Daring to be Restless

I need therapy.   I admit it.   Every day I am reminded that I cannot do life on my own.   I am not strong enough.   I have believed lies, been wounded in the battle for my soul, and encountered grief deeper than my ability to cope.   This realization has been heavy on my heart lately, as more and more things in life have gone wrong, as more and more battles have been to the death, threatening the lives of young hearts and lives with so much potential.   And it is in these moments that God has brought to remembrance a Scripture I’ve known for years, but never fully appreciated – Isaiah 9:6.   It says: “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor , Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.” I love that it begins by saying the government – the weight of responsibility, decision making and leadership – rests on His s...

Exodus 17:15, LB: “Moses built an altar there and called it ‘Jehovah-nissi’ (meaning ‘Jehovah is my flag.’).” Four simple letters; one syllable; three consonants and a solitary vowel … The word “flag” in and of itself is not at all extraordinary. Any child can sound it out phonetically and print it sloppily on a page.   And yet, the emotions it conjures up, and the images it summons to one’s mind are remarkable.   The one word “flag,” in one instant, can cause someone to think of countless things: -           classrooms of small children with their hands over their hearts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with childlike innocence,         - stirring scenes from Mel Gibson’s movies The Patriot and Braveheart where the flag summons courage and valor form ordinary men,   -      the tears of a recent widow as she’s handed a folded flag to represent he...

“The Lord is my fort where I can enter and be safe; no one can follow me in and slay me. He is a rugged mountain where I hide; he is my Savior, a rock where none can reach me, and a tower of safety. He is my shield.  He is like the strong horn of a mighty fighting bull .” Psalm 18:2, Living Bible Drama, spectacle, bold colors, life and death artistry … There is something stunning and simultaneously frightening about the ancient tradition of bullfighting, something about its playful interaction with danger that creates a delicious thrill for the audiences it draws.  In its home countries of Spain and Portugal, nearly one million people attend these events every year, anxious to see who will conquer the bull with the greatest flair or be injured trying. [1]   To be honest with you, I have yet to fully understand all the intricacies of the sport or its appeal to spectators, yet whenever I read Psalm 18:2, I think of bullfighting.  Our God is like the horn of a might...

“The Lord is my fort where I can enter and be safe; no one can follow me in and slay me.   He is a rugged mountain where I hide ; he is my Savior, a rock where none can reach me, and a tower of safety.   He is my shield.   He is like the strong horn of a mighty fighting bull.” ~ Psalm 18:2, Living Bible Paraphrase ~ For those of you who have seen The Sound of Music , have watched Julie Andrews run through the rugged Austrian Alps singing, “The Hills are Alive,” or have heard Mother Superior sing “Climb Every Mountain,” and watched in trepidation as the Von Trapp family escaped to Switzerland through those same mountains – perhaps you’ll understand why I chose the title I did for this blog; perhaps even now you have goosebumps as I do, though mine are for a different reason.   Since returning home from our adventure in the mountains of Pennsylvania and watching The Sound of Music yet another time, Psalm 18:2 has been rolling around on the inside of me.   My...