Reflections on Being Made 'Flawless'

No matter the bumps

No matter the bruises

No matter the scars

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

No matter the hurt

Or how deep the wound is

No matter the pain

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless.

(“Flawless”-MercyMe)

As I walk this new path, alone, but not alone, I have been experiencing an awakening. I have encountered a new deeper understanding of just what the cross means.

Flawless has always meant the beautiful, the perfect, the never dirty, the wise, the focused, the goal oriented – the one which makes no mistakes, always on time and ready for any adventure.

I have never been flawless. I trip over my shoelaces, I don’t mind being dirty, I lose focus more than I have it, I give up on goals too soon, and mistakes are my way of life. I am however, ready for any and all adventures.

I’m guessing that’s why God made me flawless on that day in 1969. On that day, I discovered the cross. Actually, I discovered the blood that was shed on the cross.  Today I understand the true meaning of the cross. Over the past several months my studies have revealed the ‘cleansing’ of the cross. It is sad that until now I didn’t picture myself as ‘washed’ clean. I understood in my mind the concept of cleansing but failed to see the ‘flawless’ me.

To be flawless, perfect in His eyes, is to be ready for whatever He might call me to do. All in to do whatever He might put before me, knowing that if I surrender to His will, He’ll make it to be so.  The bumps, bruises, scars, hurts, wounds, and pain have led me to the truth…He has made me flawless.

 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Arrested by You

Sometime in the early 1990’s I discovered something that has changed my life. No, it wasn’t salvation, that happened many years before, 1969 to be exact. This ‘something’ was a lifestyle change-much like salvation-with far reaching effects.

It was early morning and my alarm clock was playing one of the Bear’s favorite songs. I chose it because I knew he wouldn’t want to get up but would be blessed by the words of the song…”I’ve been arrested by you, take me in, finally captured by you, take me in.” Mr. Romantic loved the song and what it said.

In those quiet, cool, moments of the day I chose to leave the warmth of the bed and with my cup of coffee settle into ‘the chair’ in the living room. That day I began a journey that continues to this day.

I have often wondered what my boys and the Bear thought when Mom chose to get up so early. My youngest, Josh, ran track and cross country all through high school and each morning I prepared a full breakfast and a cooler full of lunch before he left for school which meant that I had to get up no later than 5am. I do know that after a while I couldn’t imagine life without that time in my day.

I began a time with the Father. Over the years that time has grown, not in time, but in its importance to my day. Chatting with a friend the other day I realized that I could probably count on my 10 fingers the number of days that I have not gone to ‘the place’ (now it’s my dining room table – too many books to fit in my lap). Even on those really dark days in 2014 when I knew the end was near for Mr. Romantic, I spent those minutes in His presence.

So just what do I do? I read the Scripture. In the beginning, truth be told, it was just a lot of words. Now it’s the light of my life. Each day I find new hope, new joy, new direction, and answers, all in those amazing words. I might spend a few minutes working through a current Bible study, preparing for a class but the most comfort and encouragement comes from the time spent talking with the Father.

Several years ago, I read a book that outlined a method for prayer – I have used this method since. Some of you reading this are on my ‘list’ – some of life’s events are too – I seek a Scripture each day as I read through the Psalms and the book of John that ministers to me that day.  Immediate prayer needs that have been asked of me, top the Prayers on Demand list.

I say all this to encourage you to try to give the Lord just a little of your time to begin your day. He has not failed to bless my day – despite the trials, despite the hurts or problems of the day – He’s always just a thought away because His thoughts are my thoughts.

Lent has just begun. Not everyone is on board when it comes to giving things up but why not add this? Commit yourself to just 15 less minutes of sleep tomorrow morning. Grab your coffee and the Word and spend some quiet time before the hurry of the day and talk to the Father. I liken this time to the tithe. My blessings overflow because I choose to give back to the Father both my tithe and my time. He will honor your time with Him. He says He will and He always keeps His promises.

40 days. The Jews wandered for 40 years before arriving at home. I’m just suggesting 40 days. You can do it. Let me know you are on board so that I can pray for and with you.

The book pictured takes you through the 40 days leading up to Easter. It’s available in the library at church – copies are for sale and we have a couple that you can checkout.

May you be richly blessed and may this be the beginning of a new way of life for you. 

Sometimes my life seems like this trail...closing in, pathway barely visible. The saturated ground sucks my feet in making each step more and more difficult. The height of the foliage prevents my eyes from seeing too far ahead. The only constant is the sound of the voices of those who walk ahead.

It seems as though I have been walking this trail recently. My thoughts are mired in days overwhelmed with decisions. As much and as often as I seek opinions, I am still the only one who can take the next step. Information, encouragement, prayer are all welcome but still...it comes back to me.

