My Table

When my family or my friends and I go out to eat, we prepare ourselves for the possibility of having to wait for a table. (The more popular the restaurant, the greater the possibility of a wait). Whether a short wait or a long one, we get a sense of satisfaction from finally being seated at "our table." I have experienced an even stronger satisfaction when I have been seated at a table designated for me because I am the guest of honor at an event. Whether I have been the lone honoree or among a group of honorees, the satisfaction of being seated at "my table" at an event is greater than being seated at "my table" in a restaurant. At a restaurant, the people at the other tables are tending to various agendas. On the contrary, at an event, all who are present have a similar agenda. If I am one of the event's honorees, I am a part of the agendas of all who are present. I do not have to hustle for a seat, nor do I have to wait for a seat. Someone will escort me to "my table."
Psalm 23:5 says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." Have you ever suffered humiliation at the hands of an enemy? It is a painful experience, especially when it is coupled with a feeling of helplessness. The more vulnerable you are, the more unmerciful a vicious enemy can be. I am learning to count the persistent pursuit of a vicious enemy...joy. Oh, I remember praying and asking God to make that enemy leave me alone, but he/she stayed in pursuit and refused to let me escape in peace.
In the 14th Chapter of Exodus, verse 13, Moses told his people, "for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever." Verse 17 prophesied that the Egyptians would follow them (pursue them). The level of commitment from your enemies to follow after you to destroy you will determine the level of their destruction and discipline from God. Exodus 14:28 reports that not a one of the Egyptians survived that pursuit.
Now when I am in a vulnerable state and being pursued by a vicious enemy, I pray for him/her. It is unwise for them to "follow after me." Unlike them, I know where I am going. If they pursue me, they will wind up face to face with, "My Table." JOY!

You Are Here!

Amusement parks, large shopping malls, and other public places post maps on their grounds for their customers or clients to use, to get from one location to another. The words, "You are here," identify where your journey starts and shows the relationship between where you are and where you want to be. It is comforting to know "where you are," and it is comforting to be able to check as you progress towards your destination and goal. I have used many such maps to find my way when I was feeling lost. I still recall the relief and satisfaction that came with knowing that I was about to reach that desired place.
In my spiritual walk, I have longed for such a map, in order to navigate away from my troubled circumstances towards happier, brighter skies. I would love for God to shine a blinking, neon light on my dark days that read, "You are here." I would love for yet another source of light to disclose the path that would lead me from "here" to "there." Psalm 30:5 says, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." God guides us from the weeping night of "here," into the joyful mornings of "there," the place He wants us to be. The Word of God is the only map we have; it is also, the only map we need. Faith in God's word is the light we so desperately desire in dark times. The promise in God's word is, "You are here." You are in a dark place weeping, but I am going to take you to a place of "light and joy." Lord, teach me to count the dark places...joy. I may be in a dark place, but You will not leave me "here."

Learning To Be Satisfied

Unwisely, I have spent most of my praying life trying to tell God how to bless me. I have rejoiced with others, singing, "Any way You bless me, Lord, I'll be satsified." I believed I meant that. Now, I question myself. This year has been full of high-highs and low-lows for me. I count those highs, but especially those lows, "joy," because they have drawn me nearer and closer to my Lord. Through my low experiences, I have discovered what it means to prefer the Will of God over what I want. What I want becomes a curse to me if it is against the "will" of God. Chasing what I want in this life, detours me from God's purpose for me if I am not subject to His "will."
Children make foolish requests. Some even get what they want by any means necessary (to their own detriment). They learn to regret that success. My life is full of examples of regretting that I got what I wanted, even in matters for which I prayed. Long before now, my faith should have led me to put away childish prayer requests (I Corinthians 13:11). Now I pray, "Lord, teach me to use the resources You have given me to fullfill Your purpose for my life. Then Lord, fill my life with the abundant joy that comes from pleasing You."
I don't have to tell God how to bless me. Jesus assured me in Matthew 6:32 that my heavenly Father knows what my needs are. "Anyway You bless me, Lord, I'll be satisfied. Thank You for the joy in learning to be satisfied with the choices You make and the gifts You give."

Almost There

I do not recall the title of the message, but I do remember that Bishop T.D. Jakes preached a message about a place called "There." "There" is a place of destiny. "There" is the place where the journey ends. If "There" is the place one wants to be, upon arrival, "There," becomes a place of victory and celebration. I have celebrated many victories in my lifetime where the place formerly known as "There," becomes a place called "Here." A dangerous gap in the journey between "There" and "Here," is a place called, "Almost There." On our spiritual journey, "Almost There" is the place where the enemy volleys at you all of the ammunition he can for the time he has remaining. When you reach the stretch in the journey known as "Almost There," you face an impasse, a predicament affording no obvious escape. Once arriving to "Almost There," and experiencing the desperate attack of the enemy and unable to find an obvious means of escape, we must remember that God always provides, "Choice," as an escape. There is always a "Choice." Joshua 24: 15 challenges us to choose whether we will or will not serve God. If we make the right choice at "Almost There," God will see to it that we arrive, "There." So whether the enemy lobs ammunition of financial destruction, love disconnection, social rejection, or even the devastation of the death of a loved one at you while you are in "Almost There," his goal is to discourage you in such a way that you will make a choice that will make you miss reaching, "There." No matter what your predicament in "Almost There," always choose God. God will get you, "There."
In Acts 16, we find the story where the enemy attacked Paul and Silas at, "Almost There." Paul and Silas were beaten, cast into prison, even into the inner prison, and had their feet placed in the stocks. While in this impasse, Paul and Silas chose to worship God. They prayed and sang praises to God, and God delivered them. "Almost There" is a dangerous place to be, but if you choose God, praise and worship Him, then God will get you "There." Joy!

The Light

Light increases our ability to see. The brighter the light, the better I like it. I recently discovered that moths and I have that in common. Also, for moths, the brighter the light, the greater the attraction. Moths will desert one light in pursuit of a greater light. The sun is a light. It holds a great attraction. Ancient civilizations worshipped the sun because they believed that there was no greater creation. Think about all we know and understand about the greatness of the sun. Now remember, that no creation of God is greater than...you are. Psalm 139:14 says, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...." Man is the only creation made in the image of God. Man is also the only creation for whom God sent His only Son to suffer and die.

The sun is a great light; however, you are a light greater than the sun. Jesus says in Matthew 5:14, "Ye are the light of the world." Indeed the sun is a great light, but we are the light of the world. Verse 16 instructs, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."

Like moths, people are attracted to light. Again, like moths, people will abandon one light for a greater light. Your light of good works will attract others to you. Once they become attracted to you, your responsibility is to show them your Father in Heaven. It usually hurts to be abandoned, but not under the cirumstances of Matthew 5:16. I count it joy when people, once attracted by my light of good works, desert me to seek Jesus, the "Light of the World." Joy!