What Do I Know?

I woke up this morning to the sound of a smoothie being made, Elizabeth getting ready for work. And the rhythm of my day begins.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in One Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18

I added that 18th verse today. And I dwell on it as it runs over my tongue, like a song I never want to end. Through him, Jesus, we have access to God the Father. Not just the Father but our Father. My Father. Jesus made me his so the Father could be mine. What is that?

I take my time this morning. Cardigan. Scarf. Toms. (That's an inside joke, but it's also #typical Seattle church attire). Bible. Breakfast. Paper (DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON HOW UPSET I AM ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS RIGHT NOW. I JUST CAN'T). Tea.

And it's one of those mornings. It's a day to worship. A day to sing.
 I don't know what time it is but that's the beauty of church not starting until 11. I'm never rushed.

Never in a hurry.

So I see a pick on the counter (how did it get there, anyway?) and I grab it and pick up that trusted guitar and sing

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart...

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all

I recall that the worn Dakar hymnal has Rien Ne Peut Sauver Mon Ame, known to us as Nothing But the Blood and I turn pages and sing,

Rien d'autre, je ne veux plus
Rien que le sang de Jesus

And I realize I need to leave 3 minutes ago so I grab the keys with the "You Never Let Go" on them and walk into church where Fiola asks me why I'm not in kids min today and I see Gab and laugh with Elizabeth and we sit and then I realize Abigail is right in front of me. She moves back with us and we sing together,

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I'm come 

Our pastor preaches hope from Hebrews 6

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20 

I write notes down fast and furious -

Our hope is not in the good we think we should do an be; our hope is in the reality that Jesus came and dwelt among us and has washed us clean 

His promises are good and durable and true because they are based on who He is 

An Ebenezer is a monument that you point to and say, "Look! Look what God did!"

God has been working since the beginning of history to give you life and save you from yourself 

Humans broke everything that God made good. He takes our brokenness and makes a promise. And my hope is in the God who fixes broken things like me, through JEsus 

And our hope is not just in the promises, it's in a God who is ALREADY at work 

When you're drowning and just trying to hang on, Jesus ALREADY has you in his arms

Jesus doesn't take breaks as your advocate. He doesn't rest.  Our hope in Christ is not a dream hope; it's based in the REALITY of the power of his death and the cross and his resurrection into life. 

And we take bread and wine and we sing together,

Why should I gain from his reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom 

Was blind but now I see 

I'll cling to the old rugged cross
Til my trophies at last I lay down 

No other fount I know 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus 

And Abigail turns to me and smiles wide and we have that members meeting and God is so faithful.

I drive home and the radio's on and I hear the twinkling intro

I've made you promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from heaven 
But I've talked the whole time...

And I turn the corner and oh my gosh, Seattle, you look beyond beautiful today. The mountains and the trees and the sun, I see them

So what do I know? 
What do I know of holy? 

Because the God who made those mountains SAVED MY SOUL.

The Christ who died for me LIVES to make intercession FOR ME

What do I know of holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love? 

What one earth do I know of holy?

I don't know what it was for Jesus to enter into the Holy of Holies on our behalf.

I don't know what it is to behold him with unveiled face.

And yet I know that I have access to the Father

I have an advocate

And I have hope. Hope as sure and steadfast as an anchor in my soul.