Listening to God’s Still Small Voice

I know you’ve seen this many times as we pay close attention to the recommendations by medical professionals: "COVD-19 Prevention: Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes. Drink warm water as an effective way to stop all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice. Gargling with a simple warm water salt solution is also an effective measure for preventing contraction of viruses. Ensure your mouth and throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water at least every 15 minutes. Drinking water or other liquids will wash the virus down the throat and into the stomach, where stomach acid will kill it. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables."

God sure amuses and blesses me with some of His “aha moments”. Each year, during the Lenten season, I choose the Daniel Fast which is just fruits and vegetables and water. So preparing for this fast, I made a freezer full of vegetable meals as well as have lots of frozen fruits for making protein drinks. I love my coffee, but hot water helps satisfy me. I was already in go-mode before this crisis ever hit. I’ve got the handwashing down, drinking warm water multiple times daily AND I’m eating lots of fruits and veggies. Thank You, Lord, for your still small voice that prepared me for this season. In fact, unlike before, I bought a ginormous pack of toilet paper a couple of weeks ago. Thank you, God, again!

I spoke to two of my friends yesterday. One shared that she felt so strongly, three weeks ago, that she and her husband should close their stock accounts. At first, he didn't agree and even their financial advisor disagreed since the stock market was higher than ever before. But she wouldn’t back down. They closed their accounts. And, another friend said that she and her husband closed theirs five weeks ago. Both have a very tight relationship with God. They know His voice.

We’re sort of quarantined to our homes, our churches’ doors are pretty well closed, except mine has a chapel that stays open for us to go in and pray. I'm going there today. There’s something about that solitude, no phone interference, no outside noise and, oh, the presence of Jesus that is there. I take my journal with me. I hear God’s still small voice and I write those words down. Such peace is found there. Such comfort.

I get it. Since anyone can get COVID-19, everyone can get COVID-19. Those of us who have the antidote, can live without fear. Jesus asks us, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If you then are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” (Luke 12:25–26). Worry provides the sense that we are doing something about our fear, but that’s an illusion. Rather than worry about the future, we should prepare by doing what we can do and trust God with what we cannot.

I understand that the virus is one nine-hundredth the width of a human hair. Our Father measures the universe with the palm of his hand (Isaiah 40:12). He is on the throne of the world. Let’s be sure He is on the throne of our hearts today. Let’s get better acquainted with Him and His still small voice that has the answers for us.

This is Epiphany Sunday and I Had an Epiphany

An epiphany is an "ah-ha" moment – when a light comes on in our minds and we suddenly understand something. The original epiphany occurred when three “wise” kings saw a star like none other they had ever seen. This star led them to the Christ child. “Aha! This is the king we have been waiting for!”

I'll segue here for a personal moment. I wonder why God didn’t let a woman, with all our attention to details, give explicit facts about the story of the three kings, or is it three magi, or were they wise men? Only the disciple, Matthew, writes about the magi and he sure wasn't detail-oriented. He told us about the wise men visiting the Holy Family, but he left out the details of how long after Jesus was born did the wise men come? How far did they travel? How old was Jesus when they arrived? Where were they from? The East? Matthew, just East? How did they know to follow THAT star? Were there only three who came? One for each gift? Or were there more than that?

At my church today, I’ll be reading the passage in Isaiah 60 that prophecies this “LIGHT has come”. It says “Nations shall walk by Your Light." Isaiah prophecied that “caravans of camels shall fill you, all from Sheba bearing gold and frankincense and praises to the Lord.” So, Matthew, were there camel caravans that came to the Holy Family and not just three wise kings? C’mon Matthew! Details, we need details!”

Oh, but, I get it, Matthew! I have an “epiphany”! I have an aha moment. Matthew, you are a wise and articulate Gospel writer. You knew this story really wasn’t about the wise men. It was and IS about Jesus. What’s important isn’t the details about the wise men, it’s that God is here, among us, in human flesh and blood. God revealed this to the wise men, and He uses the wise men to reveal it now to us. Indeed they were WISE.

