ADVENT MEDITATIONS - Part 8

DEC. 16 - (Страдание)
Today's meditational thought was about how we look at what Jesus came to earth to accomplish. From our human perspective, Jesus' death often seems like the opposite to what should have happened. That's the amazing thing about the way God works. He is masterful at using what seems to be bad to bring about good for us - and He has told us that we will suffer on this earth. But we can be sure of this: that as His children, He will use our suffering for our good and for His glory, just as He did through Christ's sacrifice for us.

I chose these verses for today - Romans 8:17-18 -- ...and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we also may be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

May we, not only at Christmas, but every day throughout the year, ask God for the grace to endure suffering with gratitude and praise to Him, because we know that He is using it to accomplish His excellent purposes in our lives and to bring about a glory that we could never imagine!

DEC. 17 - (Спасение)
Today's meditation was about salvation. Christ came for this purpose, to provide salvation and reconcile sinful mankind to God through His death on the cross.

I chose these verses for today - Romans 5:8-10 -- But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved through His life.

Such an incredibly great gift, this salvation!! And it was forever and unequivocally accomplished for us on the cross when Christ died. If we believe and accept that, we are saved from wrath. But the story doesn't end there -- because Christ rose, we are also being saved through His life! What an amazing God, that He would choose to show His love to sinful people in this way! That ALONE is the reason we sing songs of joy and hope at Christmas.

The "Perspective" Difference

On May 5th we celebrated Easter here in Ukraine and the theme was continued on the following Sunday as well. Pastor Andrey preached a message based on the text from Luke 24 where Jesus appears to the two men on their way to Emmaus.

I know this story well, but it doesn't matter how many times we read or hear God's Word, there is always something that we can learn from it. It was on my mind the rest of the day, and during this week as well and God gave me a fresh understanding of the truth in His Word and the reality of His work in our lives.

We are blessed to have the full Scriptures - the history of God's redemption plan through the Old Testament, the record of Jesus' life, ministry and death on earth and what took place after the resurrection, and what all of this together means for us as believers. Sometimes, we can read God's Word and because we know the end of an account or the meaning of something Jesus taught, we may think that we have a more complete knowledge of it...but in reality, we have just as much to learn as the people whom Jesus taught and ministered to.

I know I have been guilty of judgment -- there have been moments when I wondered "how could they not believe that Jesus was the promised one, when they knew what the Scriptures had foretold about His birth?" Or when Jesus explains to His disciples what is going to happen and they immediately question Him about what He means -- "how have they walked with Him so long and still don't understand?"

But just like with the men on their way to Emmaus, we may not fully see or understand until God opens our spiritual eyes and gives us insight through His Spirit. And who am I to judge? The unbelief of the disciples even as Jesus lived and walked with them is no different than the times when God speaks to me and I doubt or question what He says!

Lesson #1: Without the work of God's Holy Spirit to open my spiritual eyes and give me understanding, I wouldn't be able to know Him or comprehend His truth and His transforming work in our lives.

Lesson #2: It does matter where my perspective is focused -- many times in Scripture, God tells us to fix our eyes on Him and to look to Him for understanding and guidance. When our perspective is skewed and we are looking at our circumstances, we will not be able to truly see, hear or understand.

I am so thankful that God has opened my eyes and given me spiritual understanding -- His Spirit lives within me and that alone is what makes the difference. It's nothing of me and all of Him, and I pray that He will use me - even in my weaknesses - to help others see who He is.

Longing For HOME

The past couple of weeks, life in my shared apartment have me longing more and more for a place where I can really feel "at home", where I don't feel like I'm always in someone else's space. There's nothing wrong with wanting a place of my own, but as I deal with the tension between what I have and what I long for, I'm contemplating a couple of things:

• Although I can make a house or apartment or room welcoming and can call it "home", there is really no place on earth that will last or that even really belongs to me, because my real home is not here -- it's in heaven. And all that I have been given here is not for me to hold onto tightly, but to take care of for as long as God allows.

• No matter where I make my "home", there will always be things that are not exactly the way I want them, or unwelcome situations that I will have to deal with - that's just life here on earth. And I need to be careful that I do not let my desire for a place of my own turn me into a self-centered and inconsiderate person.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also 

for the interests of others. ~ Philippians 2:3-4

In a devotional I read the other day, I was reminded that there should always be a tension within me -- a gratitude and a willingness to make the most of what God has given me here, but a deep and intense longing at the same time for the far-surpassing treasure that He has stored up for me in heaven. And the most important part of longing for heaven is not the mansion that He is preparing for me, but the opportunity to be in the presence of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"In My Father’s house are many mansions;if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and receive you to Myself;

that where I am, there you may be also." ~ John 14:2-3

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,

the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body

that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working

by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. ~ Philippians 3:20-21

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,

to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,

reserved in heaven for you ~ 1 Peter 1:3-4

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens

and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. ~ 2 Peter 3:13

It's been said that what makes a house a home is the presence of loved ones and the comfort of knowing that it is a place where you are loved, safe and cared for. And ultimately, that is why heaven is truly "home" for me - because that is where my Father is and where I will ALWAYS be loved, safe and cared for in a way that can never be truly realized on earth.

