Perfect Peace, Part 1

A couple mornings ago, I woke up and they were sitting on my bed.  It wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last.  I’ve tried everything to get rid of them;  but I am unable. They are unwelcome intruders. They are messengers of misery.  They are Siamese twins, connected at the hip.   As soon as I see them, they start up with me.  Fear and Anxiety.  They are relentless.  They won’t give me a moment’s rest.

     “For the mountains shall depart and the hills removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My Peace be removed, says the Lord Who has mercy on you.” 

Years ago when I was still in the bar business (and in the monkey business of life), I walked into the back room of the bar one morning and lying on a table was a little booklet.  Those big ears on the little Dumbo sheep are perking up, knowing that their Father’s Love arrived for me that day.  It was His Care Package, scheduled for delivery before time, arriving just in the nick of time. It was a Prescription for what was ailing me.  It was the only Medication that was going to get to the root of my problems.

When your mountains and hills are crumbling, when everything in your life is falling apart, when you are filled with guilt and self-condemnation, when the fear and anxiety is controlling every element of your being and all of the over-the-counter medicines have lost their strength to help. . .peace and rest have left the building.  Despair alone remains.  But I am not left alone.  I am never left alone.

       “So do not fear, for I am with you.  Do not be distressed or troubled, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will carry you in My Loving arms.”

On the cover of the booklet was a beautiful, colorful picture of a waterfall.  There was a bible verse written on the bottom.  “The Lord will keep in perfect peace, those whose mind and soul has taken hold of Him, because he trusts in Him.”   I thought about it for a moment, not knowing that it was the beginning of Good Moments for me.  I put the little booklet in my back pocket and went back to my funny business.   I didn’t know it at the time, but my Dumbo ears were beginning to grow.

    “They were with Him in a little ship and there arose a great storm and wind; and the waves beat into the ship so that water had filled it.  And He was asleep and they woke Him up and said, ‘Master, don’t you care that we are going to perish?  And He arose and rebuked the wind and the sea and said, ‘Peace, be still.’  And the wind ceased and there was great calm.” 

Those little Dumbo sheep are dancing in the aisles, listening to His Music.  The Lilies are throwing  their petals everywhere, filling the room with His Fragrance.  The eagles are uncontrollable as they soar into the Heavenly skies.  He speaks and the wind and sea are calm.  Can He do that to a deeply troubled heart?  Can He deal with the twins who greet me almost every morning?

“Peace I leave with you.  My own Peace I give to you.”  He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the alphabet.   .   . and every letter in between.  He is capital P.  He Gives His infinite and omnipotent Peace.  The Peace that He Alone Possesses.  He is the Prince of Peace. It is Perfectly suited for what ails you.  Can you hear Him, little Dumbos?  Can you catch even a whiff of His scent? Are you flying high enough to soar into the Rainbow of His Eternal Love?

The Gift of Perfect Peace.   Predestined Peace.   Provided Peace.  Procuring Peace.  Precious Peace.   A Peace that Rules the Universe. . .that Rules over a troubled heart.   A Peace freely Given.  A Peace that calms the waves in a troubled heart.

The Hand that Rules the Universe

     When my son Ben was 10, we moved into a townhome that was a little remote from the closest convenience store.  When the weather was nice, he and I would walk about a mile or so to a 7 Eleven for Slurpee’s.  As soon as the walk began, he would grab my hand and we would walk that way, his hand in mine, all the way there.  I am smiling right now, and teary-eyed over the sight of it.  My Lily has just walked over to me with her cd player, loaded with a song that she loves by  Hootie and the Blowfish, called Hold My Hand.  “Go ahead, Love.”

     “With a little Love and some Tenderness, we’ll walk upon the water.  We’ll rise above this mess. . .We’ll take the world together.  We’ll take em by the hand.  Cause I’ve got a hand for you.  I’ve got a hand for you. . .Hold My hand.”

I don’t remember one occasion when my father held my hand.  I used to believe that life had handicapped me from being able to desire and engage in meaningful experiences like the one that I had with Ben.  .  .until the big ears of this Dumbo sheep heard this song from Him Who Loves me.

“The floors shall be full of wheat and the wine vat will overflow with wine and oil.  And I will restore to you the years the locust had eaten, those experiences in life that you were taken from you. . .and you shall eat until you are full and be satisfied.  The Lord your God has dealt wondrously with you.”

