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Posted on May 16, 2020 by beverlyeash

I am a journaler. Not an everyday sort of journaler but a regular writer. This week I filled a journal I started in January of 2019. As I prepared to write my final entry, I turned back to review the previous year. On March 25, 2019, I wrote this:

I wonder if we all slowed down a bit if we would have a greater sense of thanksgiving?

I didn’t know that my wondering would also be prophetic. For it was almost exactly one year later that we all slowed down. Perhaps not by choice, but we slowed.

This week I read a devotional written by one of the pastors at my church. He talked about how the stay at home order helped him to….that’s right – slow down. He expressed gratitude for what he is learning during this season.

Another friend evaluated what she wants to keep from this season. Her initial response to this questions was NOTHING! She and her husband are business owners and the process of laying off hundreds of employees was tough to say the least. And then on further reflection, she admitted she wants to keep the meal time/family time they have developed. She is grateful for the moments around the table.

I find myself grateful for dinner at home, a slower schedule, time to do what I need to do with time leftover to do what I want to do, more quality time with Dave and lots of time with the grands. I am grateful!

While not all experiences should be carried into the next season, I believe gratitude is one we want to not only keep, but foster.

Has slowing down produced gratitude in you? What can you take with you from this season?

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-20

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Posted on May 15, 2020 by beverlyeash

So what should we do while we wait for God’s promises to be realized? Why is he taking so long?

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved…You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:14-18

While I wait, I get to choose how I live. Filling my life with peace and growing in my understanding of Jesus fulfills this directive. In this kind of patient, deliberate waiting, I experience the provision of God in profound ways.

The psalmist says it so well in Psalm 46. I encourage you to take time to read the whole psalm. It is in growing quiet and surrending the noise to him that I will see him most clearly.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

Psalm 46:10-11

…In quietness and confidence is your strength…

Isaiah 30:15

What is the noise that you need to silence in order to hear God more clearly? In order to “see” that the Lord Almighty is right next to you?

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Posted on May 14, 2020 by beverlyeash

What do you do while waiting for something to happen? Fidget? Scroll social media? Game? It’s so easy to become distracted while waiting that I sometimes forget what I am waiting for! I have even called someone and then while waiting for the call to be answered, I forget who I’ve called. Then when the person picks up it takes just a second for memory to kick in, reminding me who it is and why I’ve called.

My parents would sometimes leave us alone on the farm to make trips into town for groceries, farm supplies, livestock feed – and maybe just to be alone awhile. I was one of the “three little kids” but when my brother was old enough to drive, Mom and Dad left us alone overnight to make longer trips, usually for church conferences or reunions. We were pretty good kids, but sometimes we got bored.

One evening, the three of us were left home for the evening. My brother and I had the brilliant idea of having a BB gun fight. My younger sister was not at all in favor of this sort of experience. I don’t think the car was even out of the driveway before my brother and I grabbed the BB guns and made our way to the yard. He kindly gave me the higher powered one and we went to opposite ends of the yard. We, of course, made a few rules. One was that you had to aim below the head. We took up our positions, aimed and fired! Honestly, I don’t remember who hit whom. But looking back, it was a bad idea.

Fear and boredom create an unusual environment that breeds poor decisions. There is another group of people who got bored. You can read about them in the book of Exodus, but here’s a recap of their poor decisions.

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.”So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.

Exodus 32:1-6

Moses had gone up into the mountains to talk with God about leading this nation of people. He was only gone forty days, and in that short time, the people lost sight of their Deliverer.

I want to believe it would take me longer than forty days to lose sight of my Deliverer. I want to believe I wouldn’t look for someone/something else to lead me through difficult periods of waiting. I want to believe my heart wouldn’t wander. And yet, as the song says, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love!”

When our lives are disrupted by a pandemic, where do we look for comfort and guidance? Do we remain steadfast in the knowledge of God’s omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), sovereign (supreme ruler), wise character? Or do we look to other sources for direction on how to live in these difficult times? People and sources we have not vetted (make a careful, critical examination of), but blindly believe because it confirms our deepest fears? And we quickly disregard our Creator?