Today is April 16th and I just heard what happened yesterday in Boston, Massachusetts. I hardly ever watch or listen to the news, because it always seems to be reporting something bad or terrible that has happened. I did read a couple of articles about it, and something struck me very profoundly that I feel compelled to share with you...

One witness said that the scene of the bombing was like something you see in a war zone, not on the streets of America. And right next to this article was the announcement of 5 people having been killed by a car bomb in one of the countries of the Middle East. What happened in Boston is indeed a tragedy, a horrific act of violence that none of us would ever wish to see or hear about, but the reality is that people all over our world live in the midst of that kind of terror and death and fear every single day. There are reports of deaths, violence and tragedy on the news every day from places where that is life for the citizens there and it seems like we hardly even notice it sometimes, but when it happens on our own turf, it's announced almost like the end of the world.

Please don't misunderstand me -- I'm NOT trying to downplay the horror of what happened, but just to keep it in perspective. *Christians in North America meet every Sunday in our beautiful churches to sing and pray and hear God's Word preached, but there are millions of believers all over the world who have to meet in secret because they could be tortured, arrested, imprisoned and even killed for simply meeting together. *People protest over the price of gas and it is sometimes challenging to deal with, but there are people living in refugee camps on one side of the border in a war-torn country who cannot cross even to see a loved one on the other side.

It's a matter of perspective, and it seems to me that the only way to make sense of these tragedies and the chaos that fills our world is to remember that this is not the ultimate goal. YES, by all means, let's try to make our streets safe for people and protect them as much as possible, but let us remember that this is not the end, this is not the final goal.

May this situation serve as a reminder of how privileged we are to live in a country where these things don't happen every day. May it also remind us to pray for and be compassionate towards those who face this kind of reality daily.

I watched a movie the other day and the lyrics to one of the songs really struck a chord with me -- it made me remember and feel again the deep, intense longing for my "real home" in heaven. Matthew West has written a song called "The Reason For The World," and here are the lyrics:

There are no words in times like these when tears don't hide the tragedies,

And all you want is a reason for the world.

No comfort in the greeting card, 'cause God is good but life's still hard

And your heart just wants a reason for the world.

For God so loved your broken heart He sent His Son to where you are

And He died to give a reason for the world.

So lift your sorrows to the One whose plan for you has just begun,

And rest here in the hands that hold the world...

Just keep your eyes on heaven and know that you are not alone...

No ear has heard, no eye has seen, not even in your wildest dreams

A beauty that awaits beyond this world...

Maybe the reason for the pain is so that we would pray for strength.

And maybe the reason for the strength is so that we would not lose hope.

And maybe the reason for all hope is so that we could face the world,

And the reason for the world is to make us long for home.

Lord Jesus, please remind me today to keep my eyes fixed on You and to find my security and strength and happiness in You alone. May I long more and more every moment for the day when I will see you face to face and know that I am truly "home."

Then I, John, saw the holy city...coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them,

and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;

there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

~ Revelation 21:1-4

Like The Wind

When God speaks to my heart, I often need to write down my thoughts -- and this blog has become a good channel for me to do that.

The devotional today from Joni & Friends really gave me some food for thought on the theme of wind.

Wind is not one of my favourite weather features. When I'm outside in the wind, it often makes my face feel cold and it messes up my hair, and when it's blowing really strong the sound of howling wind often causes me to feel cold.

As I'm writing this, I am thinking about how often I display a negative attitude because I'm focused on the negative (or less-than-positive) aspects and this reminds me of a story I read in my childhood...

...about a little acorn sprout that wanted to grow into a big strong oak tree. But this little acorn sprout complained about and "hated" every trial that came its way -- the squirrel, the wind, the rain -- and every time, someone else came along and told him that God allowed the trial for a purpose and that he needed to be thankful for it. And one day, when he was a big strong oak tree, he realized this truth.

I usually try not to complain about weather, and instead to find something positive to comment on, but in reading this devotional today I realized that I rarely ever look for the positives of wind.

However, God's Word often compares wind to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives and looking at it from that perspective changes the focus.

I want to share just a brief excerpt with you:

Little wonder Jesus likened the wind to the Spirit. Wind moves. So does the Spirit. It - or I should say, He - never stays still. He is always moving and making His presence known. And if this Holy One lives at the center of our lives, we will see, feel, and at times, almost smell and hear the effects. The Spirit is constantly doing something in us. Just as we can see the effects of the wind in the trees (although we cannot see it), others will observe and appreciate the effects of the Spirit in our lives.

