The Rock that is Higher

Have you ever felt basically unsettled...?

Like whatever can be shaken is being shaken? It can be exhausting. Things that used to matter become insignificant when fatigue takes over.

Over the last few months it seems like everyone I know is going through it... I've been hit with it and sometimes don't know whether its my stuff, or just the storm rolling through.??

Finding strength and comfort in times like this, that's the challenge!

Psalm 61:2 says "From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."

I've pondered the phrase "lead me to the rock that is higher than I." A rock speaks of strength and stability. I love what Charles Spurgeon relays about this in the Treasury of David:

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. I see thee to be my refuge, sure and strong; but alas! I am confused, and cannot find thee; I am weak, and cannot climb thee. Thou art so steadfast, guide me; thou art so high, uplift me. There is a mint of meaning in this brief prayer. Along the iron bound coast of our northern shores, lives are lost because the rocks are inaccessible to the shipwrecked mariner. A clergyman of one of the coast villages has with immense labour cut steps up from the beach to a large chamber, which he has excavated in the chalk cliffs; here many mariners have been saved; they have climbed the rock, which had else been too high for them, and they have escaped. We have heard of late, however, that the steps have been worn away by the storms, and that poor sailors have perished miserably within sight of the refuge which they could not reach, for it was too high for them: it is therefore proposed to drive in iron stanchions, and to hang up chain ladders that shipwrecked mariners may reach the chambers in the rock. The illustration is self interpreting. Our experience leads us to understand this verse right well, for the time was with us when we were in such amazement of soul by reason of sin, that although we knew the Lord Jesus to be a sure salvation for sinners, yet we could not come at him, by reason of our many doubts and forebodings. A Saviour would have been of no use to us if the Holy Spirit had not gently led us to him, and enabled us to rest upon him. To this day we often feel that we not only want a rock, but to be led to it. With this in view we treat very leniently the half unbelieving prayers of awakened souls; for in their bewildered state we cannot expect from them all at once a fully believing cry. A seeking soul should at once believe in Jesus, but it is legitimate for a man to ask to be led to Jesus; the Holy Spirit is able to effect such a leading, and he can do it even though the heart be on the borders of despair. How infinitely higher that we are is the salvation of God. We are low and grovelling, but it towers like some tall cliff far above us. This is its glory, and is our delight when we have once climbed into the rock, and claimed an interest in it; but while we are as yet trembling seekers, the glory and sublimity of salvation appall us, and we feel that we are too unworthy ever to be partakers of it; hence we are led to cry for grace upon grace, and to see how dependent we are for everything, not only for the Saviour, but for the power to believe on him.

It would be hard to say it any better than that.

Father, lead us to Jesus, our Rock, every day and every hour. And help us drive in the iron stanchions of faith and diligent prayer, to hold the ladder for others and for ourselves. Thank you for your goodness! Lord have mercy...

Handel's Messiah

I always thought classical music was something you endured in the doctor's office, I never enjoyed it (nor appreciated it). My wife liked it and actually played it on the piano. She had a few songs memorized and it was amazing she could play them by ear, but I still didn't care for the music itself.

Then in 1993 we traveled to Germany where we were doing a conference with some friends. I was beginning to have a new appreciation of history. Many houses and buildings were older than the United States...

We were staying in a small village with windows tilted open, when on a crisp Sunday morning we were awakened by the sound of church bells. Then a string quartet began to play. It was beautiful! Now I had done a 180, and was wondering if the people in the village were appreciating this music.

Fast forward a few years and we went to a performance of Handel's Young Messiah at the old McNichol's Arena in Denver. As June and I sat in the nose-bleed seats, I was overcome by the words being sung.

The music was beautiful, but I felt as though a bolt of lightning pierced my soul when I heard the words "But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire..." The words from Isaiah 40 were describing the coming of Jesus, and the music reflected the tone of awesome reverence. Tears streamed down my face, thinking about the unmatched glory of Jesus.

Since that evening, I've fallen in love with Handel's Messiah. It tells THE story in music, the most popular oratorio of all time.

I'm looking forward to sharing about it these next 5 weeks at Smoky Hill Vineyard.

Coincidence?

The doorbell rang, wasn't expecting anyone, didn't want to answer it (being the introvert). The guy asked if I was Blake (my son), said he was here for the piano advertised on craigslist...

Blake had picked up this piano a couple months ago for free, it has been sitting in our garage, and now was giving it away for free. Blake wasn't around so we went out to the garage to have a look.

Turns out he is a musician, short version - was playing on a cruise ship for over a year, met his future wife there, got married and they are pregnant with their first child. And he is excited about teaching his kid the piano.

I was immediately struck by his positive attitude, smiling, recounting the struggles of a musician's life. I commented "You seem to be so positive, what's up with that?" He said "Well, everybody's got it hard and you have to look on the bright side..."

So we loaded the piano into the back of his Subaru, just the two of us. It is small but easily 500 lbs., I'm wondering about the possibility of a hernia, but we get it in okay.

As we talk, I'm praying "Lord, do you want me to talk to him about you?" We talk some more, and I pray "Lord, is this you doing something? I know you love this guy but do you really want me to bring it up. He's a musician, and even though positive is probably jaded toward anything religious." Yes, all this is going on in my mind during our conversation...

So I finally get the courage to ask him "Do you have any spiritual belief?" He says hesitantly, "I'm kind of a Christian..." He went on to talk about attending church sporadically as a kid, doesn't go anymore cause he is usually playing gigs late on the weekends. His wife attends regularly and comes home to tell him "I prayed for you today."

Then he shared about his mom being hurt by her church years ago, they had condemned her when she divorced, and it made him angry. Recently, he had played with a band hired out by a small church on the west side of town. That church was the same denomination as the one his mom had been hurt by - creeped him out and upset him.

By now I'm seeing how much God loves this guy and wants to break through all the junk and show him. All my discomfort has quickly faded in the intersection of God's love and a young man who is longing to know his life counts, and that God sees him.

So I said "I don't think this is a coincidence, you coming out here for this piano.... Can I pray with you?" He said "Sure!" (which always surprises me), and I just invited God to touch him and lifted him, his family, passions and gifts to Jesus. Pause. God showed up with His peace.

As he drove off, I thought someone has been praying for this guy. How many times has he been around followers of Jesus who shied away from talking with him about what really matters (just like I do in soooo many situations)??

Craigslist, cruise ships, pianos, doorbells, musicians, stories, etc. What a privilege to see and experience God breaking in with His love.

This wasn't a coincidence for him, and it wasn't a coincidence for me.