Secret Things

This phrase can conjure up either positive or negative feelings for me. In conjunction with celebrations like Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries, a secret is generally thought of in positive connotations. Someone has planned something for me that I will probably enjoy.

On the other hand, a secret which keeps me ignorant of something I“need” to know,  or “keeping” a secret about a dastardly deed I or a friend or relative have committed leaves behind an excluded or unpleasant feeling.

Actually, when we wake up in the morning, we have an entire day full of secret things. Our day may be arranged quite to our satisfaction, but as we all know, there is no guarantee that our plans will work out as we had hoped. In fact, if we dare take the time to think about it, we are not even guaranteed the next hour of life in which to “do” our plan for the day.

But that’s OK. Really!

I so identify with this quote from Jesus Calling: “Your future looks uncertain and feels flimsy—even precarious.  Secret things belong to the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:29) and the future things are secret things. When you try to figure out the future, you are grasping at things that are Mine (the Lord’s). This, like all forms of worry, is an act of rebellion: doubting My promises to care for you.”

That means that I can relax and enjoy the journey knowing Jesus is present. He tells me “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8  I can trust Him with whatever lies beyond the bend in the road ahead, where it’s impossible for me to see. That is true comfort and that secret is safe with Him!

Peace, Peace, But There Is No Peace?

I am so glad that God is not surprised by anything that happens. That would include all the heartbreak and chaos within our families, communities, and definitely our world.

After praying through my prayer file this morning (I generally need written reminders re: prayer requests because I’m old and forgetfulJ, I felt drained. There are so many hungry, hurting people on our planet—thinking of Syria and the surrounding area—but not just limited to the Middle East. If I gave every penny I had, it wouldn’t even be a “drop in the bucket” to cover the need. But I was looking at my meager assets and abilities and forgetting God’s awesome resources.

Hoping to gain some serenity for my soul, I opened Sarah Young’s book Jesus Calling to todays’ date and here is what I read:

“Learn to live from your true Center in Me. I reside in the deepest depths of your being, in eternal union with your spirit. It is at this deep level that My Peace reigns continually. You will not find lasting peace in the world around you, in circumstances, or in human relationships. The external world is always in flux—under the curse of death and decay. But there is a gold mine of Peace deep within you, waiting to be tapped. Take time to delve into the riches of My residing Presence. I want you to live increasingly from your real Center, where My Love has an eternal grip on you.”

Then she refers to Colossians 1:27 and 3:15 both of which are worth looking up.

The sentence referring to the “gold mine” struck a chord with this Nevadan as gold mines are the basis of our economy here. BUT Ms. Young also reminds us that our “external world is always in flux”—a good reason not to base your life’s foundation on a Nevada gold mine or anything similar.

He (Jesus) is our peace. How I thank Him for that peace. And it is available to anyone who asks Him for it. You can’t beat that kind of mother lode.

Heart and Soul

I am so delighted to once again be studying I Samuel and the life of David, a man who is described Biblically as “after God’s own heart.” In American versus King James English that would mean that David’s actions and thought patterns focused on God—sometimes.

But before we get to David’s story in I Samuel, we read about some interesting characters: the last judge of Israel--Samuel, the first king of Israel--Saul, Jonahthan, Saul’s son (and close-knit friend to David)—and Jonathan’s armor bearer.

We are using Beth Moore’s study guide and teaching videos, and as usual, Beth Moore does not disappoint. I love it when a segment of God’s Word catches my attention despite the fact that I might have read that section several times before.

That is what happened with the account of Jonathan’s armor bearer. The location of this story is in I Samuel 14:1-14 and is a fascinating picture of trust and obedience. Jonathan clearly trusts God in the skirmish he plans against Israel’s enemies, the Philistines. But it’s not his trust that surprised me this time as I read the account, it was the trust exhibited by Jonathan’s armor bearer.

He tells Jonathan in verse 7, “Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” I can imagine his adrenalin was pumping over-time at the audacious plan of his young master, but the young aide obviously trusted his master and perhaps even the Lord. Judging by Jonathan’s statement in verse 6, his aide tacitly approves as he says in the following verse, “I am with you heart and soul.”

The account continues with Jonathan putting his plan into action, telling his armor bearer, “Climb up after me.” (They had to climb a cliff to reach the enemy outpost.) The Bible says the armor bearer was right behind Jonathan and when they reached the top, Jonathan took on the Philistines with a vengeance while his armor bearer stayed right behind him, covering his back and doing the same. When they came up for air, they saw about 20 dead Philistines littering the half acre around them. (Then God sent an earthquake which panicked the enemy army, but that goes beyond the armor bearer’s story.)

The words, “I am with you heart and soul” really spoke to me, for if I know my own heart/mind, that’s what I want to be for God. However, this is a depth of passion and being sold-outed-ness (definitely not a word, sorry) that I have yet to see in myself. It IS something I want to open myself up to.

Like Jonathan’s armor bearer, I want to listen carefully to my Master’s instructions and then obey them. Because I can put on the whole armor of God (see Ephesians 6) I am protected and prepared for whatever battle I face. How can I not be “heart and soul” for a Master Who loves me like that!

Cowboy Poetry Gathering—Come and Gone

The 31^st Gathering is now history and I’m guessing it was the warmest Gathering weather-wise in the entire history of this annual event. January in Elko is generally unpleasantly cold with sub-zero temperatures and/or snow. But not this year—and I don’t think anyone was unhappy about it.

The Cowboy Poetry Gathering was one of Dean’s favorite happenings—ranking right up there with any kind of car show. Dean spent most of his adult life working in old fields, mining coal or]gold. But all of that work took place in the West—Wyoming, Montana, and Nevada—and when you live in the West, you just naturally grow up thinking “cowboys.”

So the Elko Gathering gave Dean (and probably a lot of other would-be cowboys) a special time to hear about the cowboy way of life, enjoy Western music, and maybe even pretend a little bit about what it would have been like if he had been a cowboy.

Last year’s Gathering was the last time Dean logged any shows. By the end of the week he was really tired and not feeling well, but I think he was proud that he finished his assignments. This year his boots are empty.   

However, his replacement did a creditable job, logging several sessions and enjoying most of them. It took a lot of miles and several years, but Brian is back in Elko via Indianapolis.  

 I’m glad we could keep the tradition going in the family—at least for this year.