I have never understood people who are attracted to horror movies. And I do not understand those who cling to stories and theories that feed their deepest fears. Sticking my head in the sand is not a particularly attractive posture to assume, so I make an effort not to do that. I find that taking shelter in the shadow of the Almighty is much more advantageous.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Psalm 91:1-4

Where do you find yourself these days as you wait? Are you looking for someone or something else to lead you? Have you lost faith that God still sees you? Do you find yourself to be filled with fear and dread? I have felt all those things in my life and still I find that coming back to the Shelter is the safest place to be. He is my rescuer, my deliverer, my fortress and strong tower. And he wants to be yours too!

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Posted on May 13, 2020 by beverlyeash

There is something else that will happen suddenly. It has also been in the works for many hundreds of years and will come about quickly. Paul says it like this:

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, [suddenly] when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. …So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

1 Corinthians 15:52, 58

We don’t know the time or day – Jesus said we don’t need to know (Acts 1:7) – so don’t be too concerned about that. Just do what Paul says and everything will turn out just fine! He says: be strong and immovable (have a faith that doesn’t compromise) and work enthusiastically for the Lord.

So, no matter what you put your hand to today, remember it is for a good purpose. Everything has value in the economy of our Father!

Happy Hump Day!!

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Posted on May 12, 2020 by beverlyeash

Suddenly. That thing that happens without warning, an abrupt change in a situation.

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Malachi 3:1

These words were written by Malachi, a prophet writing 400 years before the birth of Christ. He wrote to a people expecting the Messiah to come; they read the prophecies and looked forward to a deliverer. But in their waiting they had grown apathetic and insincere in their worship of God. The excitement of the promised Messiah grew dull and distant. Yet the prophet reminds them that the one they are seeking would come suddenly! It is a call to be alert!

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying…

Luke 2:13

The shepherds did not expect for their night to be interrupted by a host of angels singing to announce the birth of Jesus. This took them by surprise. The proclaimed event had been in the works for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Yet the fulfillment came suddenly. It surprised them.

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 

Acts 2:2

A few days prior to this event, the disciples heard Jesus say they would receive the Holy Spirit and with it, power. That’s all he says. So they go back to Jerusalem. Did they know what they were waiting for or when it would come? I don’t know, but scripture says it came suddenly. Jesus spoke many times about the Holy Spirit coming to them, but it took them by surprise. And they were never the same.

More than once in the book of Acts, something happened suddenly: an angel whisking Philip away from the eunuch, prison doors opening, chains falling away from feet and hands, bright lights blinding. Sometimes an angel appeared, other times there was none.

I find myself facing a conundrum. It seems God best work is in long range planning and while at the same time, appearing quite suddenly. If he continues to work today as he has in the past, we can expect to be surprised. How will I be surprised? Do I have the faith to see it? Have I lost hope that God is at work in the events of today? Do I fail to see his handiwork in all that is happening?

But for today and for this time in history, I believe there is a precedent set that God works in events even when we can’t see it. He moves all the pieces into place and suddenly makes his move. He might even send an angel. And I am okay with that.

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Posted on May 11, 2020 by beverlyeash

Suddenly… Immediately… Right now…

What do these words mean to you?

The gospel of Mark is known for his use of the term “immediately.” He portrays Jesus as the servant and a servant acts immediately when called upon. He doesn’t ponder, consider, contemplate if he will act or when. He responds when called. So Jesus is portrayed as the servant of God who acts immediately when called.

Mark 10:45 clearly states the purpose of the gospel of Mark:

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:42-45

If we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we must learn to serve one another. It isn’t a question of when or if or even of desire. It is a matter of immediate response. Jesus introduced an upside down kingdom and we are invited to be a participant. The problem: I have a difficult time responding immediately to the needs of others. I consider. I contemplate. I wonder. I decide.

And that seems to be the responsible thing to do. And in some cases it is. As we begin a new week, I challenge you to be open to ways you can serve others. Immediately. Without thought for your own disruption.

It’s going to be an interesting week. Let me know what you encounter!

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Posted on May 10, 2020 by beverlyeash

Today is Mother’s Day. A time when traditionally in our church service we would recognize and honor mothers. It’s also a time when those for whom motherhood is elusive find reasons to stay home. I would to. It’s so difficult for dreams to go unrealized, to accept that which we never wanted to accept. My prayers are with every woman who longs to be called “mom” and is still waiting.

