Growing Up… Growing Into an Altar Builder!

Genesis 13:18 Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, and there he built an altar to the Lord. Have you ever noticed how our ancestors, the men of God built altars all the time… even before the Law was given… it’s what they did at every remarkable life event. They built altars of remembrance and gratitude.

Yesterday was my birthday! MMmpht 66 years old… and I was thinking (still do that occasionally)… I too build altars and I encourage others to build them, both to remember and to offer up sacrifices of praise to our God.

But I was wondering, have I indeed “grown up” as I built those altars of gratitude? Are my altars maturing?

Back in the day, I wondered if I ever would! I wondered if I ever would reach that time in life when I would be given the KEYS to the kingdom. When I would KNOW it all (let me rephrase that  when “THEY” WOULD KNOW that I knew it all). When I would have the RIGHT to declare all I knew as THE TRUTH. When certain people would bow down to my opinion and work to establish my view of the way things are.

Then I met Jesus! And I built an altar in my heart and offered all that I am to Him.

Thirty Five years ago I built that first altar and declared myself His ALL STAR DISCIPLE. Looking at everything from my viewpoint, He CHOSE me… He BOUGHT me… He DRESSED me in His team logo… I just figured He did all that cause He was the best at putting together His team(s).

Then I set out to become an even better player than He began with. I built an altar at every goal I or my mentor(s) set as the path of becoming the best.

Hey! Don’t get uppity with me! I know some of you have been there (maybe still are) too. Back in the day that was the ONE THING to do… become a Jesus Disciple and make Jesus Disciples.

Luke 7:31-32 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

Children want to play… children want to be on stage… children want to play music… children want to sing… and dance.

And God loves His children to do all those things! WITH HIM!

We love to perform FOR Him but we sometimes fail to submit ourselves to His (fully deserved) position in this theater production called “Our Life and Appointed Times”. I built altars at every growth marker. I built altars MY way… for MY use… with MY choice of offerings. And I became an expert builder of MY ALTARS.

But God…

Luke 18:35-39 As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

… showed me I was building BLIND!

Luke 18:40-41 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 

… He gave me a HUNGER to build with His sight!

Luke 18:42-43 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. 

And God began the work of training me up with His eye for beauty – His view of people, places, events, and things – His desires for HIS PEOPLE ON HIS TEAM.

He began His work of Growing Me Up!

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a woman, I did away with childish things. (If the truth be told – I didn’t “do away” with them quickly nor easily. If the truth be told – I sometimes hoarded and hid some of the toys… just in case God wanted me to use them &/or recycle them.)

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. Every birthday (like yesterday) I go back to my childhood altars and “see” if my vision is becoming less dim – if my view is becoming more fully God’s – if my mind is processing His word into pictures I can know fully and be known fully.

Every birthday I am more and more GRATEFUL… yesterday I realized, though I am not yet fully grown, I am more and more grateful and less and less anxious… Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6-7)

I AM GROWING UP…

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 

I’m beginning to see what He sees – I’m beginning to want to see what He sees – I’m beginning to build the altars He desires and offer the sacrifices from my “herds” that He chooses.

I realized yesterday that I see less of the negatives of life (mine and other’s) and more of God’s hands/work in each of our lives.

I’m not naive, we live in this FALLEN WORLD. I see sin – my own and my neighbor’s. But… I now know it is not mine to judge but to stand in the gap, like Joseph with his brothers. Genesis 50:18-21 “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Our sins are never meant for “good” even when we try to convince ourselves and others they were/are, but God is GOOD ALL THE TIME, and all the time GOD IS GOOD. Over these last thirty-five years this is the ONE ALTAR I worship God at, and offer ALL that I AM and ALL that I HAVE to Him and Him alone.

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 

Isaiah 55:11-12 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

God is in control and I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope

He won’t go by my plans and I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.

I don’t MAKE myself or anyone else a Jesus Disciple and I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.

But this one thing I have grown up to know… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) and you can too!

We can grow up together!

Gotta go…need to build my 2017 altar today… while I’m thinking of it!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible