God Eavesdrops

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

Conversations with friends are certainly more intimate than those with neighbors or casual acquaintances. In times of weakness we would be embarrassed if our words were overheard but, hopefully more often, we share honest, intimate thoughts—feelings, hopes, disappointments.

Since we speak from the fullness of our hearts, words between Christians may include personal insights, fresh understanding, and Bible verses. Our conversations include encouragement, counsel, and opportunity to pray together. I can trace areas of personal growth back to conversations with friends who lovingly listened to my heart.

But they weren’t the only ones listening.

Malachi 3:16 tells me someone else heard our words and was equally impressed. I am warmed by the intimacy of Malachi’s revelation:  

Then those who feared [honored] the Lord spoke to one another,
and the Lord listened and heard them;
so a book of remembrance was written before Him
for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.

God eavesdrops on our conversations! Not to find fault, but because He is blessed to hear us voicing our love and respect for Him. Think about a time you overheard someone say something complimentary about you. It’s even more precious because it wasn’t said directly to you but spoken in honor of you. Read the verse again in the MSG Bible:

Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked it over.
God saw what they were doing and listened in.
A book was opened in God’s presence and minutes were taken of the meeting,
with the names of the God-fearers written down,
all the names of those who honored God’s name.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them,” Jesus (Matt. 18:20).

God’s Secrets

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Most of us have favorite Bible verses we return to over and over. In the coming weeks I will share a few of mine from an endless list, and I’d love you to tell me your favorites. Today is Psalm 25:14:

The Lord confides in those who fear Him;
He makes His covenant known to them.

This verse overwhelms me with its intimacy, revealing God’s desire to be near us and share His heart with us. He wants to let us in on His secrets and His plans for humanity—the covenant pact between us. He wants to take us into His confidence. Amazing!

Think about who you choose to confide in. I’m guessing it’s not the person you pass by with a “Hi, how are you?” “Fine thanks, how are you?”

We share confidences with those we’ve built a relationship, those who are interested enough to not only listen to our words but also our hearts. Friends care because we have connection, a bond of trust.

God cares about us in that way. He knows our hearts and still enjoys us. He responds to us and, without judgement, He readily listens to our worries and complaints. He has time for us. Can we say the same for our part in the relationship?

Do we rush past God with a, “Hi, how are you?” Does our attitude say, “I’ll get back to when I have time” or “I’ll let you know when I need You”? A relationship requires time if it is to grow in intimacy and trust. I can’t think of a single friendship that is more valuable than one with God.

Can you recall a time when you took a child aside to point out a hidden beauty, a pretty picture, or amusing bird? All you needed to say was, “Come here, I want to show you something.” They are like sponges and take it all in, eager and inquisitive. They trust us to reveal something new and wonderful.

I’m honored that God wants to confide in me. I want to hear His secrets and wonder at His revelations. I am committed to more than, “I’m glad you care, but I’ll see you later.”

How precious is His invitation to sit awhile and hear His heart!

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Red in the Bible

After last week’s post about red, I wondered how often the Bible mentions red. We may instantly think of the blood of Jesus—as some of you commented. But does it say, “Red blood?” It doesn’t. I looked it up.

Esau was the red twin (who asked his brother Jacob for a bowl of red stew).

The Red Sea is repeatedly mentioned citing God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites.

Animal skins were dyed red and covered the tabernacle.

Numbers 19 required a red heifer for a special sacrifice, which could send us down a long rabbit trail. Currently five red heifers are penned in a secret location in Israel and viewed as a fulfillment of end time prophecy. I’m certainly not equipped to expound on this.

But then we come to the glorious promise in Isaiah 1:18:

“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”

Sin is red, scarlet, crimson, but is it actually red? Or is it the sacrifice for sin that is red?

Sin cannot be condoned—it must be atoned for, and the atonement is always a costly sacrifice that bleeds red. Before you protest, examine your own cry for justice when you are wronged. Whether you’re slandered, robbed, or raped, physically or emotionally, the abuse demands justice and justice is what we are promised. Later in Isaiah (42:1), he prophesies about Jesus.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen One in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.”

But that is still not all Jesus’ shed blood is for. It is for our own sins, those red blots that stain us and are impossible to wash away. The Bible’s red is both for the sin and the sacrifice. What amazing grace and freedom are found in Jesus’ redemption. He alone saves us by opening the way to God, who says,

“Come now, let us settle the matter…
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

How Do You Feel about Red?

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

I’ve written posts about colors I love—yellow, green, and blue (my favorite)—but Valentine’s Day makes me think about red and I find myself torn. It has never been a favorite color and I rarely wear it. Maybe your wardrobe is highlighted with bursts of red and it’s your first choice for lips and nails or neckties. Just for fun, meander with me and then let me know how you feel about red.

For me, red screams. I think of red stop signs and traffic lights and the red flashes that pull me over if I ignore either. I think of red corrections scribbled on my writing or of “being in the red” when I neglect to balance my account. And I think of the red Empty light which is so disappointing when I’m eager to get someplace and don’t want to stop for gas. Or the red warning lights that hiss “Check Engine” or some other unwelcome message.

I do confess that I choose a team to root for by the color of their uniforms—I know you sports fans are cringing. That being said, I never cheer for a team wearing red, just like I would never buy a red car.

But…

I view the glorious red streaks in a sunset and my breath catches. I spontaneously smile when I see bright red cardinals punctuating the grey collage of branches outside my window or the red caps on the heads of woodpeckers tapping the trees in search of food.

And speaking of food, who can resist a ripe red strawberry, crisp red apple, tasty red Jersey tomato, or a juicy red watermelon? I love red peppers in my salad along with red radishes. And how much delight is there in lifting the lid of a pot of simmering red spaghetti sauce?  

I have a passion for holly bushes and thrill at the red berries set against shiny green leaves and the winterberry holly plant that’s mostly berries with few leaves. Which makes me think of Christmas décor with its cheerful pops of red. I tried to transition to burgundy but soon defaulted to “Christmas red,” which leads us to other holidays celebrated with red.

Patriotic holidays entice me to add red accents to my outfit. The red, white, and blue color scheme stirs my heart and lifts my mood. Around Memorial Day, I appreciate freshly planted red impatiens alternating with white in a garden border.

And then there’s tomorrow, Valentine’s Day, awash in red. There’s something to be said for perky red carnations and the velvet soft petals of red roses. I grow nostalgic remembering days gone by when I created cards with red paper doilies and cut out red construction paper hearts. I fondly remember my father giving me a small, red, heart-shaped box of chocolates every Valentine’s Day.

So, tell me…

How do you feel about red?