Pinions and Shadows

I have this blog. I'm supposed to write my heart here. Sometimes what is going on in the heart is just too private, too painful, to share with others. Sometimes the pain involves other people so I must respect their right to privacy. Our family has been hurting -- alot. But we have a God who is walking through this with us. I am sad, but not in despair. I KNOW God will bring good out of this.

In Psalm 91, it says that we can run to him like a chick runs to it's mother and hides underneath. His pinions are covering me. He is my fortress - which means a place of safety from which to do battle. We are definitely in a battle for our children. The psalm also says that as I abide in Him, I will be in His shadow. He is good and working good out of what is happening. How do I know this? Because He has always been good to me, and has always brought good out of bad. He will do it again. I'd rather be no other place than under His pinions and following in His shadow.

The Cost of Discipleship

I was reading in Luke this morning where Jesus directs us to come after Him by denying ourselves, daily taking up our cross, and following. He adds a person must lose his life for Christ's sake. Our focus is NOT to be on ourselves, on preserving our lusts, desires, or our own self-direction. Being self-absorbed and self-directed, pursuing those things that only benefit ourselves: our physical body, pleasures, comforts, our social standing (respect of others, service of others, etc.) is a losing direction. Being consumed with ourselves will end up leaving us nothing. Jesus forewarns us that this kind of life causes a person to lose their life. Their life becomes nothing -- meaningless, empty, dead.
Instead, if our goal in life is to serve Christ and further His kingdom, we will be truly alive -- that will be true living, true fulfillment, true actualization.
Jesus took up His cross to die for us. Now we are asked to take up our cross and die for Him. Life will be the outcome.
Consequences/Characteristics of saving one's life:

• will lose their life
• might gain the whole world
• will lose or forfeit themselves
• are ashamed of Christ
• are ashamed of Christ's words
• Jesus will be ashamed of this person when He comes in His glory, the glory of His Father, and the glory of the holy angels

Consequences/Characteristics of losing one's life:

• will save their life
• will follow Christ
• is a daily choice
• entails taking up their own personal cross

What is a person's cross? Whatever they must give up in order to follow Christ, that is their cross.
Here's the thing for me: I used to try to imagine what it would be like to die for Christ. Would I do it? If a knife was held at my neck, would I die for Him? I would tell myself, "yes, Christ will give me grace to do that if He calls me to it." I still believe that, but there is a better question to ask myself that is more relevant and to the point: "will I die to my pride and self-protection today by not being ashamed of Christ?" If I am too afraid or ashamed to be a witness for Christ today, isn't that running away from dying for Him? I am given the chance to die for Christ daily, not just a one-time death in the distant future. Will I be faithful to Him right now?

Thank you so much sister for starting this for me. I was especially touched by the scripture you chose. You could not know what they mean to me right now. Keeping me as the apple of His eye has always been a significant verse. I should tell the story of this verse because it is so cool! Here's the story. I left for college in 1971 as a baby Christian. I had every intention of following the Lord there, but due to lack of fellowship (really not knowing how to connect with true believers) and my unholy desire to be accepted and liked at all costs, resulted in my slowly removing Christian posters from my dorm room wall. Along with that came all the typical behaviors of a college girl. I acted like a unbeliever. Over the course of two years I drifted further and further away from the Lord. When I had had enough of my own ways, the Lord sent me a group of Christians. I was ready to follow Jesus now. I recommitted and started attending a campus church. As the months went by, I had a nagging fear that I might do again what I had done once before: turn away from Jesus. Our church sang a song with these words: "Jesus, keep me as the apple of Thine eye; hide me under the shelter of Thy wings. Keep Your hand upon me lest I die! Jesus keep me as the apple of Thy eye." Well, I began singing that song as a heart-prayer to Jesus. I did not want to leave Jesus again. Only I knew I was going through this. I'd sing the song when alone. One day the pastor of my church came up to me and said, "Meridee, the Lord told me to tell you something. . . He wants you to know He's going to keep you as the apple of His eye." I about fell over. He heard my prayer. He cared. He sent a personal message to me. So the name my sister chose for this website is perfect. I will always be under the shelter of His wings -- and the apple of His eye.

IN the beginning

This is sister, Patsy. I have set up this blog for Meridee and look forward to her thoughts and insights, her encouragements and wisdom. Blog away sister