Back on January 18^th, I wrote about the Andrae Crouch song “Through it All”.  I wrote about how the word “through” means “in at one end, side or surface and out at the other”.  I wrote about how we were going through a crisis with my Dad, but that we were trusting God to bring us through to the other side.

I had no way of knowing that 5 days later, the other side for Dad would be heaven.

There’s always something in me that wonders what goes through God’s mind as He watches us, knowing that another – maybe even a bigger test of faith is right around the corner.  But as I wonder, I also know that He’s preparing us.  If we trust Him in one unknown, we will be stronger when we face the next one.

I’ve learned that God will bring me through, no matter what the unknown is, no matter how crushing or devastating or sad.  I can’t always expect that “through” means what I want on the other side.  “Through” always means what God wants on the other side. 

There is another verse to “Through it All” that I didn’t quote on January 18^th.  But it seems particularly appropriate now.

I’ve had many tears and sorrows,
I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
There’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
That my trials come to only make me strong.

In this situation, in every situation, God has indeed given our family blessed consolation.  This trial has made us stronger in spite of the tears and sorrows. 

So I hope you don’t mind if I take some liberties with a few of the words…

Through it all,
through it all,
We’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
We’ve learned to trust in God.

Through it all,
through it all,
We’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

 
Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. Colossians 1:11

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

“Dad is with the Lord”.

A ringing phone and those words jarred me out of sleep a week ago today.  I wanted it to be someone else’s story, not mine.  I wanted to go back to bed and have it be a terrible dream.  But it wasn’t.  My father, David Virkler, had been called Home.

These past few days have been filled with tears and there’s an ache in my heart that I’ve never known before.  But in the midst of it, I’m becoming so aware that while a great man left us, he left us (he left me) with something precious.

A legacy.

My Dad spent his life telling others about Jesus.  He preached in big churches and small ones.  He spoke in camps and conferences and even other countries.  His voice was heard on the radio and his words were read in print. The testimonies of those who were impacted by his ministry have brought us comfort as we received cards and notes and phone calls this week. Even in the last few days of his life, he wanted others to meet God.  He would hand tracts to his nurses and tell them he wanted to see them in heaven.

We didn’t know he’d be in heaven so soon, but God did.  And God used him up until the very end of the earthly life he lived so well.

A legacy is something handed down from the past.  Dad’s earthly life is past now, but he’s left all of us with an example of what it means to put God first, what it means to serve and to lead and to love.

I could never have the widespread influence and impact he had. I’m not on the radio, I’m not a great speaker, I’m not nearly as bold as he was.  But maybe I could influence and impact one person today.  Maybe I could find the courage to tell someone else about Jesus. Dad would want that.   

Thanks, Dad.

 

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.      Psalm 16:6

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Proverbs 23:24

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition: in at one end, side, or surface and out at the other.

I make good use of my snooze alarm.  Love hitting it over and over, peeping out from the covers with one eye open to see how many more times I can do that before I need to open both eyes and actually get myself out of bed.

The problem is, I have the clock radio set to play music instead of an alarm, and sometimes a song comes on that is so good, I have to wrestle with myself over whether or not I’ll whack that “snooze” button, or let the song play.  This morning was one of those mornings. 

I let it play.

I hadn’t heard this song in years, but God knew I needed it today.  My family has been going “through” a crisis with my Dad being in the hospital with serious post-surgery complications.  As I laid there in bed in the early hours of this morning and listened to these lyrics, I thought about going “through” something.  “Going through” implies that you’re going to come out on the other side.

Looking forward to the other side, but so thankful for the God walking through it with us now.

Through It All  (by Andrae Crouch)

I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.

Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.            Psalm 23:4

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; Psalm 138:7

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.              Isaiah 41:10

 

 

 

I get pretty serious about traveling by air.  I get my tickets well in advance.  I select my seats so I am right where I want to be.  I get to the airport hours early. I don’t like surprises.

So of course God gave me one.

My return flight to Florida from New Jersey after the holidays was late, and of course I had gotten to the airport early, which made the wait even longer.  The airport was crowded, the flight was full and people were getting tired. When we were finally called to board at 10:30 (PM!), all I wanted to do was get in my pre-selected seat and start the journey home.

Imagine my surprise as a red light flashed on the gate agent’s desk as they scanned my boarding pass.  “Oh, Miss Virkler, your seat has been changed.  They’ve moved you to a window seat”.

“Oh, Miss Gate Agent, I think not”.  I didn’t really say that, but I wanted to.  I wanted an aisle seat.  I didn’t want to be crammed into a window seat.  I had prepared ahead of time so I WOULDN’T be in a window.  I was quickly getting irritated.  With a sigh of impatience, I asked her why I had been moved.  She said,  “They’ve given you an exit row seat”.

A few minutes later I was comfortably seated in Row 20, Seat A, with an embarrassingly generous amount of leg room and no one in the seat next to me.  And my impatience had turned to humbled gratefulness to whoever the person was that moved me.

Sometimes we’ve been given an upgrade and we don’t realize it until after we’ve sighed and complained because the plans we made have been changed without our consent.  Sometimes God is in the process of moving us out of our pre-selected and well-prepared plans because He has a great surprise for us down the road.

The next time your plans don’t go the way you thought they would, take a deep breath, keep your mouth shut and trust God.

He may well be in the middle of giving you an upgrade.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.  Isaiah 55:8

But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, nor do they understand His counsel; Micah 4:12

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. Hebrews 10:35

I’ve been driving the same way to work for 5 years.

And then a few weeks ago for some unknown reason, I turned right instead of going straight and took a different road.  It’s faster.  It’s less stressful.  And I’m in a much better mood when I get to work.

Who knew that such a little change could make such a big difference? 

So now it’s a new year, and I’m thinking about new things.  And maybe there are other areas of my life where I should rethink the ways that I’ve been doing things for years.  Maybe the familiar roads aren’t really the best ones.  Maybe there are other roads to choose that will give me completely new perspectives and experiences and adventures.

The Bible talks a lot about paths and roads and ways.  And I think God especially likes to take us on new ones because that’s where we’ll see His goodness and His provision and His blessing.

I’ll think about that on my way to work this morning on my “new road”.  And I’ll pray that in 2012, God will show me some new roads of His own.

 

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

But He knows the way that I take;  Job 23:10

You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:3

Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, “this is the way, walk in it” whenever you turn to the right hand, or to the left.  Isaiah 30:21

 

The days after Christmas.  There’s always some sense of disbelief that it’s over.  The whirlwind of activity is starting to settle down.  And there’s a part of us that wishes we could keep that sense of wonder and joy and hope alive for a while longer.

One of the central figures in the Christmas story must have felt the same way.  And I like how she responded.

“Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Luke 2:19

The whirlwind of a miraculous pregnancy and treacherous travel and overcrowded inns and a manger and bright stars and visiting shepherds was over.  Mary had been a woman of many words months earlier after her visit with Elizabeth, reciting beautiful and strong prophetic poetry to express the feelings in her heart.  But now, words were few.  It’s like she stepped back and took it all in.  She made it personal.

And we should do the same now in these days following the celebration of Christ’s birth.  We should step back and think about the things we want to keep in our hearts, the things we want to ponder more fully in the quietness of the post-holiday moments. 

Maybe there was a particular sermon or scripture passage that brought the reality of “God with us” even closer.  Maybe the words to a familiar Christmas song were heard in a new way.

Don’t let those moments get packed away with the decorations.  Take a cue from Mary.

Keep them.  Ponder them.  And let the joy of the Christmas season stay in your hearts in the days ahead.

 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.    Hebrews 2:1

Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

 

 

 

 

It’s inevitable.  At some point this holiday season, your lung capacity is going to be put to the test.  You’ll be standing in church, or at a carol sing, or maybe even in your own home belting out the Christmas tunes. 

And then the angels will be heard on high.

“Glo- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ri-a, in excelsios Deo”.  Those dashes represent that part of the song where you have to decide if you’re going to go for it, and try to completely exhale all traces of air in your lungs before you get to the next line.

You know what I’m talking about.

