It's not the way things ought to be

I wrote this post back in March, but God brought it back to my mind this morning. I love this poem by Jill Briscoe and it really resonates with my heart this morning. I hope it speaks to you in some way too.

Have you ever thought about how different this world is than God planned? As God created the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, the animals and creatures to roam the earth, Adam and Eve; each stage of His magnificent creation God saw that it was good.

Man and woman in a beautiful garden fashioned by God's own hand. He would even come walking in the garden in the cool of the day, just enjoying all that He had made. Sweet fellowship with the ones He loved. It was truly paradise.

What a difference a day makes as Eve is deceived and takes a bite. Adam also partakes. Their lives are forever changed as God banishes them from the garden forever. Lives can be changed in just a moment - forever.

It's not the way things ought to be

And yet the way things are,

I look above and see a void

And not one single star.

Then in the day the blue is grey,

The winds of change are stilled,

My heart it seems

Must die to dreams

I'll never see fulfilled.

It's not the way things ought to be

And Yet the way things are,

Then God walks in,

Forgives the sin

And lights my evening star.

He tames my rebel doubts with love,

Rebukes my frantic fears,

Then asks my why

I sigh and cry

And counts my many tears.

One day the things that "ought to be"

Will be the way He planned,

So I should live

And freely give

My hopes into His hand.

I'll live in light of ever-ness

With eyes upon the Throne,

He'll give me grace

To run the race

Till I am safely home.

- Jill Briscoe -

From the book, "The Deep Place Where Nobody Goes"

Oh how I look forward to the day when things will be as they "ought to be". One day, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, we will see Jesus, face to face. We will fall on our faces before Him saying,

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Revelation 4:11

But until that day Lord, I place all of my hopes is in Your hands. My eyes are upon Your throne, fixed upon You until my race is run!

Flourishing Faith & Hope

Do you realize that there are many olive trees in Israel that are 1600-2000 years old that are still producing fruit?


King David in Psalm 52 says these words,

8 But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God's unfailing love
for ever and ever.

9 I will praise you forever for what you have done;
in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Like an olive tree, David's roots ran very deep. Since he was a young boy, he learned to love God. His faith was a faith that had stood the test of time. As trials would come, he knew who he could trust - his faithful God.

When he was alone in the fields and longing for company, worship would lead him into the throne room of Heaven where he would find sweet fellowship with His God.

When he a lion was stalking the sheep in his care, David found strength that could only come from the Lord as he turned the predator into prey.

When he was tired from the long journey and longing for home, David found peace in the midst of a restless night. It was the kind of peace that passes all understanding, a true gift from a loving God.

David could stand firmly upon his faith and say, "I will trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever". His was a faith that was tried and true. He knew that deep down inside, he was just a lowly shepherd boy who found himself sitting on the throne of Israel. If any praise was to be given, it ALL belonged to the Lord. For only He was and is worthy of praise.

David knew that his only hope in life was in the mighty, matchless, merciful name of God. Armies would rise and armies would fall. But our God - Jehovah is the same yesterday, today and forever. He alone is worthy of our praise!

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7

Father, my hope is in You and You alone! May my roots run deep and my faith flourish as I trust in your unfailing love today, tomorrow and forever. I praise you with my whole heart as I reflect on all that you have done in my life. In the presence of the Saints today I praise you! Bravo God! Bravo! You are my hope!

It's not the way things ought to be

Have you ever thought about how different this world is than God planned? As God created the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, the animals and creatures to roam the earth, Adam and Eve; each stage of His magnificent creation God saw that it was good.

Man and woman in a beautiful garden fashioned by God's own hand. He would even come walking in the garden in the cool of the day, just enjoying all that He had made. Sweet fellowship with the ones He loved. It was truly paradise.

What a difference a day makes as Eve is deceived and takes a bite. Adam also partakes. Their lives are forever changed as God banishes them from the garden forever. Lives can be changed in just a moment - forever.

It's not the way things ought to be

And yet the way things are,

I look above and see a void

And not one single star.

Then in the day the blue is grey,

The winds of change are stilled,

My heart it seems

Must die to dreams

I'll never see fulfilled.

It's not the way things ought to be

And Yet the way things are,

Then God walks in,

Forgives the sin

And lights my evening star.

He tames my rebel doubts with love,

Rebukes my frantic fears,

Then asks my why

I sigh and cry

And counts my many tears.

One day the things that "ought to be"

Will be the way He planned,

So I should live

And freely give

My hopes into His hand.

I'll live in light of ever-ness

With eyes upon the Throne,

He'll give me grace

To run the race

Till I am safely home.

- Jill Briscoe -

From the book, "The Deep Place Where Nobody Goes"

Oh how I look forward to the day when things will be as they "ought to be". One day, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, we will see Jesus, face to face. We will fall on our faces before Him saying,

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Revelation 4:11

But until that day Lord, I place all of my hopes is in Your hands. My eyes are upon Your throne, fixed upon You until my race is run!

Nothing Wasted

I have been working my way through the study, "A Heart Like His" written by Beth Moore. The study focuses on the life of David from his time as a young shepherd boy to his life as King over Israel. I am often time captivated by the words that David uses to describe God. Look at Psalm 144:1-2:

Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

David knew his God - intimately. As a young boy tending his fathers sheep, he think of David playing his harp and singing praises to God. It was on those Judean hillsides that he learned how to pray and listen to God. Alone for long periods of time, he learned to rely on God and God alone. When a wild animal would attack, David would call upon the Lord for strength and deliverance.

God was using that time preparing him for what He had prepared for him. When David was 15, the Prophet Samuel would anoint him as the next King of Israel while Saul was still on the throne. And yet, it would be another 15 years before he actually ascended to the throne.

