Meditations

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

“We must begin to correct the admittedly false picture of Providence which we have hitherto been using. That picture, you will remember, was false because it represented God and nature as inhabiting common time. But it is probable that nature is not really in time and almost certain that God is not.

Time is probably (like perspective) the mode of our perception. There is therefore in reality no question of God’s at one point in time (the moment of creation) adapting the material history of the universe in advance to free acts which you or I are to perform at a later point in time.

To Him all the physical events and all the human acts are present in an eternal now. The liberation of finite wills and the creation of the whole material history of the universe (related to the acts of those wills in all the necessary complexity) is to Him a single operation. In this sense, God did not create the universe long ago but creates it at this minute—at every minute.”

C. S. Lewis in Miracles in The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics (New York: Harper One, 2002) 458-459.

In exploring the idea of Providence, I had to sit at the feet of the professor to get help. C.S. Lewis offers us the perspective we need. As I ponder what I read in his classic work, Miracles, I got what I needed, and what the whole world needs. Hang with me I will explain the connection to generosity.

When we look to the mountains, what do we see?

We see our Creator functioning outside of time and space in the “eternal now” always working for the good of all that He has made. This reminds us that He will never be early or late to come to our aid. He is always hearing, always caring, always working for our good.

The false picture we must jettison is that God is limited by time and space. If we retain it, it will limit generosity as we will not count on His care. Remember John 11:21 on this note: “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

She thought Jesus and His capacity to do miracles was limited to time and space. He demonstrated otherwise and worked the miracle, the answer to her prayer, in a manner that would bring glory to God outside of time in the eternal now.

When I walk through the mountains and see the flowers, He whispers that He cares for these, so I can trust Him to care for me. When we trust in God’s providence, we find the peace the world needs. We also discover that we are here to reflect His generosity in the eternal now.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

“With God, the more one seems to lose the more one gains. The more He strikes off of what is natural, the more He gives of what is supernatural. He is loved at first for His gifts, but when these are no longer perceptible He is at last loved for Himself. It is by the apparent withdrawal of these sensible gifts that He prepares the way for that great gift which is the most precious and the most extensive of all, since it embraces all others. Souls which have once for all submitted themselves to the divine action, ought to interpret everything favorably. Yes, everything! even the loss of the most excellent directors, and the want of confidence they cannot help feeling in those who offer themselves for that post.”

Jean-Pierrede Caussade (1675-1751) in Abandonment to Divine Providence (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) 92.

I shot the new header photo at Herman Creek on Saturday. It was so beautiful there. But to get to this spot required some steep unfavorable hiking.

Seeing how our Lord Jesus Christ cares for creation made me celebrate the gift of the outdoors and drew my heart to celebrate the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

This got me thinking about divine providence, which is why I read from Piper’s new book yesterday and Caussade’s classic today. I added links so you can read these books if you like.

Ponder this thought: “With God, the more one seems to lose the more one gains.” So true!

Related to generosity, this means there is never a sacrifice too great, for the One who bountifully gives us all things offers us Himself. And He cares for us in this life and for eternity.

The words “with God” touch me deeply as a friend who was a radiant reflection of the love of God, Brenda Jones, went home to be with the Lord yesterday. She is with God.

Caussade reminds us that even with the loss of special people we can “interpret everything favorably” because of the providence of God. What a blessed hope!

All who are in Christ and pass away experience beauty in glory greater than this photo. The outdoors are a reflection of the work of the Creator but nothing beats the glory of His presence.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

“Every good gift in this world and the next (including innumerable wonders to enjoy in nature) was purchased by Christ for us at the cost of his life. Therefore, every sight, every sound, every fragrance, every texture, every taste in this world that is not sin is meant to intensify our admiration and love for Jesus (as Creator, Sustainer, Upholder, and Redeemer) and move us to “boast . . . in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). The theater of wonders that we call the natural world is through Christ and for Christ.”

John Piper in “the Loss and Recovery of a Theatre of Wonders” in Providence (Wheaton: Crossway, 2020) 231.

God’s providence in nature makes it a “theatre of wonders” as Piper puts it. It is a gift not to be worshipped but to cause us “intensify our admiration and love for Jesus Christ.”

Sammy collected me at 7:30am yesterday morning. We visited the drive-thru at McDonalds to get a pair of breakfast sandwiches for each of us. Then we ventured an hour up I-70 to the Herman Gulch Trail.

The parking lot was nearly full. The trail starts at 10,400 feet. Our aim was not to hike to the lake, but to get to about 11,200 feet where the trail parallels Herman Creek and start fly fishing for Greenback Cutthroats.

The trek was challenging for me. It seemed like it went straight up for the first 45 minutes. Of course, Sammy scurried up it like a bighorn sheep. And though there were many hikers, we saw no other anglers.

Over a mile or so of water, we landed 46 of these absolutely beautiful fish, which are only accessible a few months of the year. It was technical fishing for the Colorado state fish. Our Creator had fun designing them!

They are diminutive, which means admittedly small, but living at the treeline means their season without ice and snow is short. But Jesus sustains them. We witnessed it. He fed them with hatches of mayflies and caddis.

Of course when we offered them mayfly and caddis patterns they struck our flies. After snapping some photos of these protected fish, we celebrated the gift of time together in the “theatre of wonders.”

We say that catching a trout like this is God’s gift to us. Releasing it is our gift to the next angler. But that moment we enjoy it’s beauty and colors was made possible by Christ so we are filled with gratitude.

Get outside and enjoy the beauty of Creation. May “every sight, every sound, every fragrance, every texture, every taste” point your attention to our generous Savior and Sustainer, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow’s header photo will celebrate the awesome scenery cared for by the Providence of God.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9

“The West values itself for its ability to produce things. Priests, nuns, and lay people tend to evaluate themselves interiorly by what they produce. Priests especially do not realize that their presence is enough. I often tell priests who work in parishes that one of the best things they can ‘do’ is simply walk around their neighborhoods and be present to their people. If they don’t do something, they feel that they are wasting their lives away.”

Northumbrian Community in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 808. Today is the last post from this precious book.

Our Scripture reminds us that God cares about our relationship with Him and illustrates how we can impact others by our presence. This flies in the face of Western and worldly thinking which values people for what they produce.

But how does this relate to generosity?

Much of giving, especially major gifts, is linked to outcomes or production. We need to jettison this thinking. It puts unnecessary pressure on God’s workers. Instead, let’s encourage faithful activities including being present with people.

Why does it matter?

How we live out our faith and dispense our generosity is as important as what we believe and support. If we are always busy and/or focused on production, we may miss the bigger story unfolding around us. Or cause others to miss it. Often I am guilty of this.

Perhaps you are too?

I’m taking a break today. I’m going fly fishing with my son, Sammy, today. I look forward to the gift of time together. Sure, I hope we catch a lot of Greenback Cutthroat trout but time together in each others’ presence will be priceless.

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. Jude 1:3

This is Brigid who loved the poor,
and gave away all she could spare
and would have given everything
if everything was hers to share.

She gave her love to God as well,
in her community at Kildare,
all souls were welcome to feast
on simple food, ale, and love of Him
who gave unstintingly for us
His love, His heart, His dying blood.
Her utmost love was love returned.

And this is the way that Brigid lived,
the prayer that Patrick made,
the circle Ninian drew,
the life that Martin taught,
the house that love built,
the heart that John heard,
the way that God made.

Poem on the way of Brigid in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 785-786. Soon I will be through this precious book. I pray the posts have been a blessing to you.

Let us give thanks for the privilege of serving a God who gives to us unstintingly. While I could image the meaning of this word, I looked it up.

Unstintingly means “not restricting or holding back: giving or being given freely or generously.” God gives unstintingly to us. This positions us to go and do likewise.

Think of people in your life who have inspired you by their sacrificial living, their generous giving, their timely support, or for helping you grasp the Christian life.

Pause and notice the last stanza of the poem. Each person contributed to the faith of the community in Ireland. These have contributed to you. What contribution will you make?

As I ponder, I wonder if someone would say this about me: “the meditations that Gary posted.” Candidly, I never dreamed I’d do this daily for 12 years and counting. It’s calling from God not a plan on my part.

Today I honor my sister, Heather, on her birthday. As it was said of Brigid, I would say of her “the utmost love that Heather returned” because her loving sacrifices have been many. Happy Birthday, Heather.

But I press you once more. We serve a God who gives unstintingly, and we need each other to play our part so the faith that was once for all handed down to us spreads to others. What contribution will you make?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

“I give to you, my children, these final words: ‘Be at peace with one another, bound together by mutual and unfeigned love. If you do this, according to the example of the ancient fathers, God, who gives strength to the righteous, will bless you: and I, abiding with Him, shall intercede for you. Not only will God provide all things needed for this preesent life, but He shall prepare for you the blessings of eternity.”

St Columba’s last reported words of blessing in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 767.

Columba was about to see the Lord. Notice the repeating theme in his last words of blessing. “I give to you…God who gives…not only will God provide…He shall prepare…”

Columba gives them a blessing because God gives blessing, God provides, and God prepares. And Columba adds that because he himself will be “abiding” with God, he will continue to intercede for us.

I love this picture. As death is all around us. Those who die in Christ are more alive than ever, and they are interceding for us in the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on to run the race marked out for us.

And we must remember that we can be generous in living, giving, serving, and loving because God has been generous and continues to be generous to us.

In light of this, let us richly spread peace, “mutual and unfeigned love,” and blessing today!

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

“St Brendan once asked Ita what were the three works most pleasing to God, and the three works most displeasing to Him. St Ita answered, ‘Three things that please God most are true faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a grateful spirit, and generosity inspired by charity. The three things that most displease God are a mouth that hates people, a heart harboring resentment, and a confidence in wealth.’ St Brendan and all who were there, hearing that opinion, glorified God in His chosen one.”

St Brendan and St Ita in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 766.

Consider the simplicity of St Brendan’s question and the content of St Ita’s answer. Having faith in God with purity, living simply with gratitude, and extending grace-filled generosity to others pleases God. These three reflect loving God and loving our neighbor.

And on the flip side, what displeases God are a mouth that hates people, a heart that harbors resentment, and faith in wealth. These sound like three defining traits of the world around us. They reveal a lack of care for others and failure to trust in God.

God, reveal any impurity to our faith, teach us to live simply and generously. Cause your love to flow from our hearts and lips as we trust you rather than wealth to sustain us. In your mercy hear our prayer and work by your Spirit so our lives please you we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 22:21

“Ciaran founded the monastery of Clonmacnois on the banks of the Shannon River in late 544. Less than a year later on 9 September 545, he died unexpectedly at the age of 33.

Ciaran went to the island of Aran to commune with Enda. Both of them saw the same vision of a great fruitful tree growing beside a stream in the middle of Ireland. The tree protected the entire island. Its fruit crossed the sea that surrounded Ireland and the birds of the world came to carry off some of that fruit.

Ciaran turned to Enda and told him what he had seen. Enda, in turn, said to him: ‘The great tree is you, Ciaran, for you are great in the eyes of God and of all humankind. All of Ireland will be sheltered by the grace that is in you, and many people will be fed by your fasting and prayer. Go in the name of God to the centre of Ireland, and found your church on the banks of a stream.'”

Ciaran of Clonmacnois (512-545) and “The Vision of the Great Tree” from Wisdom of the Celtic Saints by E.C. Sellner as recounted in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 765-766.

I love that the final verse in the New Testament is simply a prayer that the grace of the Lord will be with all of God’s people.

When the grace of God was on Ciaran, he accomplished the vision God gave to him and to his mentor, Enda: to establish a place where people would be sheltered by grace and fed by fasting and prayer. He built it, then passed into the presence of God. His short life was not a waste. He did his part.

What about each of us? What vision has God given you? How might you be a shelter of grace for others and feed them with fasting and prayer in the time given you?

This is a powerful word picture. Our generous service can shelter people from the storms of life by grace. Our sacrifices in fasting and prayer can impact countless lives. Through these spiritual practices, they are fed with what they need and that which will satisfy them.

What would it look like for you to discern your vision with a mentor and then go after it? Your generosity could reach levels only known by God.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

“As church and state in the Roman empire got married after the toleration edict in 312, heroic virtue was exchanged for compromise with the world, and the inevitable result was insipid mediocrity. Men and women, finding no challenge in the cities, began to flock to the Egyptian and other deserts. This was a bold encounter with the realities of existence, a challenge to all accepted norms in society, a facing of the shadow side of the human personality, and ultimately confrontation with objective evil.

The Desert Fathers were essentially solitaries, expressing their love for their neighbors by total self-oblation to God, by continuous prayer, and by handcraft work for the poor. Their lives reveal an extraordinary humility, gentleness, tenderness, sensitivity, and compassion . . . and a firm grasp of Bible teaching seems to have been based on the principle that you don’t ignore what you don’t like.”

Martin Reith in Celtic Spirituality as cited in in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 755.

Those who ignore what they don’t like in the Scriptures don’t follow Jesus but rather their own preferences. If that sounds shocking, perhaps ask yourself if it is true about you.

Our Lord Jesus Christ bids us to come and die. He challenges us to trust that the life He offers is better than anything we can contrive. But do we really live like we believe Him.

In the USA, I grew up in a context where there was little challenge to my faith. Now, the greatest challenge comes not from outsiders but rather comfortable Christians.

They don’t want to talk about the ‘radical’ aspects of the faith, which in their view, don’t relate to everyone. It seems like they ignore what they don’t like.

Today I want to honor a friend I saw this weekend, Travis Shelton. He speaks openly and boldly about the challenging financial aspects of the faith, and he coaches people to live differently.

People are listening to his voice crying out in the desert. Many log into his podcast. When we align our faith and finances, Travis would say with the Desert Fathers, we find freedom!

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

“There has probably never been a time in history when the majority of people were seriously seeking God. Our Bible sets before us the idea that God may use a minority to serve the majority. It is because of the faithfulness of the few, not the many, that the Christian faith has come down the ages to us and we have the chance to know God in this way. It has always been so. If God has called us and we want to respond to Him, then we must be faithful to our own vision, whatever the many think. But we must do it with open hearts and open arms, not safeguarding our fewness, our specialness. And we must do it in healthy laughter directed at ourselves, because really it is so ridiculous to think that God has chosen us for anything at all, even though it is true.”

Kate Tristram in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 732.

Sweet meetings in Seattle. Deeply spiritual and profoundly strategic.

Funny to think that a group of eight have helped launch a mission sending gateway that has mobilized dozens of Chinese and Mongolians for Christian mission.

Yesterday was a full day, but the dinner at the end was filled with laughter.

Personally, as my season of service has drawn to a close, I can’t believe God gave me the opportunity to do this work with such a great group of people.

Maybe you have experienced a similar feeling at the end of a time of service?

As I reflect, I need open hands and open arms because this work has never been mine. It belongs to the LORD. All our work belongs to Him.

All we can do is sigh to realize the gift that it is to be on God’s team.