So the other day I was doing a study on exactly what “glory” is.  In scripture, glory is always linked to  God’s self-revelation.  One commentary said, “God’s glory is revealed by His coming to be present with us, His people, and to show us Himself by His actions in our world”.

And that’s what Christmas is all about.  God’s self-revelation in human form.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”.  (John 1:14)

So this year, the next time I inhale deeply and try to sing the “Gloria” part of that Christmas song without taking a breath, I’m going to use those few moments to think about what I’m singing.  God revealed Himself.  To us.  In a manger.

And that thought alone should indeed leave me breathless.

 

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.”  Matthew 1:23

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”  John 11:40

The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.   Isaiah 40:5

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

 

 

God seems to like surprises.  Just when we think we know what He’s going to do and how He’s going to do it, He takes a sharp turn and does something we never could have imagined.

There’s a well-known Christmas hymn called “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”.  Jesus was expected.  So many Old Testament prophecies foretold His coming. But nobody dreamed it would happen this way:

Unexpected childless elderly couple

Unexpected angelic visits

Unexpected young virgin

Unexpected census

Unexpected room shortage

Unexpected poor shepherds and curious rich kings

So many unplanned surprises along the way.  Angelic visits – good.  Unwed teenager and census travel and room shortages – not so good.

But it was all part of the plan.

Christmas reminds me that God delights in the unexpected.  In matters of grand and universal and eternal significance, and also in the matters of my life and my heart. 

I want to have the kind of faith that expects the unexpected.  Not with resignation and fear and worry, but with excitement and wonder.

And hope.

You are the God who does wonders;  Psalm 77:14

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”                   1 Corinthians 2:9

Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!  Psalm 31:19

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

An older woman whose heart had ached for a baby for years, decades even, but whose arms remained empty and now hope seemed gone.  A teenager who had kept herself pure and hadn’t planned on a baby quite just yet.

Side by side.  Two women in a drama they didn’t audition for, but two women who became part of a story that changed the course of history.

I’ve been reading the Christmas story in Luke, asking God to show me things I hadn’t really seen before.  And this morning, I saw the contrast between Elisabeth and Mary.  But I also saw in a new way how both of them trusted God with the unplanned circumstances of their lives.

In spite of the disappointment of not having a baby, Elizabeth “was righteous before God, walking in all of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.” (Luke 1:6)  And Mary, after being told she was going to have a baby – God’s Son! – reacted by saying, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Elizabeth didn’t know that her circumstance was about to change.  She had no idea that God was going to answer her prayers in a dramatic and unreal way. But she still walked with God.  And Mary’s circumstance changed so quickly and so dramatically that she could have reacted with panic and despair.  But she gave her heart with abandon to God.

Two women.  Two different situations.  One common response – trust.

I believe God gives us these kinds of details to get us to think about how we respond to unplanned circumstances.  Whether we find ourselves still waiting for something we’ve been asking for – for years, or in the middle of something we didn’t ask for at all, our response needs to be the same.

Because God always has a plan.  And His timing is always just right.

 

For with God, nothing is impossible.  Luke 1:37

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.      Hebrews 10:23

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.  Luke 1:45

 

 

 

 

It started out as an annoying drip before I left for Thankgiving.  But last night my kitchen faucet decided it had a mind of its own and a defiant stream of water poured out no matter how hard I turned the “off” knobs.

So I did what I knew to do.  I called Dad.  In New Jersey.  1200 miles away.

Dad knows about these things.  I knew he’d be able to tell me what to do, how to manage the problem, how to fix it.   And now, because of that call, my kitchen is quiet and drip-free.

I called my father because I needed guidance.  I didn’t think twice about it.  Just picked up the phone and called.  And I should be just as quick to think of calling my heavenly Father when I need guidance.  I know He’ll tell me what to do and how to manage the problems of life.

God tells us over and over in scripture to call Him.  No busy signal, no dropped calls.  He tells us to call Him because He has promised He’ll respond and have the answers we need.  He wants to hear about our problems.  He knows there are things we can’t fix ourselves.

There are things in life that are a whole lot more complicated than a dripping faucet.  And I know just Who to call.

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.               Jeremiah 29:12

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.        Psalm 50:15

It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.  Isaiah 65:24