the gap

There is a gap between what we know and what we need to know...

There is a gap between what we can do and what needs to be done...

There is a gap between where we have been and where we need to go...

There is a gap between who we are and who we need to be...

There is a gap between what we have done and what we should have done...

There is a gap between Heaven's perfection and Earth's potential...

There is a gap between earthly existence and eternal life...

There is a gap between our disregard for Him and His love for us...

There is a gap that only He can bridge...

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And He has!

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Job 16:21 I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.

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Numbers 16:48 He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped.

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Micah 4:3 The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away.

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Mark 14:24 "This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many."

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1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

bare trees

Bare tree trunks and branches this morning have replaced the multicolored foliage of just a week ago, down at the pond. It is amazing how lifeless hardwood trees appear in winter. There seems to be no clue that these are living things. They look as dead as branches on the forest floor. And there are times when we feel as if there is no life in us. We may consider those times of depression or discouragement or disillusion, even as people who have placed their trust in the Lord. It can seem in the dark days...the winter times...of our lives that we aren't even alive.

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But, just like the trees down by the pond, we may appear outwardly to be without life while the presence of life, though not visible, is at work deep within. And just as the trees of winter will move through that season and emerge with tender new branches and spring leaves in several months to display the life within....so we will move through our winter and emerge to spring. The trees at the pond are not dead. The life quietly is at work within. And the Lord is quietly at work within you, even in your winter season!

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Psalm 74:17 You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

dancing mist

Dancing mist on water's glass, you celebrate the day

Awakened by the brisk new morn

You swirl across the stage...

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Happy is the newborn day

Refreshed beneath the lighted sky

squawking heron flies across

"Wake up!" he cries...come alive.

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Much joy to all as we awaken and walk through the adventure of a new day. May we each have a spirit of adventure and expectation that the Lord will meet us in the hours of this day!

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blessings,

Rob Smith

"Listen up!"

When a football team goes into the huddle everyone has to "listen up" to hear the play. If they don't pay attention in the huddle, they won't be on the same page together and the result will be a broken play. In a sense, we are in the huddle each day. We need to listen to God's signal..His play call...just as carefully as the team in the football huddle. We are reading through the prophet Jeremiah in our Mini Bible College study at the Chapel. The people of Judah, whom Jeremiah is calling out to, have stopped listening in the huddle. They have become convinced that God is distant and uninvolved with their lives. Instead they have decided to listen to themselves. This phrase from chapter 9:13-14 seems to capture it: "...my people have abandoned my instructions; they have refused to obey what I said. Instead, they have stubbornly followed their own desires..." Who is calling the plays in your huddle? Who are you listening to for direction? We need to realize that there are forces at work that seek to separate us from listening to God. You may have even experienced this battle. There are times that you consider picking up the Bible or tuning in to a Christian radio station and, right away, other thoughts come in to try to convince you to do something else. There is a battle for our attention but there is only one trustworthy source for our guidance!

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blessings,

Rob Smith

the humility of life

Maybe it's just the age I am now but I am aware of a number of serious life issues and challenges among friends and family. You probably also know of folks in great need and may be dealing with such issues yourself. Just in my small circle of friends I know of a couple who have recently lost an adult child, a few friends battling cancer for their lives, young grandparents anticipating the birth of a new grandchild with very serious health problems, a relative dealing with the consequences of drug abuse and another relative who was involved in an auto accident with a loss of life. These are overwhelming experiences that could crush the frame of anyone. I realize that life can be inexpressibly hard and we need the comfort, presence and touch of the Lord and of his people, moving in sensitivity and love. A brief visit to the pond this morning encouraged me because it was just as it always is.....very calm and very calming. I saw a heron glide past, disturbed from his spot by the sound of my approaching truck and I was struck by its grace and the beauty of God's creation. I am reminded that life is difficult, and at times crushingly hard. But there is peace to be found in the midst of the storm and there is One who knows what we are going through and who will hold us and carry us and receive us, in our brokenness.

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There is that place of quiet rest...found in the person of Jesus, who knows what it means to suffer and to trust.

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Here is an exerpt from Hebrews, chapter 2, verses 14-18 "Because God's children are human beings-made of flesh and blood-the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death....Therefore it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God...Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested."