It's not that “wise men still seek him”, as the saying goes, It's not that we should seek signs from God in the stars, and not that we should travel great distances to get to Jesus. All those things are about the wise men, what they did; and about us, what we should do. To the Wise Men, their journey was about only one thing: Jesus. They came to fall down and worship Him. And why did they? For one reason only: God wanted them to know that their Savior had come. Not just the Savior of the world or the wise or of the good, but their Savior. That’s why He sent the star. And that’s why they fell down and worshipped him.

Epiphany comes to teach us again about our God. The one, true God. The only One who will not let us down, leave us, or fail us. The only One who keeps His Word and all His promises - even when that means being born as a baby and dying on a cross. The wise men had gods where they came from, so if just any god would do, why bother? And if any religion will do, why make the journey to Bethlehem? These wealthy wise men who seemed to have it all, knew they didn’t. They fell down and worshipped the One Who did. And Who could give them what they needed most. It didn’t matter that He was just a child. The Word made flesh was the gift that had come for them.

I will read and triumphantly declare an AHA – an Epiphany today! “Arise, shine, for your Light has come!”, said Isaiah. And this Light is for all people. For that’s what worship is -- not what we do for God, but what God does for us. In worship, we receive what we need. We come as sinners for forgiveness. We come unworthy to be made worthy. We come with doubts and fears and we hear His Word of promise and assurance. We come hungry and are fed by Him -- His own Body and Blood.

The wise men left wiser for they saw what no earthly learning could reveal to them -- their Savior. And they received what no earthly treasures could buy - eternal life. And so do you and I.
And that’s what Matthew wants us to know. The details about the wise men? Neh. Details aren't important. Epiphany, when the light goes on. The real Light - not just the Christmas lights that shine for a while, but the Light we need all year round. The Light in our darkness. The Light that changes everything. The Light of Jesus Who we worship anywhere and any time.

Maybe, just maybe, God will use you and I as one of His “wise men and women,” We get it. We really get Him, and we, too, fall down and worship Him.

That Annoying Fly and Our First Line of Defense

It is Saturday morning and my blog inspiration is slow in coming, Soon the creative juices start to flow. It starts with an annoying, over-sized, buzzing horse fly that overflew his bounds since the night before. I attempt tactical warfare -- swatting and spraying – but the beast lives on. Then, while sitting at my desk, he has the nerve to land on me. I think: “This is one of satan’s little imps on assignment to steal my joy and annoy me!” He, obviously, doesn’t know I am in “beast-mode” after a week of faith-filled injections of God’s Word at VBS. I grab my trusty flying insect spray and nail him. He is down for the count! Victory!

Now, it is time to head out for a 7 am appointment. I turn the ignition on my car. It does not start. All the lights, music, and a/c are working just fine. I know it's not the battery. I call my children for help, but, alas, this is their morning to sleep in. No cell phones on. One last attempt before canceling my appointment. I call my grandson who picks up the call. He is gracious to get me. It is worth the annoyance to have this precious few minutes together. He fills me in on his new real estate career and so much more. He waits while in my appointment. We go for breakfast at Chick-Fil-A where my granddaughter serves us. Then, we’re back to my home where I start to figure out what to do about my car. It’s Saturday and my auto repair shop is closed. I call and leave a message that I’ll have AAA to tow the car to them on Monday. I call and ask my family to please take me to church tomorrow because I’m on for serving this Sunday. I think “This is all a hassle with towing, a repair bill that I’m not looking forward to, and my family going out of their way for me, but I’ll get it done and soon this will be behind me!

I sit down for my morning devotion and prayer time when suddenly, I remember that on Thursday night I was the speaker for our Rejoice Healing Night at my church. I spoke about our “first line of defense” when trouble comes. Jesus used it for those who approached Him for healing or help. The example I used was from Mark 5 -- the story of Jairus, a synagogue leader, who came to Jesus begging Him to come and heal his dying daughter. After the interruption of a crowd and a woman with an issue of blood for 12 years who was healed as she touched the hem of His garment, Jairus and Jesus were on their way again. But Jairus was met by people from his home who said: “Don’t bother the Teacher – your daughter is dead!” Before Jairus could say a word, Jesus said to him: “Do not fear – only believe!” The first line of defense. The little girl was healed.

