God's Cross

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation...and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near." Ephesians 2:13-17 (NKJV)

In the previous post, "God's Sign" I found the Cross.  The word dates back before the 12^th century and comes from Middle English, from Old English, from Old Norse or Old Irish; Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros, from Latin cruc-, crux.

¹cross 1 a : a structure consisting of an upright with a transverse beam used especially by the ancient Romans for execution b often capitalized : the cross on which Jesus was crucified
2 a : CRUCIFIXION b : an affliction that tries one's virtue, steadfastness, or patience
3 : a cruciform sign made to invoke the blessing of Christ especially by touching the forehead, breast, and shoulders
4 a : a device composed of an upright bar traversed by a horizontal one; specifically : one used as a Christian symbol b capitalized : the Christian religion

Right there with the first definition, God’s Orchestra pointed me to Jesus!  That’s what He was saying, “show them the signs.”  They all point to Jesus.  Take the time and look for them and share them with others.

"The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those who proclaimed it:" Psalm 68:11 (NKJV)

God's Sign

"Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."  Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

In the post titled "His Design" I continued to define God's Orchestra using Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. From the definition of 'design' I could see the emphasis on the word sign. When I replaced 'design' with 'sign' God’s Orchestra became God's Sign. 

This revelation reinforces the my very first notion that God's Orchestra is all around us.  The people in our lives; every conversation we have; the books we read; the songs we sing; every action we take; they are all individual notes within God’s Orchestra.  Your body is your instrument; your life is your opus. “...for in Him we live and move and have our being...” Acts 17:28 (NKJV)

The word sign dates back to the 13^th century and has it’s etymology in Middle English, from Middle French signer; from Latin signare to mark, sign, seal, from signum. 

sign 1 a : CROSS 2 b : to place a sign on c : to represent or indicate by a sign
2 a : to affix a signature to : ratify or attest by hand or seal <sign a bill into law> <the prisoner signed a confession> b : to assign or convey formally <signed over his property to his brother> c : to write down (one's name)
3 : to communicate by making a sign or by sign language
4 : to engage or hire by securing the signature of on a contract of employment -- often used with up or on
intransitive senses
1 : to write one's name in token of assent, responsibility, or obligation
2 a : to make a sign or signal b : to use sign language
- sign·ee /"sI-'nE/ noun
- sign·er /'sI-n&r/ noun

And the very first entry for sign was 'cross'.  Before I went to look up the definition of cross, I knew what I would find.  WOW!  Right there in the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, God’s Orchestra pointed me to the Cross.   Replacing 'sign' with 'cross' I now have God’s Cross! 

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

His Design

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."  Isaiah 43:19

In a previous post "His Plan"I continued to define God's Orchestra using Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. From the definition of 'plan' I could see the emphasis on the word design. So following my earlier notion, I replaced 'plan' with 'design' and I have God’s Design.

The word design can be traced back to the 14th century, finding it’s etymology from Middle English, to outline, indicate, mean; from Middle French designer to designate; from Medieval Latin designare; from Latin, to mark out, from de- + signare to mark.

¹de·sign, transitive senses, 1 : to create, fashion, execute, or construct according to plan : DEVISE, CONTRIVE
2 a : to conceive and plan out in the mind <he designed the perfect crime> b : to have as a purpose : INTEND <she designed to excel in her studies> c : to devise for a specific function or end <a book designed primarily as a college textbook>
3 archaic : to indicate with a distinctive mark, sign, or name
4 a : to make a drawing, pattern, or sketch of b : to draw the plans for
intransitive senses
1 : to conceive or execute a plan
2 : to draw, lay out, or prepare a design
- de·sign·ed·ly adverb 

While reading the definitions for design, I noted the third entry was archaic in meaning and my attention was drawn to the word sign.  “Show them the signs” this is how it all started out!  

My heart began to race as God's Orchestra started to reveal itself.  I replaced the word 'design' with 'sign' and God's Orchestra becomes God’s Sign.  

"Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."  Isaiah 1:18

Hope

"... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5b (NKJV)

Coming face to face with separation anxiety has to be one of the more deeply painful experiences I can share with you.  Logically, I can tell you why this anxiety makes its presence known in my mind.  But emotionally I continue to find myself sucker-punched when I least expect it.  

