Wait for it
1 a: to remain stationary in readiness or expectation
2 a: to look forward expectantly
We have been waiting for a long time. Tuning into daily news sends a sense of apprehension through me. We are waiting for good news on the war. We are waiting for some relief in global warming. We are waiting in anticipation for the fighting to end in the Middle East, especially Israel.
We wait to hear a newscast that does not include child abductions, child rape or child pornography. We wait to read a newspaper that does not include murder-suicide, or how high the murder rate is climbing in the city.
I apparently made a big mistake when I became a Christian. I prayed for patience, because I knew I needed it. Well, I was told the only way to develop patience was to be tried and tested.
“We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we are never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary-we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5.3-5
Surprise: we all are tried and tested. That’s the way the earth is right now. Whether it’s feeling like our hands are tied, not able to help all the people who need helping, or thinking that there is simply no hope for the world at all.
It is easy to become a fatalist in today’s age. There seems to be one catastrophe after another, with no way to stop them. What is God waiting for?
“With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” 2 Peter 3.8-9
See, I cannot give a good explanation why bad things happen. I know the basic answer, “His ways are not our ways,” and “Everything happens for a reason,” but I cannot even begin to comprehend God’s workings on this earth.
So, the only thing left to do is wait for the end. Define ‘end’ for yourself. But that’s where the mistake comes into play. That causes apathy. The definitions for wait listed above are examples of active waiting. Not just us waiting, in tears, not knowing what to do. But active waiting, knowing that no matter what things look like, God is indeed in control.
How do I know, you ask? Well, in my life I have seen His hand working through my situations. When I was a drug addict roaming the streets in the middle of the night. When I was determined to leave my husband and children for a ‘better life.’ God was the only One able to stop the crash course my life was one. I believe that with my whole being. When I thought things were hopeless, He saw the redemption on the other side.
And so, now I know the truth. And I can practice active waiting too. Things may seem bleak on a day-to-day basis, but I know that God has much to reveal to the world that will make these days pale in comparison. Check out what Paul says. It’s kind of long, but definitely worth the read.
“That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
“All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8.18-28
And that my friends, is a promise I can cling to.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
inhale
1 : to draw in by breathing2 : to take in eagerly or greedily
intransitive verb : to breathe in
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is equal to such a task?" 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Smells started to come alive for me after I quit smoking. My olfactory senses seemed to start working overtime. My first experience with the power of the human nose was when I was pregnant with my first child. That was before I had ever smoked. I was working in a restaurant. I remember the smell of fish would almost knock me out with its potency. I remember having a perfume that was expensive and having to give it to my grandmother because I couldn’t even stand to have it in the house. Years later, I started smoking, and those memories faded. Four years and 8 months ago, when I quit, the sensory overload started up all over again. Of course, taste changed for me as well, but I still haven’t completely gotten used to my nose and how smells can affect me. Things I used to like the scent of I no longer like, and things I didn’t like the scent of I now love. I’ve been driving my husband nuts for years now with questions of “what’s that smell?” He’s been smelling with the same nose for 33 years, so he doesn’t notice the change in things like I do. Each of my children have a unique, individual smell I never noticed.
And so, when I found this particular passage in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, written to engage the olfactory senses, I could relate to Paul’s words and it really made me stop and think about the similarities of my nose and how that has changed, and how my life changed when I surrendered my life to Christ. I’ve read the scriptures that cover the eyes, being a light. And I’ve read the scriptures that cover the taste, to be salt. But I’ve never thought about having an aroma for Christ, and that is why I needed to look into these verses closer.
Paul begins to speak of the adequacy of God’s grace for every situation. He writes, “But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those we are being saved and among those who are perishing: to the one an aroma from death to death, and to the other an aroma from life to life, and who is adequate for these things? So let’s examine each of the smells that God calls us to be by comparing Paul’s Corinthian congregation to our lives here today.
Let’s start with the first fragrance in verse 14. Paul writes “But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” Paul is making a reference in this verse to a Roman general, who in victory would lead his soldiers and their captives in a procession through the streets, which would be met by the people burning spices in their honor. The Hebrew word for triumph Paul used here is to have an effect upon another. Paul is talking about the triumph of men and women who were spreading the Gospel. The triumph in Christ is over the persecution, the ridicule, over men and the devil. As Oswald Chambers puts it in his devotional, “Paul says, I am in the train of a conqueror, and it does not matter what the difficulties are, I am always led in triumph.” Paul uses the word always. Where the Gospel is preached there will always be some good, and the thanks and glory go back to God. When the Gospel is preached, it manifests a sweet aroma that spreads to every place.