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blessings,

Rob Smith

day of days

There are special days in your life that stand out as you think back...a special Christmas, birthday, unexpected day trip to the circus, wedding day, births of your children, etc. Then there are days that stand out in the memory of a nation and a world...assassination of President Kennedy, major earthquake in Japan, 9/11/2001 and the World Trade Center attack. There is coming a day that will stand out to every individual, every nation and every generation that has ever lived. The Bible calls it the Day of the Lord. It will be, at the same time, a day of judgement and a day of victory. There are many references to this day in the Old Testament and New Testament. The prophet Joel looks forward and describes it this way: "Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the Lord will soon arrive." The prophet Malachi paints a picture of great drama: "Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives." In the New Testament Paul tells us that this day will come with a surprise!..."For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night." I hope that you are one of the people who has come out of the valley of decision and made the decision to welcome the Lord on that special day, when He comes. Surely the day of your personal decision will be one of the special days that you will remember the rest of your life (even beyond the Day of the Lord). (references from Joel 3:14, Malachi 4:5 and 1 Thessalonians 5:2).

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blessings this day,

Rob Smith

the other side of cold

I went into a meeting last night when the temperature was still in the 60's and mild. An hour or so later, when I left the meeting, the air had changed quality. It felt about 10 degrees cooler and was a welcome refresher from the stuffy indoor air. Again, this morning, as I stood by the pond's edge the crisp, cool edge of the air helped wake me up and the freshness of the air seemed to clean out my breathing passages. As winter approaches, it comes with cold air, but all isn't negative about the cold. The change, itself, can refresh and the bracing quality of lower temperatures and lower humidity can cause our vision to take sharper definition and our body to be invigorated.

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I was surprised to find myself enjoying the colder air. Sometimes the changes that the Lord has for us are surprising also. Even the familiar change of seasons carries refreshing experience. This new day will bring experiences and possible change that cannot be predicted, but the Lord will refresh us with His presence in the midst of change. We may see with greater sharpness and feel invigorated as those changes come...just like the cold air of early winter.
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Psalm 74:17 You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

people, nation, kingdom

Sometimes you have to back away from the details to get the big picture. As I was jogging this morning I thought about the people of Israel. They form a core part of the Old Testament and they remain a nation today, still very much in the news. I think it is amazing how long this nation has lasted, and that they are still a nation, despite so many difficulties. Then I considered the fact that this is one nation that God clearly established, Himself. We have the detailed history and genealogy, going back to Adam and then feeding through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel as the nation sprang directly from his children). We are taught in the New Testament that the Old Testament was given as examples and warnings for us. I think the nation of Israel is an important example of how God can start with an individual and build a nation. That seems to have its fulfillment in the centuries since Christ first came. Starting with Jesus, as an individual, we see the church built across the generations and that is building God's Kingdom. In Israel we see the picture of an individual becoming a nation. In the New Testament we see the fulfillment of an individual growing into a Kingdom. You really can't explain the existence or persistence of Israel apart from the reality of God. And you can't explain the existence, persistence and growth of the true church of believers apart from the reality of God either.

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Romans 9:6 Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people!

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blessings and reflections to you!

Rob Smith

constant change

This morning the pond was a reflection of change. The soft pastels of low-hanging clouds mixed with a sky that was just awakening and not fully lit to reveal the rust colored trees of fall along the water's edge. I noticed more of the bare branches and tree trunks this morning and many leaves now floated on the water's surface. The peak of color is clearly past and we are headed toward winter like a stick moves toward the edge of a waterfall. Winter is a trying time, with short frigid days, gray skies and forests almost stripped of color (except for the encouraging pines). It occurred to me that change is constant. There is the daily change of night moving to day and back again. There is the seasonal change we are experiencing continually, and that is marked by highlights like foliage and frost. And there is the change we move through in our lives as our days pass. The Lord has built rhythm, seasonality and progression into our lives too. We were not fashioned to stay in one place or remain in a static condition. Change comes to us as we grow up and then grow old and change in our lives can be as unsettling as fall headed for winter. That is why we are so grateful to know the One who doesn't change! The Lord of life walks with us, and in us, through the continual change that marks our lives. He sees the beginning from the end for us and carries us to the new places we must go.

