Beauty for Ashes

The Christmas spirit is an elusive dream for many people. Perhaps they feel isolated from family and friends—or insecure because they do not know how to select presents. Perhaps they lack funds to pay for presents—or are overwhelmed by fatigue and bills. Whatever the cause, failure to experience the dream causes anxiety and stress.

Jesus didn’t come so we could strive after elusive dreams. He came to invade hearts—to penetrate our depths—to offer a revelation or vision of Him. And He brings peace and joy.

The prophet Isaiah had much to say about the Christ-child named Jesus who grew up to bring salvation to all people. According to Isaiah, He brings, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they [we] may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Is. 61:3 NKJV)

Receiving the promises recorded by Isaiah might require rethinking our Christmas plans. If we belong to Jesus, we can stop striving after the elusive dream—and let a true vision from the Spirit of Jesus touch our spirits—because the Spirit of Jesus is the true spirit of Christmas.

Of course, major changes require adjustments, but that would be a small price to pay if it means exchanging beauty for ashes!

Originally published December 12, 1986.
Picture: Commercial display, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Faith Is the Substance

Faith is an elusive concept. A dictionary defines it as, belief, and trust in, and loyalty to God.

The book of Hebrews provides another definition: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1 NKJV)

How do we trust in a God we cannot see? For truly, no one sees, has seen, or will see God. And that is not all bad. If God could be proven, faith would be unnecessary. But what is this elusive faith?

Perhaps we have difficulty with defining faith because we try to describe it as a mental choice or position. We check our thoughts to see whether we have faith. Our thoughts might reveal our status, but they will not help us find or understand faith.

Neither the Bible nor the dictionary approach faith as the thoughts of the mind. For faith is primarily a choice of the heart and a position of the heart. The heart chooses to believe or not believe depending upon its desires. When the heart chooses God, faith becomes reality in the life of a believer.

Originally published February 28, 1992.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Restrictions, Rights, and Freedom

Occasionally we hear much about restrictions—they’re supposed to be bad because they limit freedom. Or we hear about rights—they’re supposed to be good because they allow freedom.

But perhaps true freedom is unrelated to either rights or restrictions. What if it’s related to the desires of the heart. Paul had something like that in mind when he said, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (II Cor. 3:17 NKJV)

How can that be?

When we respond to God in love, He grows fruit in our lives. And, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Gal. 4:22-23)

When the Spirit of the Lord operates in our hearts, we are free from greed, free from competition, free from pretense, free from hate. Even though these are natural human traits, if we let Him, God can gradually remove them and the hurts they’ve created. And then we are truly free. Free to respond with openness to God and to others.

Originally published May 21, 1993.

Picture: Container flowers, Patty's garden, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Out of the Heart

Have you ever tried teaching a child to say the right thing? Perhaps to say, Thank you. Or, I’m sorry. Parents must keep at it because children forget—usually because they do not have a truly thankful or sorry heart.

Or, perhaps we try to keep a child from expressing a selfish thought when they proclaim, Mine. Or, Give it to me. Again, words reveal the attitude.

Adults are somewhat better at controlling their words, but sometimes they slip. Again, the best way to say constructive words to people—or about people—is to think constructive thoughts. Because eventually, we will say what we think. The attitudes of the heart have a way of revealing themselves.

Jesus said, For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Lk. 6:45b NKJV) What we do and what we say reveals our inner life—our character.

Originally published June 9, 1989.

Focus on the Heart

Jesus said, If any one chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” (Jn. 7:17 NIV)

Some people quickly identify Jesus as the source of salvation. Peter boldly confessed, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt. 16:16) But there are others who have difficulty accepting Jesus as God’s ultimate revelation.

Jesus understands the human dilemma. While we might try to convince someone of truth, Jesus does not answer on an intellectual basis. Jesus’ method for changing an opinion is to bring about spiritual insight. He asks people to consider if they desire to do God’s will. The heart—not the mind--either leads a person toward or away from truth.

The focus must be on the heart. Our thought processes will rationalize whatever the heart wants to believe.

Originally published March 11, 1983.
Picture: Flowers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

How Slow of Heart

Isn’t it strange how we can fail to recognize God’s entrance into our lives? As human beings with limited sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, we can misread, misunderstand, or miss Him altogether.

It happened to two disciples shortly after Jesus death and resurrection. They walked to their village called Emmaus, discouraged because they did not believe women who told them Jesus had risen. How could they recognize Jesus in that frame of mind?

Jesus asked them what they discussed so earnestly. They wondered about this stranger who did not know the tumultuous events of the past few days. But they told him about the prophet of God—“we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel,” they said. (Lk. 24:21a NIV)

“How foolish you are,” declared their mysterious companion., “and how slow of heart. . . .” (v. 25a) With great care, from the books of Moses through the prophets, Jesus taught them that God’s Son would suffer and die before a resurrection. Later, eating with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened. . . . (v. 30b,31a)

Originally published April 6, 1985; April 7, 1989; April 24, 1992.
Picture: Japanese Garden, Como Park, 2009. Photo by Ken.

Less Than a Whole Heart

It is good to seek God, but it’s possible to seek Him with less than a whole heart. Our desires can be mixed. When that’s the case—and it always is—we want God in our life, but at the same time we don’t want Him in our life. Or perhaps we want Him in only a part of our life.

If we could seek Jesus totally, we would be perfect as Jesus is perfect. God understands our nature and meets us wherever we are, regardless of inner conflicts. He does as much in our hearts as we’ll let Him do.

Nevertheless, the more we give ourselves to seeking God, the greater our blessing.

Psalm 119 is a long poem by a man seeking God. He prayed, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness. (Ps. 119:40 NKJV)

Originally published October 12, 1990.
Picture: Courtyard flowers in Addis Ababa, 2008. Photo by Solveig.