Easter Garments

What do I wear Lord?
We're not talking fashion statement,
the "in" color of the season,
or the must have logo of the moment.
We are talking about garments that truly cover.
Garments that protect from
more than mere sun, wind, rain and cold.
Garments that do more than hide our flaws
or are of a color that compliments us.
We are asking for Your garments.......
Garments that have eternal significance.
Do I clothe myself
in Your radiant robe of righteousness?
Do I avail myself of Your
whiter than snow robe of forgiveness?
Do I avail myself of Your rich robe,
dyed red by the blood of Jesus,
woven with His willingness
to exchange His life for mine?
A garment fashioned for me that I might be worthy
to attend Your wedding feast?
Do I clothe myself in a garment of praise?
Does my face radiate with the joy of knowing You,
hearing Your soft whisper in my ear?
From the beginning of time Lord
we have tried to do things on our own.
We have sought to be like You,
to be all knowing, all wise,
to disregard the direction you have given us.
We have sought to clothe ourselves
in garments of out own making.
First plant leaves, then skins and later woven cloth.
From time to time we have attempted to
clothe ourselves in radiant garments,
embellished with threads of silver and gold,
studded with sparkling gems.
None of this hid our nakedness from you.
Not one of our efforts has hidden our filthy rags from You.
We have simply placed splendid garments over our dirty underwear.
We thought that if we hid our nakedness
and sin from You, You would not notice.
Foolishness! We cannot hide from you, yet we try.
All the garments we fashion for ourselves
are insufficient to clothe us , fail to protect us,
cannot possibly hide our sin from You.
Only the garments You provide for us,
protect and shield us from the sins of this world.
The garment of salvation, willingly woven
By Your Son with His own hands
And dyed with His own blood.
provides us with protection.
While we are layering Lord,
keep us mindful that if we fail
to clothe ourselves with love,
we fail completely
It is Your love that binds us together
In harmony and sings a love song
to the lost and dying world.
Your love Lord,,
clothes with compassion, humility and peace.
Glorious robes of praise,
radiant robes of righteousness,
surrounded and covered with love,
we are Your children,
ready to face the world and
go forth in Your name!

With thanks and praise for the Easter garments You provided for me, I remain
Your child, with dirty underwear, but Your  child none the less!
mary

Keep it Simple Sweetheart

Keep it Simple Sweetheart

Before beginning I want to include a note about the title.

This post is based on a talk I gave a number of years ago. The  theme  was the comfort and care  the Lord offers as He leads us, His flock. I called it a “Good Night Kiss.”  In my early thoughts and struggles on what to share I kept repeating to myself a common catch phrase at the time: “Keep it simple stupid.”  After a time spent struggling with what to share all those years ago, in faith, I felt a nudge from the Lord saying, and correcting me: “Keep it simple sweetheart.” The Lord frowns when we degrade ourselves or when anyone degrades us. We are His creation and He loves us intensely. He did not like having me call myself stupid. So, He sent correction. Keep it simple and understandable my child was the direction I heard all those years ago. The words were loving and affirmative. While admonished, I never felt shame, just love and encouragement. The Lord never ever shames us. He might bring correction but we know we are loved beyond all reason when He brings correction. (Proverbs 3: 11 & 12 “My son do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (See also Revelation 3:19, the instructions to the church at Laodicea.)

 Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

I love this word picture of the Lord’s caring for us, His sheep! Close, tender, gentle, loving care and attention. Held close to His chest where we are warm and can feel and hear His heart beat. This is the caring attention given to the very young, or those who are very young in their walk with the Lord. It is the tender care and attention given those who are  timid, injured, sick , rejected , abused or wounded. He gently, softly, cares for and leads those who are wounded, those who have young following them, or those who are tempted to call themselves stupid! The shepherd leads his flock to good fresh water and food. He knows their needs better than they know their own! He rubs healing salve into their various wounds, mental, emotional or physical. Our Good Shepherd is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 40: 30 & 31 “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Eagles nest high in the trees. Both parents, who mate for life, tend the nests and the young.  Eagles are known for their swiftness, their eye sight, strength and their faithfulness. They are also known for their commitment! They use the same nest year after year, rebuilding it as necessary, but in the same tree! The mother eagle feathers the nest and makes it soft and protective. When the fledglings begin to grow and the nest seems small due to the size of the young it is the father’s job to take out the soft lining and then to urge and even push the young out of the nest. However, the parents watch closely as the young begin to fly. If the young eaglet tires in flight the parent swoops in and catches the young on its outstretched wings.

We may grow tired or weary from time to time. At times life can be hard or even cruel. Sometimes the burdens we carry might make our shoulders slump. We can rest assured that He will effortlessly allow us to rest in His care. He has committed Himself to care for and guide us to spiritual maturity. He has committed Himself to see us all the way home to Him.

Eagles are known for their keen eye site. In flight, eagles soar high above the earth. This gives the eagle prospective.

If you are on the ground in the center of Houston, or any city, the buildings loom large overhead and your view is obstructed. You can see what is around you but you cannot see very far ahead or the pattern of the city’s streets.

 We often do not see the entire picture when looking at a problem. When we rely on the Holy Spirit we see things from God’s prospective. We can see the big picture. The problem is laid out like a patch work quilt viewed from The Father's vantage point.

When we turn our problems over to God we get the prospective of the Holy Spirit. We are able to “fly above” the congestion and see where we might be going. We see the whole picture and pattern not just the tyranny of the immediate situation.

We can rely on the Holy Spirit. We can ride on the wings of the Holy Spirit, resting in God’s care. We can relax knowing that He will bring us to maturity. When we are weary,  His Holy Spirit renews us.  We  have His view of the problem.
Deuteronomy 33:27a: “The Eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms…….”

 His arms are our safety net.

A toddler meeting a new person or in an unfamiliar situation may turn its face away or grasp its mother’s skirt and hide its face. The parent reaches down and scoops up the child in their protective arms.

 Several years ago our older son came home on vacation with his fluffy white American Eskimo puppy. Our neighbor walked over to our yard with her granddaughter. Porter, the playful puppy spying a new person who was closer to his size scampered over to meet the new comer. The child quickly turned back to her grandmother with her hands reaching out to be picked up. Grandma obliged and scooped up her granddaughter.

The Lord’s everlasting arms are always ready to reach out to us and scoop us into His protective embrace.

Psalm 37: 23 & 24 “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

A young child's father has a firm grip on the child's  hand  when crossing the street or in a crowded place. The father’s steps are firm and steady. The father will allow his child to experience the event but will not allow the child to fall or to run into danger. Should the child stumble or start to bolt the father’s grip keeps the child from falling or getting lost in the crowd. So too, our heavenly Father has a grip on us and will not allow us to falter. God is not going to let you cross a twelve lane freeway alone. Whether your “freeway” is a new job, sticky personalities or difficult circumstances, an illness or loss of one you love you are not alone. God does not just grasp your fingers. God’s hand is large enough to encompass your whole life. His hold is firm and secure.

Deut. 33: 12 Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.

Ah! A Piggy back ride! The Beloved gets a piggy Back Ride. It’s fun! You are held securely. When you are tired the Father walks for you. You are touched, affectionately, picked up held and given a rest on the Father’s shoulders.  On his dad’s shoulders the child might grab his dad’s hair, put his face next to His dad’s face, and touch affectionately. The child sees from the father’s prospective and sees where the father is going.

When you turn to the Lord, you see where The Father is going.  On His shoulders you see from The Father’s prospective! From the ground level we might be overwhelmed by the size of our problem. We might see the problem as very large. Too large to handle and overwhelming. If we do this we place  God in a position of being too small and ineffectual to handle our problem. If we rely on God, placing our selves on the Father’s shoulders, we see the problem from God’s prospective. Best of all, we are not striving alone. We have HIS help and guidance.

2 Tim. 4: 17–18 “The Lord stood by my side and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.”

Here we are, still His children but grown up and ready to serve Him. He is by our side all the way giving us strength to carry out the good works that He prepared in advance for us.  

See Acts 17:24 - 28

Verse 27 & 28 sum it up as follows: “God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

As infants we are carried close to His heart, in a warm secure place. When we are hurt, confused or abused He is there to cradle us again. As toddlers he holds us close. We can look over his shoulder and see where he has been. As we get a little older we are picked up and we can see where the father is going. In times of “traffic “ or trouble He holds us tight and secure and we know that he will not allow us to fall. Finally, we can stand beside the father as he sends us forward to the task he provided for us to accomplish. However, we can rest secure in the knowledge that he will never ever leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5b)  Again and again, as often as necessary, He will scoop us up and hold us close and bind up all our wounds.  All we need to do is reach out our arms to Him and call softly:"Dad I need you.".

With praise and thanksgiving to the Lord of Lords who has rescued me more times that I can count and sent His touch and guidance in more ways that I can begin to enumerate. I remain His very needy child.

mary schmerker

Desert Places

Eagles are known for their swiftness,  keen eye sight and strength. They have been observed carrying their young on their wings. Eagles are known for their faithfulness, they mate for life and their commitment, they return to the same nest each year.

The mother eagle feathers the nest making it soft and hospitable for the young. When it is time for the young to leave the nest the father eagle removes the soft lining and if necessary he gives the young eaglet a nudge out of the nest! Both parents remain watchful of the young in flight ready to swoop in and catch the young eaglet before it falls to the ground.

Late winter or early spring, probably 1998, in the  Escalante Wilderness of Utah I watched an eagle lift off the desert floor effortlessly. Truly, a majestic sight.

