The Keeper

At our house, I am the "keeper."  By that I mean I keep all the important documents and papers.  I have a red notebook which holds the most important things we may need to put our hands upon.  This notebook holds birth certificates, social security cards, our marriage license, the deed to the house, receipts for major items, etc.
Everyone knows that if for some reason they need to look in that notebook, it has to be returned to its designated place that they had better not take something out of the notebook and not return it.  I hold fast to these documents for safe keeping unto the event we will need them in a hurry.
In the same vein, the Lord Jesus holds fast unto us and keeps us unto all eternity.  We are "kept" by His power:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1: 3-5.)

As good as I am with keeping up with our important papers, the Lord Jesus is perfect at keeping up with us.  We are His and He ever lives in  Heaven to make intercession for us: 

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 14-16.)

There is not a moment time in our lives when the Lord Jesus is not interceeding for us. What a tremendous thought that at this very moment He is praying for us to the Father!  In this day, we are kept by His power, which can never fail.

This is why we can always approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that this is the very place to find mercy, grace and help in time of need.  We should find great comfort and encouragement in this.

 He is always for us, He is always available and we are always on His heart.

In and In

When we walk during the summer I carry at least four liters of water in my hydration pack.  Two liters are in the bladder of the pack and two are in additional water bottles.  The bladder has a tube with a spout near my mouth that makes drinking water during the walk very easy.

Experienced hikers will tell you that, while it is good to carry available water, the best way to carry water is inside you.  They recommend that before starting the hike, you drink a liter of water.

This reminds me of two verses in Scripture:

"For in Him we live, and move and have our being..." (Acts 17:28.) 

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the Hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:27.) 

Christ is in us and we are in Him. There is no where we can go to escape from the Lord.  In fact, the psalmist said:

"Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit?  or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there:  if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou are there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me." (Psalms 139: 7-10.)

Water is the most essential element we carry when we walk.  It is near us and, if we are wise, it is in us.  In a spiritual sense, Christ is the essential element.  For all people, He is everywhere we go and we "live and move and have our being" in Him.  If we are wise, and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, He is in us.  He is that Living Water which causes us to "never thirst."  

Let us determine to stay "hydrated" in both senses. . .physically and spiritually.  Let us avail ourselves of the "rivers of living water" the Lord Jesus is to us and ever grow in the knowledge that everything we do, we are in and filled with Him.

God Made the Tears

The other night I dreamed that one of our children had been killed.  Even in my sleep I had been crying and I cried still after I awoke just from the sadness the thought caused.

Tears are often considered a bad thing.  In fact, the other day I saw a young, obviously pregnant woman, crying as she was leaving her house and heading toward her car.  The sight saddened me that she should have encountered something -- bad news perhaps -- that brought these tears to her face.

Tears are useful though.  

They lubricate the eye and keep it free of dust.  Some of the substances in tears fight against bacterial infection.  Tears flow across the eye and into the nasal cavity and help clear this passageway as well.

But not all tears are the same.  

The chemical makeup of tears is different depending upon what caused it.  There are the normal tears which keep our eyes lubricated.  Then there are tears caused by exposure to chemicals or substances in the eye.  These tears help to wash out and clean the eye of the offending agent.

Then there are tears caused by strong emotion.  These tears contain more of the protein-based hormones such as prolactin (best known for its role in enabling breastfeeding and also known for it's relaxing effect on the breatsfeeding mother.)  Emotional tears also contain leucine enkephalin, a natural painkiller.  Is there any wonder we feel better after "a good cry?"

When we experience sadness which brings us to tears, the Lord has already provided --in our own tears-- substances which can help us feel better.  God made those tears which fall from our eyes, and He knows pain, too.  The Lord Jesus is referred to as the "Man of Sorrows" in the Scriptures.  So the One who is the most "aquainted with grief" is also the One who put natural painkillers and relaxing agents in our tears.

Our tears are so precious to the Lord, the psalmist said, "Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?" (Psalm 56:8.)

The next time we are lead to tears, let us remember the One who suffered much for our salvation, the One who created tears, the One who from the foundations of the earth made provision for us in our tears.

Better than Butter

I guess I have a couple things in common with Paula Dean.  We are both southern girls and we both like butter.

To me, butter is the sum of all culinary things.  Almost every dish I love contains or conveys butter.  I love bread, with butter.  I love pasta, with butter.  Chocolate has cocoa butter in it.  I love squash, potatoes, green beans. . .all better with butter.

I have always said that cake is only a vehicle for icing, and what is icing but sugar and butter?  There is a bakery in town which uses the slogan, "Butter makes it better," and they are absolutely correct.

I do not, usually, eat butter all by itself, but combined with other ingredients it is a marvelous substance.  For those who would warn me of the dangers associated with butter, I hold to the belief that if God made, it has to be good.

In spiritual terms, butter would be the Lord Jesus.  He is "all and in all."  He is that which makes everything in our lives wonderful.  He doesn't give us love, the Bible says He "is love."  He is our bread of life, He is our living water.  He is all that we will ever need and when we have Him, everything in our lives is better.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence," (Colossians 1:18.)

He is the most wonderful, most precious Gift we have ever been given. . .even better than butter.

More Precious Than Silver

by Lynn DeShazo

Lord, You are more precious than silver;

Lord, You are more costly than gold;

Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds;

And nothing I desire compares with You.