On the Way to Wonder

“Be strong and courageous.

 Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

 for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

  Joshua 1:9”

         As I pondered where to meditate today having finished the Romans yesterday, my heart traveled to one of the favorite verses that I remember my husband loved, Joshua 1:9.  The people of Israel have finished their forty years in the desert, Moses has died and Joshua is stepping into leadership.  It is a time of transition and Joshua is facing a big challenge to step into Moses’ shoes and lead the people across the Jordon.  It is a bit coincidental that often the river Jordon is thought to be a symbol of death.  It is a bit coincidental that my husband has just passed and I am stepping into a solo leadership position.  Of course I have my children who are fantastic and adults but still it is a transition.  As I have said before we all face transitions of many kinds, not just death, and so this verse can speak to us today.  Perhaps you are just stepping into a new day and do not know what will confront you or perhaps you are facing moping up the mess of yesterday but in any case God commands Joshua, “be strong,” “be courageous,” “do not be afraid” and “do not be discouraged.”  The reason for hope and strength to face greif or whatever you face today is that God is with us “wherever” we go.   My heart goes to the modern rendition in Sister Act 1 of the song that reminds us nothing can keep us away from the love of God.

I don’t know what you face today but as you step into your future may you hold on to the promise that God is with you wherever you go.  Lord, help me keep my eyes of you!

         Movies used to end with “The End” scrolling across the screen.  Now it sometimes just goes to the credits.  We come to the end of the epistle or letter to the Romans believed to have been authored by Paul.  He is writing to introduce himself and his beliefs before an anticipated visit.  It is a very systematic presentation of the tenants of Christianity and a defense for its universal invitation to people of all tribes and countries.  Abraham believed God’s promises before Moses and Mosaic Law had even been given.  Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness before any actions.  Likewise we are justified by faith as a gift from a God who desires relationship and partnership with us.  It is a gift as all of us are sinners.  Can we write, “The End”?  Paul signs off his letter with these words,

²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

         The end of the story is not about us and our getting to go to heaven.  The end of the story is about the glory to goes to God.  God is telling us his story and his desire as he has worked with his creation.  The end will be glory.  Plus there is the hint of eternity in the word “forever.”  We talk about what that might look like but we don’t know.  This is not “the end,” but only the beginning of another phase.  There is a sequel.  But we will only experience that sequel under the authorship of Jesus Christ.  We don’t know when that will come out but we do know it will and God will be glorified.

         Of course, endings are on my mind as I process the death and entrance of my husband into that next reality.  “Now” is so real with all its challenges but “then” is coming.  Let’s just spend a few moments thanking God for a future with a hope that unfolds to his glory!  Blessings.

         How do you sign your letters?  Formal letters often end with a “sincerely yours.”  Lover’s letters might end with x’s and o’s for hugs and kisses.  Paul is coming to the end of Romans.  He has commended Phoebe, his fellow worker and asked she be received well.  He has sent greetings.  Before the final signature he adds this one more encouragement, kind of like a “sincerely” comment.

“¹⁹ Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” (Romans 16:19)

         Paul encourages us to be wise about what is good and innocent about evil.  That feels dissonant with our culture today as I scroll through the movies available covering stories from angels and the heavenlies to zombies and our worst nightmare.  We can dabble in almost any topic we want and focus our minds and hearts in any direction.  So if we were to be wise in what is good, what would we focus on?  James 3:17-18 tells us,

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Pick one of those adjectives that describe wisdom from heaven and ponder what it might look like in your life today and then pray about it.  Lord, help me be “considerate” and realize others carry burdens of grief also and may need a smile!  Blessings.

16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. ² I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

Romans 16:1-2

         Romans 16 includes the closing remarks of Paul to the church in Rome.  We started our journey through Romans realizing that the historical church in Rome was probably multicultural, multilingual, working class and defining itself in the face of a dominant Roman culture that did not value it – not unlike our experiences with Christianity today.  Paul gives ones of the most systematic explanation and defense for the God of Christianity being THE God who created all and values all – justifying as a free gift of faith.  We do not need to do good works to deserve his love.

         Now Paul begins to close.  He commends Phoebe, a deacon, and gives her “props”.  It has been so overwhelming as soooo many people have sent in their loving comments for my husband this past week after his death.  So as I read Paul’s open affirmation of Phoebe that has come down through history to us today, I ponder if there is not someone whom we would commend.  Why not send a “just because” text of affirmation, commending that person, or letter, or even an unexpected hug if possible today.  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine!  Blessings as you remember how you have been blessed.

         We are nearing the end of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome that he hopes to visit. In Chapter 15 starting about verse 23, Paul starts laying out his plans for his trip.  He wants to head to new regions in Spain after visiting Rome but he must first go to Jerusalem to deliver a gift to the poor and needy.  In verse 30 Paul pleas,

³⁰ I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 

• ³¹ Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea
• and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 
• ³² so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 

³³ The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 15:30-33

“Urge” is a strong word.  What does Paul want them to do?  Pray.  Pray for his safety, for success in his offering he carries, and for refreshment.  If you were to ask someone to pray for you today, what would you urge him or her to pray for?  Perhaps you could take a moment to name your top three priorities you would ask someone to pray for you.  But then, we have the privilege to going directly to God with our prayers.  Share your desires with a friend and share them with the God who cares about the dreams of your heart.  Blessings.

^“23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions,

 and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,”

(Romans 15:23)

         We continue on in Romans.  I opened to the next verse after a cup of coffee with my son who is visiting after the death of his father and we had been chatting about the mysteriousness of life and faith.  My husband had often said, “Faith can be seen as mystery or management.”  He always opted for mystery and the unseen hand of God in his life.  C.S. Lewis in his last book in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, had ended with the four children holding hands and flying “higher up and higher in” as a way to talk about life after death.  I like that and it resonated with Romans 15:23, “But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions…”

         Not all deaths resonate with this verse, perhaps, but watching my husband decline inch by inch and be limited to a wheelchair that his frame was not comfortable in and his body could not communicate with my reality, I wonder if there was not a sense that “there is no more place for me to work in these regions,” “higher up and higher in” to the mysterious of our faith.

         Death is not the only barrier that presents this reality.  All transitions embrace the mystery of the unknown future that is in God’s hands and a farewell to the known past – starting school or college, marriage, child birth, a new job or a move to a new location.  Paul was looking forward to his next adventure.  Perhaps today you are facing a transition.  It might only be the transition from yesterday to today and the realization of needing to finish or tie up loose ends from yesterday or tackle a new task for today but I find it comforting to consider life an adventure with embracing the mysteriousness of our God and not a managing the details of our life.  I pray you have great blessing as you embrace you situation knowing God is partnering with you.  Blessings.

         I woke this morning in tears and feeling very weak in the face of the future without my husband who is now deceased.  My son who is visiting grieved with me and went to his playlist and played this Christmas song that Amy Grant sang beautifully and which is sung in the movie “Nativity” by Mary enroute to Bethlehem.  She is pondering the birth of her baby and all the uncertainty of what would be.  I face the unknown future as a widow.  I do not know your challenge but the words after the first verse are my prayer today.  I pray it blesses you too.

•          I have traveled many moonless nights
  
  I am waiting in a silent prayer,  I am frightened by the load I bear,  In a world as cold as stone,   Must I walk this path alone?
  Be with me now,  Be with me now.
  
  Breath of heaven,  Hold me together,  Be forever near me
  Breath of heaven,  Breath of heaven,
• Lighten my darkness,  Pour over me your holiness
  For you are holy,  Breath of heaven.
  
  Do you wonder as you watch my face,  If a wiser one should have had my place,  But I offer all I am,  For the mercy of your plan,  Help me be strong
  Help me be,  Help me.
  
  Breath of heaven,  Hold me together,  Be forever near me
  Breath of heaven,  Breath of heaven,  Lighten my darkness
  Pour over me your holiness,  For you are holy.
  
  Breath of heaven,  Hold me together,  Be forever near me
  Breath of heaven,  Breath of heaven
  Lighten my darkness,  Pour over me your holiness,  For you are holy
  Breath of heaven,  Breath of heaven.
• 
  Breath of heavenWriter/s: Amy Lee Grant, Chris Eaton
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Royalty Network
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

Precious Lord, Take My Hand Lyrics

Credit: YouTube

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home       

         This song came to my heart today.  It was written in 1932 by Thomas A. Dorsey after the death of his wife and child in childbirth.  It is based on a poem she wrote.  It has been sung by famous singers like Mahlai Jackson and was a favorite hymn of Martin Luther King, Jr.  When faced with death we understand weakness, exhaustion, a storm of emotions and the precious comfort of our faith.  You may not be in crisis right now but please listen and enjoy.

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

         After all of Paul’s heavy thinking about salvation, faith and justification for all people in his book to the Romans, here in chapter 15 he seems to be overflowing with praise and prayer.  In verse 5 he prayed for endurance and encouragement for the Roman church.  Today in verse 15 he is praying for joy and peace that comes with believing.

          As I reflected on the passing of my husband yesterday, I realized that faith in the face of death is quite a different deal than so many ways in which I have thought about faith before.  I can tell a friend that I believe God will work things out for good and the other often responds with a tale of God’s faithfulness of how God helped that person through tough times.  I am encouraged.  Facing death though we face an unknown that noone has really seen the other side of. Christ is the only one who has come back from the dead to tell us what it is like.  He did not talk about joyful reunions with friends or family that went before.  He did not tell us about a joyful reunion with his Father.  We imagine what death might be like for our loved one but faith in the unknown and unseen takes on new dementions.

         Paul’s prayer for joy and peace in believing took on new meaning.  There is joy knowing that wheelchairs and crumpled bodies are no longer.  My husband is standing straight and able to run.  His body is working even as Jesus’ body was working after the resurrection.  I feel a new kind of peace.

         Blessings as you ponder the reality of resurrection.  May you experience joy and peace in believing.