Robes

In my early years as a follower of Christ, I felt very overwhelmed.

by the world
by life
by all there was to learn in my new faith relationship

"My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me." Ps 63:8

All I could do was cling to the Lord. I would say this verse over and over as

the world

my life

came charging at me,

flinging arrows.

Then the Lord gave me a vision.

He was seated on his huge throne. He heavy velvet, royal robes were cascading down his throne and onto the floor around him.

I was at the foot of his throne, burying my face in the softness and security of his robes.

clinging

As the arrows began their decent to strike, the mighty hand of God swept them away.

As the worries of life came charging at me, the mighty hand of God swept them away.

I was safe there, my soul clinging.

Over the last 20 years of my relationship with God, I have clung to that verse, that vision.

Today I read Jesus Calling.

Sarah Young referenced Is 61:10

"I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!
for he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and
 draped me in a robe of righteousness."

He has given me a robe of His righteousness.

I am no longer that young woman hiding in the robe of her savior.

I am still at the foot of His throne, but standing.

Standing in the radiance of His robe of righteousness.

Basking in the presence and glory of the Lord.

Futile

I am the mother of two boys, two young boys. Today, as I do every week, I cleaned their bathroom. It would seem that even after I cleaned it, it didn't smell clean, or as clean as I wanted. I even bought a new toilet seat. It I can remove it easily and really clean. 

So today as I was disassembling the toilet and scouring every inch of it, I began to grumble to myself. Unfortunately, grumbling has become part of my weekly routine as well. Last week I tried to grumble to myself in Spanish, "No me gusta limpiar el baño". Maybe that would make me feel better?

Nope. 

It didn't.

So today I did as I do each week, clean their bathroom and complain to myself the whole time. Then I remembered Philippians 2:14 "do everything without complaining". I tried. I really did!

After I finished I thought that was it on that subject. However, tonight is bath night. My youngest stripped down and came running into the bathroom. He made it to the toilet, but not into the toilet. I was fuming. I complained, "That's it! I can't take it! Can ANYTHING feel more futile than cleaning a little boy's bathroom?"

I tried to think of something. Even though washing dishes can feel futile or dusting, is there anything that feels like as soon as you do it, you have to do it again?

Forgiveness. 

More specifically, the way God must feel when he forgives me. 

I only have to clean the bathroom once a week (or that's as often as I choose to do it), but God forgives me 

daily...

hourly...

every moment...

I'm so thankful that God never tires of forgiving me. I'm just sorry he has to do it more often.

Maybe I'll take a different approach to cleaning the bathroom.

Maybe I'll be thankful I don't have to share a bathroom with our boys.

Maybe I'll be thankful I have two boys to dirty the bathroom.

Maybe I'll be mindful of how God must feel each time he has to wash me clean.

"Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18

Prince of Peace

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Sometimes in our non-monarchy society, the importance of royal titles isn’t fully appreciated. I didn’t appreciate them. Then I discovered it; British Period Drama. My recent favorite centers around the importance of title. Not only that the title was passed from male to male, but the responsibility, the respect and the power that comes along with the title. Each Christmas I sing along with Handel’s Messiah and belt out “Wonderful. Counselor. Almighty God. The Everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace.” It wasn’t until recently that the title Prince of Peace stood out to me. What does it mean that Jesus is the Prince of Peace? He is the Prince of Peace. He is sovereign over it. It is his to bestow on those he chooses. Imagine coming before the Prince in all his royal robes. His father sits behind him on the throne. Frantic and frenzied, weighed down by the worries of this life, you make your way toward the Prince. As you come closer, he extends his hand to you. You grasp his outstretched hand and fall at his feet. As he bends, he gently takes you into his embrace and whispers into your ear, “My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Prince of Peace, draw me near to you. Forgive me for not trusting you fully. Help me to loosen my grasp on my worries and burdens of this life. Please bestow on me your everlasting peace.