Full Moon!

I had the pleasure of spending most of Saturday afternoon celebrating our grandson’s first birthday at and on Lake Gibson where my youngest daughter’s family was camping at Sequoyah State Park.  It was a fun time as I got to fellowship with family and friends, enjoy the warm but pleasant weather and spend some time cruising around the lake on my son-in-law’s new boat. 

There was just something special about being out in the middle of the lake that seemed to go on and on around every new point that we passed by!  The crisp blue water, the distant sea shore and the birds above really got me to think about the beauty of God’s creation that surrounds us.  It was very comforting to me to know… that even though I can’t hardly remember the last time that I was in a boat on a lake… that places like this still exist for such a time as when we can get away to enjoy the peace, the quiet and the restoration that they help to restore into our hectic lives.

I thought about that peace, quiet and restoration from Saturday as I looked at a wall calendar in my house first thing this morning and noted that there is to be a Full Moon tonight.  Full Moons are interesting phenomenon.  Many people see them as a forecast of coming strange and unusual events.  Other’s see these bright celestial objects, like tonight’s official 2021 Harvest Moon, as a symbol that marks the changing of seasons, causing us to anticipate cooler weather patterns and look forward to the colorful display of leaves on the trees all around us.

The evening skies complete with the stars and moon always reminds me of happy times camping with Piper and our family.  Of sitting in the quiet campground, late in the evening with only the light of the campfire illuminating the forest surroundings and looking up through the tall canopy of trees to catch a glimpse of the stars and maybe even the moon way above our heads.  At 5,500 plus feet, camping at our favorite spot in the Sierras in northeastern California, it felt like you could reach up and literally touch the stars.

The night sky with the bright beauty of the stars and moon shining down on our country property in North Carolina, always encouraged me and gave me hope that Piper would one day be standing next to me on the back deck, enjoying the upward view.  She loved the stars, the constellations and all the stories that went with them.  Knowing that the stars and moon would always be there to enjoy was… and still is… a constant reminder to me of the unchangeability and faithfulness of our God.

James 1:17 tells us that, “Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn't change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon.” (God’s Word ©) 

I love that truth and depended on its manifestation every day during the last eight years of Piper’s life that I dedicated to her care 24 hours a day… and He never let me down.  Similarly, Hebrews 13:8 in The Message Bible states, “For Jesus doesn't change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself.” 

Think about that for a moment… whatever you may be going through… He will always be His true and same self to you!  Your circumstances may have totally capsized the boat of your life and changed everything around you… everything but HIM!  Through thick and thin, He is the solid rock that will NEVER be moved!  Our Pastor made the comment yesterday that “God can do all things BUT fail!”

I looked up Romans 8:6 where the writer informs us that “the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace” (TPT) and immediately related that to the unchangeability of God and re-translated the verse to state that “the mind-set controlled by the Spirit only see’s God’s inability to change His giving, loving, grace-filled and all-things-are-possible nature and ways!”

That line of thought led me to the question of when something happens… when life gives you a squeeze… what comes out of you?  Does it depend on the situation or does it always lead you to your faith in the intimacy of God’s love for you.  When Piper got sick, I never thought about any other course of action but to personally care for her, and was totally surprised when some folks questioned my actions and the motives behind them… like Huh?

These same individuals seemed to completely step out of character when Piper’s needs got upfront and personal in their lives, and they allowed themselves to walk in what they saw and not in their faith in the unchangeable promises of God to us in His Word.

James 1:17 in the King James Version speaks of “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness…”  Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary defines “variableness” as a “transmutation” which Dictionary.com describes as the process of “changing into another nature, substance, form or condition” to which we are assured in the Word of God… will NEVER happen!

God’s unchangeableness is as consistent as the stars and moon are in the evening sky.  They are always there... even if they are covered by the clouds!  It is something that you can depend on.  My knowing that God’s Word is always the same… that Jesus will always be Himself in and through any situation that I may face in my life… is the gold standard in life that we can all take to the bank!

Have a great week… and keep EXPECTING God’s best in your life!