In researching on this particular verse, I read that Paul’s secret joy was that God took him, a red-handed rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive, and that was all he lived for. I love that image, and yet I struggle against becoming more and more captive to Christ myself. This verse makes me think about what my aroma is. When I meditate on these verses, I sense that I have a sweet fragrance for God only sporadically at best. I find myself being led by my emotions far too often. With my family, I am by far considered very peculiar, and that is exacerbated by the fact that I too was a red-handed rebel before being taken captive. Did my new found life not just make me a hypocrite? Who was I to change directions in what seemed to be an instant? I am often criticized for actions that others deem “not very Christian.” I want to agree with Paul’s words and have that aroma that comes from standing firm and preaching the knowledge of Jesus in every place, despite whatever opposition I may face.
So what do we do to become the people that God can manifest the sweet aroma of His knowledge through? For me, it is to keep myself focused on Christ, despite the external situations at hand. I release my feelings of inadequacy, feelings that He could never use me to spread His Gospel. But even more importantly perhaps, I keep focus off of the emotion, off of the roller coaster that will carry me away from that triumph.
The second fragrance that Paul speaks of is the scent of Christ to God among those who are being saved. That we are an aroma from life to life. Christ’s death includes a resurrection to the believer. That is a sweet smelling aroma for us. Paul is writing about the sweet aroma of believer to believer, that helps guides one another, that exhorts one another, that supports and maintains our present spiritual life until the time of our eternal life to come.
What a simple, but beautiful idea. That we carry the aroma of life to help support one another. I know of the aroma that Paul speaks of, life to life. The Lord has blessed me mightily with the gift of friendship with another woman as well. She answers my many questions by helping me find scriptural truths, she calms my fears, and probably the greatest gift of all is that she holds me accountable. Our eyes stay focused when we blend our sweet aroma of life together.
And so our job is to seek out one another, to find other believers in the workplace, or stay connected to one another as best as possible while we’re in our respective corners of the marketplace of life. Even if we stay at home, we are not safe from the world at large. Loneliness and isolation are dangerous for us, especially when we’re surrounded by the world.
The third fragrance Paul speaks of is the scent of death to those who are perishing. That we are an aroma of death to death. That can only be the scent of a dead Gospel with a dead Christ. Those that don’t know the Gospel, and the resurrection smell of a new life in Jesus. To the unbeliever, we are the stench of the reflection of themselves, dying in sin. By rejecting us, they are choosing death for themselves. The opposite of life spiritual to life eternal, here, it is death spiritually to death eternal. We preach foolishness to those that can’t smell the truth. Our message never changes, it is the reaction to the message that causes the aroma to change.
As Paul writes, I speak the truth no matter what the cost, and I spread that sweet fragrance of knowledge despite what my family or the world thinks.
And we all should do the same. And expect that there will be those that wrinkle their noses at us. And seek to find the same joy that Paul had no matter what people thought he smelled like. We need to be brave enough to speak the truth at our workplace, to stand ready, as Peter talks about, to give account of the joy that is within us. There is no time and no room for half-truths and shaded, watered down versions of the knowledge we have of Him that resides inside us.
And Paul ends verse 16 by asking, “And who is adequate for these things?” and the simple answer is not us. Not us alone, it is only the competency in Christ that gives us the sufficiency through grace to be adequate. It is in God’s perfect reason and perfect timing and even more perfect grace that our fragrance becomes pleasing.
1 : to draw in by breathing2 : to take in eagerly or greedily
intransitive verb : to breathe in
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is equal to such a task?" 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Smells started to come alive for me after I quit smoking. My olfactory senses seemed to start working overtime. My first experience with the power of the human nose was when I was pregnant with my first child. That was before I had ever smoked. I was working in a restaurant. I remember the smell of fish would almost knock me out with its potency. I remember having a perfume that was expensive and having to give it to my grandmother because I couldn’t even stand to have it in the house. Years later, I started smoking, and those memories faded. Four years and 8 months ago, when I quit, the sensory overload started up all over again. Of course, taste changed for me as well, but I still haven’t completely gotten used to my nose and how smells can affect me. Things I used to like the scent of I no longer like, and things I didn’t like the scent of I now love. I’ve been driving my husband nuts for years now with questions of “what’s that smell?” He’s been smelling with the same nose for 33 years, so he doesn’t notice the change in things like I do. Each of my children have a unique, individual smell I never noticed.