Sometimes while we were walking along and he would be telling me about school or things he liked, he would trip over something on the sidewalk and I would hold him up, and he would fly for a moment in my hand.  Then he would deliberately jump and soar over imaginary bumps in the road, and we would laugh.  He had become so confident  that no matter what, I would hold him securely and keep him from harm.  He trusted my strength and my love to him.

     “The steps of a man are established by the Lord and He delights in His son’s ways. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; for the  Lord is the One Who holds his hand.”  Proverbs 4:12.  The Lilies of His field hear, “established” and their Fragrance fills the air with the scent of Heaven.

In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the word established means:  to set up; make certain; make prosperous; fashion; ordain (predestine); to perfect;  to provide; make provision.

In eternity past, before time,  when only God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit existed, all of the sheep. . . every dumbo, every Lily, every fireman and sailor, all the donkeys and glowworms. . .and every soaring eagle, were known and loved. . .and yes, existed in the very heart of God.  He was “pregnant” so to speak with His seed and their entire lives were already planned.  He was holding them by the hand then.

The Father arranges everything for His little lambs.  When He gives birth to them in time, He continues to hold them securely to His perfect, predestined plan for them.   His Son, Who has never let go of His grip on them, secures their inheritance, secures their release from prison and death, secures their obedience by being the Obedient One for them.  God’s Spirit is always keeping their eyes and ears open, teaching them the Truth, quickening  them (making them Alive and nourishing them with the very Life of Christ).

 No matter what life has robbed you of that has made you poor, He has made you Rich.  He will repay you for the years the locust has eaten.  He will fill you with Himself. He will fill you with His Son. He will fill you with His Spirit.  Good news for the stumbling Dumbo sheep.  Great news for the wilting little Lilies.  Grand News for the tired and weary eagles.  Unbelievable news to the drowning sailors.  News of rescue to the firemen walking through the blaze.  The glowworms are Aglow with the sound of the Divine Music in their ears. 

      “With a little Love and some Tenderness, We’ll walk upon the water.  We’ll rise above this mess. . .cause I’ve got a hand for you, I’ve got the Hand for you.  I am your Refuge and Strength.  A very Present Hand when you are in trouble.  I will never leave you or forsake you.  I will not in any way fail you or give you up, or leave you without support.  I will never relax My hold on you.”

We always hold hands at the end of each meeting and recite the Lord’s prayer.  “Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven. . .and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power, and the Glory, Forever”.  And all of God’s sheep said, “Amen”.

  The Divine Hand of Love.   Freely Given.  Freely Received.   Free, Love.                                                  Slurpees for everyone!

Sister Mary Grace

        “Do Lord, Oh do Lord, Oh do remember me, O Lordy;  do Lord, Oh do Lord, Oh do remember me.  Do Lord, Oh do Lord, Oh do remember me;  Way beyond the Blue.

          I’ve got a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun.  I’ve got a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun.  I’ve got a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun.  Way beyond the blue.” 

Sounds like a song from a tent revival somewhere in the South.  The memory of it comes from the garden in my heart filled with the scent of lilies and roses.  .  . and the scene is much different than one would imagine.

When I was in 5th grade, my teacher’s name was Sister Mary Grace.  It was the Perfect name for her.  Since everything that will ever exist in time is the Perfect will and plan of God, even our names come from Heaven’s baby book.  At least once a day, sometimes twice, Sister would make the announcement, “It’s time to skate,”  and the entire class would open up their desks, pull out two rags, take off their shoes, stand up and put one rag under each foot.  Then the music would start.

The whole class would sing along to the songs and skate over the tile floors to shine them up, and to get a needed break from the studying, and get some exercise.  It was pretty cool.  Sister was pretty cool. .  .and better yet, she was full of Grace.

Grace.  Webster defines it as:  “generosity shown by God to man; Divine favor unmerited by man; mercy; a free gift of God to man for his regeneration (a free, undeserved new heart); clemency; full forgiveness; benefits given that are full of power.“  The definition was written with her in mind.  She was kind, and careful.  She actually made learning fun. Her wisdom was extraordinary.  We all felt loved by her.  Sweetness was her robe and Love was her habit.

     “Thou are fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips;  therefore God has blessed you forever.”  Psalm 45:2.   

