Just what IS the desire of your heart?

February 15, 2024

Maria Psalm 21 , , , , 1 Comment

You have granted him his heart’s desire …Psalm 21:2 NIV

If the Lord appeared before you and asked you what you wanted, what would you say? Are you prepared to ask for just one desire? Would that tumble off your lips without much reflection?

We just said goodbye to Mom, my mother-in-law, whom I’ve known for 44 years. During that last 2 years, she suffered a lot, almost dying from sepsis during a hospital stay. All along, she was hoping that doctors and medicine would restore her physical capacities. A very human response, for sure. But it looked like her faith was in doctors and drugs.

She did mention to me several times over the past two years (and to other family members) that she was at peace with dying. But I think she was imagining that transition happening one night in her sleep. And in the end, she did slip off to the Kingdom while peacefully sleeping.

But before the Lord granted her that prayer, he led her along a different path, one that involved losing ability after another. When she did pass, she weighed 79 pounds. She couldn’t swallow liquids or food anymore, couldn’t see faces clearly, let alone the written word, couldn’t speak much and wasn’t even able to get herself out of a chair or the bed. And she was totally aware of these losses. Her memory was still intact.

I learned a lot about God walking through this process with her.  I live in a different part of the country, but during her last two years I spent time with her, both in her presence and with daily phone calls.

My desire for her all along was that she would long for Jesus more than anything else. That seeing him face to face would be her primary heart’s desire.  On the last day, she did arrive at that point. Cousin Terry, her niece, named after her, shared the Gospel with her one last time over facetime. She encouraged Mom just to tell Jesus, “I want you, Jesus!”.  I did hear her whisper, for the first time in my presence, “I DO want God!” That was February 9, her last day in that body.

Reading Psalm 21 yesterday, I marveled at this example of a godly man asking for the one thing he wants more than anything in the world. In that same Psalm, God does grant what he petitions. How do we know the writer is ‘a godly man’?  Look at how the Holy Spirit describes him:

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give! Psalm 21:1 NIV

He is totally God-focused, exalting the Lord and exulting him him. Just what would a man with that kind of heart ask for? We know he’s a king, so he has plenty of ‘stuff’. Could it be physical strength or a happy family, peace with his enemies? We know from verse 3 mentioned above that God did indeed grant his request. 

Here is what the king wanted more than anything else:

He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever. Psalm 21:4 NIV

That is what Mom now has received. Unending days of LIFE! The life that Jesus came in person to give us. Now, in part, and one day soon, fully-orbed life in his presence.  Jesus wasn’t talking about life as we know it on Earth 1.0 with its first version of bodies, but a different life, one freed from suffering, without corruption, brokenness, or disappointments.

Yet… I’m sad that Mom didn’t get to experience more of that abundant life while she was still with us.  I don’t believe she knew or imagined the kind of love with which the Godhead has for her. She received a meager diet of biblical truth. She only started attending a gospel-rich bible study in her last year, when she moved to Asheville. I thank God for the Baptist pastor, Shekinah, whose church is next door to her former independent living residence.  She began to know in a deeper way our Jesus whom the bible reveals in both the Old and New Testaments. She witnessed someone who was bubbling over with genuine love because she, this pastor, knows how much Jesus loves her. 

A person who has experienced God’s love for him has his desires changed over time.  I want to be like the man in Psalm 21, who knows and seeks one thing. I am sure that this is exactly what God promises to give us.

A prayer for any situation

February 8, 2024

Maria 1 Corinthians 2, Exodus 33, God's Glory, Prayer, Psalm 20 , , , , , Leave a comment

Moses said, “Please show me your glory” Exodus 33:18 NIV

This morning with a cup of coffee at hand, I opened up to Psalm 20. I needed God’s word to shape my mind for this day.  I’m in the truck with Mike right now as we travel to Asheville to say goodbye to Mom who is dying.

The first part of Psalm 20 is a petition, asking God to grant his people several marvelous gifts of help and sustenance. Then comes verse 4 (NLT): May he grant your heart’s desires….

I paused and said to myself: Just what IS your desire, Maria, in this situation that involves Mom, her two sons, Mike and Steve and you?

I was about to form a response with details of her passing and the ‘boys’ grief, when what popped into my mind was Moses’ petition to witness God’s glory!

Not what I was expecting. But it thrilled me.  I saw it as evidence that bit, by bit, I am growing more like Christ.  I DO have ‘the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16).  Not completely, but each less-clingy, less-desperate detailed request is a way I can release control over my life and hand Jesus the reins. It’s a way of praying like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when he submitted to the Father’s will.

I don’t know what the weekend holds, but I do know that we have a Good Shepherd to lead us by the hand as we walk with Mom through the dark valley of death.  He will bring us to the other side.  May we see his glory!

Truth ‘trumps’ fear

May 15, 2016

Maria Faith, Fear, Isaiah 41, Isaiah 46, Psalm 55, Psalm 68, Unbelief , , , , , Leave a comment

No, I don’t mean Donald.

Truth, God’s truth, is the only remedy against fear and foreboding.

Truth by TK

2 Cor 5:7    For we live by believing and not by seeing

Hebrews 11:13  All these people died having faith

A dear friend in his late 50s struggles with the reality of sharing life with an aging church family, many of whom daily face diminishing health and abilities.  Yes, he IS a believer and he DOES rely on the FACT of his salvation. He DOES depend on the GRACE of God throughout the day and he most definitely DOES exercise faith by asking God for what he and others need. Yet, he is afraid of his own physical and mental decline and eventual death.  He views his life here on earth as DECLINE.  And ‘heaven’ is nebulous.

I have NOT responded well.  Nearing 60 myself, I lack skill in showing empathy.

At one end of my response spectrum, I shine at’ arguing logically’ WHY people should not think or feel a certain way. I am practiced at exhorting friends and family to view X situation in the light of T, that is God’s Truth.

And I do know how to offer sympathy – sort of.

But empathy?  What’s that?

Thanks to our guidance counselor at my secular middle school (God’s common grace!), I’m learning this different response that actually spreads balm.  EMPATHY offers this to a hurting soul:

  • That must feel frightening (frustrating, draining….) or THAT must be a relief (a welcome response, a comfort…).

Empathy does nothing more; it simply holds out a non-judgmental and safe space for someone to communicate just how they feel.  And often, THAT is the best gift you can give to a friend.

And if the friend WANTS or ASKS for help, only then should you offer a suggestion.

But….next time if my dear friend asks me, as a Christian,  how I handle the prospect of physical and perhaps cognitive decline followed by death,  here is what I might say:

Me: You believe God saved you, right?  How do you know?

Friend: I know because I believe the Bible passages that lay out the requirements for salvation, specifically Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Me: Good!  And how do you handle the daily challenges and needs of life?

Friend:  I pray and ask God for His help.

Me: And well you should.  How about applying that same act to THIS situation, THIS fear. Exercise the faith that God has given you and turn to Him for His help.  For here is the TRUTH about God:

Psalm 68:19 –  Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Since that is true, then we should…..

Psalm 55:22 – Cast on the LORD whatever he sends your way, and he will sustain you.

And since we know THAT fact, we then can turn to another promise….

Isaiah 46:4a – Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you

Therefore, we can confidently obey God when He commands:

Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation]. (Amplified)

So, if we go back to the 2 promises at the start of this post about how we live and how we die, we are told and shown that ALL of life, breath to breath is by faith.

I know you would agree that we DON’T live by seeing the provision and direction ahead of time, but we trust by faith that the God of the Bible WILL come through and do what He promises to do.  That has GOT to be enough.