Unchanging God

Today Facebook reminded me that two years ago I packed up the trunk (boot) my 2004 Honda Civic to get ready to leave California and being my journey with God in (mainly) Africa. 

Wow.  Two years.  Has it really been that long?  It seems like less time.  But it also seems like more.  So much has happened since then.  That reminder brought back so many memories.  I'd be lying if I never second guessed myself, or had the thought cross my mind wondering if it was worth it.  I'd be lying if I said I never missed my house, or my stuff, or my car, or my dog, or a normal job.  Of course I miss my friends -- lots of times with the Pauls and amazing bbq, popcorn and cookies with Ivana, chats with Marta and Arnold's coffee.  And after a rough year, the thought does cross your mind... 

Why miss a house and furniture and things?  I asked the Lord about it -- I think part of it was the stability and familiarity.  The comfort of having my things and my way, the security of it, and the sense of control I had in "creating" that "security".  But I still know what Jesus was inviting me to.  And what I knew then is still true now -- that sense of stability and security was fleeting, and it could all be taken from me at any moment.  Changes in the economy, in conditions at work, or in my health and "stability" and "security" start to unravel.  Some of the challenges of this year have certainly brought that truth to light: a friend dies from cancer, spiritual parents killed in a car accident, another friend diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  The families of these friends of mine have certainly been thrown unto instability, insecurity, and uncertainty.

And it really drives the point home as to how much we need Jesus.  He is the only One who doesn't change.  He is stable.  Security is in Him.  You don't need to leave everything and go to another country to know this true.  We all need to know how sure and solid God is.  We all need to be completely rooted and established in Him.  He is the only thing that cannot be shaken.  The certainty of His Kingdom and His promises need to be the greatest reality in our lives so we can security in Him when the world reminds us how fallen it is, and how we all need Him.

Your promises remain
Forever and ever
You won't fade away
You never, you never change
You're unchanging God

You're kingdom is forever
You're love will last forever
All glory, all honor
Unto our God forever

Soaking in Truth

Several years ago I went to Afghanistan.  I loved the people and it was an amazing experience.  But it is also one the of dirtiest places I've every been to.  Probably equal to Mozambique.  When I returned, my feet were brown from the dirt.  I spent 15 minutes scrubbing my feet in the showers available at the Dubai airport, but it didn't make much of a difference.  My feet were clean....ish.  They didn't smell and I wasn't going to track dirt everywhere.  But they needed some deep cleaning.  Lots of soaking.  Serious scrubbing.  Getting all traces of the dirt out of my feet wasn't a matter of just washing with soap and water -- they needed soaking in water.  It's amazing how easily dirt can get into your skin, but it doesn't come out as easily.

It's a little bit like life and our awareness of spiritual realities.  There are truths that we "know".  We've touched them and experienced a rudimentary cleaning, so to speak.  But the earthly mindset is still in us.  And we need to soak in the truths, giving them time to get into the depths of our being and remove the old "dirt from the earth".

One example of this happened with me a few days ago.  I ended up listening to a song, well, the reprise of a song that was on its own track, for about two hours.  Something struck me the first time I heard it, and I felt like I needed to just keep listening.  The words were mostly only, "Only You conquer the grave.  You are alive in us, alive in us."

I know that Jesus has conquered the grave.  I know I and those of us who know Him will never truly die, but will live with Him forever.  I know that Ken and Ty and Terri are more alive now than they ever have been.  But also knowing that their bodies have been buried, and I can't talk to them now throws me off a bit.  There's still some of that dirt from earth in me.  So I soaked in the truth for awhile.

Only You conquer the grave.
You are alive in us, alive in us.
Only You conquer the grave.
You are alive in us, alive in us.

Until the reality that the Living Christ who is in me right now and who lived in Ken, Ty, and Terri on earth is also still present and alive in Ken and Ty and Terri.

And there are so many heavenly realities that the Lord wants us to know and walk in -- our oneness with Him, eternal life with Him, that He's always with us, never leaves or forsakes us, that He is provider, His love, His faithfulness, His holiness, His goodness and kindness, His ever present help, His comfort....and on and on and on.  Sometimes we just need to soak in those truths, through meditating on Scripture, listening to someone speak about these truths, or listening to songs about the truths, and giving them time to sink deep inside of us.