She was never angry.  She was like the Pied Piper.  She would play a Graceful tune for us and we would follow her everywhere . . .and love every minute of it.  The little Dumbo sheep were “all ears” every time Sister Mary Grace opened her lips.  The Lilies would bloom every day when the Son would shine in the brightness of her personality.  The eagles were enchanted by her Love songs and would soar above their own little personal troubles and woes.  The next song was one of her favorites and I still sing it, almost every day.

       “When I am in trouble then the devil jumps with glee but he feels so awful, awful when he sees me on my knees.  So if you’re full of trouble and you never seem to win, just open up your heart and let the Sun Shine in.

       So let the Sun Shine in, face it with a grin;  smilers never lose and frowners never win.  So let the Sun Shine in, face it with a grin;  open up your heart and let the SON Shine in.”

The Greek definition of Grace from the New Testament is:  “the Divine Influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life;  benefits, favors;  “cheer” ful (full of cheer);  calmly happy or well-off;  “joy”ful (full of joy).“  I am teary-eyed as I think about her and others like her, who have “graced” my heart.  But I think mostly about Him, Who is Grace.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the A to Z of all your needs. God in His Son, through His Holy Spirit, is Grace.  Those who possess Grace, possess Him.

The drooping ears of the Dumbo sheep rise up and open wide every time they hear Him sing;  “Everyone who’s thirsty and has no water of their own, and he that has no money;  come, buy wine and milk without money and without paying any price.  Why do you spend money for that which isn’t even bread for your soul;  and why do you labor for something that doesn’t really satisfy?  Listen carefully with those big ears.  Eat what is Good and free.  Open your ears and come to Me;  hear what I’m saying and your soul shall live.” Isaiah 55:1-3

The Lilies hear His song and swoon with heavenly Fragrance, filling their souls with His scent.  The eagles make ready for take-off and when they hear Him sing, “Fly to Me.  Come to me all of you who are weary and loaded with trouble, and I will give you rest,” they soar over the rainbow,  they fly above their  troubles and failures.  He sings to them, “You will mount up with your wings and be Strong, and Wise, and Full of Grace.  Perfect Peace for you.  Perfect Rest.  All given freely because of Grace. “  All because God so Loved His little flock, that He gave His only Son.

Lord, please open up our hearts and let Your Son Shine in.

Music to My Ears/The Divine Alphabet

     I am smiling as these thoughts are brewing in my mind. They are just about ready to be served.  They make me a little teary-eyed.  One of the  goals in counseling, as it should be a goal in life, is to find yourself living in the moment in a congruent way.  Your thoughts are free and spontaneous, and your feelings are “on board” with your thoughts.  And like a river that’s ever-flowing, you present this “music” to those around you.

Little children are congruent.  They live in the moment, presenting immediately what they are thinking and feeling.  Then change comes.  Then confusion comes.  Then mixed messages come.  Then congruency goes. . .and the mind and the heart are out of sync.  But we human creatures are survivors, so we keep singing.  .  .  mostly the songs others want us to sing and we gradually lose our freedom to be ourselves.

Back in the day, when 8mm sound movies were a big deal, there’s a portion of one of the movies where Rachel and Jessie were singing their ABC’s.  I am smiling again.  We would just fawn over their great achievements 🙂   “A B C D E F G H I K K (one of  them would always repeat K). . . .” They knew their alphabet, and they knew who the source of life in each letter of need.  They were almost totally dependent on us.  Their songs, their thoughts, their words, their ways were such a wonder  to behold. . .music to the eyes and ears of our heart.

Thirty years ago, I heard this song for the first time and I fell in love with it.  “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, sings the Lord;  Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come. I am the Almighty.”  Revelation 1:8  Alpha, the first letter of the Greek Alphabet.  Omega, the last letter of the alphabet.  It includes every letter in between.  He is the Alphabet. When God attributes something to Himself, He is always totally and completely eliminating man.  He is saying, “Only Me.”

That is Great News to anyone who is failing, who is lame and has no strength.  The sick know that they are the lower case alphabet.  Small s not only in the spelling (strength), but in its reality.  We are taught to continue to tap in to a resource that is finite.  It has limits.  It comes to an end. He is Strength. Capital S, Infinite in its Power, limitless as a Resource.  Our kids are cute when they begin to feel their “muscles” and become determined to do things for themselves.  Some of us (not me), have a greater capacity than others, held in reserve, that enable them to continue in their own strength (little s).

