May I share with you this picture and a story?

The Text comes from Psalm 84 and it was a portion of my reading this morning. I stayed with this Psalm for a while; from one verse to the next and I settled on verse 5 for my Scripture pic for today.

^5 (4) How happy are those who live in your house;
they never cease to praise you! (Selah)

Clearly this is speaking of GOD’s house, more specifically for us His Presence. For thousands of years, this passage has been experienced. Those living in the Presence of GOD are happy and they praise Him. And for me this verse gives me an application I am hoping will move you. It did me.

What if each person living in our respective homes could say to all the other persons living in each home: ‘you are easy to live with, you make our home a happy place.’  Can you imagine the difference that would make in this world?

Go with me for a few lines. This kind of living would mean kids could go to school in peace and anticipate going home to love and acceptance whatever their grades and loving help and support if perchance those grades were below average; they could count on having food, clean clothes, laughter, hugs, goodnight prayers, and quiet healthy sleep. Oh! I wish that could be for every home, children or not, and spouse or not!

The picture.  It’s so huge to me because in an imperfect way it fleshes out an application of today’s verse. This Summer we had most of our GRANDS at various times at home with us; the subject time was Josh and Issy. And here Issy’s big toe was sore. Pup offered to take a look and Issy agreed. We prepared a pan of Epsom salt water and soaked her toe and then Pup donned his headlamp to shed some light on what was causing the pain. Josh looked on even putting his foot in the saltwater identifying with his sister (well, maybe not but the analogy works :)  ) Are you seeing this imperfect picture of our Perfect GOD? Are you seeing GOD who stepped down from Heaven to wash our feet? Are you seeing that when each of us in our respective places serves one another, happy is spread all around? 

Is anyone in your house like that? You’re the only one? Well. It has to start with someone. Why not you? Why not me?

Sunday morning sermon. Text was found in Hebrews. And in a stray moment my eyes wandered to chapter 12 and verse 2. Two words caught my eye and I knew I’d be here writing to us before the day was out.

First, the two words: ² looking away

Now the passage is familiar to me so I knew what was coming and words started streaming. 

Looking away. What do I need to look away from?

I pretty much know the answer to that. I can give you a list. I probably have given you a list in all these years that we have been meeting at this screen. 

This I would suggest: I mostly need to look away from ME!

I must become less self-aware so I can be more HIM aware!

The Him who is the Initiator and Completer of . . . trusting

The Initiator of trusting! That was not ME! This life of trusting faith did not begin with me so how in the world would I think it could continue focused on me. Well, I really don’t think that, but I act like that sometime. 

So He, Yeshua. Also known as JESUS in this Western World. He is the One who started me on this faith walk and He is the One who will complete it! It was good reading it again this morning. It’s good reading every time I read it. 

So what’s the rest of it?

Hebrews 12:2 (CJB)

² looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And since He is seated there, I have the privilege and the responsibility to look away from myself here to HIM there! And in Him I will find every good thing needed to finish this earthly journey well; and as we said in Sunday School this morning, be ushered into the Throne Room of Heaven someday to SEE HIM face to face! Oh what a day that will be!!