Heads-up! Who needs a holy facelift?

 

(Raising hand sheepishly.)

 Things are looking up – except when they’re not. Or perhaps more accurately, things are looking up when I am looking up.

 

How does everything improve when we look up, as in keeping our eyes on God, instead of on ourselves and our own concerns?

 First, here’s an important clarification. Our God is omnipresent. That means He is everywhere – not just up. When we talk about looking up towards God, we’re speaking physically, not geographically. We’re pointing to His higher honor, wisdom, nobility, strength, power, and dominion – not to any tangible destination that we could mark or measure.

 

OK, back to the original question: How does looking up improve our outlook?

 How does everything improve when we look up, as in keeping our eyes on God instead of ourselves and our own concerns?

 

Let’s start with a big basic biblical truth. God is the one who lifts our heads.

 We might say that God does all the heavy lifting, when it comes to building our faith and raising our spirits. (To be clear: the Lord does all the heavy lifting in every situation His children face. And whatever lifting we do, we only do because He equips and enables us to do so. That’s not a trite, coy, or cute statement. It’s the bedrock of our belief.)

 

Another important Scriptural truth is this: God lifts our heads when we bow them to worship Him. (This becomes clearer when we consider the Scriptures cited below.)

 King David wrote the third Psalm after his own rebellious son drove him away from his royal city. In hiding, David might have been described as keeping his head down. But his outlook was upward, as he covered his head to pray to the Lord.

 “Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him. But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain” (Psalm 3:1-1, NIV, emphasis added).

 The Hebrew word וּמֵרִ֥ים (pronounced ū·mê·rîm) pertains to lifting, raising, elevating, exalting, extolling, offering up, or setting on high. The same word (or related derivatives) appears nearly 200 times in the Old Testament, including these spots:

 “The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2, NKJV, emphasis added).

 “All the gold of the offering which they offered up to the Lord, from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was 16,750 shekels” (Numbers 31:52, NASB, emphasis added).

 “The Lord makes some poor and others rich; He brings some down and lifts others up” (1 Samuel 2:7, NLT, emphasis added).

 “O, my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens” (Ezra 9:6, ESV, emphasis added).

 “Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.” (Nehemiah 9:5b, KJV, emphasis added).

 “And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (Psalm 27:6, AMP, emphasis added).

 “Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3, NLT, emphasis added).

 “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy, I will sing and make music to the Lord. (Psalm 27:6, NIV, emphasis added).

 

Look up!

 I’m feeling better already. Are you encouraged by these holy verses too?

 Let’s wrap this up with a favorite Scripture that always give me a lift. I hope it will lift your spirit (and your head) as well.

“The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” (Numbers 6:25-26, NKJV, emphasis added).

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Related items:

• 15 Handy Ways to Memorize Scriptures and Important Quotes
• A to Z Answers: Joy when the Journey Seems Junky
• Arms up or up in arms?
• Everyday Exceptions and Eternity’s Expectations
• Stick-necked or Soft-hearted?

 

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125 popular expressions with biblical origins

 Many of our commonly used phrases are rooted in Scripture, whether we realize it or not. As an admitted word geek, I’ve been intrigued by this. Following is a list of 125 popular expressions that originated in the Bible. OK, some may have cropped up even before they were cited in biblical texts, but they definitely were found there long before they appeared in our current usage.

Take a look at 125 popular expressions from the Bible. Included are some of the Scriptural passages corresponding to those phrasings.

