Author: Rebecca Edwards

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The Music of Praise

Dear Sisters,

This weekend I attended a lovely piano concert. Picture in your mind if you will: a Hawaiian church, the evening breezes blowing thru the open windows, family and friends seated around, lights focused on the baby grand piano tucked in the front corner of the building, and haunting melodies lifting around us. At the end of one piece in particular, I remember feeling almost cheated that the music did not continue.

Recently, my husband and I finished reading the book of Revelation. I have always longed to understand more of Revelation—its symbology often confuses me to say the least. One portion in chapter 4 established a particularly dry, boring image in my mind in which the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are constantly praising the Lord (with the same specific phrases). Today as I re-read those verses, last night’s concert came to mind and a suggestion developed that perhaps these praises would be much like the music I heard and wanted to continue—music expressing a surprising variety of thought and emotion, but always wrapped in delight and joy.

Each piece of music has notes it centers around, they hold the piece together as a whole, make it unique, and they repeat throughout. Perhaps the praises of those in heaven would pattern themselves much like beautiful music on earth—unified in its theme, ever changing in its expression. And, also like here on earth, the praise in heaven might flow and pervade every aspect of our lives. In other words, I do not imagine we simply have a forever ‘gather around the camp fire’ experience at the throne of heaven. God is a god of action and creation. He delights in work. In fact, He made us to work and created joy in our hearts for our acts of creation and His. Instead, I envision His saints working while praising much as we might whistle while we work—indeed, as in I Thess. 5:17 we should “pray without ceasing.” Here on earth, we are to constantly lift our hearts to Christ as we go through the day—in communion with Him; in heaven, oh joy!, we will be side-by-side with our Best Friend! I do not think we will be able to help exclaiming in delight over His power, majesty, glory, and honor as we ever find new facets of His person and work.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” Rev. 4:8b.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your Will they existed, and were created.” Rev. 4:11.

Over and over, the same chorus binding the praise together, different voices, high, low, quiet, trumpeting, lilting, flowing, marching, poignant, beautiful, and best of all—never ending.

Running (and praising) with you,
Rebecca

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What’s In Your Heart?

Dear Sister,

Tis the season of hearts, love, and longing. My own heart-attitude came to mind as I journaled this to the Lord today: “Establish an attitude of humility in Your servant. Perhaps there is where I need to start. Too often the top…leader…teacher…mother instead of the humble bond slave. I want to be Your bond slave, Lord, for I know You are gentle and merciful, all-wise and patient.”

As I wrote this, the reluctance I had prior—a need not to be trampled on, to be overwhelmed by others’ demands, to not be boundariless—dissolved because I realized I wasn’t called to become a servant chained to other flawed people and their desires, but a servant to the Lord—He will guide me as He sees fit and that is right, acceptable, and good because I know His character, I can trust in His heart. He will stretch me and allow circumstances and others to try me, but for my good. Though I may serve others, I am to always be His handmaiden—serving where He directs.

This heart is a precious, valuable tool—each of us only have one—it is well we should guard it! I cringe to remember how often I have thrust it out ahead of me in situations and with people, blindly ‘feeling’ along—hoping that will land me where my desires will be fulfilled. I love the verse, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Prov. 4:23. A friend pointed this out during the time I was dating as a reminder to be cautious with the relationships I allowed in my life, and quite correctly; however the verse should not just be applied to dating relationships, but to all things that can affect the heart—for good or ill.

Proverbs is often called the book of Wisdom, and I believe it may also be called the book of the Heart as that is where we should cultivate wisdom: “For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” Prov. 2:10.

Although our hearts should grow with God’s wisdom, at the same time they are still tainted with sin—it will be a constant battle on this earth keeping our hearts moving on God’s path and not straying toward sinful desires. Therefore, our hearts must trust in God and not our own ‘wisdom.’ “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” Prov. 3:5. We should know the nonsense of “follow your heart” and “do what feels right” is pure folly. “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts. “ Prov. 21:2; and, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Prov. 28:26. Ingesting God’s Word, following His principles, having a relationship with Him (not a fleeting, shallow, pray only during emergencies-type of relationship, but a continual, daily, enduring relationship) results in the true cultivation of and right direction for our hearts.

This Valentine’s Day, consider allowing our Lord to woo your heart. He loves you with an everlasting love and He battled to the death for you. Let Jesus be your ultimate love—setting His seal on your heart.

Running with you,
Rebecca

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God’s Very Righteousness

Dear Sisters,

Who am I? Who do people see? Who does my family see? What image does God see when He looks at me? How much of my appearance contributes to reality or a charade? I confess to my own confusion and frustration by these questions. I know what the ‘pat’ answers to the questions are—but what is the truth?