And so, when I found this particular passage in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, written to engage the olfactory senses, I could relate to Paul’s words and it really made me stop and think about the similarities of my nose and how that has changed, and how my life changed when I surrendered my life to Christ. I’ve read the scriptures that cover the eyes, being a light. And I’ve read the scriptures that cover the taste, to be salt. But I’ve never thought about having an aroma for Christ, and that is why I needed to look into these verses closer.
Paul begins to speak of the adequacy of God’s grace for every situation. He writes, “But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those we are being saved and among those who are perishing: to the one an aroma from death to death, and to the other an aroma from life to life, and who is adequate for these things? So let’s examine each of the smells that God calls us to be by comparing Paul’s Corinthian congregation to our lives here today.
Let’s start with the first fragrance in verse 14. Paul writes “But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” Paul is making a reference in this verse to a Roman general, who in victory would lead his soldiers and their captives in a procession through the streets, which would be met by the people burning spices in their honor. The Hebrew word for triumph Paul used here is to have an effect upon another. Paul is talking about the triumph of men and women who were spreading the Gospel. The triumph in Christ is over the persecution, the ridicule, over men and the devil. As Oswald Chambers puts it in his devotional, “Paul says, I am in the train of a conqueror, and it does not matter what the difficulties are, I am always led in triumph.” Paul uses the word always. Where the Gospel is preached there will always be some good, and the thanks and glory go back to God. When the Gospel is preached, it manifests a sweet aroma that spreads to every place.
In researching on this particular verse, I read that Paul’s secret joy was that God took him, a red-handed rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive, and that was all he lived for. I love that image, and yet I struggle against becoming more and more captive to Christ myself. This verse makes me think about what my aroma is. When I meditate on these verses, I sense that I have a sweet fragrance for God only sporadically at best. I find myself being led by my emotions far too often. With my family, I am by far considered very peculiar, and that is exacerbated by the fact that I too was a red-handed rebel before being taken captive. Did my new found life not just make me a hypocrite? Who was I to change directions in what seemed to be an instant? I am often criticized for actions that others deem “not very Christian.” I want to agree with Paul’s words and have that aroma that comes from standing firm and preaching the knowledge of Jesus in every place, despite whatever opposition I may face.
So what do we do to become the people that God can manifest the sweet aroma of His knowledge through? For me, it is to keep myself focused on Christ, despite the external situations at hand. I release my feelings of inadequacy, feelings that He could never use me to spread His Gospel. But even more importantly perhaps, I keep focus off of the emotion, off of the roller coaster that will carry me away from that triumph.
The second fragrance that Paul speaks of is the scent of Christ to God among those who are being saved. That we are an aroma from life to life. Christ’s death includes a resurrection to the believer. That is a sweet smelling aroma for us. Paul is writing about the sweet aroma of believer to believer, that helps guides one another, that exhorts one another, that supports and maintains our present spiritual life until the time of our eternal life to come.
What a simple, but beautiful idea. That we carry the aroma of life to help support one another. I know of the aroma that Paul speaks of, life to life. The Lord has blessed me mightily with the gift of friendship with another woman as well. She answers my many questions by helping me find scriptural truths, she calms my fears, and probably the greatest gift of all is that she holds me accountable. Our eyes stay focused when we blend our sweet aroma of life together.
And so our job is to seek out one another, to find other believers in the workplace, or stay connected to one another as best as possible while we’re in our respective corners of the marketplace of life. Even if we stay at home, we are not safe from the world at large. Loneliness and isolation are dangerous for us, especially when we’re surrounded by the world.
The third fragrance Paul speaks of is the scent of death to those who are perishing. That we are an aroma of death to death. That can only be the scent of a dead Gospel with a dead Christ. Those that don’t know the Gospel, and the resurrection smell of a new life in Jesus. To the unbeliever, we are the stench of the reflection of themselves, dying in sin. By rejecting us, they are choosing death for themselves. The opposite of life spiritual to life eternal, here, it is death spiritually to death eternal. We preach foolishness to those that can’t smell the truth. Our message never changes, it is the reaction to the message that causes the aroma to change.
As Paul writes, I speak the truth no matter what the cost, and I spread that sweet fragrance of knowledge despite what my family or the world thinks.
And we all should do the same. And expect that there will be those that wrinkle their noses at us. And seek to find the same joy that Paul had no matter what people thought he smelled like. We need to be brave enough to speak the truth at our workplace, to stand ready, as Peter talks about, to give account of the joy that is within us. There is no time and no room for half-truths and shaded, watered down versions of the knowledge we have of Him that resides inside us.
