"God knows I'm good." - Bruce Atchison

No matter how good we think we are, we still have our sinful nature to contend with. We humans are skilled at making up excuses to justify our crimes, yet God sees through them all. Though David Bowie isn't a Christian, his song, "God Knows I'm Good," hits the nail on the head when it comes to how we figure the Lord will cut us a break when we sin. You can hear the song by clicking here.

I presumed I was basically a good boy back in 1968. Being at a distant institution for blind children, I began to chafe at my fifty-cent weekly allowance. I felt it was unfair that my parents didn't send me extra spending money and the supervisors at Jericho Hill School wouldn't spare an extra dime either.

Once or twice a week, the supervisors took us to a nearby grocery store run by an oriental gentleman. While wandering the isles, I noticed that the cake topping decorations were in a spot where the man couldn't see them from the till. "He'll never miss it if I took some," I thought as I pocketed a few while he was busy with a customer. I felt nervous as I walked out but nobody stopped me.

On subsequent trips, I grew bolder. I came to believe that I had a right to those treats, being so far from home and all. One evening, a package of chocolate sprinkles fell out of my pants pocket as I was about to leave the shop. The owner said nothing but his look spoke volumes. I sheepishly put back the package and never stole anything from a store to this day.

James 1:13-15 (B.B.E.) says, "Let no man say when he is tested, 'I am tested by God;' for it is not possible for God to be tested by evil, and he himself puts no man to such a test: But every man is tested when he is turned out of the right way by the attraction of his desire. Then when its time comes, desire gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is of full growth, gives birth to death." This is exactly how I became a shoplifter. Thanks to our heavenly Father, he forgave me when I gave my life to Christ a year later.

Discovering the Story - Karen Toews

Last summer on this blog I expressed my angst about a physical loss - running - an activity that also carries a big inspirational punch to get me writing. In the eleven months since that post, my treatment has been yoga, swimming, cycling, chiropractor adjustments, kayaking, professional massage, MELT, acupuncture, limited running. Plus: self-reflection, prayer, meditating on scripture and inspirational readings, commiserating with (aging) athletes, researching for solutions, etc. I was so hopeful that by now this frustrating journey would be over and done with - that the monotony of the previous list would be only in its reading, not in reality.

I've questioned why this habit of physical exercise - that I love and brings ideas and energy - has become something that can consume my mental focus and distract me from the keyboard.

Yet - paging through my journals and the notes written in my bible, I realize this saga is, in a small measure, a positive writing story.

"A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?....God's name is a place of protection - good people can run there and be safe." Proverbs 18: 14, 10 The Message
My notes: I'm so concerned about a healthy body. God, help me to focus on having a healthy spirit.

"We thank you, God, we thank you - your Name is our favorite word: your mighty works are all we talk about." Psalm 75:1 The Message
 

My notes of thanksgiving: the beauty of the river where I live, the melancholic hooting of the owls in our woods, the hope of physical healing, the wonder of the creative energy of God and His grace and generosity to share it with us.

Recent exercise journal entries:
"Felt great again today. Hallelujah."
"Weird thing going on in my right hip-hamstring. What's that about?"
"God, help my body to be receptive to this latest treatment."
"I trust you, God."
"I think I need to write for runners - that there's life beyond running, there are risks and pitfalls of self-absorption, God has ways for recovering and coping with the sense of loss and realities of injury and age."

It's taken a long time but just maybe I am finally discovering the real story.

A Distant Green — Lynda Schultz

Sometimes we don't see the fulfillment of our dreams or the results of all our work. In the end, it doesn't really matter. The best is yet to come. Take Moses for example…

A DISTANT GREEN

Horeb, Sinai, Nebo—I’m glad this is the last mountain I’ll have to climb.

The old man chuckled to himself as he picked his way through the rocks. His breath was ragged, but anticipation gave him strength as he took the last step that would bring him to his destination at the summit. Tomorrow would be a new day and he wouldn’t be complaining about mountains. He doubted that he’d even have to worry about coming down off of this particular one. He sensed that this would be his final trip, as surely as he sensed the presence of God around him.

The day was clear. He looked out, shading his eyes from the glare of the sun. He could see it all—all that Yahweh had promised the Hebrews from long before he was born. It was so…green.

Ah, now I know I’ve spent too long in the wilderness—to be so impressed by something as simple as a colour!

A millisecond of regret clouded his thoughts. The impatience of his youth, that rashness he’d thought had been left far behind him at the foot of a dead Egyptian, had caught him unprepared as an old man. Two blows, and unwise words that were an affront to God’s holiness, had cost him his walk through this beautiful land another generation would now enjoy.

Still, it would have been something to walk over there in all that greenery, to touch the ground You promised to give to our Father Abraham’s children.

“Moses, my friend.”

The old man wasn’t startled. Once upon a time he would have jumped at the sound of God speaking to him. Not anymore. After all this time he heard God’s voice even when Yahweh wasn’t speaking out loud.

“Yes, my Lord.” Moses waited. It was not for mere man, even the friend of God, to speak before his Maker had his say.

“This is it. This is the land I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were all men of faith, my friend, in spite of their frailties. They roamed around, living in tents, all the while believing that this day would come. I told them their descendants would return to this land, build houses, plant crops, found cities.”

His audience of one nodded his head slowly.

“I wanted you at least to see it, even though you won’t cross the Jordan with the others.”

“I appreciate that, Lord, I honestly do.”

It was an end, but it was also a beginning.

“So, they’re going to make it this time?”

Israel’s soon-to-be-ex-leader could almost hear God chuckle at the hint of doubt in His servant’s voice.

“This time they will.”

With just the tiniest twinge of envy, Moses thought about two men who had been with him from the beginning of this journey who were going to be especially delighted to see the end of this journey.

“Caleb and Joshua are finally going to get their vindication. They told the others that giants and fortified cities wouldn’t be any problem for You,” he remarked as he mentally annexed: And now those “others” won’t get the chance to find out how true that is.

“I heard that, Moses.”

The old man smiled.

It was as though two men stood side by side perfectly attuned to each other and each comfortable in the presence of the other. Anyone observing would think he saw only one old man who seemed to be talking to himself. Moments passed in silence until…

“It’s time, Moses.”

A wind, like the breath of angels’ wings, stirred around the old man’s head. He took one last look at Canaan and then turned his eyes toward what he couldn’t see, but what he knew was there. The brilliant green of the Promised Land faded and gave way before the overwhelming glory of another place.

Face to face this time, Lord?

"Truly face to face this time, my friend."

Waiting for Strength by Brenda Leyland

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~ from Isaiah 40: 29 - 31

Some years ago, when I was worn and ill physically, I often came to this passage for comfort and hope. And, as I waited, the truth in these words became reality in my own life. I would start to feel less weary and more strengthened.

During that season I often spent time just being quiet and still. Not asking, not praying, not worrying... just resting... soaking in God's presence. As I would feel the peace settle over my mind and heart, somehow it seemed to seep down into every cell of my being, and I'd come away feeling rested and strengthened in my physical body too.

Personally, I don't know what I would have done if I not discovered that I could come to God and receive literal strength to help me through my days.

Today, I offer Him as a place of refuge for anyone who might need an oasis of rest in their own journey through this imperfect world.