It’s music to the ears to those little Dumbo sheep who have reached the empty well of their patience, or their kindness, or their self-control.  When those wells dry up, the soul then taps in to what seems like a unlimited resource. . .anger, frustration. . .and the black hole of misery, drawing the heart like metal to a magnet.  Then the soul hears the Voice of God.   .  .”I am the Alpha and Omega.”  I am Capital P, and K, and S.  I am PATIENCE and KINDNESS and SELF-CONTROL.”

When the Lilies lose their fragrance, and they always do. . .and they try to follow the rules of the road of life, “You can do it. . .Try harder. . .Don’t give up;”  or worse yet, “God helps those who help themselves. . .You do your best and God will do the rest.”. . .the wilted, little Lilies just despair and say, “We have no strength and our eyes are upon You, Lord.”

When the eagles that soar over the Rainbow get their wings clipped, and they use every resource of their own that they possess, looking for might, looking for wisdom, looking for the peace that has flown away from them. . .they hear the song, “He gives Strength to the weary, and to those who have no might, He gives Power and Wisdom. . .they will soar on wings like eagles.” Isaiah 40:29-31.

What is your need at the moment?  To be the best father you can?  You are only little f.  To be the best mother?  Only little m.  Is it self-control little compulsive sheep?  Only little s.  He is Father.  He is Mother.  He is Self-control.  He has not come to help those who continue to rely on themselves as a resource, but for those who are not well and are in need of the Divine, Infinite Source of all.

I just can’t get enough of this song.  The Savior”s Voice is Medicine for what ails you. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has furnished Me for you;  to preach the Gospel to the poor;  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; to provide deliverance to those held captive to their difficulties; to give sight to the blind and set at liberty those who are bruised and hammered like wrought iron. . .this day, in this Good Moment, this scripture is fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:18, 21.

Music to the ears.  The Divine Alphabet is yours.  What is your A today?  What is your B?  What is your Need.  I love it when God sings, “A B C D E F G, H I J K L M N O P, Q R S, T U V, W X and Y and Z”.  Now I know my ABC’s.  Next time won’t you sing with me?

THE Bridge Over Troubled Waters

A couple nights ago, as I made my way down the hallway into the kitchen, I was captivated by the sound of the ensemble, Celtic Woman,  singing “A Bridge Over Troubled Waters”.   My brother Jay, whom I live with, was watching it on TV.  I felt comforted by the song. The sound of the words have ready access to the more personal places in the heart.  Music is trustworthy.  Counselor, friend in need, pick me up, the discerner of our hearts. Medicine for the soul.  Faithful.  The great escape.  A refuge.  A bridge.  Getting us from one place to another.  A magic carpet ride.

“The lookout came to King Jehoshaphat and told him that three giant armies were approaching the city to do battle with the little kingdom. Jehoshaphat was afraid and the fear moved him to ask God for help. . .and he prayed “Do You not rule over all the kingdoms of every nation?  In Your hand are Power and  Might, so that none is able to withstand You.  We have no might to stand against these great armies that are coming against us.  We do not know what to do, but are eyes and our ears are upon You.  Please play Your music Lord.”

Giant armies coming to destroy.  Fear, anxiety, sadness, frustration, guilt, compulsion, self-condemnation, confusion, uncertainty. . .the list is endless.  The lilies and the dumbo sheep are getting pretty tired of it all.  They’d rather listen to their music when there is peace.  It makes them smile. . .they get energized by it; they feel alive. . .they are known and understood.  They’re just fine, right where they are.  It’s those other moments when they are not, “Good in the  Moment” that they feel so helpless.  They need a way out from their fears and anxieties, a way to get over to the “other side.”  Wait. . .Can you hear it?  It’s one of my favorite songs.

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the prophet and he sang to all the people and to the king,  ‘Listen all of the inhabitants of the city and you king Jehoshaphat.  The Lord says this to you:  Be not afraid or filled with alarm at these armies coming to destroy you, robbing you of your peace and joy.  The battle is not yours, but God’s.”  The lyrics to his song were encouraging.  The melody was creating a way across the troubled waters.  Too good to be true?

“Tomorrow, go down to where the armies are preparing to war against you. . .you will not have to fight in the battle; take your position, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord, Who is with you wherever you go.  .  .So Jehoshaphat appointed singers to sing and dancers to dance and they went out to do battle with the armies, thanking God for the Song in their hearts.”

Just picture the little flock of soldiers.  Dumbo sheep marching in cadence, waiting for the orders from the Captain. . .the eagles soaring above and over the raging waters, ready to do battle.  The singers and the dancers throwing Lily petals along the parade route, filling the air with the Fragrance of Power, Love and a Sound Mind.  Their fears had turned into faith.  Faith turned them to God.  The Bridge was provided.

“When they began to sing the song God authorered for them, the Lord set ambushments against the three giant armies, and they turned on each other because they had become suspicious of the others.  They all were utterly destroyed.  When the Jehoshaphat and His little army reached the watchtower where they could see the giant armies, Behold!. . .there were just dead bodies fallen to the earth and none had escaped.  They celebrated and  sang new songs  “They came back to Jerusalem with Joy, playing their harps and lyres and trumpets . . .and God gave them rest.”

When you’re weary, feeling small;  when tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all.  I’m on your side when times get rough and friends just can’t be found.  Like a Bridge over troubled waters, I will lay Me down.  Like a Bridge over troubled waters, I will lay ME down.  God, Himself singing His own Music to the heart.  God, Himself being the Bridge, enabling His children to cross over from all the forms of death in the soul to Life. . .from burden to Blessing,  from fears to Faith,  from darkness to the Dawn of a new Day.  O Happy Day!

Freedom little Dumbo sheep, to hear His music with those Big ears He’s given you.  Freely given Beautiful Lilies of the Valley, filling the air with the Scent of Divine Music.  Free Love soaring eagles, singing about God’s predestined plan for the little flock.  I can hear them . . . “Some where over the Rainbow, way up High. . .”

 

 

The Smell of Smoke

     As I was driving into work yesterday afternoon, I spotted heavy smoke across the horizon a mile ahead of me.  My concern for the origin of it quickly disappeared when I realized that the smoke was coming from the Forest Preserve.  It was a controlled fire to burn away the old grasses and shrubbery to make way for next Spring’s new shoots and mature stalks.  The smoke was crossing the highway and the smell of it came into the car, even with all the windows rolled up.  The smell was comforting.  It was very familiar.

     “And the king commanded his most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. The three  men were bound in  their coats, and their hats and all their garments;  and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”

     God’s children know all about fiery furnaces.   The Lilies have been burned down many times.  The herd of Dumbo sheep have had to find new places to graze each time their feeding grasses are scorched.  The eagles fly above the heat and smoke and make new nests, higher where the air is pure and fresh.

     “The furnace was so exceedingly hot that the flame of the fire killed those men that cast Shadrach, Messhach and Abednego into the furnace. The three men fell down, bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. . . the king was astonished and said to those around him, ‘Didn’t we cast three men, bound with ropes into the midst of the fire?’  They answered, Yes, O king it is true.’  The king said, ‘I see four men loose, no longer bound by the ropes, walking around and unhurt;  and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.’

     The Refiner of gold turns the heat up and stirs the liquid, knowing the dross will rise to the top.  Never too hot, though always hot enough.  He scoops up the impurities, those elements of the gold that detract from its worth and beauty. He watches over the process with love and compassion. He never leaves the smelting pot. . .and its never more than the little flock can bare.  “I will never leave you or forsake you. . .or without a way out.”

     “And the king went near the mouth of the furnace and said to the three men  “Come out and come over here.’  And all the princes, governors and the king’s counselors gathered together and were amazed at the three men whose bodies the fire had no power over, nor was a hair on their head singed, neither were their coats burned, nor was the smell of fire on them. Only the ropes that bound them were destroyed by the fire.”

     Back in 1980, there was a huge forest fire burning me down.  My life was ending.  There was no hope for survival. . .my mind was filled only with thoughts of fear and despair.  And from the ashes within my soul, came these words,  “But now, this is what the Lord says, ‘He who created you, he who formed you, he has called you by His name.  You are His.  When you walk through the waters of trouble, I will be with you.  When you pass through the rivers of impossibilities and you are sinking, you will not drown.  And when you walk through the fires of trials, you will not be burned.  The flames will not set you on fire.”  Only the ropes that bind you will be gone. 

     I know that when the Spring comes, the Forest Preserve will be lush with grasses and bushes. . .and the trees will be full of fruit. The Lilies will thrive and their Fragrance will be more intoxicating than ever. The Dumbo sheep will be back, flying to the the sound of the words of the Shepherd.  The eagles will be nesting again and soaring above, over the Rainbow. . .filled with it’s Colors. . .and full of it’s Love.  Free Love.  Freely given.

 

Wrought Iron Man

      Their brother had been dead for four days.  The doctors did everything they could to save him. The two sisters were overwhelmed with grief.  “If only his Personal Physician had been here.  He could have done something.”  But he was out of town at the time.  They sent word to him about the emergency, but he said it wasn’t time for him to come back.  They were confused and distressed. “Didn’t he care?  There’s a story in the Old Testament about a similar situation. 

     “So he went with them. When they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.  But as one of them was cutting a beam, the iron axe head fell into the water: and he cried, ‘Oh no, Master!  I borrowed the axe and I’ll be in trouble.’  And the man of God said, ‘Where did it fall?’  And he showed him the place.”

     Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus had fallen into the water and had sunk to the bottom. Drowned. Dead.  Lifeless.  No hope.  No way to retrieve him.  No way to bring him back.  Impossible.  The sheep of the flock know the feeling.  Depression, anxiety, fear, disappointment, failures, despair, hopelessness, loneliness, addictions and so many other moments that arrive. . .and the heart sinks to the bottom.  No way to cut down the branches and beams of life. No way to be productive. No way to build up the life again.  No strength, no ambition, no drive.  The heart is drowning.

     “”Where did it fall?”  And he showed him the place where it sunk.  The man of God cut down a stick and threw it into the water;  and the iron axe head floated to the top and swam. And the man of God said, take it up and he put out his hand and took it.” 

     Webster’s dictionary defines “wrought iron” as:  beaten into shape by tools; hammered; shaped by these processes.  Lazarus laid in the tomb.  Death had been wrought on him. His illness had fashioned his heart and took the breath from his soul.  Trials, miseries. . . all the troubles of life, beating and hammering on the heart. The definition of wrought iron goes on to say, “Worked into shape by artistry;  formed beautifully; deeply stirred;  possessed of a highly passionate state of mind; full of life.”    

     “And Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Our friend Lazarus is sleeping; but I’m going now to wake him up. . .then Jesus said to them Lazarus is dead, for they thought he was only sleeping.  Then  Jesus came to the grave where Lazarus had been dead for four days. . .Then Martha said to Jesus, ‘I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give it to you’.  Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth; and he that was dead, came forth.”  The  Man of God, threw the timbers of His cross into the waters where Lazarus had laid for four days, and he floated to the top, received the breath of Life, and swam.

     The Wrought Iron Man, forming His sheep with such artistry, recreating the Beauties of Holiness and Love within them;  so full of Life. . .the Lilies, filling the valley with intoxicating fragrance; the Dumbo sheep, hearing Him speak to them, always and only, sweet words of love. . .and those eagles, formed and fashioned with the  Beauties of the Rainbow, soaring above the waters of trials and troubles,  filled with the Fruit of God’s Spirit.

     Wrought Iron sheep. . .conformed to His image.  Power, and Love, and a Sound Mind.  Swimming in the Ocean of His Promises.  All free.  All freely given.

    

    

A Love That Was Meant to Be

‘It was meant to be. . .it wasn’t meant to be.”  These are called pregnant phrases.  They’re conceived in the moment from the circumstances that arrive. They give birth to such a variety of attitudes and philosophies.  Good Luck.  Bad luck.  Fate.  Destiny.  It was in the cards.  The cards dealt to me. I heard that little sheep with the big ears say, “It is the Lord. Let Him do to me what seems Good to Him.”

I was driving down the Dan Ryan one warm, summer morning with the top down on my car.  I had a  sporty, little red convertible. It was 1976.  I was going in late to work as usual, and I was feeling pretty “mellow”  😉   The Beatles were singing on the radio. It is one of my favorite songs.  It means much more to me now than it did then.  Everything means more to me now.

“Love, Love, Love.  Love, Love, Love.  Love, Love, Love.  All you need is Love, Love. . .Love is all you need.”  It does seem like that in the same way that the cloud in the sky looks like a teddy bear, or  the shadow on the wall looks like a real person.  They are illusions and a figment of man’s extraordinary imagination.

There’s a song by the Grateful Dead called, “Good Lovin.”  The true meaning of the title actually comes straight out of the bible. “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit Eternal Life?  Jesus said to him, ‘why do you call me Good?  There is none Good but one, that is God.”  The word “Good” is clearly defined.

“For Love is of God. . .for God is Love.”  The word “Love” is clearly defined.  Good Lovin is only God’s Own Love.  .  .a Love that God alone possesses.   I know.  What about what we possess.  What about what consumes us, intoxicates us, possesses us, enchants us, fills us, energizes us, sometimes breaks our heart, seems to make the world go round and is often a many splendored thing?  What about that human love?  Let’s see if it’s the real McCoy. Let’s take it to the assayer’s office to see if it’s real or fool’s gold.

“Love is patient.  Love is kind.  It does not envy.  It does not boast.  It is not rude or self-seeking (self-centered).  It is not easily angered.  It takes no record of wrongs done to it.  It always hopes.  It always believes.  It always forgives.  It never runs out or comes to an end.  Love never fails.”

The Lilies are in Love with the Love that was meant to be.  They are intoxicated with the Fragrance that Comforts their troubled hearts and brings Peace into their soul.  All the Dumbo sheep are consumed with the Love that never fails, it never runs out or comes to an end.  The eagles fly into the heavens and are possessed with the Colors of the Rainbow of Love.  They all know that they love, because God first Loved them.  “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”  Everything is always first with Him.  He is always beforehand.  He is the Author. He is the life essence. “In Him, we live and move and have our being; for from Him and through Him and back to Him, are all things;  all the springs of Love are from Him as the Source.”

A Love that was meant to be.  A Love that was destined to be.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.  Upper case letters.  All Upper Case Loves.  All Heavenly Loves.  Three Loves in One.  The Father always knew who He had Chosen to LOVE .  The Son always knew who He would live for and die and then LOVE within and The Holy Spirit always knew who He would LOVE and fill with the very Life of Christ and teach all the little sheep everything they would ever need to know about God and His faithful promises.  “God is not a man that He should lie; nor the son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act.  Does He promise and not fulfill like man?”   God is not like man in any way nor is His love like man’s in any way.

“Because of the Lord’s great Love, we are not consumed and alone; His compassion and mercy never fails; it is new every morning.  Great is thy Faithfulness.”  Although we are faithless, he is Faithful.  A Love that is free, full  and fresh every morning. . .arriving and rising with the same certainty as the sun.

Loved before time, Loved in time, Loved after time.  Everlasting Love.  A Love that was always meant to be for every one of His elect children who are the apple of His Eye.

The Love Ring

As I think about this story, it reminds me of the saying, “It takes one to know one.”  Or, “Two peas in a pod.”  Another is “Eagles of a feather, flock together.” All of God’s Beautiful Lilies will understand and smile.

There is a story in the Bible that is well known by both religious and non-religious types. It’s called “The Prodigal Son.”  The story is a parable.  A parable is a presentation of a true story that usually contains a lesson to be learned, which most of us can see and hear.  But it also contains a deeper, Spiritual meaning, which is usually about the Ocean of God’s Love.  It is the Sea of Promises where the “Too Good to be true, are totally true” blessings are.

Spiritual truths are like tulip bulbs. They are both seed and substance.  One is in the ground of soil and the other in the ground of a heart. The life in the seed of both remain only a potential until the season arrives.  Then the secret evolution below the ground destroys the seed and new life in a new form arrives, full of Beauty.  This is reflected in the parable of the Prodigal Son.

“There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father, ‘Give me my share of the estate. So his father divided the estate between His two sons. So the son went off into a far country and squandered his wealth in wild living. He spent everything he had.  So he got a job tending to pigs and feeding them.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one cared about him, nor gave him anything to eat.  Then he came to his senses.

” I’ll go back to my father and admit that I had sinned against him and ask for his forgiveness. I know that I am no longer worthy to be called his son, but maybe he’ll let me be one of the laborers.” As he approached  the estate, his father spotted him from a long way off, and was so filled with compassion and love for his son, that he ran up to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.

The son said, “Father, please forgive me,” and the father’s response was only to his servants, “Quick!  Bring the best robe and put it on him.  He put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  This son of mine was dead, but is alive again. He was lost and now is found.”  So they all began to celebrate.

It was a special ring.  It was the King’s ring. “Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph’s hand. . .and made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.  Ruler over all the land.  It was meant as a clear evidence to all, of the union between the two. “And they shall be coupled together into one ring for the ring shall be for them both.”  What the King possessed was now Joseph’s. What the father possessed was now the son’s.  What God possessed was now the prodigal’s.