What happened during that time, more of the same. Conflict, betrayal, running, separation, loneliness, disappointment, battles, bloodshed, broken promises (not from God), heartache and deception were all a part of those 15 years of training. And yet, God used them all to mold David into a man after Gods own heart.

• You'll never know God as Lord, until you've humbled your heart in submission to Him in prayer. He is the one true God.
• You'll never know God is your Rock, until you've needed him to help you stand!
• You'll never know Him as your Loving God, until you've understood the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross - just for you.
• You'll never know God as your Fortress, your Stronghold, until you've had no where to turn, and He scooped you up and into His loving arms.
• You'll never know Him as your Deliverer, until you have found yourself totally powerless and reached out to Him to do what only He can do.
• You'll never know Him as your Shield, until you've been attacked by a brutal enemy.
• You'll never know Him as your Refuge, until you've found yourself without hope.

All of the conflict, all of the turmoil, nothing was wasted in the life of David! No matter how difficult life became, His heart was always drawn back to the God that He knew - intimately. A God who was always faithful. He has never broken a promise. He has never gone back on His word. He can be trusted with our lives, our love and our loyalty - for all of eternity!

Like David, I pray that nothing in my life will be wasted; but instead used to draw me closer to the God I love.

I'm not sure if you've ever been to the Garden of Gethsemane. It's a beautiful and memorable place to visit. If you were to go there today you would find some very, very old olive trees. Some are believed to be from the very time period when Jesus prayed in this now famous garden, the night of His betrayal.

In my study today I read a passage of scripture from Psalm 52. David is being pursued by King Saul, a man who by now is totally out of control. Saul has ordered the death of the people of Nob, including the men, women, children, infants and animals. 85 priests of the Lord were slain that day. Saul's reason - because he believed the people were siding with David against him.

In Psalm 52, David began to turn God loose on this despicable man. He spoke of the ruin that would come his way. A man who trusted in his wealth which was obtained by destroying others. In vs. 8, David drew a stark contrast between King Saul with himself.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Where did David place his trust? - In God!
Where did David place his hope? - In God!
Who did David give all of his praise? - To God!

He described himself as an olive tree. Do you realize that the olive tree is one of the longest living trees? There are many olive trees in Israel today that are 1600-2000 years old. The most fascinating thing about these trees is the fact that they are still producing fruit! Was it any coincidence that David chose that tree to describe himself? Absolutely not!

He was being pursued by a madman, and yet his unwavering faith in God was on display for all to see. In the midst of horrendous heartbreak over the death of the priests of Nob, the innocent women and children, David continued to trust in God. The more David exercised his faith, like the olive tree his roots grew deeper. Instead curling up in the corner of his cave in the fetal position refusing to come out, David's faith became more resolute. In fact, it flourished.

Even today, some 3000 years later, that olive tree of faith planted by David is bearing fruit in the lives of those who read his many Psalms. Where are you putting your hope? Are you like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God?

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Blessings - Lisa

And Yet God...

How can I say Thank You to a God who has heard my hearts cry? How can I say Thank You to a God who continues to show me just how much He loves me? How...?

The last six months I have been on a journey. We as a family have gone through some of the loneliest times we have ever experienced. Times of discouragement, loss, sadness, betrayal, rejection and pain. "And yet..., GOD "- that says it all! And yet God has been blessing in miraculous ways. And yet God has been my source of strength. And yet God has been my hope. And yet God has been pouring out His love over and over again. And yet God has been ministering to my soul like never before (or at least in a very long time).

Max Lucado says, "When all Hell breaks loose..., All of Heaven draws near". It is sooo true! What do you do when everything that you thought yourself to be has been all stripped away. The titles, the roles, all gone. What is left as you stand there in your nothingness? What's left is a woman and her God! What's left is a partially molded piece of clay, that in the Masters hand can become a masterpiece.

In June of 2007 Randy resigned as Pastor from our church in CA to take an Associates position at a church in IN. We arrived with the hopes of planting churches, seeing lives changed, and serving in a Great church. What we found in the following weeks was a church in turmoil. In October the church split in half as more than 250 people left. Over the following months, forgiveness and reconciliation could not be found. Two fractured bodies continued to bicker and fight and the hurt continued to spread. Wounded warriors, broken hearts, crushed spirits could not be overcome. Numbers continued to fall as Satan continued to wreak havoc in both places. In April the church could no longer pay the staff and the Pastor went on sabbatical never to return. In August we resigned as well, no longer able to fight the good fight to turn things around. Too much hurt. Too much pain. No more strength.

How can you look back at something like this and say that it was good? You can't. There was nothing good about it. But I can look back and say that because of what has happened, I love Jesus more now than I ever have. Going to church is not about being the Pastors wife. It's not about being the Sunday School Teacher. It's not about everyone knowing my name or even seeing my friends. It's once again all about Jesus, the way it is supposed to be.

As I look back over the last 18 months, where the journey has taken us, all I can say is, "And yet God....." My heart is so full of love for my Savior who has walked every step of this journey with me, leading, carrying, sometimes even dragging. It's been a hard road..., and yet God.....

I love the words to a song by Chris Tomlin that maybe more eloquently express what my heart is feeling.

"How Can I Keep From Singing" - Chris Tomlin

There is an endless song

Echoes in my soul

I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come

I am holding on

To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes

In the darkest night

For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You

Knowing You'll see me through

And sing the songs You give

If you do not have this type of relationship with God, won't you turn to Him today. Life can be so hard, and yet God! From a fellow sojourner, it's a journey worth taking!

Blessings - Lisa