The expression 'can't see the forest for the trees' is very real to me. I am intrigued by many things but all those 'things' clutter my mind leaving me 'driven and tossed by the sea.' I am unable to separate the immediate from the 'this can wait.' Hidden among the 'things' are decisions of great importance. I listen, in my quiet moments, I listen. But, I don't always hear - at least not right away.

Many would say that I need to focus. Yes. Focus is needed. But I have come to realize that too often my focus is in the wrong place, on the wrong thing. Sometime in the past three years of loss, I discovered that when life became a barely visible, saturated pathway, I needed to move my focus away from myself and on to others. First, I had to go to the Father for His direction and then on to sharing His grace as he has shared it with me. Giving away is the trail that leads me back to a life of hope and joy.

There are days when being on my knees before the Father is the only way to see the trail I should choose. Then there are days when the voice of someone dear echoes in my head and I see the warning of the 'rabbit hole.' The voice I choose to hear along the path is that of the One who holds my heart and loves me the deepest and best. I choose to listen.

"The way of the righteous is smooth;" Isaiah 26:7 NASB

Trust

In my life there have been trials, heartaches, criticisms, failed expectations, triumphs, a love greater than I could have ever imagined,  faithful friends,  sunshine, darkness, physical pain, great loss, but now...after walking through these years, there is hope and joy, comfort, love, encouragement, challenge, desire, focus, trust...a new life. Ageless songs speak of His walk with me; His talking with me; His carrying me; His challenging me. I live there.

This person, this Creator, this lover, this strength giver, blesses my every thought, my every move, my every desire. My hope is built on a perfect trust in His undying love.

Can I walk without this trust? Yes. I can follow the lead of the world placing my focus on things or achievements even accolades but I cannot be my utmost for His highest choosing the world's pathway. It is a deep and trial-filled rabbit hole without an exit to glory. Eternity is promised when I choose Him. Its pathway is not without potholes - choices - but keeping in mind His love and the blessings that await I cannot but choose to follow Him.

All in, I trust. I have hope. I am comforted by His presence and His Word. To my Father be all the glory. 

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.   Genesis 2:7 (NASB)

How easily we become immune to the beauty around us. The picture above cannot even begin to show the expanse of the Amazon River. The river is so immense that at its mouth one cannot see the opposite bank. It flows rapidly - so rapidly that it constantly pulls pieces of the shore away. Large chucks of soil with grass still growing float by as do great logs from regions far upstream. 

When I watch this vast river, I am overwhelmed by God's creation. He created all this beauty and then created man and placed him in it. Honestly, there are no words to explain the feeling that wells up inside when I first step on deck of our boat after a night of rest to drink in the beauty. How could God have known just what would touch my heart that very morning? How could He have anticipated my need to see Him? Ah, but I do...I see His hand in the magnificent sky; in the swift flowing water; I hear the sound of children's laughter in the village on the bank; and I feel His presence all around me.

Most recently I have been struck by this sense of His presence. As the words in His book come to life in understanding, my trust is strengthened. It's as though His breath passes over the words and invades my heart. Charles Swindoll in his little devotional book, Perfect Trust, challenges my mind to allow my heart to receive His grace. My trust is being perfected. My ultimate goal: perfect trust. As good as it can possibly be. Perfection of trust. Unquestionable trust in His provision, His love, His care, His comfort. He walks with me. In me. How deep His love must be to give such a great gift...His Son...so that He could walk with me. 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!          Psalm 150:6

Here In His Presence

This morning, as I sat in my quiet time, as I began to ready my mind for prayer, I was overwhelmed with the sense of His presence. If you know me, you know that I believe in His call on my life; in His guidance for my day; in His presence through his Spirit in me; in His presence. 

This morning I learned more. He fills my home. I sat quietly waiting for the words to come - sometimes prayer doesn't just flow - and I was suddenly aware of a feeling of security, of peace, of comfort. And then the thought occurred that He was there. I can often sense His presence but this morning something was different. 

His presence fills my home. Not just me but my home. As I walk through the rooms I know that His love goes with me. I know that He measures my steps; that he invades my thoughts bringing to my mind those that I love or things that I must do. 

The difference today came with the sense of His presence in my physical world. 

I continue to be overwhelmed by Him. Daily I recognize His hand on my life. I have been 'All In' for sometime but now I feel it.

Through

I woke up recently with a different feeling. It took me a few days to actually put my finger on what it was.

There is a clarity to my thoughts. A vividness to nature – His creation. Music stirs my soul again. I caught myself laughing out loud exuberantly. I am excited about tonight’s dinner. There is a joy in my day.

I think the word that best describes what is happening is ‘through.’

I’ve come through. I’m on the other side.

I am not naïve enough to think that ‘it’ is over. Perhaps the reason that I have come ‘through’ is because I have realized, learned, understood that the process is just that, a process. For me and many of my widowed friends, it’s a process that we realize will never come to an end. It is ongoing. It is lifelong. There is no conclusion, except for heaven.