All the world has been stunned by the amazing story still unfolding in Japan.  Rocked by a 8.9 point earthquake, and a tsunami wave estimated to be 30 ft high has brought amazing devastation in it’s wake.I know that I sat in stunned silence to watch some of the video taken of the advancing and catastrophic tsunami wave rolling in and moving everything in its wake. I listened in amazement to the reports of a man found floating 10 miles into the Ocean on the roof of his house.

According to news reports, the death toll is expected to rise to 10,000 people and thousands more are missing or injured. It also has caused tens of billions of dollars in property and economic losses.

It is one of those events, and there are many in our lives, that cause us to ask one of the two most asked questions of Scripture – WHY?  The second question is just like it – How Long?

Today I stumbled on, (Lets be honest – it was another God moment) Psalm 124;

¹ If the LORD had not been on our side– let Israel say–
² if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
³ when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive;
⁴ the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
⁵ the raging waters would have swept us away.
⁶ Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:1-8 (NIV)

This is one of the Psalms identified as a psalm of ascent, a song of the pilgrims on their journey to the Temple in Jerusalem.  A Psalm that celebrates the simple truth “God is for us!” As I read through the psalm I was struck by verses 4 & 5, “the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.” and my mind immediately went to images I had seen of the tsunami wave. Just as fast as that image came into my mind, the question formed in my mind, “Lord they were swept away, they were engulfed – where was their rescue?”  As I sat and pondered the question I heard a second voice repeat to me the final verse of that psalm. “Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

The Lord the Maker of heaven and earth – has provided rescue – he has provided deliverance and life – he has provided Jesus.  In this season of Lent as we are called to “remember the story” we can find hope in the life, death and resurrection of Christ for us.  On the cross of Calvary, we learn from Scripture, all the sin of the world was placed on his back, all the agony, all of the punishment for our sin, and all of the terror of those who found no way out of the tsunami wave.  In those hours of the Cross Christ gasped for breath, he ached with pain, he was crushed by sorrow, he as abandoned by his father.

The events of that Good Friday leave us in stunned silence it captures our wonder and amazement.  Then the most powerful single event of all History comes to pass.  Jesus, “stricken, smitten, afflicted, and dead” rises in triumph from the Grave.  He declares to all those of   us drowning in a sea of sin, to those crushed by a creation crying out for rescue, I have brought your through.  All those swept away, who by faith cling to Christ as their savior are brought to life. 

If the story of this event moves us to anything – it should move us to the vital necessity to share Christ to all those around us who do not know Him.  For life can change in a flash in the twinkling of an eye.

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NIV)

Just as quick as the water swept them away – “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye” death will be replaced with LIFE!  We too even in these days of terror, sorrow, and confusion can sing the song of God’s people,

¹ If the LORD had not been on our side– let Israel say–
² if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
³ when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive;
⁴ the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
⁵ the raging waters would have swept us away.
⁶ Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:1-8 (NIV)

This week as conversation around the water cooler takes a turn toward Japan, share the song of God’s people in the middle of the mess.  Our God is For us!

<>< Craig

Psalm 121, one of the Psalms written for those traveling to the great city of Jerusalem on pilgrimage, invites us to look to the hills.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from?
Psalm 121:1 (NIV)

Whenever I read this verse I am drawn to that scene in Sound of Music where the VonTrapp family is hiding in the Abby, waiting for the Germans to leave so they can make their escape.  As they make their plans,  the mother superior of the Abby quotes this verse, and the camera pans to the majestic Swiss Alps. Later we see the VonTrapps all hiking over the Alps to freedom. 

As the pilgrims of old testament looked up to the hills on their way to Jerusalem, they didn’t see the majesty of the Alps, they saws hills that no doubt where beautiful in their own way. But in these hills, they often saw, places of pagan worship built to false gods. They saw the polls erected to the baals, they saw the tents of prostitution, gathering places where the prophets of these pagan religions would go to “wake” their gods, and call them into action.

As the writer of the psalm looks to the hills on his journey he answers his own question in verse 2.

² My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2 (NIV)

He notices that his help comes not from the hills, or those who gather there, or the lofty plans of self rescue that we design for ourselves. He knows that as we look to the hills in all their majesty we recognize that our help is from the one who made the hills, the creator of Heaven and Earth.

While this is not news to me, I “know” this, I often fail to live that way however.  While I recognize the power and majesty of God to create everything out of nothing – the God of Genesis one, I often do not give him the credit he deserves for being mindful of my Monday morning.  As I sit miles from my home, in a friend’s cabin, on a quiet lake, we are under the watchful eye, and ready care of the Creator of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
⁵ The LORD watches over you– the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:3-8 (NIV)

May I learn to rest in the unresting presence and power of God each and every moment of each and every day.

<>< Craig

“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times…”  This is a phrase than many of us parents find ourselves saying in a very frustrated state to our children.  For we know what every good teacher knows – repetition is the key to learning. In our frustration we are not necessary convinced that our child is teachable, since they have not learned the lesson of life we have tried through repetition to teach them.

This year in my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) we are going through the book of Isaiah and I have discovered that much of Scripture is a loving, yet frustrated God saying to his people. “If I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times….” His message is simple and clear, and yet we miss it, or at least I miss it so often.

It is a message of Love, and faithfulness, to stiff necked and hard headed people.

³ “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. ⁴ Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:3-4 (NIV)

It is a message of an incomparable God whom we often set aside for a god of our own choosing.

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. ²⁶ Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 40:25-26 (NIV)

It is a message of hope and restoration to a people who have wandered off.

¹³ I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.
Isaiah 46:13 (NIV)

It is a message of peace and joyful living through simple obedience to God.

¹⁸ If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Isaiah 48:18 (NIV)

It is a message that reminds me that in my God is my very breath and life.

⁵ This is what God the LORD says– he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
Isaiah 42:5 (NIV)

My study in Isaiah reminds me that the people of Israel treated God like I often do, they admire who he is, but do not trust him enough to become a true follower.  God continues to remind me that he does not need or desire to be admired, his desire is that we would be followers.  This simple message is repeated over and over and over again through the pages of this amazing letter of Love from God to his people.   I pray today that I will hear these  messages of God and draw close to Him as I strive to follow him more and more each day.

May I truly become a more fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ with each passing hour.

<>< Craig

Life is too short to waste ponders on things that don’t matter or will distract us from a life in Christ. So let’s have a GodPonder!