Sometimes in life we find ourselves stuck in desert places. Dry and inhospitable circumstances may surround us. When we find ourselves in these circumstances we can rest assured that our heavenly Father knows exactly where we are. The I Am that I Am may have stirred up our nests of comfort and pushed us to the edge and poised us for flight. HE will be the one who lifts us off the floor of the desert and brings us to a place of rest.

We can rest assured that The Lord God Almighty has our growth, well being and comfort in His hands.

His benefits are ours for the asking..........all we need to do is ask......

Praise HIS holy name.


Deut. 32:11; Ps. 103:5; Is. 40:31

Anna, Never Too Old to Serve, Pray or Witness!

Anna, the prophetess.... a widow for eighty years never left the Temple but worshipped there night and day....at the very moment that Simeon was praying ( for the infant Jesus)  Anna showed up and broke into an anthem of praise to God and talked about the child (Jesus) to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem. ( Luke 2:36 - 38 The Answer.)

If doting grandparents and cooing aunts and uncles welcomed the infant Jesus we are not told about it. In fact it would seem that Jesus was welcomed by outcasts  (the shepherds) foreigners who were not Jewish ( the wise men) and the lowly animals. The infant Jesus was welcomed and recognized in unexpected ways, by unexpected people like Anna and Simeon.

One might think that Anna would be ready to retire. Leave the Temple duties to others whose hands are not bent with work or whose knees bent with greater ease. Not our Anna. Anna served and was rewarded. Once she saw her Redeemer she knew Him! She had waited expectantly for Him all her life. She wasted not a second but raised her voice in thanks to God Almighty and began telling everyone all about the infant Jesus!

Whether we are  young or old there is always ministry waiting for the sensitive person. Even if our hair is gray and our knees are arthritic there still remains a vital and important responsibility for us. We have the responsibility and ability to help shape the generations that follow ours.

Lord, keep our hearts open to Your arrival in our lives. Keep us expectantly looking for You in the everyday activities of our lives and most of all keep words of praise and thanksgiving always on our tongues for all to hear of Your wonderful works. Amen

Never Too Old To Serve, A Christmas Story

Clouds Over My Head

“And the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3b

Are there clouds hanging over your head today? Are you in a place of uncertainty or indecision? Are you struggling with illness or a financial strain? Are you concerned about your friends, spouse, children or grandchildren?  Do you fear where our great nation is headed?

When you see a cloud, small puffy fluffs of white or a multitude of ominous   dark grey storm clouds that obscure the whole sky, Don't fear!  Smile!

Clouds are the dust stirred up by God’s feet as HE acts.

Remember Paul and Silas in jail, their feet chained in stocks. The jail is a dungeon. It is dark. It stinks. Most likely there are rats, bats, spiders and all kinds of pestilence.

What do our friends Paul & Silas do? Do they whine or doubt or fear?

Not our guys. They pray and sing praises to their God and King.

Suddenly there is an earth quake and the doors are opened and their chains drop away. (Acts 16: 25 & 26)

Why?

Well, God heard their praises and he began to tap his feet. We know that God sits on his throne and that the earth is His footstool. (Isaiah 66:1) So, when God taps His feet things begin to happen here on earth.

When you see the clouds over head or feel that you are shrouded in clouds of uncertainty, pain, or fear, know that HE is there and actively working on your behalf. Sing a song of praise to Him, even if it has a whinny sound, and you will be amazed at the way HE will act in your behalf.

Dear Ones, now go on and read the first part of Nahum 1:3

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm….and the clouds  are the dust………”

Never fear dear ones of the Lord. HE is active in all your situations! The clouds are the dust under His mighty feet as HE stirs things up.

With overwhelming praise and thanksgiving to the ever-present Lord who acts on our behalf.  With a smile of deep gratitude; I remain His child ever in need of reminders of who HE is..the I Am that I Am…..

mary schmerker

Bible verses from NKJV

Singing to The Lord in a Foreign Land

How can we sing songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4

It is hard Lord to sing a joyous song to you when we are in an uncomfortable place or surrounded by uncomfortable circumstances. It is hard Lord to remember to sing when those around us are not singing or are difficult personalities, or see things differently than we do. It is hard Lord to remember that you are with us when we are surrounded by so many things that pull at us and attempt to influence our thinking and attitudes.

I am reminded Lord, that singing of Your goodness, Your greatness, Your provision for us and Your great love for us is the only way to be whole. Singing Your praises Lord,  reminds me that surrendering to Your will and following You is the only path to true peace, joy and contentment.

I thank and praise You for all you have done in my life. Keep me singing Your praises all the days of my life Lord. Keep my memory of Your faithfulness and goodness ever awake and active. Remind me Lord, that You are present with me always and that You live in my praises. Remind me that when I praise You I enter not only into Your gates but travel all the way through to Your inner courts.

Thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ who makes it possible for me to approach you and to call Him Lord, savior and friend. Amen