And Paul ends verse 16 by asking, “And who is adequate for these things?” and the simple answer is not us. Not us alone, it is only the competency in Christ that gives us the sufficiency through grace to be adequate. It is in God’s perfect reason and perfect timing and even more perfect grace that our fragrance becomes pleasing.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
SUCH A STRETCH
2: to reach out: EXTEND
3: to extend in length
6: to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position
9: to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)
10 a : to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper
b: to expand to fulfill a larger function
(Merriam-Webster)
About a year ago, I wrote down 27 words. They were written on banners that were hanging in a church I was visiting. I had no direct cause for jotting down the words; I just knew they meant something.
I have been compelled to write about these words now, one at a time. The first one I will dwell on is the word, “Stretch.” Normally, when you hear the word stretch, you think of something being pulled, something spread out. I challenge us to see something differently tonight.
The first definition, ‘to reach out: extend.” It reminds me of the beginning of one of my favorite psalms, Psalm 40.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And he inclined to me
And heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the
Pit of destruction,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock making
My footsteps firm. (vs. 1-2)
That is how the whole journey starts for all of us. Imagine the Lord inclining to you, extending His mighty hand as a demonstration of His love. The Lord always makes the first move. We just have to be ready and listening, with the desire to say “Yes.”
The next definition, ‘to extend in length.’ The psalmist, David, continues in Psalm 40:
How blessed is the man
Who has made the
Lord his trust,
And has not turned to
The proud, nor to those
Who lapse into
Falsehood. (vs. 4)
We have the next move. We are the ones who need to extend in length to meet Him. We have to rely on His strength, combined with our growing love in Him, to resist the unrelenting powers of this world.
We come to our next definition, ‘draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position.’ David says this,
I delight to do your will,
O my God;
Your law is within my
Heart.
I have proclaimed glad
Tidings of
Righteousness in the
Great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips.’ (vs. 8-9)
We have to admit, those of us who became Christ followers later in life, or those who are still questioning Christ, that we are awfully complacent in our old lives. It is easy to be cramped, weighed down with the heaviness of this world, and resigned to being relaxed with something that resembles apathy.
But God has something different in store for us. His remarkable love causes us to delight in doing His will. We can no longer restrain our lips.
Next definition, ‘to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)’ David says,
I have not hidden your
Righteousness within
My heart;
I have spoken of your
Faithfulness and your
Salvation;
I have not concealed your
Lovingkindness and
Your great truth
From the great congregation. (vs. 10)
The unrestraint rages on in our hearts. We want to tell people about this new love we have found that is unlike any other love. We proclaim how He has saved us. His truth refuses to hide in our hearts.
To amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper. David’s witness to that truth:
You, O Lord, will not
Withhold your
Compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and
Your truth will
Continually preserve me. (vs. 11)
It is not within our natural human nature to have that kind of trust. We have come to learn that it is virtually impossible to trust any other human 100 percent. To have the trust in the Lord that David writes of takes amplification that goes far beyond anything natural.
Finally, ‘to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function.’ One last thought from David:
Let all who seek you
Rejoice and be glad in you;
Let those who love your
Salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!” (vs. 16)
That is the ultimate gift of God’s love to us. The truth is, those who seek God will rejoice and be glad in Him. We call the world’s attention to His mighty love and His beautiful stretch.
2: to reach out: EXTEND
3: to extend in length
6: to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position
9: to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)
10 a : to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper
b: to expand to fulfill a larger function
(Merriam-Webster)
About a year ago, I wrote down 27 words. They were written on banners that were hanging in a church I was visiting. I had no direct cause for jotting down the words; I just knew they meant something.
I have been compelled to write about these words now, one at a time. The first one I will dwell on is the word, “Stretch.” Normally, when you hear the word stretch, you think of something being pulled, something spread out. I challenge us to see something differently tonight.
The first definition, ‘to reach out: extend.” It reminds me of the beginning of one of my favorite psalms, Psalm 40.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And he inclined to me
And heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the
Pit of destruction,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock making
My footsteps firm. (vs. 1-2)
That is how the whole journey starts for all of us. Imagine the Lord inclining to you, extending His mighty hand as a demonstration of His love. The Lord always makes the first move. We just have to be ready and listening, with the desire to say “Yes.”
