"Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen." – Hebrews 13:20-21
Reflection:
There is an old, old hymn, written in 1729, that presents a thought which might be timely to consider. The exquisite wording expresses the depth of spirit, while written in the Old King James.
Here's the last section of the hymn, as though a prayer to our Lord:
May I ceaselessly adore Thee,
And in all,
Great and small,
Seek to do most nearly
What Thou lovest dearly.
– Gerhard Tersteegen
Can you imagine what our world would look like if for only one day each of us would "seek to do most nearly" the things that God loves dearly? Every single life on the planet would be different if we lived to please God instead of ourselves. Every home, school, house of worship, hospital, airport, community center, sports stadium and so on, would be radically changed.
And, then, if that one day were, indeed, so peaceful and joyful, wouldn't we all want to continue living that way, never to return to the old, selfish ways?
This splendid, shining autumn month, what if each of us, in our own small corner of the world, set out to live to please Christ above all else?
The benediction verse above informs us that God has already made it possible for us to live this way. Let's challenge each other to accept the power that Christ is producing in us, day by day. From glory to glory.
Autumn blessings!
Beverly Lewis
Writing Update: As I write this blog, I am two chapters away from finishing the first draft for The Stone Wall, releasing Fall 2020, a stand-alone novel set in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, the very heart of Lancaster County Amish farmland. If you have the opportunity to visit there, you will see several beautiful, historic stone walls...and one, in particular, which conceals a 70-year secret (well, it does in my novel, anyway!). Stay tuned for the book cover reveal soon. And thanks so much for your gracious support of my newest novel, The Timepiece, and for your prayers for my continued writing ministry, dear reader-friends!
"Jesus said to his disciples, 'Suppose one of you has a friend. Suppose you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. A friend of mine on a trip has dropped in on me, and I don't have anything to serve him.' Your friend might answer you from inside his house, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children are in bed. I can't get up to give you anything.' I can guarantee that although he doesn't want to get up to give you anything, he will get up and give you whatever you need because he is your friend and because you were so bold.
So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the person who knocks, the door will be opened." – Luke 11:5-10
Reflection:
If you read the scripture verses above carefully, you caught it. You saw that Jesus tells us to pray boldly, and with persistence and expectation.
You know the saying “Go big, or go home,” right? So, if we're going to tap into the most powerful Source in the universe, let's ask for big things. Significant things, like healing for a friend's lung cancer or urgent sole custody for a child or a much-needed job. Let's ask for the lost to come to Christ.
Remember, God cherishes us. He is the best-ever Father, like a loving dad who sits up all night in the hospital room of a sick child, wanting to be there through the illness, the pain, the displacement. Willing to lose sleep, not eating, to be present with his precious son or daughter.
God is with us in all of our suffering and troubles—the greatest role model for any parent. So, when we're messed up, feeling weak, and needing divine help, it shows that unless we are helpless we cannot be helped. We have to reach out and grab the Lifebuoy so we don't drown. Otherwise, we're not ready for intervention. We have to recognize our helplessness, so we won't become hopeless. We are in Christ, not doing life alone.
A side note here: My dad was the preacher in our family, but every so often I feel impressed to share some of his vision in my monthly blogs. I've seen firsthand the power of prayer from my parents. They lived by faith, literally, even praying in groceries when they were church planters, back in the day when it was actually called "pioneer pastoring," and were paid with chickens from their small congregation. Living by faith meant storming the Throne of Grace when my mother was diagnosed with inoperable ovarian cancer and given six months to live, when I was just a small girl. And, believe me, we prayed repeatedly for her healing! (Read the account of this miracle story, if you wish, in my book, The Sunroom). Like Jesus said, we must be persistent in our prayers...and wait with great expectation.
Beverly Lewis
Writing Update: Some of you have asked, and yes, I am on deadline, currently writing my Fall 2020 book (a stand-alone novel set in Strasburg, PA, the heart of Amish farmland in Lancaster County). Please stay tuned for the title reveal soon.
Also, the conclusion to The Tinderbox releases two weeks from today, so if you want it to read The Timepiece on its release day (September 17) you may want to preorder online or at your local bookstore. Thank you so much for following me faithfully all these years, and for being such amazingly devoted readers!
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD." – Psalm 150:6
Reflection:
This day, August 1st, may be one of the kind of days you'll want to take your Bible outdoors and read. Or to walk leisurely and talk to God in praise, surrounded by the sound of birds, embracing the peace of that particular moment. Praying while walking, conversationally, can bring peace and comfort during difficult times, or it may even be a catharsis for bottled-up emotions. Definitely, it's a worshipful experience.
Rhoda Miller, a devout Amish wife and mother in my novel The Tinderbox, is encouraged to simply walk and talk with Jesus in the midst of one of the most trying seasons of her life, when a secret from her husband's past threatens to destroy her marriage and their family. Walking outdoors while pouring out one's heart to the Savior is incredibly cleansing, just as shedding tears can heal the heart and bring full release. There is a reason why we cry, right? And also while we laugh aloud.
Expressing ourselves to our Maker is an encounter not to be missed. I wholeheartedly suggest it, and daily.
Many beautiful blessings ahead,
Beverly Lewis
Writing Update: The Timepiece, the gripping conclusion to The Tinderbox, is right on schedule for release on September 17. You can have it on the official release day by preordering now, if you wish. Thanks for all of your lovely words of encouragement and support, dear reader friends!
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." – Psalm 33:12
Reflection:
In 1893, a professor, poet, and writer named Katharine Lee Bates traveled to Colorado Springs (where my family and I reside), and while Katharine was standing at the top of Pikes Peak, the words to a remarkable poem began to form in her mind. This poem we have all come to know and love is titled "America, the Beautiful," as majestic as that famed mountain which I am delighted to see every day out my home office windows.
I remember as a little girl in elementary school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania singing this amazing song with my classmates each morning, followed by standing for the "Pledge of Allegiance" and saying The Lord's Prayer, too. All the memorable moments of the start of our school day. . . .
How very different things were then. Some of you may remember bowing your head in this reverent prayer even before the teacher took attendance and collected milk money.
This month, when we commemorate Independence Day, what if we also thank our heavenly Father for the privilege of living in a land where a poet like Katharine Lee Bates could be so inspired as to write the following lyrics to that lovely song, (verse 3):
"O beautiful for heroes proved, in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life.
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine."
Take a moment with me to ponder that and all the verses. It touches my heart deeply and takes me back to my childhood classroom. I am so grateful to have had the freedom to blend my voice with my teacher and classmates and sing such a soul-stirring song! One that is embedded in my mind for life.
"America, America, God shed His grace on thee. . . ."
Blessings abundant, and Happy Fourth!
Beverly Lewis