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Worship is our response to the greatness of God.  The more we gaze at him, the more we will adore him. What we behold is what we will worship.

It’s easy to “behold” the news, weather, or a neighbor’s yard. None are wrong in and of themselves, but they can become our mind’s dwelling place the longer we take them in.

Have you ever, like me, stared at all the wonderful decorating ideas and links to shop for these amazing products on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest? It’s a guilty pleasure of mine for sure, and I can lose all track of time while salivating over the most recent Amazon shopper’s list.

There are many good and wonderful things in this world to behold. I resonate with the English Romantic poet John Keats, who wrote, “a thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

Do we think of Christ as beautiful?

Reading Psalm 27 and hearing David’s longing to gaze on the Lord’s beauty makes me reflect on whether my own heart truly desires to fix my eyes on His face.

Or do I only glance his way with a casual nod to his presence?

To his Lordship. To his beauty.

The prophet Isaiah described the suffering servant as having “no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2)

How then can we say that his beauty is worth gazing at?

That same passage in Isaiah describes Christ’s suffering on the cross—the most detestable of deaths. His broken, marred body hung on a wooden cross, hardly pleasant to see.

And yet, his obedience to the Father, his crucifixion, which made us righteous and welcomed into the Holy of Holies, is a beauty that is indescribable.

We must stare at the cross.

“Looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

When we look steadily into the face of Christ on the cross and realize the ugliness of our old sin nature that He willingly died to rescue us from, beauty may not be a word we initially use.

Yet as we keep our gaze on him, the Holy Spirit may redefine beauty as the very word to describe Jesus.

We behold him on the cross this Good Friday. And we worship him as our beautiful Savior.

Facing Fear and Anxiety Head On:

Four Biblical Strategies To Find Peace and Calm When You Need It Fast

by Kim Stanley

Fear comes for all of us, no one is exempt. It bankrupts our peace and grips us in a stranglehold of panic. And it happens within seconds. That’s why we need something quick to fight with: a stun gun for fear, to render it incapacitated. We don’t have to be controlled by fear. Here’s a list of four strategies, or practices, to grab hold of quickly when panic starts to back you into a corner.

1. Cry out to God

This may sound obvious. But how many times do we shame or coach ourselves?  “Why I am so afraid of this?” Or “C’mon just get over it?”  Our Father listens compassionately to his children. David, the man after God’s own heart, lifted his despairing voice often to the Father. We are invited to do the same.

2. Pray Scripture

When our emotions overwhelm us, God’s word steadies us in truth. Write a list of key verses on overcoming fear on notecards or on a phone app and keep them handy to read and pray as fear begins to creep in.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

3. Sing

The therapeutic power of worship music during times of fear and anxiety is proven. Worship changes the atmosphere. It changes us. It shifts our focus to God’s love and power. Create your own playlist of praise and sing it loud to battle the enemy’s taunts.

 4. Phone A Friend

We belong to a community of faith. Isolation only amplifies fear’s voice. Call that trusted friend who will speak truth or pray with you. We can’t let pride or shame keep us from reaching out. Our faith grows as we draw on God’s power together.

Overcoming fear is a process, not a one-time event. Putting this action plan into practice is an effective way to fight against the menace of fear that comes calling without notice. Above all, we have the assurance that God’s Presence is always with us and His perfect love casts out fear.

 
In the Off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks, the young ingenue, Louisa, pines for a life of love and adventure and begs God at the end of her soliloquy, “Please, God, please, don’t let me be normal!” 
Then she breaks into song, of course, which ends with the lyric plea: “But I want much more than keeping house! Much more! Much more! Much more!”

 Raise your hand if you’ve ever asked God for more. (See my hand first). 

I’ve surely been guilty of saying, not necessarily singing, “I want much more than….what I have now. “

 It might be a desire for new furniture, new opportunities, more time with children and grandchildren, or a vacation. Nothing evil, of course, just a craving for something more, something that seems just out of reach. 

 It may be something deeper though.

 That longing was put there by the God who created us. 

And He wants to be the fulfillment of that longing. 
He has made Himself the answer to our deepest desires for more. 
 

There is a “much more” God for all of us. 

 Paul uses that phrase four times in Romans 5 alone. It’s one of my absolute favorite phrases in the Bible. 

 We may readily accept that we have been saved “by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves;” that we are justified and made righteous by Christ’s atoning death on the cross. 

 Hallelujah!

 But do we fully grasp what Paul writes in Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life?” (ESV) (italics mine)

 Now that we are reconciled, (received in favor to God),  much more (so abundantly, to a greater degree), are we saved, (made whole, restored, made well, delivered), by the life of Christ. (parentheses from Strong’s Concordance)
 The resurrected life of Christ makes us whole, complete, and enables us to live victoriously.  
He is ever interceding for us now in his Life as a priest forever. 
And He is living inside each believer by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
 This means we can have a “much more” life than merely one of “just getting by” until we get to heaven. which will be the ultimate “much more.”
 Think of it. 
Much more of Jesus, much more of His resurrected life now. 
More joy, more victory, more hope, more, more, more.
 
His resurrected life accomplishes that for us. 
And by faith we believe and appropriate it.
 
Why do we see so many of our brothers and sisters beaten down and living in defeat? 
Why are we still in bondage to the strongholds that held us while we were yet still sinners?
 

Perhaps we haven’t thrown ourselves upon the “much more” grace of God. 
His Grace accomplishes everything for us – our salvation and our sanctification, which I like to think of as growing in grace. 
 
Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: (italics mine)
 

“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:17 ESV)

                
Adam’s trespass, brought sin and death to all of humanity. We were born into it. We see it all around us. Death.

 
But God.
 