The next definition, ‘to extend in length.’ The psalmist, David, continues in Psalm 40:
How blessed is the man
Who has made the
Lord his trust,
And has not turned to
The proud, nor to those
Who lapse into
Falsehood. (vs. 4)
We have the next move. We are the ones who need to extend in length to meet Him. We have to rely on His strength, combined with our growing love in Him, to resist the unrelenting powers of this world.
We come to our next definition, ‘draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position.’ David says this,
I delight to do your will,
O my God;
Your law is within my
Heart.
I have proclaimed glad
Tidings of
Righteousness in the
Great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips.’ (vs. 8-9)
We have to admit, those of us who became Christ followers later in life, or those who are still questioning Christ, that we are awfully complacent in our old lives. It is easy to be cramped, weighed down with the heaviness of this world, and resigned to being relaxed with something that resembles apathy.
But God has something different in store for us. His remarkable love causes us to delight in doing His will. We can no longer restrain our lips.
Next definition, ‘to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)’ David says,
I have not hidden your
Righteousness within
My heart;
I have spoken of your
Faithfulness and your
Salvation;
I have not concealed your
Lovingkindness and
Your great truth
From the great congregation. (vs. 10)
The unrestraint rages on in our hearts. We want to tell people about this new love we have found that is unlike any other love. We proclaim how He has saved us. His truth refuses to hide in our hearts.
To amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper. David’s witness to that truth:
You, O Lord, will not
Withhold your
Compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and
Your truth will
Continually preserve me. (vs. 11)
It is not within our natural human nature to have that kind of trust. We have come to learn that it is virtually impossible to trust any other human 100 percent. To have the trust in the Lord that David writes of takes amplification that goes far beyond anything natural.
Finally, ‘to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function.’ One last thought from David:
Let all who seek you
Rejoice and be glad in you;
Let those who love your
Salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!” (vs. 16)
That is the ultimate gift of God’s love to us. The truth is, those who seek God will rejoice and be glad in Him. We call the world’s attention to His mighty love and His beautiful stretch.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
My Exodus or where are my Hinds' feet?
My counselor has recommended many great books to me. Books that assist in spiritual development and self-actualization mostly. I am reading one of the recommended books now. It’s called, “Hinds’ Feet in High Places.” It is an allegory describing a girl named Much-Afraid and her journey with her Great Shepherd to the High Places. I could never do it justice in this limited space, but it speaks a great deal about our spiritual journey with Christ.
I found a passage that fits the following message I wrote this weekend. It describes where the Shepherd leaves Much-Afraid in the care of his two companions to continue with her on her journey to the High Places. Much-Afraid asks why he cannot accompany her all the way.
He answers, “Much-Afraid, I could do what you wish. I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds’ feet, and become my companion and go where I go. If you will climb to the heights this once…even though it may seem a very long and in some places a very difficult journey, I promise you that you will develop hinds’ feet.”
I wrote this in a time of peaceful solitude this weekend.
Exodus
One small glance back
Then I shut the door.
Entered this new life you gave me.
Started fresh, eyes wide open
Never knew life could be so alive.
Then the honeymoon was over.
I saw the mire returning,
Looking to reclaim.
What I thought detestable
Now seemed full of appeal.
Maybe life before really wasn’t so bad.
But I need to follow you
On this Exodus.
To the land you’ve promised me.
The never-ending life you’ve granted me.
I can’t look back at
The bondage and consider it Holy.
When I see where your Exodus
Has brought me.
I used to justify my actions,
Blame them all on my past.
Tried to run from my nightmares
And never look back.
But you plucked me from the wide path,
Set my feet upon the narrow one.
And cleansed away all my shame
With the blood of your Son.
Maybe life now is all I could dream.
So I need to keep following you
On this Exodus.
Stop from crying out
‘The race is too hard.’
I have to cling to the promise,
I’m never alone.
I keep my eyes on your face
Till I reach the land of my own.
My counselor has recommended many great books to me. Books that assist in spiritual development and self-actualization mostly. I am reading one of the recommended books now. It’s called, “Hinds’ Feet in High Places.” It is an allegory describing a girl named Much-Afraid and her journey with her Great Shepherd to the High Places. I could never do it justice in this limited space, but it speaks a great deal about our spiritual journey with Christ.
I found a passage that fits the following message I wrote this weekend. It describes where the Shepherd leaves Much-Afraid in the care of his two companions to continue with her on her journey to the High Places. Much-Afraid asks why he cannot accompany her all the way.
