Wide Open Spaces

I do not fare well in close quarters. I have to talk myself off the ledge, so to speak. It is okay, Kristy. You’re not going to die. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus your thoughts. If I don’t do that kind of self-talking, I will be bugging out. So, I love verses about open spaces. God knows my weaknesses and fears and how to best handle them.

Exodus 3:8 I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…

When I read that verse, another verse immediate came to my mind.

Psalm 119:45 I will walk freely in an open place because I seek your precepts.

I love this verse. Every claustrophobic person on the face of the planet should love this verse. The reason the Psalmist can walk freely in an open place is because he sought God’s precepts first. The psalmist knows he can walk freely because his borders or walls are forever before God (Isaiah 49:16) and he’s under God’s protection.

What is a “precept?” It’s a command or statute, an appointed mandate from God. The psalmist writes often regarding the precepts of God.

Do you know what I can do more freely in an open place as opposed to a closed or small place? BREATHE! I can draw in a deep breath and exhale, releasing the tension and stress that is bound in my body. Job 32:8, But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Isaiah 42:5, Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads forth the earth and that which comes out of it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it…” God gives us the breath in our lungs giving us life.

Then Exodus 3:8 reminded me of Psalm 23. Verses 1-3a, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He make me lie down in green pastures” (open spaces to breathe deeply); “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul”… (the milk and honey of life).

Isn’t God good? His Word is so rich. It’s nourishment for our weary souls. Whether you need open space to breathe in deeply to take Him all in or if you need solitude, He provides the milk and honey of life.

Abba,

Thank you for the breath in our lungs. Thank you for breathing life into us every moment of the day. Thank you for providing the milk and honey of life. Help us to never take it for granted.

Amen.

Hands

John 10:25-29 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in My Father’s name testify about Me.  But you don’t believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice I know them, and the follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish – ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

These four verses pack a vast amount of information, and each part should give us believers great comfort. Let’s break it down.

Jesus is talking to the Jews who have asked if He was the Messiah. His response is He did tell them, but they didn’t believe. Jesus doesn’t force anyone to believe in Him. It is up to each person to decide what they believe.

Jesus tells the Jews His works testify about Him. As believers, what do our works testify about us? Are we talking about people behind their backs masking it as a “prayer request?” Or are we using our words to build up believer and lead the lost to Christ? You understand this point without my belaboring it.

Believers are followers of Christ like sheep follow a shepherd. There are benefits to being Christ’s sheep. We get to hear His voice. Do you know what His voice sounds like? It takes some practice in being still, worship, meditation, quiet time with God, praying, and being silent.  Let me tell you about God’s voice. 1 Kings 19:11-13 says the Lord wasn’t in the great and mighty wind that shattered cliffs nor in an earthquake nor in a fire. Elijah heard a voice, a soft whisper. Elijah was so overwhelmed by this whisper, he wrapped his face in his mantle. Zephaniah 3:17 says God rejoices over us with singing. OH, the things we miss out on by not listening for and hearing the voice of God.

Another benefit in being a follower of Christ is eternal life. We will never perish. The Greek word is “apollymi” which means to destroy fully. We may endure hardships, and our physical bodies may fail, but we will NEVER be fully destroyed because we have eternal life with Jesus in heaven. Does that give you peace and comfort? If it doesn’t, the next part should.

Once we are the sheep of this Shepherd, no one can take us out of His hand. Hands are amazing instruments. I remember as a child studying my daddy’s hands when I would give him a manicure. No one else I know has hands like my daddy. They are very distinguishable. Jesus’ hands have our names engraved in them (Isaiah 49:16), and do you know where they are engraved? In the palm of His nail-pierced hands…that’s where. He has purchased His sheep with His blood. He isn’t about to let someone snatch them out of His hands now.

I love the next part. It’s almost as if it’s like, “My dad is better than your dad” kind of thing. Jesus says His Father has given Him those who believe, and His dad is greater than all fathers including the father of lies, Satan. I want to remind you of what God’s “greater” looks like. Louis Giglio on YouTube “How Great Is Our God” will tell you just how big God is. Giglio loves space, and he gives the audience a small glimpse of the size of our God. The audience is left feeling small and in awe. If you ever forget how great your Father is or just need reminding, watch this clip. We serve a great God.

Father and I are one. They are unified. There is no division. They are 2 parts of the Trinity. These two agree. God is His witness.

If you choose not to follow Christ, it is your choice. If you choose not to follow Christ on earth, you cannot choose heaven later. The reward for choosing Christ on earth is having a Father who is waiting on us, created heaven for us, and if you deny Christ on earth, He will deny you in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33).

His hands, His voice, His presence are a comfort to His sheep. This is why in Psalm 23 the sheep testify of the Shepherd’s rod and staff giving comfort. Those who do not know Him, who do not believe Him, do not have this comfort, nor do they understand it when you try to explain it to them.

Aren’t we blessed? We are safe and secure and comforted. If you aren’t giving thanks right now, you really should. I know I am.

http://biblegateway.com/

My Daddy's Hands

When I was in elementary, my daddy would ask me to give him a manicure. One time I tried to give him a pedicure, but his feet were harder and tougher than boot leather. Kid you not. His hands were not much better, but he would soak them in some warm water to soften them up a little before I applied the lotion to his hands and cuticles. His hands are easily identified.

I worked so hard to push his cuticles back and buff his nails smooth. I don’t know if he could tell a difference or not by the time I was done, but it was time we had sitting side by side.

My daddy’s hands would beat my behind like a drum when I was a baby because that was the only way I’d go to sleep.

My daddy’s hands put together a swing set in the candlelight in an unheated shed, so we would have a surprise from Santa when we got up on Christmas morning.

My daddy’s hands would teach my sister to fish and would hold my hands on a shotgun while I tried to aim.

My daddy’s hands would rub my back.

My daddy’s hands are the ones I would put my feet in and let him pump me up and down. Obviously momma wasn't home. Circus tricks were only attempted in her absence.

My daddy’s hands are also the ones who plucked me out of a church pew when I was misbehavin’ to go wear my behind out. His hands disciplined me on more than one occasion. He used to tell people the reason I didn’t have much of a behind is because of how frequently I received spankings.

My daddy’s hands would hold my hands when we had dates or anytime I rode next to him in the truck.

My daddy’s hands would open the doors for my mom and hold them for me when we had dates.

My daddy’s hands placed my hand into the hand of the man I married.

My daddy’s hands have rocked and played with my children.

My daddy’s hands garden and have the strength of a vice grip.

I know everyone doesn’t have a daddy with these kind of hands, and for that I’m truly sorry.

But we do have is a Heavenly Father who has something very unique about His hands, and it makes them easily identified.

Isaiah 49:16, Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are continually before me. ESV

Some translations read He has inscribed or written us into the palm of His hands. Do you know what are in the palms of Jesus? Nail scars. As daughters of the One True King, we are written, engraved permanently in the hand of God. John 10:29, My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Whether you had, have or didn’t have a good earthly father, we have a wonderful Heavenly Father. So, Abba, Happy Father’s Day.

Our Father’s hands knitted and created you in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:14)

Our Father’s hands turns darkness into light and makes the rough places smooth. (Isaiah 42:16)

Our Father’s hands work to make His will known.

Our Father’s hands holds the world in space.

Our Father’s hands discipline us when we need it, how we need it, and how frequently we need it.

Our Father’s hands has prepared a wonderful place called heaven for you and me.

We have a pretty amazing Father.

http://blueletterbible.org/