My father has Stage 4 lung cancer that has metastasized to the brain.  While dealing with his doctors and nurses and all of the day to day issues of life and dying, I began to eat and sleep less than my body required. 

"The peace of God, which passeth all understanding..."(Philippians 4:7) had kept my heart and mind through Christ Jesus and carried me through these past several months.  But when my sisters and I went to pre-plan funeral arrangements for my father I began to lose a battle in my mind that I didn't realize was being waged. As a result my mind went to a dark place worrying about everyone I care about and love. 

Thoughts of each person raced through my mind and fear set in as I began to worry that my loved ones were going to leave.  Now, realistically I understood my father was ill and when it is God's time, my father will exchange his earthly body for an eternal one and take up residence in Heaven.  But I couldn't understand why I started to fear the loss of everyone. This fear of loss continued to spiral until that is all I could see.

After help from friends and family and a team of doctors, nurses and pastors, I was finally able to identify the source of my anxiety. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) and it is with this knowledge that God carried me through the battle of my mind.  

Ever feel cold with the sun on your face?

Ever feel alone in a crowded place?

Ever feel ashamed for a part of your past?

Ever feel like the dye's been cast?

When you find yourself there

And you are haunted by your cares.

Remember, you've got to carry on,

It's always darkest before dawn.

So when the day breaks anew

You will see the Son shining through.

And then you will know

You are never alone.

Who Is Driving?

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

With my car having brake issues and now in the shop, I was driving my daughter's car, which meant she was along for the ride with me. I took her to an activity and as she sat down and buckled the passenger side seatbelt she looked to me and exclaimed, "I don't like sitting over here, this feels weird!"
I responded quickly with, "Now you know how I feel when you drive me around in my own car." 

We both sat quietly for the rest of the drive. 

The next day as I was driving alone, the Lord brought the conversation with my daughter back to my remembrance and He said, "Now you know how I feel."  

In order to play the music He has arranged for you, you have to remember "you are not your own."

Let Him in the sit in the driver's seat.

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!"
1 Chronicles 16:8

Make A Joyful Noise

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." I Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
Romans 12:4-8 (NKJV)

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;" Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

One of your purposes in God's Orchestra is to edify, or build one another up, through the use of your instrument with your gifts. If you don't use yours, why not? Is there an area where you can serve? Can you pray about how/where to serve? Look around at the ministries in your local church, where can your gifts best be utilized.

Do you know what your gifts are? The Lord invites you to call upon Him.
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

He encourages His children to ask for good gifts.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:7-12 (NKJV).

When you know your gifts and how to use your instrument to edify one another, you are able to show Christ-likeness to one another.
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

And as a church, we will see the reality of God's word, "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:27 (NKJV)

Once you see Him at work through you, the way you work for the Kingdom will never be the same.
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV)

His Plan

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

In a previous post "Arrangement" I continued to try and define God's Orchestra using Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. From this definition, I could see the emphasis on the word 'plan,' so following the earlier notion, I replaced 'arrange' with 'plan' and I have God’s Plan.

Now, I really think we are getting somewhere, but can it really be this simple? Would I find the meaning of God’s Orchestra, His Plan, in the dictionary?

I looked up the definition of the word plan, a noun circa 1706, which has it’s etymology from French, plane, foundation, ground plan; partly from Latin planum level ground, from neuter of planus level; partly from French planter to plant, fix in place, from Late Latin plantare.

1 plan, 1 : a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: as a : a top or horizontal view of an object b : a large-scale map of a small area

2 a : a method for achieving an end b : an often customary method of doing something : PROCEDURE c : a detailed formulation of a program of action d : GOAL, AIM

3 : an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective

4 : a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)
- plan·less adjective
- plan·less·ly adverb
- plan·less·ness noun

Concerning the third definition, I noted 'plan' to be “an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective.” The word arrangement caught my attention as well as the word design.

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." I Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)  God is an orderly God. So, I replaced plan with design and found God’s Design. 

He certainly is up to something and I am on the edge of my seat!