He answers, “Much-Afraid, I could do what you wish. I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds’ feet, and become my companion and go where I go. If you will climb to the heights this once…even though it may seem a very long and in some places a very difficult journey, I promise you that you will develop hinds’ feet.”
I wrote this in a time of peaceful solitude this weekend.
Exodus
One small glance back
Then I shut the door.
Entered this new life you gave me.
Started fresh, eyes wide open
Never knew life could be so alive.
Then the honeymoon was over.
I saw the mire returning,
Looking to reclaim.
What I thought detestable
Now seemed full of appeal.
Maybe life before really wasn’t so bad.
But I need to follow you
On this Exodus.
To the land you’ve promised me.
The never-ending life you’ve granted me.
I can’t look back at
The bondage and consider it Holy.
When I see where your Exodus
Has brought me.
I used to justify my actions,
Blame them all on my past.
Tried to run from my nightmares
And never look back.
But you plucked me from the wide path,
Set my feet upon the narrow one.
And cleansed away all my shame
With the blood of your Son.
Maybe life now is all I could dream.
So I need to keep following you
On this Exodus.
Stop from crying out
‘The race is too hard.’
I have to cling to the promise,
I’m never alone.
I keep my eyes on your face
Till I reach the land of my own.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
T.V. Dinners
I had to think about this particular blog for quite a while before I dared write it. See, I have not been a Christian for so long that I understand all of the intricacies involved in using the correct terms, comprehending doctrines, and whose camp I should be in. My philosophy has been to take the pieces I understand as coming from the heart of Christ and going from there. I do not necessarily choose to embrace or condemn all of what anyone believes; after all, they are not God.
With that being said, I had planned on writing about T.V. dinners tonight. While I work during the day, I mull over my thoughts and I pray some, and by the time I am ready to write at night, my thoughts are cohesive enough to put on paper.
However, the sudden death of Jerry Falwell made me stop and think about something else. I heard the news from a conservative radio host, who said to watch and see how Falwell was eulogized by the media. Well, he was right. They kept using the word ‘fundamentalist’ and then they would talk about his accusation of a certain Tellytubbie being gay. Well, even I knew more about him than that.
Anyway, the way they were using the word fundamentalist bothered me. What about that word seemed to make people cringe? I turned to my handy online dictionaries at Merriam-Webster and Encarta for the answers. Here are some of my results.
5. belonging to one's innate or ingrained characteristics
1 a often capitalized: a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching b: the beliefs of this movement c: adherence to such beliefs
2: a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles
1. movement with strict view of doctrine: a religious or political movement based on a literal interpretation of and strict adherence to doctrine, especially as a return to former principles
2. support for literal explanation: the belief that religious or political doctrine should be implemented literally, not interpreted or adapted
This goes back to my original blog for tonight. People have gravitated from home-cooked meals to fast, quick, easy meals on the go. Why? Because we are always moving on to our next tasks, have to get to the next thing.
I fear that model has crept into our religion as well. We seek out God to solve our problems, line our pockets, and basically make our lives easier. At least I have a tendency to do that. Sure, I praise God on the good days. Nevertheless, I make sure I seek Him on the days things are not going well.
But how often am I seeking His heart? How often am I concerned for His well? And, how long do I pound on His door after I do not get an immediate answer that I seek? Have I condemned the world to a collision course to hell because of events I see on a daily basis?
Which returns me to the word fundamental. When did that become a bad word? Sure, Jerry Falwell said some things that were harsh on the ears. Even he admitted to making some mistakes in his life; things he wished he had not said. But why throw out the word whose definition describes how we should be on a daily basis.
Maybe we should spend less time focusing on things we cannot know on this side of heaven, and focus on the fundamentals we know to be true. How about literally interpreting Jesus commanded us to do? And, rather than interpreting God’s word to coddle everyone’s ears, we stick to the truth that we know?
So, to celebrate the word ‘fundamental,’ let us feast on the words of Jesus. And remember that being a fundamentalist is not necessarily a curse. Rather, let us focus on the bountiful feast that God’s word provides us. And may we all seek to be a fundamental light of the truth in a world that desperately needs it.
“Staying with it-that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.” Matthew 24.13
“Listen carefully to what I am saying-and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” Mark 4.24-25
“I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.” Matthew 18.2-5
“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10.23
Jesus was asked which commandment was the most important. His answer?
“The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.” Mark 12.29-31
(All verses are quoted from The Message.)
