Divine radio programming

Posted on 17 November 2007 by teddi

Many times I have experienced God’s divine timing with Christian songs on the radio. One memorable instance was when I was doubting God’s very existence. A conversation with someone had left me confused and mentally spinning. Could I be so wrong? Were my experiences with God really just my imagination?

I fell to my knees before the stereo and prayed silently, deep in my heart: “You know the song I need to hear, Lord.” A song began, and it wasn’t the one I needed. But something in my heart whispered, “Wait.”

And there it was. The following song was “Yes, I believe in God” by Rebecca St. James. And it confirmed to me that this God I love is more than just my imagination. He was real, and He could step into time and space to meet me here.

Tonight, it wasn’t quite such a dramatic moment, and I almost let it disappear into the recesses of my memory without much note. But I am quickened to record more of these little moments, for of such is woven the fabric of faith. As I drove to meet with some friends, I asked for a good song to come onto the radio.

The song that came was not only good, but practical: it was the song I needed to practice for Wednesday night’s worship time. “It Is You” by the Newsboys. There was a part that I learned incorrectly (or at least differently) with my old worship team, and hearing it on the radio confirmed and clarified the proper words and timing to practice. It saved me looking it up on YouTube. And gave me a wonderful worship song to sing before meeting with my friends. Thank You, Lord!

He is truly the Lord of great miracles and small moments. And after a while, it becomes difficult to say which is the most persuasive of His displays. We are so very grateful when a life is saved, that is a huge deal. Or when He provides a good job to pay the rent. These things seem as big as life itself.

And yet… when He shows up with something little specific treat, something only I really care about or need to hear… that’s when I truly know that His eyes are on me as an individual. That He sees and hears my inner self, sometimes the part that I haven’t even given much attention. He sees, and shows up with something special, just for me. Then I know he loves me.

And it happens over and over. All the time.

<loved>

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The pleasures of God

Posted on 16 November 2007 by teddi

“…In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” — Psalm 16:11, partial

As I seek to become more sensitive to the lead of the Lord, I have begun receiving story ideas in ways I’ve never experienced before. Whole concepts drop into my mind and unfold in the theater of my imagination. Details for characters sometimes build, a piece at a time, over a period of weeks or months. Cinematic styles parade through some story ideas that are clearly meant to be movies. Art styles are sketched on sheets of gray matter, directing a web comic destiny for others.

For me, the minutes — or hours — of these inspirations are utter bliss. Could this be a hint of the sort of delight that the saints of old describe when communing with the Lord? I know we are to seek the Giver and not the gifts. This is referenced so often in church that it must be a common mistake. Could it be that this is one of those so-delightful and yet distracting gifts? Likely, I suspect.

And yet, I love the imagination and creativity of the Lord. His ideas are so complete, so beautiful. So layered with colorful complexity.

The challenge will be taking these ideas from seed form to ripe fruit. Then again, following the metaphor a bit, if my role is as farmer to the seed (I water it, I protect it, I feed it) — then only God can make it grow. And really, in the genetic makeup of every seed is the natural tendency to grow perfectly into its full form. So I’m just along for the ride, right?

A sobering thought intrudes: could the ecstasy of these moments of divine creativity be analogous to the pleasures of love? In such a way is the seed of life planted. So much delight to be had in the planting of the seed. But then it must be carried. As a woman who has walked through two pregnancies, I recall clearly the adventure of carrying a child as it grows. At first, it seems little more than a beautiful thought: real, but so intangible. You tell everyone about it, but have no proof except perhaps a piece of paper with the word: positive.

Within a few weeks, you can show off the ultrasound. But really, even if you proudly point out the little head or hands, you have to admit: They are little more than ink blots on a page. As the months go by, things finally start to grow. It becomes clear that you really are carrying something. At long last, you come to the point where you can feel movement inside you. Even when you would rather be sleeping, it kicks and prods and keeps you awake. It has a life of its own.

And then — the greatest challenge. The delivery. Mighty — and sometimes painful — contractions to push that precious life into the world where everyone else can see what you knew all along was there.

