“The sin of Judah is inscribed with an iron chisel— engraved with a diamond point
on their stony hearts and on the corners of their altars.”
Jeremiah 17:1 NLT
What foul weather thing do I hang on to as yet? I cannot weigh or judge myself. Nor do I trust my own input. Not a wit!
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
There was a thing came out of my mouth yesterday. A close part removed shined a bright light on it. How long has it been there? I suspect I was born with it and took to its practice like a duck takes to water!
“We have a problem, my Lord,” they told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”
2 Kings 2:29 NLT
I suspect mine is not the only bad case, judging from the current epidemic we face.
Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.” And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said.”
2 Kings 2:19-22 NLT
I open up my Bible in the YouVersion app to discover the word appears fantastically different! I blink and blink again. My hand gently touches the screen. Yes. What I’m seeing remains and is really quite distinct. Verses and lines written on black, in red and white, have taken on a visual depth, cast in layers and dimension. It reminds me of a project once assigned in a high school art class; create a work using a technique called relief.
At the time, way back when, my Dad provided a truly lovely plank of cedar. It was my first experience using a set of palm chisels and it proved to be a real struggle. I found it terribly awkward, establishing the higher points of the outline while carving out the background. My brain just didn’t want to work that way! My hands were clumsy with the chisels! I lost focus and enthusiasm dwindled. The result didn’t turn out at all as I’d imagined! My efforts ended with an incomplete grade and a great deal of disappointment! Out of frustration I pitched the whole mess in the trash and bid it good riddance!
“Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Mark 3:3 NLT
Contrary to that failed art class assignment what I see now is not a work of my own hands but that of a Higher Power….God’s!
“Then He turned to His critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But the Pharisees wouldn’t answer Him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts.” Mark 3:4-5a NLT
Suppose the Living God were to desire something Different from what I imagine! When faced with the disappointment am I still willing to welcome and embrace Him? Keep in step with Him and esteem His thoughts? Continue to share with a transparent heart? Willing to discuss even the messiest stuff? Lay aside the things that I want? Be grateful for what He says He wants done?
I’d like to think so but in truth, more often than not, it’s my own personal preferences, comforting routines and emotions that trump. I’d really like to give Jesus better than that! I need A-LOT of His help! He gets all the credit!
Case in point, today’s discourse. I’m made aware of a victim mindset! How cleverly its concealed itself within the trappings of the blame game! As I try to sort the whole thing out I become overwhelmed in the trying, overcome by the need to just lay down when I really ought to pay attention!
“If I had really spoken the way I truly feel, I would have been a traitor to Your people. So I tried to understand why such wickedness prospers. But what a difficult task it is!”
(Psalms 73:15-16 NLT)
Soul sigh. There is One Help. Yes, back to The Word…in all the beauty of its platform, extension and dimension. Jesus, Your compassion and timely visit reveals to me a brand new perspective. Some of Your words dig in deep and hollow out, while others lift to a higher plain and work to level things out. Verses pick up where others drop off. They come pouring in from the east, west, north and south! Much like that work done with the palm chisels!
“Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You! Yet I still belong to You. You reassure me. You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me towards a glorious destiny! Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth! My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the source of my inner strength. His is my inheritance and portion forever. Those who desert Him will perish! How good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things He has done.”
(Psalms 73:21-28 NLT)
“LORD, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace. But when I trust in You, I have a strong and glorious Presence protecting and anointing me. Forever You’re all I need! Those who abandon the worship of You will perish. The false and unfaithful will be silenced, never heard from again. But I pray Thee, LORD, please keep me trusting; keep me humble. Keep me drawing ever nearer to You, coming closer and closer, for Your name is all that is good to me. I’ll keep telling the world of Your awesome deeds! For You are my faithful and glorious God!”
(Psalms 73:26-28 TPT)
“One day I was brought into the sanctuaries of God, and in the light of His Glory my distorted perspective vanished. It was then I understood that the destiny of every form of wickedness was near, for indeed it exists to meet its demise on a slippery slope! God will suddenly strike it down! Even now His Voice calls it out! Wicked deeds will slide off into destruction to be consumed with terrors and deep darkness forever! In an instant they are revealed and Christ brings an end to its practice and ease! In a blink of the eye it is swept away by sudden calamity to fall down dead, trampled beneath my feet! They’re all nothing more than momentary monarchs— very much like the story of Goliath! The battle is the LORD’S and He makes me very much like David! This wickedness I dread will disappear like a vapor and when the rooster crows, Lord God, their existence will be as insubstantial as a dream!”
(Psalms 73:17-20 TPT)
How fair this moment!
How wonderful this hour!
Your mercies are new every morning!
Dear God, how you love this child!!
“Then Jesus said to the man, “Hold out your hand.”
So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!”
Mark 3:5b NLT
”In Jerusalem, that place of complete and wholesome healing, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. There He will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away every tear! He will remove forever all insults and mockery against His land and His people. The Lord has spoken!”
(Isaiah 25:6-8 NLT)
Truly, LORD.
NO ONE is as Good or as Kind as You.
You have shined the Bright Light of Exposure
all while, simultaneously, pulling me closer.
I now repent and find rest in You.
Thank You for the sprinkling of Your word;
it is the Water that cleanses.
Thank you for the Blood that was shed;
it grants me forgiveness and Access.
Thank You, Holy Spirit,
it is You Who instructs….
You are both heard and precious…
Jesus, in Your name I give thanks with praise!
A new day begins!
How fantastic!
Amen.
*** Today’s art work is from one of four of my most favorite childhood books, read and reread a million, gazillion times. God can speak to anyone at anytime using anything and He has used this book to shape a continuing part of my calling. It is my hope to one day be able to share from the other three. I find it inspiring and comforting to know that Jesus has had His hand on me all along…even when I haven’t always known where it was I was going!
“Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live.”
Isaiah 58:12 HCSB