I had to think about this particular blog for quite a while before I dared write it. See, I have not been a Christian for so long that I understand all of the intricacies involved in using the correct terms, comprehending doctrines, and whose camp I should be in. My philosophy has been to take the pieces I understand as coming from the heart of Christ and going from there. I do not necessarily choose to embrace or condemn all of what anyone believes; after all, they are not God.
With that being said, I had planned on writing about T.V. dinners tonight. While I work during the day, I mull over my thoughts and I pray some, and by the time I am ready to write at night, my thoughts are cohesive enough to put on paper.
However, the sudden death of Jerry Falwell made me stop and think about something else. I heard the news from a conservative radio host, who said to watch and see how Falwell was eulogized by the media. Well, he was right. They kept using the word ‘fundamentalist’ and then they would talk about his accusation of a certain Tellytubbie being gay. Well, even I knew more about him than that.
Anyway, the way they were using the word fundamentalist bothered me. What about that word seemed to make people cringe? I turned to my handy online dictionaries at Merriam-Webster and Encarta for the answers. Here are some of my results.
5. belonging to one's innate or ingrained characteristics
1 a often capitalized: a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching b: the beliefs of this movement c: adherence to such beliefs
2: a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles
1. movement with strict view of doctrine: a religious or political movement based on a literal interpretation of and strict adherence to doctrine, especially as a return to former principles
2. support for literal explanation: the belief that religious or political doctrine should be implemented literally, not interpreted or adapted
This goes back to my original blog for tonight. People have gravitated from home-cooked meals to fast, quick, easy meals on the go. Why? Because we are always moving on to our next tasks, have to get to the next thing.
I fear that model has crept into our religion as well. We seek out God to solve our problems, line our pockets, and basically make our lives easier. At least I have a tendency to do that. Sure, I praise God on the good days. Nevertheless, I make sure I seek Him on the days things are not going well.
But how often am I seeking His heart? How often am I concerned for His well? And, how long do I pound on His door after I do not get an immediate answer that I seek? Have I condemned the world to a collision course to hell because of events I see on a daily basis?
Which returns me to the word fundamental. When did that become a bad word? Sure, Jerry Falwell said some things that were harsh on the ears. Even he admitted to making some mistakes in his life; things he wished he had not said. But why throw out the word whose definition describes how we should be on a daily basis.
Maybe we should spend less time focusing on things we cannot know on this side of heaven, and focus on the fundamentals we know to be true. How about literally interpreting Jesus commanded us to do? And, rather than interpreting God’s word to coddle everyone’s ears, we stick to the truth that we know?
So, to celebrate the word ‘fundamental,’ let us feast on the words of Jesus. And remember that being a fundamentalist is not necessarily a curse. Rather, let us focus on the bountiful feast that God’s word provides us. And may we all seek to be a fundamental light of the truth in a world that desperately needs it.
“Staying with it-that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.” Matthew 24.13
“Listen carefully to what I am saying-and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” Mark 4.24-25
“I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.” Matthew 18.2-5
“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10.23
Jesus was asked which commandment was the most important. His answer?
“The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.” Mark 12.29-31
(All verses are quoted from The Message.)
Friday, April 27, 2007
The search for friend
From the Merriam-Webster dictionary-
1: one attached to another by affection or esteem
2 a: one that is not hostile b: one that is of the same nation, party, or group4: a favored companion
From MSN Encarta-
3. ally: an ally, or somebody who is not an enemy
4. advocate of cause: a defender or supporter of a cause, group, or principle
I have been prone to bouts of solitude lately. Maybe you know the type; when you listen to the phone ring but you cannot muster up the energy to answer it. Anyway, that is where I have been at for what seems like forever. If I do talk with someone, it seems like it taps me dry.
At work, I have taken to wearing my headphones. I like to pretend like it’s to keep a happy tune in my head, but I am starting to believe that it is actually an isolation unit.
I have started getting aggravated when my husband asks me questions that I think he should know the answer to. Especially if the answer requires more than a one or two word answer.
I was starting to erect a large wall between God and myself before I went to an all-day prayer conference. It was there that I cried out to Him and begged for my self-inflicted isolation to crumble away.
After that, I was at least willing to talk to Him on a semi-regular basis. Within a matter of days, I received some horrible news that would completely rock my world. I will not go into it here. I will just say it was a ‘10’ on a scale of one to five.
I was sitting in the parking lot at work contemplating my next move. My head cried ‘retreat’ but my heart cried for attention and compassion. I let my heart win. I picked up my cell phone before I could change my mind and I reached out for a friend. I thought I would just have a general, generic call, but when she asked me how I was doing, the word ‘horrible’ spilled out.