Lord, give me strength, wisdom and faithfulness to bring these ideas to the fullness of Your plan for them! And in the midst of the pleasures of Your presence, help me remember that it’s not about the idea, however delightful: it’s all about You, Jesus!

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God Is My Refuge — In More Ways Than I Realized!

Posted on 20 September 2006 by teddi

Have you ever had an epiphany that you find difficult to describe to others? It happens to me all the time! As my husband puts it (drawing from a classic cereal commercial), “Taste it again, for the first time.” It seems I am always “realizing” things that I already knew — on one level. But I’m discovering new levels of understanding, even though it’s difficult to describe the difference. I find the limits of language when I try to describe these new levels of understanding. For example, a revelation I had this morning while listening to Gloria Copeland preaching on our protection in Jesus:

God is my refuge. And if He is my refuge, that means He is my shelter, my fortress, my protection from whatever is attacking me. Now, if God is my fortress, then He’s a perfect and effective fortress, because He’s GOD. Which means… if I take refuge in God, the devil can’t touch me!

Dude! Check it out! No, really — think about it. If God is our refuge, but it’s just some “nice idea” (and not a real, substantial, truly effective protection), then it’s useless. For some reason, I had this filed in my mind under an old traditional religious paradigm that said something like this: “God is my refuge, therefore the devil can’t do anything too bad to me (although he might still do a lot of horrible stuff if God decides that would be useful in refining me), and even if the devil wins and kills me, then at least I’m going to heaven and I’ll be safe there.” Now what kind of lousy protection is that? That’s no protection at all! It leaves the door wide open for the devil to do all kinds of horrible junk!

Now, in recent years I’ve begun to break out of these old religious thoughts in regards to physical protection. I’d begun to apply scriptures like Psalm 91 for physical protection in physically dangerous circumstances. I now believe (as I didn’t believe before) that God offers us protection from illness, injury, biological weapons, etc. But for some reason it never clicked all the way to realizing that God’s protection includes protection from demonic attack. But if my fortress doesn’t protect me from my current enemy (the devil!), then it’s no fortress at all — or at least it’s a partial refuge only.

As this idea hit home, and I stood stunned at the implications, more scriptures came to mind.

We put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12), the full armor of God — which includes the belt of truth (His Word) and the shield of faith (in His Word). We fight with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Our shield quenches every fiery dart of the devil (Ephesians 6:11-17).

“We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].” (1 John 5:18)

“Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.”
(Psalms 91:9-10, emphasis mine)

Even seeing these here on my screen doesn’t quite do the idea justice. I’ll have to work on this some more to describe it better — or maybe it’s something that a person can only grasp by revelation, and no amount of description can fully illuminate it. The Bible speaks of being completely safe from the devil. Every fiery dart quenched. Taking refuge and being protected from every attack, freed from every snare.

This is not to say that we won’t face attack. This is not to say that we won’t see “scary” circumstances — even all around us. The point is that we have a safehouse, a safe place to run and find refuge and be completely protected.

I have often felt like I was standing alone against the attacks of the devil, battered and bruised and trying desperately to hold up my sword and my shield. I felt like my success or failure depended upon my strength of will and skill with these weapons, depended upon my ability to master my emotions and wrestle my flesh into submission and shout down the devil. When attacked emotionally, I felt there was nowhere to run that I could find relief, I just had to bear it until I could get enough gumption to fight the devil off. Gah! It’s no wonder I got beat up: I didn’t know what I had available to me!

What a misinformed soldier I’ve been! No wonder that song “Strong Tower” was speaking so powerfully to my spirit a couple of months ago. God’s been working to get this revelation into my spirit. In Him, my strong tower, I will find refuge: true safety and relief from the devil. There really is a place where we can run. A mighty fortress from which to shoot back and clear the way forward.

I need to research this further and re-read some scriptures in this new light. Even though I need to read further, the scriptures I already know are resounding in my mind and spirit: there is no doubt that this is what the Word says. I just need to believe it. And I do!

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” (Psalms 91:2)

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