1. All things must pass – Matthew 24:6-8
2. All things to all men – 1 Corinthians 9:22
3. Amen to that! 1 Chronicles 16:36; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Revelation 7:11-12
4. Apocalyptic – Ezekiel 14:21; Revelation 6:1-8
5. Apple of his eye – Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8
6. Armageddon – Revelation 16:16 
7. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust – Genesis 3:19
8. At the 11^th hour – Matthew 20:1-16
9. At their wits’ end – Psalm 107:27
10. Balm in Gilead – Jeremiah 8:22
11. Baptism by fire – Matthew 3:11
12. Better to give than to receive – Acts 20:35
13. Bite the dust – Psalm 72:9
14. Blind leading the blind – Matthew 15:14
15. Brokenhearted – Psalm 34:18
16. By the skin of your teeth – Job 19:20
17. By the sweat of your brow – Genesis 3:19
18. Cast the first stone – John 8:7
19. Casting pearls before swine – Matthew 7:6
20. Coat of many colors – Genesis 37:2
21. Cross to bear – Luke 14:27
22. Don’t lose heart – Luke 18:1
23. Drop in the bucket – Isaiah 40:15
24. Eat, drink, and be merry – Ecclesiastes 8:15; Luke 12:19; 1 Corinthians 15:32
25. Eye for an eye – Matthew 5:38
26. Face of the earth – Genesis 6:7; Exodus 32:12 and 33:16; Psalm 104:30
27. Fall by the wayside – Matthew 13:4; Mark 4:4; Luke 8:5
28. Fall from grace – Galatians 5:4
29. Falling on one’s sword – 1 Samuel 31:5
30. Feet of clay – Daniel 2:31-45
31. Fight the good fight – 1 Timothy 6:12
32. Fire and brimstone – Genesis 19:24-26
33. Fly in the ointment – Ecclesiastes 10:1
34. Forbidden fruit – Genesis 2-3
35. Four corners of the earth – Isaiah 11:12
36. Fruit of one’s loins – Genesis 35:11
37. Get thee behind me, Satan – Luke 4:5-8
38. Girding one’s loins – 2 Kings 4:29; 1 Peter 1:13
39. Giving up the ghost – Luke 23:46; John 19:30; Acts 12:23
40. Going the extra mile – Matthew 5:41
41. Godspeed – 2 John 1:10-11
42. Golden calf – Exodus 32:2-4
43. Good Samaritan – Luke 10:30-33
44. Head on a platter – Mark 6:25
45. Hold your peace – Exodus  14:14; Leviticus 10:3
46. Holier than thou – Isaiah 65:5
47. House divided – Matthew 12:25
48. How the mighty are fallen – 2 Samuel 1:19
49. In the twinkling of an eye – 1 Corinthians 15:52
50. Iron sharpens iron – Proverbs 27:17
51. Jezebel – 1 Kings 16:31
52. Jumping Jehoshaphat – 1 Kings 15:24; 2 Chronicles 20:30-32
53. Keys to the kingdom – Matthew 16:19
54. Kiss of death -- Matthew 26:48-50
55. Labor of love – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; Hebrews 6:10
56. Land of milk and honey – Exodus 3:1-22
57. Land of Nod – Genesis 4:16
58. Law unto themselves – Romans 2:14
59. Leopard cannot change its spots – Jeremiah 13:23
60. Let not the sun go down on your anger – Ephesians 4:26
61. Let there be light – Genesis 1:3
62. Letter of the law – 2 Corinthians 3:6
63. Like a lamb to the slaughter – Isaiah 53:7
64. Little birdie told me – Ecclesiastes 10:20
65. Lord willing – James 4:15
66. Love of money is the root of all evil – 1 Timothy 6:10
67. Love thy neighbor as thyself – Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 13:9
68. Man after my own heart – 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22
69. Man does not live by bread alone – Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4
70. Manna from Heaven – Exodus 16:15
71. Many are called, but few are chosen – Matthew 22:14
72. Move mountains – Matthew 17:30 and 21:21; Mark 11:23; 1 Corinthians 13:2
73. Multitude of sins – James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8
74. My brother’s keeper – Genesis 4:9
75. My cup runneth over – Psalm 23:5
76. No rest for the wicked – Isaiah 57:21
77. Nothing but skin and bones – Job 19:20
78. Nothing new under the sun – Ecclesiastes 1:9
79. O, ye of little faith – Luke 12:28
80. Of biblical proportions – Exodus 7-11
81. Old as Methuselah – Genesis 5:25-27
82. Old as the hills – Job 15:7
83. Out of the mouths of babes – Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16
84. Patience of Job – James 5:11
85. Peace offering – Exodus 24:5; Leviticus 3:6
86. Philistine – Genesis 21:32; Judges 13:1
87. Physician, heal thyself – Luke 4:23
88. Powers that be – Romans 13:1
89. Pride goes before a fall – Proverbs 16:18
90. Put words in one’s mouth – 2 Samuel 14:3
91. Put your house in order – 2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1
92. Reap the whirlwind (inherit the wind) – Hosea 8:7
93. Render to Caesar – Matthew 22:21
94. Rise and shine – Isaiah 60:1
95. Root of the matter – Job 19:28
96. Salt of the earth – Matthew 5:13
97. Scapegoat – Leviticus 16:8
98. Seeing eye to eye – Isaiah 52:8
99. Seek, and you shall find – Matthew 7:7
100. Set one’s teeth on edge – Jeremiah 31:3
101. Showers of blessing – Ezekiel 34:26
102. Sign of the times – Matthew 16:3
103. Sour grapes – Jeremiah 31:30
104. Sowing and reaping – Galatians 6
105. Spare the rod and spoil the child – Proverbs 13:24
106. Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak – Matthew 26:41
107. Straight and narrow – Matthew 7:13-14
108. Stumbling block – Leviticus 19:14; 1 Corinthians 1:23
109. Suffer fools gladly – 2 Corinthians 11:19
110. Tender mercies – Psalm 25:6
111. The devil made me do it – Genesis 3:11-13
112. Thorn in the flesh – 2 Corinthians 12:7
113. To everything there is a season – Ecclesiastes 3:1
114. To the ends of the earth – Deuteronomy 33:7; Job 28:24; Zechariah 9:10; Acts 1:8
115. Two-edged sword – Proverbs 5:4
116. Voice crying in the wilderness – John 1:23
117. Washing your hands of the matter – Matthew 27:24
118. Weighed and found wanting – Daniel 5:5
119. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder – Matthew 19:6
120. White as snow – Daniel 7:9
121. Wisdom of Solomon – Luke 11:31
122. Woe is me – Psalm 12:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 4:35; Job 10:15
123. Wolves in sheep’s clothing – Matthew 7:15
124. Writing on the wall – Daniel 5:1-31
125. Your sin will find you out – Numbers 32:23

