Lessons from Creation

As the deer…

Lessons from Creation: #1

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable”

I have always envied those with the gift of creatively being able to express themselves through drawing or painting. Unfortunately, I am not so gifted.  Today though I was reminded that I can make my heart a “beautiful thing” for the Lord. Ephesians 2:8-10 talks about how we are God’s “workmanship”. That word in the Greek is the word “poiema”- from which we get the word poem. In other words, I am God’s poem, His divine artwork. He is not finished with me yet, and at times I seem to “mess things up” and He always finds a way to turn that “slip up” into something beautiful for Him. Which even causes me, as an  onlooker to admire the artist that much more, due to His grace. Its one thing to make something beautiful from nothing, like a blank piece of paper. It’ s another to make something beautiful from something hideous and ugly. That is the work of a  Master Artist.

This recognition produces a desire within me to be pleasing to Him. What an awareness of His presence is with me moment by moment as I go through the tasks of daily living.  Not as though He was a policeman, waiting for me to slip up and punish me.  But rather as a loving father, enjoying His child, and finding joy in watching her. I want my character to be my piece of artwork for Him- that thing that expresses God’s beauty to Him and for Him.  In all areas of my being: my thought life, my motives, my actions, my words, etc.  Since my heart is so deceitful and wandering, one has to be on constant alert.

The deer has the ability to have one ear pointed towards the right or the left, while the other is facing forward. He has a constant awareness of being on the look out for a predator or danger.He is always so sensitive to the goings on of his surroundings.

“Jesus, make me like the deer. That I wouldn’t be ignorant and “mindless” as I go through my day. Rather, be “aware” and “mindful”, with a constant awareness of Your presence with me.  And by Your grace, allow me and my heart to be a beautiful thing- for You. That I would show forth Your love and Spirit to the world and to those around me, in all I say and do. And that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, would be acceptable…”

Lessons from Creation #2 The Eagle

“Be still and know that I am God”

“It is an older faith that learns to swing out into nothingness and drop down full weight on God- the broken up nest of former “experiences” left behind- nothing between us and the abyss but God Himself. Trained faith is a triumphant gladness in having nothing but God- not rest, no foothold- nothing but Himself. A triumphant gladness in swinging out into that abyss, rejoicing in every fresh emergency that is going to prove Him true.”

“I am seeing more and more that we begin to learn what it is to walk by faith when we learn to spread out all that is against us; all our physical weakness, loss of mental power, spiritual inability- all that is against us inwardly and outwardly- as sails to the wind and expect them to be vehicles for the power of Christ to rest upon us. It is so simple and self- evident – but so long in the learning.”

‘It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait.’  I never saw, till recently, how that word ‘both’ exactly strikes the balance so needed… Some of us rush ahead with our hopes and are downhearted when they crumble, having never learned to quietly wait. Others go on quietly waiting for a lifetime, without much of the spring of hope anywhere; both hope and wait… in quietness and confidence; that is the answer.”

Lilias Trotter

They will soar with wings like eagles- those who wait upon You.

Lessons in Creation #3  Springs of Water

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (place of weeping), They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength.” Psalm 84:5-7

“All my springs are in You” Psalm 87:7

Today I was reminded by a faithful Father that there is no other place to find true fulfillment and satisfaction in any other place but Him. Some things in this life may temporarily bring happiness or satisfaction- but nothing is constant or sure. For instance- what a blessing friendships are in certain seasons of life, and we can enjoy them for what they are, but reality is- they are changing, friends move, friends change. A friend can provide temporary comfort and fulfillment- but cannot and should not take the place of God. One may say- of course God is more important than people- but why then is it that we feel the need to talk to “people” first? It is easier I suppose- a person is tangible and audible. But, we must learn to develop and use this “sixth” sense- if we have the spirit of God in us, then we are more than just a body. We just haven’t learned to “drink deeply” from His “living water”. We expect to find happiness and fulfillment in a spouse, a place, a job- and when we don’t- we find ourselves disappointed and disillusioned with life. Jesus said that if you drink of the water He gives- “You shall never thirst again”- no person, place, circumstance, or material possession can or will ever quench your true thirst for Him, which is the issue.

A spring is a place of refreshment. A spring isn’t stagnant nor stale, rather it is flowing with life. We must recognize that only in God and through God will we find this satisfaction. We must learn to develop our relationship with Him, we must grow in intimacy with our Heavenly Father who so longs to fill our every need and desire. If we are those who set our hearts on “pilgrimage”, we will not find ourselves temporarily entertaining ourselves with the “toys” of this life. We will go from “strength to strength”, and even through the darkness, we will not be overcome- but rather “make it a spring”.

“Jesus- teach me what it means to drink deeply from your Living Water. I have tasted and know that you are good- but no longer want to drink “droplets”. I want to cast myself into You, my spring- and experience all that You have for me. ”