An "aha" hits me. I start praying for my car right here in my chair. “Nothing is impossible with You, God!" I go to my car and pray. “Please heal my car, Lord. I am not fearing. I am believing that nothing is impossible with You!” I turn the ignition. Nothing. But, something (actually, Someone), tells me to look to my right. I see that my car’s gear stick is in neutral – not in park. I put it in park, turn the ignition, the car starts -- and in my heart, I hear bands playing and choirs singing “Alleluia” and so am I!

Oh me. Had I not prayed and just pondered “What do I do? Who do I call? Where do I go?” instead of applying my "first line of defense", I would be waiting for the tow truck on Monday and no telling what charges would have been incurred. So many repercussions when, instead, I use Jesus' tips for quick answers to prayer: "Do not fear; only believe!"

I think back on my Saturday morning fly and car annoyances. I feel that way about the enemy of our souls – how annoying he can be. But, when we use the right plan of attack on him, he and all his tactics to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10) will be swatted and lambasted out of our lives. Remember. Jesus and I told you so: "Do not fear; only believe!"

Have You Ever Had an Epiphany?

You know that sudden realization – that aha moment – when you suddenly understand the reality of something or the meaning of something. I've had many “epiphany” moments when I could see clearly what someone meant when that said "that" or when I’m reading passages from the Bible that I’ve read dozens of times before, but this time, I really understood it. It was a “revelation” -- a revealing – an epiphany! The lights came on!

Now, let's turn back time to the arrival of the Three Kings aka Magi aka Wise Men to the home of the Holy Family. This is Epiphany 101 -- the realization, aha moment, the revelation, the "epiphany" that the little baby boy that they were coming to worship is the Messiah, the Son of God. Were they "star" struck? Was there a glow around the child? Were there angels singing and little drummer boys playing and was Mary kneeling before Him in wonder and likewise, was Joseph just standing there gawking at his boy while hanging on to his shepherd's staff? Were all the animals lying down in a panoramic view of the holy scene? It's all debatable because theologians differ on whether it was at the manger or two years later at the Holy Family's home but one thing is for certain -- those men had studied the prophecies of the coming Messiah because they said, “We have seen His star in the East and were determined, by faith, to go and worship Him."

Today, January 6th is Epiphany Sunday and the 12th day of Christmas. It officially marks the end of the festive season of Christmas for Christians. That’s why so many of us wait until after this day to take down our Christmas decorations.

Epiphany is a Greek word which means “manifestation.” Today, we celebrate how God manifested His glory to the Magi. First, they saw THE star and chose to follow it all the way to Jesus. Second, when they found Jesus, besides offering “baby shower gifts” of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they humbled themselves, knelt down and worshipped Him. And, third, the result of their offering and worship was they went home changed. Talk about getting a “return” on your investment!!

And this is how the “flow chart” of our lives should look. Every day we should be choosing to follow THE STAR -- following Jesus. That’s the choice we make on a daily basis – in our workplaces, homes, schools, and communities -- honoring and worshipping our King, our Messiah, the Great I Am. The Magi saw more than a star. They saw God incarnate – divine God and man and when we seek Him, we’ll find Him. It begs us to fall on our knees to worship Him in honor of Who He is and what He has done for us.

The Wise Men were changed forever. They never went back to King Herod and his ungodly ways. “Normal” was no longer an option. They had an EPIPHANY. They had seen the glory of God manifested in that little boy -- God wrapped in human flesh.

And, because we are also WISE men and women, who see, hear, go, worship and adore the Son of God, everything changes for us, too! How can we go back to our old ways and patterns and inconsistencies once we’ve had an EPIPHANY of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our lives?

Holy Spirit, please fill us up with the glory and manifestation of Jesus. May His glory change our way of thinking, acting, and helping others to have an EPIPHANY in their lives, too!