Monday Morning Cover to Cover

One month without internet! It wasn't self-imposed; it's just that we are in transition from Fort Worth to Austin. I've scoured to find the FREE WIFI signs in so many Austin restaurants. So, I'm a little sporadic, late here... and there. Haven't been able to comment much since LPL. We went back to our home in Fort Worth this weekend to finish up the garage and stuff while our renter graciously vacated for 24 hours. Three children moving home from college with all their household multiplied with my own stuff in the past year. Going through 33 years of my life has been eye-opening, exhausting, challenging, chilling, hilarious, and heart-wrenching. I have seen photos and memorabilia I don't think even happened. LOL. And which boy (they looked identical just in different generations) is it here in this picture? I was moving so F A S T yesterday that I accidentally flooded my kitchen, forgetting to turn off the water in the sink, while we grabbed a bite to eat at a restaurant. Oh dear me. Pray for me as we close this chapter on my life. May I allow my beautiful Lord Who has so called us here to write the final words of the chapter. The ending has been harder on me than I ever expected. But, by God's grace, I am standing strong---and that's HIM! So moved by the story we read of Esther "standing" in His Grace.

DID YOU EXPECT MUCH BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE LITTLE
For those of you who stopped by for the chronological readings, here goes. What I have LOVED about reading the chronological Bible is just what we read this week in Ezra 4 about how the enemies hired counselors to make the people fearful and frustrated. But who enters in the midst of their discouragement over their work on the Lord’s building being halted. God’s messenger--- Haggai. And I would have not known who Haggai was speaking to if it had not been for this chronological reading. The Lord’s messenger delivers startling words that apply to us this September 2008: “Give careful thought to your ways… You expected MUCH but it turned out to be LITTLE. What you brought home, I blew away” because you were so busy building your own house and your own stuff in this world. A blowing thought to me as I unpack and unbury and reduce 33 years of living in 3400 square feet to 1250 square feet of stuff in my home and heart.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR BEAUTIFUL LORD IS STIRRING YOU UP
God called for drought in Haggai 1:11. And what happened? The people obeyed and feared God in their troubles. So HE came back to them and said: “I am with you.” And He stirred up their spirits. If God has allowed trouble in our lives this day, what great encouragement these verses are. For HE is saying to you and to me this very moment, “I am with you.” He is stirring up your spirit. That so moves me! Zech. 1:2 - Return to your LORD and HE will return to you!
OH!

AM I LOOKING AND LIVING FOR FORMULAS FOR THIS LIFE
The story of Esther's intercessory prayer for her people will linger in my thoughts and heart. Fasting and prayer moved the hands of her beautiful God for Esther LOVED NOT her own beautiful and power-filled life. She lived surrendered to her God. When she fasted, it wasn't for herself. We read in Zech. 7:5 this week that the LORD asked them about when they fasted: Was it really for Me? "It may seem marvelous to you" what you are doing for God, but "does it seem marvelous to God?" Zech 8:6. "The eye of my God is watching over all our going in and out." Ezra 5:5.

WHERE HAS GOD BROUGHT YOU TO ON THIS DAY
Esther 4:14 resonates so deeply in the place where I am. “If you keep silent at this time”…you’ll perish. “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther’s response—I’ll go on. I'll stand. If I perish, I perish.

AM I TOUCHING THE SCEPTER, TOUCHING THE HEM
Esther was invited to "touch the scepter." You and I are invited to "touch the hem." But we all want formulas, don't we? Tell me how to walk with God, have a great marriage, raise awesome kids, while having a powerful ministry impact. This is no formula kingdom that we live in. No formula structure for Esther---she fasted and prayed. Just like the Daniel we just read about---the one you could always find on his knees.

AM I SURRENDERED TO HIS SPIRIT WITH OPEN HEART, HANDS FOLDED
It is the Spirit of God at work in Esther to produce such humility and allow the Spirit to pour out His Love through her—Romans 5:5 is the cross ref—we have that same Spirit today so wanting to pour His Love in and through us. Psalm 105:4 “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His Presence continually.” When we need it, He will say “touch not my anointed ones.” 105:15. He may send darkness 105:28. He may strike down 105:33. I don’t begin to comprehend what and how God works but it’s not all the guaranteed blessings that Christians talk about. And here comes another beautiful alliteration: He will spread a cloud for covering and fire for light by night 105:39. HE is LIFE, Living Water. He opens the Rock, water gushes out, flows through a desert like a river. They asked and HE gave bread from heaven in abundance. 105:40.

DO I KNOW THIS DAY THAT MY GOD IS FIGHTING FOR ME, INTERVENING
Zech 9:10 - "His dominion shall be from sea to sea.” How our beautiful LORD advances His Kingdom through us is a divine mystery. Yet, our obedience in telling and living out the Gospel in both word and action and prayer makes the kingdom’s advance visible. Oh my goodness!!! So what will I do with this Christ this day? The prophet Zechariah paints a beautiful picture in chapter 14 of our God Himself intervening in our lives and fighting for us. His “feet…on the Mount of Olives.” A picture of the split mountain and of the streams of Living Water that flow from Jerusalem for me and for you. Our LIVING WATER—-the Holy Spirit overflowing into our lives on this very day. He is the King over all 14:16-20 and in the end, every mouth will move before HIM to Whom we must all give account. “On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.”