts – all of our collective efforts – will never be enough to get the Gospel to all the world, to feed the hungry or bind up the broken hearted.  There is only One who can do that. That is our amazing Lord.  Our own El Shaddai – our Savior.

When we believe that we can suffer or sacrifice enough to “make a difference” then our eyes are really upon ourselves.  We can say that they are on the needs of the world – on the needs of the nations – but really, they are on what WE can do.  It’s only when we look to Jesus and say, “Beloved, All Sufficient God, bless the nations according to YOUR riches in glory in Christ Jesus, here am I….” do we open all the possibilities that the Lord intended.  When we move our own self efforts out of the way and stop trying to figure out  ”How can I…?” and focus instead on “Surely You can….”  then, we get our eyes off our own abilities and get them where they belong – on Jesus.

The shift from the old covenant to the new covenant was one of Father saying to us, “You will…” to one of Him saying, “I will….”  In order to do all that Father has for us to do in this generation, we must make the same shift – we must change it from “We can…” to “He can…”   Anything less than that exalts ourselves, rather than Him.

(Again, I’m not talking about a sitting about doing nothing – as with all things in Scripture – I’m talking about a difference in heart that says we can do nothing apart from Him.  That was Jesus’ posture.  When we focus on what we can do – even when we say it’s with His enabling – there is still a measure of ourselves involved.  He alone is All Sufficient – His glory in riches in Christ Jesus are endless, ours are not.  Until we change our thinking, the best we can offer the world – the nations – is a limited supply.  It’s only when we offer them our Savior that the supply becomes limitless!)

Having a houseful of guests who were helping us move meant we needed to feed them all, so for dinner, we called in and ordered from the local pizza joint.  As I was walking down the alley toward the bank, to get cash, I saw a man surrounded by a group of young girls.  He was making horribly inappropriate comments to them, in a schmoozy, sappy voice.  ”What’s your name?” “How old are you?”  ”Do you live near here?”  ”Do you want to hold my hand?”

The man was 10 years older than these girls and he was blatantly hitting on them – without another adult or parent in sight.  When he said “Come on – give me a hug.” I was ready to track down a cop and have this jerk arrested.  As I cleared the end of the alley, glaring at the degenerate, eager to find someone who could deal with this guy – I could hear the echo of this man’s voice coming from behind me.

Turning, I saw a crowd of  young children – probably 3-5 year olds – all gathered around a little motorized fireplug named “Pluggie”).  Pluggie was entertaining them with his antics and “witty” conversation.  They were all delighted to have such an interactive friend.  Thankful I hadn’t involved the police, I watched as the giggling kids all lined up to hug him, before they walked on to the food tent with their parents.

As we were recalling this famous (infamous?!) Clark story this morning, it occurred to me that is very much how this life goes.  There are things that I *think* I’m seeing – but my wonderful heavenly Father has a different idea.  An idea that is for His glory and my good.  But, if I allow my natural eyes to determine what I believe about the situations in my life, I will invariably be wrong.  Worst of all, if I’m not believing the things that the Lord says about my life, rather than what I am seeing, I am not living by faith….and we all know that without faith, it’s impossible to please God.

Won’t you join me?

For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God.  He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice,  a God of truth and without injustice;  Righteous and upright is He.  Deuteronomy 32:4

*****

There is no one holy like the LORD, indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.  1 Samuel 2:2

*****

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, You save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.   2 Samuel 22: 2-4

*****

As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, besides the LORD? And who is a rock, besides our God? God is my strong fortress; And He sets the blameless in His way.   2 Samuel 22: 31 -33

*****

Who is God besides our Lord? And who is a Rock, besides our God? A fortress and a shield, a tower of deliverance is He, to all who trust in our King! Who is God besides our Lord? And who is a Rock besides our God? He trains my hands for war and leads me in His triumph o’er and o’er, Praise to His Name forevermore!  (Dan Gardner, 1987, Hosanna)

Wanna be a Rock Head today, too?  :)

(PS Be sure to notice the person in the rock pic)  :)  :)

For most of us, we get our time in the Word first thing in the morning.  We usually tuck it in the midst of our daily routine to grab the day, wrestle it to the ground and jump on it for a wild ride until bed time.  I would like to challenge you to slow down and enjoy your time in the Word.  Make what you learned each morning last into the rest of your day!

Peter says to us, “Grace to you, and peace may it be being multiplied! in the knowing of the God and Jesus the Master of us.”  (from an interlinear Greek Bible)  Notice – peace (whose corresponding Hebrew word is shalom) is in the continuous action of being multiplied to us, when we know God and our Master, Jesus.  That word “know” expresses a fuller knowledge, a greater participation of knowing by the knower, than by the known.

So, this morning, when you’re rushing about just kicking down the cobblestones, stop and check your heart – did you rush through your time of knowing Him this morning?  Did you leave your quiet time knowing Him more fully?  As you do, you can be sure that grace and peace will be being multiplied to you – and you’ll be feelin’ groovy!  ;)

(No commentary necessary from the young pups!)  :P

If you did – I’d be delighted to hear what you now know about Him.  :)   If you didn’t – why don’t you begin by looking up the meaning of the word shalom.  You can chew on that for the rest of the day, I promise!  :)

Considering Hebrews 11 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We all desire to please our Lord.  SO, in light of that we MUST understand faith, right?

SO, how do YOU define faith?  (Long, short or somewhere in-between. Of course I’d appreciate Scripture to back what you’re saying – but it’s certainly not required!! )  :)