WEDNESDAY, April 14, 2010

LIKE A LAKE (Sara Groves)

So much hurt and preservation
Like a tendril round my soul
So much painful information
No clear way on how to hold it
When everything in me is tightening
Curling in around this ache
I will lay my heart wide open
Like the surface of a lake
Wide open like a lake
Standing at this waters edge
Looking in at God's own heart
I've no idea where to begin
To swallow up the way things are
Everything in me is drawing in
Closing in around this pain
I will lay my heart wide open
Like the surface of a lake
Wide open like a lake
Bring the wind and bring the thunder
Bring the rain till I am tried
When it's over bring me stillness
Let my face reflect the sky
And all the grace and all the wonder
Of a peace that I can't fake
Wide open like a lake
Everything in me is tightening

Everything in me is tightening
Curling in around this ache
I am fighting to stay open
I am fighting to stay open
Open open oh wide open
Open like a lake

Here I am this morning standing at the water’s edge looking into God’s own heart.  I’ve no idea how to swallow up the way things are.  Everything in me is tightening.  I am fighting to stay open.  Open.  Retreating is a easier way.  Is easier what I desire to do?  No, it isn’t.  I have to face “it” head on.  I have to run toward the battle, not away from it.  Thoughts.  Why is it that the “random” things, the “random” comments hit me so hard?  When the obvious battles hit me, I can handle them….but….it’s the small things, the little comments, things that happen that don’t seem to matter that affect me.  Wide open.  Lord, I am open to You this morning.  I am sorry that I got so “busy” yesterday that I didn’t run to my Hiding Place.  Since I didn’t Hide in You, I was open to the attacks that come from “life” and the enemy of my soul.  Today I am tight, I need You to unwind me and leave me wide open.  Open.  Can I really be open and let others hear it?  Do I have that courage?  I desire the rain that only You can give that will wash away the “dirt” from my heart.  I can’t fake it, I have to know that You are laying me besides still waters. 

Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume before he was buried according to Mark 14.  The commentary says …”it was a normal Jewish custom to anoint a body with aromatic oils in preparing it for burial.  Jesus seems to anticipate suffering a criminal’s death, for only in that circumstance was there no anointing of the body”.  A friend of mine that was considered to many a “criminal” just died….so I can understand “dying a criminal’s death”.  His family and close associates loved him, but to the general population, he was considered a criminal.  I felt the shame for him, I felt the disdain of society against him, I was grieved in my heart over his death.  What does this have to do with the death of Jesus?  Jesus was not a criminal, He was treated horrible, He never deserved any of that.  He was the Son of God, the Creator of Life, the Bright and Morning Star.  He had never cheated anyone.  He only knew good, He was perfect.  Then Why?????  Why did He die like that?

For me and for you.  He loved us that much.  Amazing!!!  How can it be that God would die as a criminal?  That was the price for sinful man.  The good news is that He arose like a King!!!  He conquered death, hell and the grave.  He might have died in shame, but He arose in victory.  Something that struck me about Mary’s anointing Him with oil is that even though to the outside world, it seemed he had died in defeat, His Father knew better and had Mary anoint Him like a non-criminal would be anointed before burial and then later on in the Scriptures, it says that after the Cross, he was again anointed with oil.  No Sir, His Father would make sure that he was taken care of, no matter what the general population thought.  Because of that we don’t have to hang our head in shame (no matter if we or the general population) think we are criminals.  We are all criminals according to the Scriptures, our Righteousness is as “filthy” rags.  Sometimes our filth just shows up more than others….but because of our acceptance of God’s righteousness we are ruling and reigning with Christ in High Places.  We are Royal Heirs.  Jesus paid it all and all to Him I give.  We have been given a place of honor, we are the head and not the tail, we are up front and not behind and it’s all because of a “criminal’s” death.  Thank You Lord Jesus.  Today I am

Going to a funeral,

Mary Ann