The Father’s word was final.  Everything he intended for his son would become reality because of his Father’s power and authority.  “All of what was promised was written in the King’s name and sealed with the King’s ring; for the writing  which is written on the ring by the King, no man can reverse.  Esther 8:8  It was a Love Ring.  It entitled the prodigal son to the Riches of the Kingdom.

Webster’s dictionary defines prodigal as:  “given to reckless extravagance;  unrestrained in spending; a ‘good-for-nothing’. Words engraved on the soul of all prodigals. I know.  But as you continue with the definition in the dictionary is says, “one who gives lavishly;  giving with profuse liberality; on who supplies in excessive abundance.”  The prodigal son has a Prodigal Father.  He’s engraved his Love on the Ring.  “I will liberally supply freely all your needs, according to My Riches.”

He’s engraved His mercy on it. “Give thanks to the Father for His mercy endures forever.”  He’s etched His power on it. “I can do all things through Him Who gives me strength.”  On the ring are written the words, “Wisdom, Kindness, Forgiveness, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Self-control.”  It says, “All things will work together for your good. . .I am the Source and Resource of all your needs.”

From the word prodigal, comes the word, “prodigy.”  It means, “something extraordinary or inexplicable;  someone who excites admiration and wonder;  a miracle.”

A tulip bulb transformed into nature’s Beauty. . .such life and beauty from within the darkness of the earth.  . .and the Prodigal son, rising up from within the darkness of his soul with such Life and Beauty. . . inheriting the Riches of the Prodigal Father. . .becoming His Prodigy, a miracle to Behold.

Free, my Love.  Freely given.  Especially suited for the prodigal sheep.  Come home little lamb.

Snakebit

     I didn’t realize how serious my situation was. None of us really do until we get new eyes and ears.  The venom was beginning to destroy my internal organs, my mind, my heart, and my soul. Death was imminent. The symptoms were unmistakable. I was snakebit.

     Webster’s dictionary defines “snakebit” as: bitten by a venomous snake; characterized by stinging pain in the puncture wound, constitutional symptoms and injury to blood and nerve tissue.  There’s a story from the 21st Chapter of Numbers in the Old Testament that falls into the category of “When it comes to God’s Love, if it’s too good to be true, its totally true.”

     “And the people said against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water and we loathe the light, contemptible manna.’  Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many of them died.”

      When you’re addicted to cocaine and alcohol, they become your best friend. . .and your worst nightmare.  Mass destruction.  Despair, depression, self-condemnation. . .a heart disease filled with guilt and remorse for the pain and suffering that you have caused those around you.  Hopeless.  A life that was so filled with good things from the Creator and yet, dissatisfied with it all, needing something more, just to feel alive.  What insanity.  Definitely the consequences of the poison in the blood stream, compelling me to self-destruct.

       “And the people came to Moses and said, ‘We are sorry, we have sinned against God. Please ask the Lord to take away the serpents from us. So Moses asked God to save them.  And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent of bronze, and set it on a pole.  Everyone who is aware that they are bitten, when he looks at it, he shall be cured and will live.” 

     When  your soul is dying and you know it, you try every home remedy available.  Everything from resolutions to pleading with the God Who I didn’t know at all, Who if He was listening, wasn’t going to help the worst person I knew.

     “And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked  to the serpent of bronze, he lived.”  I’m just imagining  the chaos that developed from the onset of the fiery serpents and people dropping like flies as they are bit.  Trying everything they know to stay alive, depending on their own resources to deal with the poison that was killing them. “Look at the snake on the pole,” Moses said.  Way too good to be true.  Man’s own reasoning and sensibilities, his own common sense, would reject this cure. . .unless there were no other options, and until they were given eagle eyes and Dumbo ears.

      The evidences and symptoms of being snakebit are all-conclusive.  They go way beyond substance abuse and addictions.  Everyone is snakebit, but not everyone knows it.  Everyone has there own experience with it, and they comfort themselves by comparing their little faults with others.  They apply their own medicines to the wounds. We all do. We’re all the same.

     John 3:16.  Sports fans everywhere have seen this before.  It’s usually written on a poster and held up by someone with rainbow colored hair.  The very verse right before it says, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert on a pole, it is necessary that the Son of God be lifted up on a cross; so that everyone who looks at Him will not die, but have Life and live forever.”

     Just a look, with eyes that see.  Just to hear it, with ears that hear.  Entering through the Gate into the Kingdom.  “Come to Me, all of you who are tired and weary.  I will give you rest and peace. I am the Cure.”