JUST TO BE CLOSE TO YOU

My dad passed away September, 2001 and my heart still hurts with longing every time I think of him. Dad’s 74th birthday is Sunday and our family holds the memories of his last earthly birthday dear. All of his kids and grandkids made the trek down to Doniphan, MO with no anticipation that this would be the last time some of us would see him in this world. We sang, laughed, shared stories, wrote love letters, prayed with him and enjoyed just being close to him. This is a great memory, but one of my most precious memories occurred in February 2001. Dad was very sick at that time, so I offered to sit with him while Mom and Steve went to Sunday evening service. For two hours, I listened to the sound of his voice, soaked up his many “pearls of wisdom,” and delighted in just being alone with him. When it was time for us to return to Michigan, he held me so tight, as if he wanted the imprint of his arms and love for me to burned in my memory for ever. There are many days, as the tears flow down my cheeks, I stop for a moment just to remember those arms wrapped tight around me. I am so thankful that I have a Blessed Hope of one day soon gathering together, singing, laughing, sharing stories and feeling those arms holding me close.

This morning, I turned over, wide awake, only to find out that it was 3:20 a.m. I’ve learned not to fight the sleepless nights but to lie there enjoying the presence of God. God is always so real in the stillness of the early morning. As I made my way downstairs a few hours later and entered the room where I like to spend time with God, His presence continued to hover. It seemed as if God didn’t want to let me go about my day, just yet. I knelt down by my chair and began my devotions as always, thanking Him for another day, for keeping us safe through the night, for health and strength. Just as I started to go through my litany of requests, I felt overwhelmed by His love for me. I simply said, “God, you know what I have need of today and I ask that you would grant it.” As I continued to sit quietly in His presence, just listening to His voice, I realized His incredible love for me. The tears began to flow, His love flooded my soul and soon His language filled my heart and lips. I knew my day would begin soon, but for now I just wanted to be close to Him.

There is a worship song that comes to mind that portrays this morning’s experience:

Just to be close to you, is where I want to be
Let me hide myself inside your heart to find my destiny
Every step I take, is one less step I’ll need
To be in Your presence, close to thee

Someday soon I know I’ll see You face to face, sit at Your feet and feel Your warm embrace, but for now, it is enough Just To Be Close To You.

AND IF I BE LIFTED UP

What an eventful month we have experienced this June. North Korea is threatening to launch a missile at Hawaii, Iran is experiencing an uprising that despite their government’s efforts continues to gain strength, and President Obama advances with his mission to bring us level with the rest of the international socialist communities. Last week a senator admits to having an affair with a staffer and this week a governor disappears for a hike in the Appalachians, winds up in Argentina and confesses to having an affair. We learned of the deaths of three famous personalities, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and on Thursday, Michael Jackson. At one time they seemed on top of the world, riding high on life, but in death McMahon was bankrupt, Fawcett suffered the pain of cancer, relationship problems, and has a son in jail, and Jackson’s entire life was such a mess that he existed on a daily cocktail of drugs. Everyone of these devastating life situations are a result of elevating the wrong individual.

I have heard so many ask the question HOW? How can we sit by and watch Iran kill people for speaking out? How can we say nothing while our President destroys what’s left of our economy? How can a governor with a beautiful family, on track to possibly run for President, throw everything away for momentary pleasure? How could Ed McMahon lose his home to foreclosure? How could Michael Jackson waste such a promising life and career? Answer: the wrong person has been elevated.

I am always amazed at the emotional displays attached to coming in contact with people we have set up as “idols.” Every year thousands of fans make a pilgrimage to Graceland to celebrate Elvis’ birthday. President Obama has been given god-like status in the eyes of millions around the world. Obamaites consider his words infallible, scream and faint in his presence and many broke down with emotion at his inauguration. At the announcement of the death of Michael Jackson, thousands rushed to the Los Angeles hospital, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton took the opportunity to get some TV face time, and sales of his recordings hit all time highs. We are elevating the wrong person.

I love the song by Michael W. Smith called, “Be Lifted High.” One line says, “Sin and its ways lead to pain, left here with hurt and with shame.” When we elevate the wrong person, the outcome is only hurt and shame. The accumulation of things no longer satisfies, the fawning crowds leave us empty inside and all the beautiful people surrounding us are not so beautiful any more. It all turns to loss, defeat and sometimes even public ridicule. Oh what a difference when we elevate Jesus Christ.

The song continues, “And I fall to my knees so it’s you that they see, not I, Jesus you be lifted high.” When we get the focus off of ourselves and our desires and elevate Jesus, the hurt, the shame, the feelings of inadequacy, and the pressure to perform all fade into the background and we begin to experience His love, His joy and His peace. Jesus said in John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” If you are feeling like life has let you down and there is nothing that can satisfy the emptiness, fall on your knees and allow Jesus to be lifted up.

POTENTIAL GARBAGE OR GARBAGE WITH POTENTIAL

Jeremiah 18:44 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make.

Do you have friends that are avid recyclers, garage sale junkies or maybe just pack rats? I once read a story about a “pack rat.” She had accumulated so much “stuff” that it took a bulldozer to move her treasures to allow the EMT to reach her dead body. She had magazines stacked to the ceiling; I’m sure they held some great recipes, articles or coupons.

There are women and some men who actually warn other drivers with a bumper sticker; “WARNING, I stop for garage sales.” I have to admit I’ve snagged some great bargains that my neighbors had determined were no longer necessary.

Every Sunday afternoon a parade of pickup trucks drive slowly up and down the streets of our neighborhood cruising for treasure. Saturday is “clean out the garage and basement day” and Monday is garbage day, which makes Sunday a perfect “garbage with potential” day. I had a friend who would yell at the “garbage pickers” as they looked through her curbside offerings. In her eyes it was garbage and if it had any value, she would have given it to someone. I, on the other hand, become so excited that someone can use my trash, that I run out to the curb, help them load it and offer them more.

Our great-grandparents understood the value of recycling long before it became a government mandate or politically correct. The Christmas ham bone became flavoring for a pot of soup beans (southern term) or bean soup for you northerners. Potato sacks morphed into shirts and dresses and finally found their resting place in a cozy quilt top. Empty cans were kicked and barrel rings were rolled with a stick. I can feel the earth shaking from all the “grave turning” as we nonchalantly toss out potential clothing, hours of fun for children or delicious pots of soup. Their minds could not comprehend the piles of computers, game boys, cell phones and other outdated electronic devices. But I’m sure given the chance; they would have turned them into the latest gadget our teenagers could not live without.

We have become such a disposable society, that we only see value at the time of purchase. Has this mindset invaded the Christian community when we look at people? Do we only see the value in those who appeal to us and our goals? Do we use people, and then toss them on the garbage heap once they no longer fit into our plan? Perhaps there are even those in which we see no value; the halt, the lame, mentally-challenged, dirty, poor, fat, and ugly or the unborn. Have we forgotten that Jesus came to seek and save those we consider potential garbage? Jeremiah tells the story of turning potential garbage into garbage with potential.

Jeremiah 18:44, “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.” 

The vessel that had become landfill in society’s eyes was changed into a vessel of value in the hands of the Master Recycler.

A song says, “He looked not at what I was, but at what I could become.” Left to our own desires and short-sightedness, we would have all eventually been left on the “curb of life,” mere fodder for the trash pickers. I am so thankful that Jesus looks on the potential garbage of life and sees garbage with potential.

Dear God, today, let me see everyone through your eyes, reach with your arms and love with your heart.