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Psalm 23:6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

moon over mist

It was cold this morning at the pond. But a nearly full moon still shone brightly overhead, as a morning mist partially obscured the surface of the water. The quiet of the place was suddenly broken by the sound of three ducks who noticed my presence and scurried away, swimming to the far shore. I thought about those ducks and how comfortable they were in the cold water. It was completely normal for them to be paddling through cold water. For me it would have been a case of hypothermia and shock to try swimming this morning. But those ducks were designed to swim in cold water. They were fashioned to live comfortably in the pond through a wide range of temperatures because the outdoors is their full-time home. We, too, were designed for our surrondings. We may not be suited for swimming in the cold, but the Lord has designed us to cope with our personal environments as well. Just as the ducks wear a layer of down feathered insulation, so we have spiritual insulation in the form of the Lord's presence to shield us from harm. Through the cold and heat of trials and testing we have been given guidance and learned wisdom to, more than cope...to thrive. The ducks have no concern for the cold water. They were made for it. And we were made to move through the waters of our day, whether we are in cold or hot water. Because we were designed to walk with Him through our day and He knows what we are going through...and will be our guide all the way.

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Psalm 23:3-4 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkets valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

flight instruction

It is a gorgeous morning at the pond as a mist hovered over part of the surface and a joyful overflow of water cascaded down the spillway to a sunsplashed pool. I spied a few small birds winging across to the far shore and carefully watched their flight style. There was a rhythm to their wing beats. They took several strokes and briefly coasted, several more strokes and then coasted...the pattern was almost musical in its beat...like they were singing the same musical measure repeatedly in flight. And then they would break that rhythm suddenlyand land, perfectly, on a branch. So who taught the bird to fly and to land with such beauty and precision? Did the local government appoint an instructor to gather the chicks and teach them the complexities of flight? No...instead the birds are instructing us that there is another teacher. The one who invented flight and designed the bird gave that creature the knowledge and skill. There is much that we can understand about this created world as we study it...but there is far more that we can be humbled by as we observe it. The wonder of a small bird in flight is fulfilled in the awe we experience toward the Lord, who has made it all. This may be the true education and leads us to the inner flight of worship.

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Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world-to every nation, tribe, language, and people. "Fear God," he shouted. "Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water."

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blessings,

Rob Smith

discovering gold

I discovered gold this morning, down at the pond. I won't keep this a secret and would like to encourage a "gold rush". But you won't find this gold by bending down with a pan and sifting the pond water. The gold I discovered came when I looked up to see the morning sun illuminate the gold bank of leaves on the far shore. The rising sun had begun reflecting the brilliance of these trees and the gold leaves shimmered in contrast to the lower parts of the trees, not yet revealed.

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Such beauty, that is revealed and shining all around, comes from the direct hand of the Artist who is also the Creator. With each season and with each day His design shows the order and pleasing designs He has made. And He fashioned them in such a way that man, living at eye-level, can appreciate His work.

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In a sense we walk through our days as we walk through an art gallery. And, occasionally, we realize that we, too, were fashioned to add beauty and to reflect His nature as well. His light illuminates the gold in our form as well!

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1 Peter 3:4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

morning rain

It is a rainy morning, down by the pond. Not a heavy rain...a gentle rain that is easy to stand in. It almost adds a dimension of comfort, connecting sky, land and water together. Enjoying this sensation I realized that man had nothing to do with the rain coming down. We certainly need rainfall. We need sunlight too and we need the results that come when rain and sun bathe the fields to produce the wonder of crops coming up from the ground. Then It occurred to me that none of this is controlled by man. We just ran through an election day to determine new leadership for much of our country. The government of, for and by the people is so important. But the real government over all the people (which includes the provision of rain, sun, and the wonder of crops growing in soil) is from Heaven. We don't elect that government and there are no term limits. We didn't put that government in place but we ought to bow before it and before the One who sits on the throne forever. His government is sovereign over the governments that men cobble together. And His government impacts every level of Creation, from the local pond to the distant galaxy (and even you!).

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Psalm 67:4 Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

born to reproduce

I glanced up from the water's edge this morning to look on a pine tree that appeared to be leaning over the pond. Most of its branches faced the open water and sky and the limbs were heavily laden with small pine cones...hundreds of them! I thought about how fruitful this tree is. Even though most of these pine cones will not grew into trees, every one of them has that potential. The tree itself isn't going anywhere...it is planted next to the water and growing year after year. But some of those pine cones will fall into the water below and be carried around the water's edge, or to the spillway where pond overflow moves downstream to the York River. The pine tree was born to reproduce. And so are we, as Christians, born spiritually to reproduce...as we remain planted at the water's edge of the Lord. Over time the fruit of His presence and Word will mature and the life we have experienced will be transmitted to new spiritual generations. Not all of our days and not all of our efforts will result in new life forming in others, just as the many pine cones will not all become trees....but some will! The great work of the pine tree as it overspreads the pond takes place as the tree simply remains healthy, nurtured by the pond itself.