The Greek Word, eikōn “image” means that which resembles something, represents that thing—not in the sense of a coincidental resemblance, or a similarity, but an actual relation of one to the other. For instance, “And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.” Col. 1:15. Jesus is part of the God-head. In seeing Jesus, we see God.
On the contrary, appearance is simply my outward aspect. I have a tendency to confuse the importance of the two. My image in Christ should be manifestly more important than what I wear to a party or how ‘the Jones’ view my house. What does God see when He looks at me (and into me)? Thankfully, as a believer, He sees Jesus, “yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” Col. 1:22.

But our image does not stop at simply being cleaned. Paul continues, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:1-3. So, we should keep our minds with Christ where our lives already are, and catch this—we become God’s very righteousness: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Cor. 5:21. How is that for an image? Not only have we been washed clean from our sinful filthiness, His blood covers us so thoroughly that His righteousness is imparted to us as well! Who needs that ‘little black dress’ now?!

Running with you,
Rebecca

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We Are Family

Dear Sisters,

Did you realize that Jesus was not a direct descendant of Solomon? I didn’t. I simply assumed as Jesus was of the family of David, assuredly He had His lineage through the wisest, most famous, and most powerful Israelite king. He didn’t. The most widely accepted theory is that Joseph’s lineage is recorded in the book of Matthew (which does include Solomon), and Mary’s lineage (Jesus’ actual bloodline) is recorded in Luke—with David’s barely mentioned son, Nathan, as Jesus ancestor. Another irony—this son of David bore the name of the prophet who confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba. God’s use of irony and subtlety never ceases to amaze me. God does not ignore sin—how can a holy God do so? But, He can and does forgive such through His Son’s death on the cross. He redeems those lives ruined by sin.

And here is the exciting part: once we have recognized our desperate need for a Savior, and trusted that Jesus is that Savior, we have been released from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2) and introduced to a new life. This new life is differentiated by the fact that we are not slaves, mere followers, trembling penitents at God’s feet, but: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” Romans 8:14-15. Did you catch that? The Jews of the Old Testament were so cautious about the God of their Fathers and His absolute Holiness that they did not even utter His Name. Jesus’ habit of calling God, “Abba!” was unprecedented at that time. Yet, as believers, we have the same privilege as Jesus—calling God, “Daddy!”

As a slave to sin, I was a cast-out, I couldn’t even venture to glimpse into heaven—I was not known as part of the heavenly family, nor invited. The very walls of heaven would shun such a one as me, and the gates certainly wouldn’t open. Jesus did not make me a step-child, blending me into a family that may or may not include familial love. No, He adopted me. We know a number of families who are pursuing adoption or have already adopted children. These families have prayed for and wept for their children, they waited years and spent thousands of dollars, they struggled through mountains of paperwork all for the hope they would sometime be able to hold that precious one. Oh, those children are loved—they are family! And we believers; adopted by God, prayed for, wept for, waited millennia for, paid for by His Son’s life, with our names written in His Book—oh, we are His beloved children, wholly and completely!

As you enjoy this Christmas season, take time to snuggle down into your Daddy’s arms—grateful to Jesus and His willingness to be humble for us, to offer to us not just cleansing but entrance into His family—characterized by our new name (Christian) and a redeemed way of life.
Running with you,
Rebecca

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Sitting in the Dirt

Dear Sisters,

I looked up the word “friend,” as used in Proverbs 17:17 (“A friend loves at all times”), in a Hebrew dictionary. The word means ‘an associate (more or less close)’ and comes from the root, ‘to tend a flock’ or to ‘pasture it’ –by extension, ‘to associate with (as a friend).’ Working on tasks and eating together are the glue of many of my friendships. Likewise, many times we suffer through adversity together in these moments, which create and cement longstanding bonds.

My thoughts turned toward the story of Job and his friends. Job’s friends traveled to meet with him after hearing of the misfortunes that had swept over him. “When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky. Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.” Job 2:12-13.
Amazing love these men showed their friend! I love my friends and want to meet them in their pain, to help if I can; but I have never sat in the dirt with anyone for over an hour, much less days and nights—without speaking. (Note: they were men, however.) Unfortunately, after their great show of love, they turn from sorrowing with their friend to accusing him in their own self-righteousness.

I am afraid I too often make the same prideful mistake when a friend meets trouble. I want to help, so I seek out all the ways they have failed—to help them fix their problems and move on, of course. Yet, “a friend loves at ALL times”—the verse does not continue with said friend fixing imperfections—just loving. Sitting in the dirt. My friendships should be powdered with more of the dust of trials, and less of my desired white wash.

In James 2:23, the author recalls Abraham and God’s friendship, “’And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God.” What an incredible testimony. Abraham believed—he accepted God’s promise that he would have infinite descendants even in the midst of his childless sorrow! He and God sat in the dirt together, trusted, and were friends.

Dear God, please cultivate these friendship qualities in my life—yes, dirt and all.

Running(and sometimes sitting)with you,
Rebecca