The Shepherd Goes On Ahead

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside. (1)

There's always something to worry about. Whatever else may be in short supply, running out of worry-worthy topics is not something you need to worry about. It's wise to give some thought to what could be around the corner, just like it's a good idea to glance at the weather forecast to see if you'll need your umbrella. But for some of us, planning ahead deteriorates to worrying and obsessing. It's the equivalent of hear a forecast of light showers, and heading for the storm shelter. What a waste of energy!

...I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand. (2)

Jesus tells us (Matthew 6) not to worry about our needs for the future. He also tells us why we don't need to worry. (John 10:2-4). "...the shepherd of the sheep...calls his own sheep by name...leads them out [and] he goes on ahead of them...." We don't have to worry about what we'll find when we arrive at tomorrow--we'll find our Savior, waiting there for our arrival, with our needs already lovingly supplied. We just need to recognize His voice, and follow Him when He calls us. 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care...
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. (3)

References:
1. Great is Thy Faithfulness - T.O. Chisholm
2. I Know Who Holds Tomorrow - Ira Stanphill
3. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - attr., Dorothy Thrupp

Boldly, As I Should

All hail the power of Jesus' name
Let angels prostrate fall
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all (1)

Today, I'm up early, and morning is "gilding my skies." I had a good night's sleep, and I'm sitting at my desk, watching a beautiful sunrise develop as I write. This morning, it's easy to believe in the Lordship of Christ, and His ultimate victory over sin and sickness, death and hell. Today, I'll let the music speak for me.

You are stronger, You are stronger
Sin is broken, You have saved me
It is written, "Christ is risen!"
Jesus, You are Lord of all (2)

This morning, I will speak for my Audience of One, about His faithfulness--with a dozen or so bystanders. My prayer is that I will tell His truth clearly, so that He can use my words to touch hearts.

The kingdoms of this world
Have become 
The Kingdom of Our Lord
And of His Christ
And He shall reign forever and ever! (3)

"...and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,...that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."  (Ephesians 6:19-20)

References:
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name - Edward Perronet
Stronger - Hillsong
Hallelujah Chorus - G.F. Handel

All In the Family

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:13-14)

Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me.
Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me.
Little ones like me sat upon His knee. 
Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me. (1)

"Well, I'll be! You're Martha's girl...Richard and Betty's oldest... Ralph's boys."

Have you ever noticed what happens at family gatherings? Suddenly, you're not Dr. So-and-so, or Reverend Blank, or Mrs. X, the Teacher of the Year. You're just somebody's kid--a part of the family! You're a small piece of something much bigger.

When one has a heartache, we all shed a tear,
And rejoice in each victory, in this family so dear. (2)

Maybe some people don't enjoy family get-togethers because they don't have the confidence to allow themselves to go back to that "lowest common denominator"--the children we are. It can be scary to have to identify myself in "child terms" rather than who I am or what I do -- not to be "the published writer" or "Professor Smith's wife." Kids don't have accomplishments and titles to hide behind. Their joys, their hurts, their fears are right out there. Kids know that's how you find someone to share those feelings.

Children of the Heavenly Father,
Safely in His bosom gather.
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e'er was given. (3)

In the same way, as children of the Heavenly Father, we need to stop hiding behind our titles, our accomplishments, our awards. We need to let people in, past our Sunday morning smile, our "just fine!" our "gotta run--busy, busy, busy!" We need to be willing just to be Jim whose dad has Alzheimer's, or Gloria who can't find work, or Chris who struggles with impure thoughts. Not only is that the way we will find help and healing for ourselves--we can free others. Our transparency, our willingness to be vulnerable, helps open the door for them to seek wholeness.

But somebody has to go first....
 
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching? (4)

References:
1. Jesus Loves the Little Ones Like Me - Unknown
2. The Family of God - Bill and Gloria Gaither
3. Children of the Heavenly Father - Carolina Sandell-Berg
4. If We are the Body - Casting Crowns

How Many In Your Audience?

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night, 
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. (1)

"I want my dad to be proud."
"What would Mom say?"
"What would the pastor think?"
The boss. The neighbors. My kids.

All these concerns have some validity. SOME. The problem comes, though, when my audience gets too big. The question is, "How big is too big?" For the Christ-follower, the answer is simple. (You notice, I said simple--not easy.) If I claim to follow Jesus, then the size of my audience is--ONE. Others may watch. They may comment, applaud, or criticize. But they are bystanders. Their responses may impact me, but they should not dissuade me. Christ is my audience. I sing, I dance, I weep, I laugh, I love, I speak, I live, I die--for Him. (Romans 14:7-8)

I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back,
No turning back. (2)

I know, I know. There's something oxymoronic about writing on an open public blog to advocate an audience of One. My goal is to write what He assigns, to the best of my ability, in a way pleasing to Him, regardless if anyone else ever reads it. Pray for me.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. (3)

...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31b)

References:
1. Be Thou My Vision - attr. to Dallan Forgaill
2. I Have Decided - attr. to S. Sundar Singh
3. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Helen Lemmel

When Mourning Clouds the Skies

When morning gilds the skies, 
My heart awaking cries, 
"May Jesus Christ be praised!" (1)

 Those lines from the old hymn paint a beautiful picture of a peaceful morning, with a golden sunrise. But what about the morning when the skies aren't gilded? The days when you wake up to disease symptoms that are no better--in fact, they're worse. Your teen is still rebelling. Your loved one who passed away is still gone. Your job is still being phased out. What about the days when we identify more with the song performed by the group "Casting Crowns"?

But once again, I say 'Amen' 
And it's still raining. (2)

What do we do with Bible verses like 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything, give thanks," or Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good"? Often, in our rush to claim those promises, we take them out of context. We forget--or never even discover--that Romans 8:29 goes on to talk about God using those "all things" to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus. We miss the reminder that one purpose of our suffering is a training ground where we learn how to comfort those who are suffering around us (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

So, on the days when I can't see "morning gilding the skies" because mourning is clouding my skies, I can still sing. What's in my repertoire? I can start with  

What a friend we have in Jesus 
All our sins and griefs to bear. (3)

Then, as I experience His comfort, I can reach out to those around me who are hurting, and sing

My deepest prayer, my highest goal, 
That I may be like Jesus (4)

And as I learn more and more how to lean on His faithfulness and trust in His love, I can begin to sing

Blessed be the Name of the Lord, 
Blessed be Your Name. 
Blessed be the Name of the Lord, 
Blessed be Your glorious Name. 
You give and take away, 
You give and take away, 
My heart will choose to say, 
"Lord, blessed be Your Name." (5)

Today, may praise fill your heart, even if morning doesn't gild your skies.

References:
1. When Morning Gilds the Skies - translator, Edward Caswall
2. Praise You in This Storm - Casting Crowns (Mark Hall)
3. What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Joseph Scriven
4. I Want to Be Like Jesus - Thomas Obediah Chisholm
5. Blessed Be Your Name - Matt Redman