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John 15:4 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."

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blessings,

Rob Smith

on the level

I like to go down to the pond in the morning to feel close to Jesus.  I think that there are a few reasons why the pond works so well.  I drive down through a windy, tree-lined road that sets the stage for coming apart to be with Him.  Suddenly the windy path breaks into an opening and the pond is spread before me.  It's like I am coming out of the windy and narrow thoughts of my own mind and into the openness and grandness of His.  On a bright morning like today the pond surface is a mirror that reflects sky, sun and shoreline.  The pond is a place of reflection for me...to reflect on where I am and where I am going...to consider needs to pray for and to be still before Him.  Perhaps, most interestingly, the pond is one of the few physical things I can see that is absolutely level.  It is not only perfectly flat...it can be trusted to be a reliable measure of the horizon.  I need to realign my vision with something that is true every morning.  And I need to realign my inner person...thoughts, heart, attitude with the only One who is true.

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Luke 6:17 When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area

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blessings,

Rob Smith

hidden treasure

Who hasn't been excited by stories of hidden treasure?  Even today we hear of shipwrecks that are discovered with ancient cargoes of gold coins, worth millions.  Some enjoy searching for artifacts, coins and jewelry on the beaches, using metal detectors.  Others give themselves to innovations, enterprises and empires that can attract, produce or control sizable treasure.  And how exciting is the idea of a "treasure map"?  Finding instructions that will guide you, step by step, to a treasure chest deep within an old mine...or cave...or buried next to an old tree...this is the stuff of many old movies and legends.

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But it occurred to me yesterday that there is a treasure hidden with you!  It is the treasure of your personal life!  You have been given the gift of life and the treasure comes from associating your individual life with the One who is the giver of life.  The treasure is not your own.  You did not originate, develop, design, manufacture or discover life.  Your treasure-life was given to you by the living God.  Just as buried treasure does no good as long as it is buried, so your life treasure does not realize its potential until the treasure chest of your heart is opened and the treasure revealed and then the treasure is appreciated as its brilliance shines in His reflection, and then its worth is demonstrated in its use.

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We each have choice over how our personal treasure will be used.  It can remain buried, like ancient treasure chests in sunken ships, or we can find the treasure within using God's treasure map...His Word!  This map will lead us to our personal treasure...the treasure that finds its true worth only when restored to the One who placed it within!

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Psalm 119:162  I rejoice in your words like one who discovers a great treasure.

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blessings from a fellow treasure hunter,

Rob Smith

wind catchers

This morning the local pond was full of action.  A strong, cold wind chased ripples across the surface and caused diamond-like reflections, even from a gray sky.  A lone hawk soared up and down and circled the pond, riding the wind like a sky-surfer.  Behind me I heard the leaves of trees flapping and I turned to watch the trunks and branches swaying in the stiff breeze.  I thought about the fact that moving air is silent but the objects struck by the wind turn silent force into audible and visible presence.  It occurred to me that we are wind catchers also.  We, who were made in the image of our Heavenly Father, were fashioned to catch the wind of His Spirit and convert that invisible force into physical presence.  We were meant to soar like the hawk on heaven's currents.  We were made to make joyful sounds that have heaven's wind behind them.  We were made to move through our days under the sway of the Spirit wind of God, like the trees move, bending to the wind.

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We were made to be wind catchers too!

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Psalm 107:25 He spoke and the winds rose, stirring up the waves.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

alone...not lonely

Sometimes you have to get alone to realize you're not. This morning I drove down to the pond, where no one else was found. I felt the cool and fresh morning air and was impressed with the rusty colors in the foliage surrounding me. I pictured myself with Jesus right beside, remembering His promise to be in me. I decided to let Him have total input to my thoughts. If He is always with me, I reasoned, He probably has something to say or some thought for me to focus on. I don't know that I received a great revelation, but in the awareness of His immediate presence I was led to pray and to appreciate this gift of life. I realized that sometimes you have to get alone to realize you're not. As children of the Lord we are never alone and never need to be lonely. The companionship of the Lord can be sweetest at times like that! There was a time when everyone, including the Disciples, abandoned Jesus, but He knew He was never alone, either. He knew the Father was with Him through the suffering that led to the Cross.

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John 14:20 "When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you."

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blessings,

Rob Smith