My mind goes to all the ways we experience disappointment in this life. It seems we are destined to accept something along the way that doesn’t seem fair. Perhaps it is job loss right now. Perhaps it is putting your dream of building a home – whether that is with wood and nails or a spouse and children – on hold for a season.

I have known disappointment. As I reflect on acceptance — it is the comfort of the Holy Spirit I need to accept. I find that I don’t want to accept comfort because that makes the loss more real, more final. But it is in His presence, that I become quiet again. It is then that I have the strength to get up and continue living.

There is a passage in Isaiah that bears repeating today. The Hebrew verb translated “saved” in this verse means to “remove an object from a dangerous situation or the state of being delivered from distress.” I want to be delivered from distress so I am most interested in how that might be accomplished. Check this out!

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.” … So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Isaiah 30:15, 18

The Lord waits to show me love and compassion. In coming to him, I will be saved – delivered from my distress. And I will know quietness and confidence, even in the midst of disappointment. Disappointment will not have the last word in my life!

I invite you to do the same today!

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Posted on May 9, 2020 by beverlyeash

Today as you enjoy Saturday and prepare for Sunday, I encourage you to remember how the Lord rescued you from your Egypt. Remember what it was like in slavery, remember how the Lord took you by the hand and led you out of the pit. What makes you want to return? What about it looks appealing?

The Lord is so faithful! He rescued you and set you free. Take a moment to remember!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctq4wRCQoF4

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Posted on May 8, 2020 by beverlyeash

Horses were a big deal in the Ancient Near East. Horses were a sign of wealth, they were a vehicle for war, they pulled chariots, carried kings. In the book of Deuteronomy, the Lord gave instructions to Moses regarding a king. He knew that one day the people of Israel would want a king just like all the other nations around them. He anticipated it, so he gave them guidelines. This is a portion of what he told Moses:

“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ 

Deuteronomy 17:16

I don’t think God had anything against horses – after all, he created them. He was concerned for the hearts of his people. First, horses were a symbol of wealth. He didn’t want anyone to trust in earthly treasures above their trust in Him. Secondly, horses gave an army an advantage over others. Again, God didn’t want his people to trust anyone or anything to deliver them from trouble. Finally, he didn’t want them to return to Egypt, the place that enslaved them for 400 years! He set them free and he wanted them to stay that way.

Fast forward a few hundred years to the prophet Isaiah. Listen to what God says to the people:

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt.They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!

Isaiah 30:15-16

These people were having a hard time trusting God. Life looked difficult around them, perhaps even chaotic. Who knows, maybe there was a pandemic. And when trouble came, the people looked to Egypt.

Egypt was their place of slavery. A place where they were abused, enslaved, mistreated. A place of fear and hardship. And yet they looked to that place for their help. Remember what God told Moses in Deuteronomy? He said he never wanted the people to return to Egypt.

You know what? He doesn’t want me to go back to my places of slavery either. It might be fear, lust, pornography, anxiety, addiction, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness and a host of other enslavements. He never wants me to return to my Egypt. But I do. Why? Let’s listen in to the prophet Isaiah again:

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it…So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Deuteronomy 30:15, 18

I return by choice. I don’t believe what God says. I don’t want to wait for his help. So, I go back to Egypt – those beliefs and practices that enslaved me.

But there is hope! So much hope! The Lord is waiting for us to come to him. He wants to pour out his love and compassion. He is faithful and ready, willing and able to help.

Don’t trust in the devices of the world. Don’t be enslaved again in your Egypt. He is waiting for you. It is only in returning to him and resting in him that we will know salvation. I find strength when I wait in quietness and confidence.

How about you join me?

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Posted on May 7, 2020 by beverlyeash

Have you ever longed for something so much you could taste it? Like when you make plans for the weekend and all week, you long for Friday. Now it’s Friday and you just can’t wait for the clock to say 5:00? Your longing will soon be fulfilled!

I understand longing for the thing that meets a need deep in my heart. The psalmists also understood and used beautiful language to illustrate it. Here are two:

I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

Psalm 130:6

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Psalm 42:1-2

When my heart is desperate, unsteady and needing assurance, I long for dawn like a sentry or a deer for streams of water. I need the presence of God more than anything. When there is nothing I can count on, I look to him!

I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.

Psalm 130:5

Our hearts all experience deep longing. What does your heart long for? Where do you go when you need refreshment and light?

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