Immediately, empathy poured out of her and it caused me to unload all I was carrying around. She listened, encouraged me to keep talking; until I had emptied myself of all the emotional baggage I had been carrying.
We then were able to move on to a conversation about Jesus, a conversation it turns out, that we both needed. I ended up feeling better than I had in weeks. We got together the next week and continued our conversation, which was just really good.
“A (wo)man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a (sister) brother.” Proverbs 18.24
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” –Jesus in John 15.13-14
See, I do not think Jesus just meant His life, although that was His most important mission. I believe that when we take time out to truly listen to a friend, that you stop what you are doing, then you are also laying down your life. Jesus realized we were not meant to be alone. Even He did not want to be alone, and He was the Son of God.
I think Jesus showed us His emotional side when many of the people following Him decided His teachings were too tough and left Him. He asked His twelve disciples, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Did He not want to be alone? I do not think He did.
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He went to pray to His Father. He took His disciples with Him, and asked them to stay there and watch. When He came back, they were sleeping. He asked them, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” In Jesus’ time of need, when He was ‘deeply distressed and troubled, He needed to know He had friends around to support and care for Him.
We were not made to be solitary creatures. Unfortunately, in our day of email, cell phones and computers, we are capable of insulating ourselves from the world at hand. Nevertheless, it is frightening, and can even be dangerous.
The way I see it today is, if Jesus can be open about His needs and emotions, there is no reason I cannot too. And that is good enough for today.
From the Merriam-Webster dictionary-
1: one attached to another by affection or esteem
2 a: one that is not hostile b: one that is of the same nation, party, or group4: a favored companion
From MSN Encarta-
3. ally: an ally, or somebody who is not an enemy
4. advocate of cause: a defender or supporter of a cause, group, or principle
I have been prone to bouts of solitude lately. Maybe you know the type; when you listen to the phone ring but you cannot muster up the energy to answer it. Anyway, that is where I have been at for what seems like forever. If I do talk with someone, it seems like it taps me dry.
At work, I have taken to wearing my headphones. I like to pretend like it’s to keep a happy tune in my head, but I am starting to believe that it is actually an isolation unit.
I have started getting aggravated when my husband asks me questions that I think he should know the answer to. Especially if the answer requires more than a one or two word answer.
I was starting to erect a large wall between God and myself before I went to an all-day prayer conference. It was there that I cried out to Him and begged for my self-inflicted isolation to crumble away.
After that, I was at least willing to talk to Him on a semi-regular basis. Within a matter of days, I received some horrible news that would completely rock my world. I will not go into it here. I will just say it was a ‘10’ on a scale of one to five.
I was sitting in the parking lot at work contemplating my next move. My head cried ‘retreat’ but my heart cried for attention and compassion. I let my heart win. I picked up my cell phone before I could change my mind and I reached out for a friend. I thought I would just have a general, generic call, but when she asked me how I was doing, the word ‘horrible’ spilled out.
Immediately, empathy poured out of her and it caused me to unload all I was carrying around. She listened, encouraged me to keep talking; until I had emptied myself of all the emotional baggage I had been carrying.
We then were able to move on to a conversation about Jesus, a conversation it turns out, that we both needed. I ended up feeling better than I had in weeks. We got together the next week and continued our conversation, which was just really good.
“A (wo)man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a (sister) brother.” Proverbs 18.24
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” –Jesus in John 15.13-14
See, I do not think Jesus just meant His life, although that was His most important mission. I believe that when we take time out to truly listen to a friend, that you stop what you are doing, then you are also laying down your life. Jesus realized we were not meant to be alone. Even He did not want to be alone, and He was the Son of God.
I think Jesus showed us His emotional side when many of the people following Him decided His teachings were too tough and left Him. He asked His twelve disciples, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Did He not want to be alone? I do not think He did.
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He went to pray to His Father. He took His disciples with Him, and asked them to stay there and watch. When He came back, they were sleeping. He asked them, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” In Jesus’ time of need, when He was ‘deeply distressed and troubled, He needed to know He had friends around to support and care for Him.
We were not made to be solitary creatures. Unfortunately, in our day of email, cell phones and computers, we are capable of insulating ourselves from the world at hand. Nevertheless, it is frightening, and can even be dangerous.
The way I see it today is, if Jesus can be open about His needs and emotions, there is no reason I cannot too. And that is good enough for today.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Thank you God, for sending your Son to rescue us. May we all recognize and rejoice his resurrection this New Passover Sunday.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
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