Through Jesus, we have been given the free gift of righteousness (right standing before God) AND as we continue to receive his abundant grace, his much more grace, we will reign in life through him.

We were made to reign in this life.
 
Over the power of sin, which we are now dead to.
We have to constantly receive the much more grace of God for our daily lives.
 
His grace is power to live as He calls us to.
Only by his grace can we do anything good for the Kingdom.
 
That grace also draws people to us. 
People who need to know His Grace,
Who need to know Him.

 Praise God for His Grace! 
 I want much more than…….

 I have it already in Christ. 

 

Kim Stanley 
 
 
 
 

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I’m looking out my kitchen window to admire our new deck, which has just been built. It’s spacious, empty, and begging for an outdoor dining table, but I love looking at the new wood beams and beautiful railing. Our previous deck was over 30 years old, the same age as the rest of our house. Aside from fresh paint and updating things, the house is still structurally sound, unlike our old deck.

 

My husband called it “vintage” and assured me it was safe. I loved to sit out there and use it as an office, which is possible for many months out of the year here in Georgia.

We had a friend in construction come to inspect it & give us an estimate for fixing the old deck. 

He condemned it. 

No more sitting on the deck to write. 

And definitely no more morning pancakes with the grandkids.

 

Now, an outdoor deck is not a necessity in our lives. We have a roof over our heads, heat, air, and running water inside our home. And I’m grateful.

But the deck is an extension of our living space.

Like my front porch is.

My front porch is the entryway into our home.

Old friends like Michele and Kelly come in through the front door after they’ve walked onto our front porch.

 

We catch up with each other in our living room, until the kitchen calls us to dinner. 

Probably chicken enchiladas.

 

Then, we move to the back deck for dessert and cards. We listen to the owls screech and the coyotes howl  (and I live in the city limits.)

We turn on the string lights and enjoy a great time with dear friends.

 

That progression reminds me of my relationship with God.

He invites me over.

 

I slowly walk up the porch stairs and towards the door.

 

Jesus is the door. 

 

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9 ESV).

 

The door becomes my entryway into Life with God. We fellowship and break bread together.

I sit in the chair in the living room every morning in His Presence. He speaks to my heart. I get to know Him better. 

 

Every need, every tear, every joy, every doubt is welcome in this house.

I am welcome in this house.

I am at home in Him.

 

And the deck is an extension of my life in Christ.

I breathe in the fresh air of His Presence out there. 

I hear the wind of the Spirit and the trees of the forest clap their hands.

Worship in the open air deepens my intimacy with Him.

 

From my deck, I see a little piece of the world. Without walls and windows, my vision is unobstructed, and I can see beyond our backyard into the woods and houses hidden behind them.

There are so many people out there.

Some, I imagine, hide in their homes; some have no safe place to call home.

And some just need a friend.

 

As God has welcomed me into His home, He asks that I welcome others into mine.

 

Biblical hospitality has little to do with my home’s appearance, how “well-appointed” it is, or even if I have furniture on my deck.

 

It is more about the condition of my heart.

Will I make room in my heart and home for new friends?

 

“I’m so comfortable with my old friends, God. They’re easy to talk to, and they know all my faults and love me anyway,” I explain to God.

 

He reminds me that I can start small.

One person.

 

It can begin with an invitation for coffee on the front porch.

Then, next time, it might be enjoying a meal around the table.

Carry out pizza and paper plates for the win.

 

Sharing a meal is sharing life.

We sit together, talk, ask questions, laugh, and listen as we get to know each other better.

Before you know it, we’ll be on the deck for a cookout, a card game, and chocolate cake.

 

I’m going to love it out here. 

 

I was talking with a dear friend of mine who took a long vacation to Italy recently with her husband. They had waited a long time for this trip, and it proved to be all that they hoped for and more.  As she described the sights, the food, and the people, I found myself yearning for this La Dolce Vita, the sweet life. 

 

Can we move there?  While that is not likely to happen, what is it in this culture that is so attractive, it had me suddenly looking up Italian villas by the sea.

 

The food, yes! The food. Visions of a large table set al fresco, full of smiling faces amidst mounds of pasta bolognese, danced in my head. No one was in a rush to get somewhere else; the conversation was rich and full, like the pasta sauce; this was a scene straight from “Under the Tuscan Sun.”  Then after dinner, there would be a nice long walk through town, stopping to talk with all the other after-dinner strollers.  Time stands still there, or at least tick-tocks slower than the minutes here where I live.

 

I realize that thinking too long or romanticizing about someone else’s life can quickly lead to discontentment and ingratitude, hence, the social media problems of our day.  

Guilty.  

Yet, I did ask the Lord about it.  “Is there something redemptive in this daydream, God, minus the Italian villa, of course?”

 

My heart skipped a beat as I sensed a “yes” in my spirit. 

 

Without wishing my life away, I can look to and learn from other people and cultures. 

 

I sensed that the Lord was telling me that it was ok, it was more than ok; it was good for me to slow down, to breathe in deeply, and not to keep such a tight schedule that I was just planning the next thing. 

 

It’s a good idea to enjoy a meal, lots of meals, with family and friends. 

Take time to listen and connect with the people who share your table. 

Don’t get up to clean the dishes right away; let them sit. 

Eat fresh food, it’s closer to the way God made it. 

Take walks.

Smile, even if it feels forced. 

Write the note. 

Meet your neighbors in the cul-de-sac after dinner. 

Sit on your front porch. 

 

Sip and savor

the moments

the people

the stories

the tears

the joy

the life 

God has given.

 

Today, as I write this, it is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. 

Tomorrow’s daylight will be a few seconds shorter.

But in this La Dolce Vita that God invites us into, we can sip and savor every one of these holy moments right where we live. It’s His promise to us. 

 

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (ESV)

 

Ciao!