Can you think of any other popular phrases that came from Scripture?

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X stands for Christ

Why is “X” often used to represent the word “Christ”?

It started in Greek. The Greek letter “Xi” (pronounced as “chi”), which looks like our “X,” is often used as an abbreviation for Christ.

We may write “X-mas” on our December calendars, or we may jot the word “Xian” in a note. But we read these shortcuts aloud as “Christmas” and “Christian.”

In the Greek, the word “Christos” (which means Christ) begins with this letter.

The letter “X” also looks like a cross. 

And, used as a Roman numeral, “X” means 10, which is often seen as a standard of perfection, perhaps pointing to the sinless Savior as well.

Abbreviated or spelled out, it’s all about Jesus Christ, the crux of our faith and life. So, when X is used with proper intent, no disrespect is meant.

When people urge Christians to “Put Christ back into Christmas,” it’s a heart issue – not a matter of spelling. It’s a question of claiming the Christ as Lord and Savior and wearing His name proudly.

For He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, and the Author and Finisher of our faith.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Romans 10:9, NIV)

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When do CLICHES become REAL?

Sometimes words fail us at life’s most soul-ripping moments. But pat answers can be profound. Can’t they?

When do cliches become real?

Within the past two days, three different friends’ life crises have broken my heart.

• One friend has left her husband after 18 years of marriage.
• Another has been suddenly left, with her husband of 21 years calling for a divorce.
• Still another just learned she has terminal cancer, with her doctor estimating she may have a year to live.

God only knows the horrific histories that brought these beloved friends to such painful points.

What words can possibly bring comfort to dear ones at such times?

Consider these few approaches the best-meaning folks often take.

“Trust the Lord.”

Of course, we should.

But do these words offer comfort, when someone is broken?

Surely, they may. Or such a statement may feel like a brush-off or unwelcome instruction. Could this depend upon the context and the nature of the speaker’s relationship with the one who is struggling or sorrowing?

How often do “You really should…” comments add to the load a burdened person is already carrying?

“I’ll pray for you.”

Of course, we will.

But how often do we say such things (or post them on social networking sites), but fail to follow through? When we do that, isn’t it a little like patting someone’s hand before bolting for the nearest exit? Will we make a quick escape or double back later to see how he or she is doing?

If a friend’s son is battling a life-threatening disease, will I pray as intensely for him as I would for my own child?

“May God comfort you.”

Of course, He will.

But what makes this benevolent benediction meaningful? Maybe it’s all about how much we mean it.

When we really know people, and when we have invested heart and hearing in one another’s lives, then maybe such words carry extra purpose and power.

Perhaps that’s when cliches become real.

Colossians 4:6 talks about how grace seasons words for added flavor and strength.

It always comes back to grace. Oh, how we need it.

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Check out my brand-new book: Stealing Wonder: A Rhyming Race to Capture Grace is available in trade paperback on Amazon. You can also find it through Barnes and Noble and many other popular booksellers.

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