As I was meditating on this today, I thought about changes that come with wind - the transitions between fall and winter, winter and spring, and the havoc that is caused by a windstorm. There's something within me that doesn't always welcome change and challenge and difficulty, and I can become so focused on myself and what I think I need that I miss the blessings and the working of God in those changes.

It's good to live in the moment, but sometimes we need to be looking forward to what may not be visible to us right now -- because just like the wind, we can't always see what God is doing but knowing that His Spirit is working in us is always something to be thankful for, and there will be blessed evidences of His touch in our lives.

I want to share Joni's final thoughts in closing:

Step outside on a breezy March morning and notice that the wind marks its movement by what it touches. In its wake it leaves freshness and cleansing. As you allow the Spirit to touch your life, others will mark His presence and breathe deeply of His fragrance. They will give thanks to God... and thanks to you.

I sense your stirrings in my life, Lord. Move powerfully in me. Blow a fresh breeze through my soul and sweep away anything that displeases You. May I be different for it, and may others see and notice Your touch.

EXPECTATIONS, LETTING GO and TRUST

This blog post has been a draft for about a month now. I knew that I needed to write it, but I needed to experience a few more situations first...and now I'm ready. Sometimes putting my feelings and thoughts into words gives me courage for the challenges ahead, so here goes:

Living here in Ukraine and trying to adapt to the culture and the challenges of studying seems to bring out both the best and the worst in me, and that's a good thing, although it doesn't always feel like it. When God in His grace redeemed me and called me to Himself, He began a process called "sanctification." Sometimes I forget this, and then my Heavenly Father lovingly chastens me and reminds me that the goal is to change and transform me to be more like His Son, Jesus Christ. There are times along the way when I may receive unexpected encouragement or glimpses of the miraculous changes that He is bringing about, but it is important to remember - especially when it's hard - that He will complete the work He started in me because it is all about Him.

"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." (Philippians 1:6)

EXPECTATIONS -- sometimes we realize that we have them, and sometimes we don't. In both cases, there is often disappointment and hurt and a wide range of emotions. But there is also great opportunity for grace. I think probably one of the hardest aspects of understanding expectations is acknowledging that some of them are not important and truly desiring to change the way I respond to circumstances. I will never be free of expectations in this life, but I am so thankful that in His mercy God understands my weakness.

LETTING GO -- once I have honestly faced my expectations I must move to the next step - learning to release my grasp on them and the emotions attached to them. This is really a shift in perspective, because in order to let go I have to be willing to change. Too often I find myself thinking, "Why is this so hard? Why can't I just do it the way I want to or have done it for so long?" This is stinking pride -- the root of it is that I want to feel knowledgeable or important or that I have been able to achieve something, and so instead of being willing to learn from others and looking for the positives, I gripe and complain about how difficult it is to change.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” (Galatians 2:20-21)

Were it not for this truth, for the reality that Christ lives in me and is working in me, it would feel hopeless. But I can press on because I know that this is true.

TRUST -- it is a daily challenge to trust that God's plan truly is the best and to translate that into how I build relationships and respond to circumstances that come my way. I have to trust that there is a reason, even if I cannot see it now and I must trust that if my heart is truly willing, my Father will enable me to do what feels impossible to me at the moment.

These insights have come out of my experiences in learning to live in close quarters with people I don't know who think and act differently than I do, and in studying a language and culture that is in many ways foreign to me. I want to relate to the people in my life and to build relationships with them, and in order to do that I have to be willing to develop new ways of thinking and acting, but the old ways must go first.

I appreciate your prayers and encouragement on this journey -- God is at work and I want to joyfully accept what He brings into my life and allow Him to transform me into the person I need to be. I am in the service of the King and He must be Lord of all.

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!

Because I don't know much about science or astronomy, the things that Louie Giglio shared about the "known universe" just stunned me...sometimes it's really good to pause and think about the vastness and awesomeness of creation because it really puts into perspective just how much greater God is than anything we could ever know!

To think that the same God who made billions of galaxies with billions of stars in each of them and that "He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name" (Isaiah 40:26) is intimately acquainted with me -- Psalm 139 says that He "is familiar with all my ways" -- is astounding!!

In light of this, when God calls us or asks us to do something, we should be able to respond in obedience and complete trust, because He is the God who spoke everything into being and sustains it by His Word, who also came to earth as a tiny human baby to live among us and make it possible - through His death and resurrection - for us to one day live in perfect harmony with Him.

To us, who see only "dimly, as in a mirror," (2 Corinthians 13) the challenges we face daily are sometimes huge and insurmountable. But we "live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7) and so in those times we need to remind ourselves of just how great a God we serve!

This is a timely reminder for all of us, and it is profound to me at this time, as I am feeling awed by how quickly God has brought everything together for me to go to Ukraine and yet I am acutely aware of how daunting some of the tasks ahead of me are (learning Russian, especially). I NEED to remember that the God who made not only the universe but every little thing about me, the same God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead and won the victory over sin and death, is the same God who called me to this ministry and HE will equip me for every task!

"How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God;

and all will see how great, how great is our God!"

TRAVELLIN' LIGHT

The Talleys sing a song called "Travellin' Light" and the words of the chorus go like this:

I'm travellin' light on this journey I'm on,

Don't need any baggage, 'cause I'm goin' home.

The weight of this world will only slow me down;

I'm walkin' on by faith and not by sight, and I'm travellin' light!

Due to the increasingly rigid restrictions for baggage on airline flights, I am working hard to pack light for my trip to Ukraine (even though I am going for 2 years). The funny thing is, now that I have to, I am realizing how much I really can do without -- and that frees me up from the stress of trying to fit everything in!

The gospel song is talking about our journey to our real home -- heaven -- and so it's really not about physical baggage. So as I was thinking about this, I recalled the words of the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God…

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:

sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry...

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self,

which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator…

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly

as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

These are some instructions for what kind of "baggage" to get rid of and what to replace it with. And though this is considerably more difficult than simply narrowing down my selection of clothing, it is significantly more important in an eternal perspective.

When we do not "put off" the things of our earthly nature, it creates hurt, disappointment and trouble and it weighs us down with stress, unhappiness and sin. But when we do choose to clothe ourselves with the qualities God desires to see in us, it frees us up to live peaceably with one another and usually we are happier too.

I am thankful that we are "being renewed in the image of [our] Creator," but I am not there yet. By the end of August, my suitcases will be packed for my life overseas, but the process of becoming more like Christ in my thoughts, attitudes, words and actions will continue until the day I go to my real home.

Until then, I will practice "travelling light."

THE GIFT OF TODAY

I think all of us are familiar with the phrase: Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, and today is a gift, that's why we call it "the present."

And for all of us, each day literally IS a gift from God. Psalm 139 says that every day of our lives was ordained and written in God's book before we were conceived or took our first breath...I cannot fathom that really; "such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."

Not only that, but James tells us that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

I had a moment today when I allowed myself to become so frustrated with the difficult circumstances around me that I lost sight of the gift of today. Then I read a blog from a friend and was reminded of how much God has been changing me and giving me new sight and perspective as I have been learning to recognize and name the blessings all around me every day.

Here's a glimpse of some of the gifts I experienced today and I hope this encourages you too.

• Sunlight on my face, basking in its warmth
• Pickle-and-tuna sandwich
• Computer programs that don't work properly (and yes, this is a gift, because it reminded me of the fact nothing is perfect in this world, and that through the difficulties I can learn and grow)
• Being able to walk uphill all the way home
• A complimentary word from my boss
• Wonderful friends and family that I can wish a "Happy Valentine's Day"
• Hot bubble bath to soak my tired muscles
• Glasses that help me to see
• Uplifting gospel songs ringing in my heart all day long

                In the words of Bill and Gloria Gaither...

We have this moment to hold in our hands,

And to touch, as it slips through our fingers like sand;

Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,

But we have this moment today.

NEW BEGINNINGS - 2010

Well, we're officially halfway through the month of January and this is my first post...
I am committed to posting regularly - it's just taken me awhile to get back into a consistent, regular routine.

     On my first day back at work on January 4th, I literally had a new, "fresh" beginning - I had been able to get caught up on the workload at the end of December and it was delightful to have a clean desk. Of course, this only lasted for a day before it returned to normalcy.
     Thankfully, I have a new perspective on my job as well - over the last few months God has, by His grace, been giving me a new outlook, particularly in regard to my job. I am so thankful for the freedom and peace that comes from doing just what is given to me each day and not worrying about things I can't control. I pray that this continues even as the workload and pressure continues to grow.

     On the home front, since last summer I have gradually neglected to consistently put things away in my little house, which has developed into a cluttered space (not dirty, but definitely a far cry from my neatly organized desk at work). So at the beginning of this year, I looked at this space in which I live and I decided that something needed to be done.
     Have you ever realized that you need to do something but you've been procrastinating for so long that it seems almost insurmountable to begin the good habit? Well, I knew that I needed some kind of motivation, so I bought myself 2 new books with a Christmas gift certificate and I resolved that I would not open or begin reading them until I get a decent part of my house in order. This is a big discipline for me, because I absolutely love reading!!
     However, I am making progress...and now will come the discipline of developing the good habit of putting things away instead of letting things pile up.

That's just a glimpse - I'm sure there will be more new beginnings this year and I look forward to sharing them with you, and I hope your new year is beginning with promise as well.