The fall of a great man! How do we keep our wits about us? How do we encourage those around us to remain true and keep their life? What is "sin"? These are just some of the questions that I have been asked, and some of what I will attempt to answer now.
In 2 Samuel we see David. This is the first part of his downward spiral. We all have them! We don't talk much about his failure, we always sum it up with his "heart". But I want to talk about this from a woman's perspective. So here I go...
Bathsheba, she is on her roof where she can have a private moment of bathing. Her husband, who is a great honorable man, is off to battle for the king. She has just finished her monthly period and is now wanting to be clean. Ah, it is her time. She is unaware of someone watching her. A man who has stayed back and has awaken from a nap in the middle of the day. He is looking upon her with great want and sends for her. When she hears the knock on her door it startles her, but thinks nothing of it. "The king wants to see me! Could it be my husband? Could it be...?" She couldn't think. She got her appropriate clothes on and went with his servants, only to find him in want of her! What could she do? How could she not? It is the king and she is only a woman at his mercy. When he is finished with her, he sends her away. Broken and terrified she goes to her home only to discover later that she is pregnant.
Then many years later there is another young girl, Tamar. She is David's daughter who is wanted by her older half brother Amnon. He tricks her and is enticed by her as she cooks for him her "sick" brother. He grabs her and she begs him not do defile her in this way, but his strength is greater. He rapes her. Because he had had such want for her, his want became disgust.
This is just a small part of the story, but here is where I want to focus. These women are victims of a stronger mans desire. These are both women who share in a bigger story. Bathsheba goes through many hard times: getting raped, loss of a husband, a son, but she is later the mother of Solomon. Tamar is a victim to the core, but still maintains her integrity. "The narrator of Tamar's rape at the hands of her brother is told with a focus that emphasizes the male roles of the story: David, Amnon, and Absalom. "Even the poignancy of Tamar's humiliation is drawn out for the primary purpose of justifying Absalom's later murder of Amnon, and not for its own sake" (p. 5). In focusing on the story with Tamar, not the men, as the focal point, Cooper-White hopes to remind the readers that the lesson should come from the true victim; the female who was raped and not the men left to deal with the situation. She emphasizes "power-within" over "power-over." With "power-over," one's power is related to how many creatures one has dominion over. Tamar demonstrates the "power-within," or en-theos(God-within) by resisting as much as she could..." (White).
These women, even though they cannot see their story playing out, they do what is best in their time and keep their focus on what is important. No they do not see the whole story. But they remain true to their time, custom, and God. How are we playing out our role? How are we determining our future? Are we losing it in the moment to allow others to lose it in their's. What are we focusing on?
I have been asked by many different people the same question in different ways, but still the same point. "I wish I had sinned more when I could have. I no longer have the chance and see that I blew it." BLEW WHAT!!? Are you kidding me? David had at least 7 wives and countless concubines, do you think he regrets killing Uriah? Amnon died and created all kinds of trouble in his family, was it really worth it? Sin is relational infidelity. There are many relationships broken and lives destroyed by "Sin". But even though these men screwed up Royally, God and His story continues and over powers the powerful. He is faithful to his creation! If you wish to dive deeper into the story, you can find it beginning in 2 Samuel 11. I've left lots out, but I hope I'm clear about what I'm trying to say.
ADVENTURE is what we are often looking for, not Sin! Adventure is going out and discovering this world and all that is good. Have we had the adventures of a lifetime? Or are we living with Sin as a regret that is staining our tomorrows?
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
A Most Intimate Moment
Over the past, well more than 10 years, I have spent much time in learning who God is and who I am. The more I learn the more I am discovering His grace and mercy. Not His laws and judgments. If we look at just two parts of Paul's writings we can see so much. Last week at L!VE, we looked at Galatians. Tonight we will look at Romans 9, 10.
Chapter 9 starts with Paul revealing his heart for his people. He aches for them to see what he sees. This is my same heart ache. He tries to separate the true children of the promise from those who only claim it by birth, but know nothing about God Himself. Then he moves into some seemingly hard discussion about how God chooses to show mercy to some and hardens the hearts of others, and in this I can get so easily caught up. His answers to the questions of how a loving God can do this are summed up in a very quick answer of "Who are you to argue with God?" And it is here that I take pause. Paul knows what Job had to learn. Who are we to question God? When waves of questions consume us, we are to turn our focus on the goodness of God, not the parts we do not understand. And in seeing His goodness, my heart can rest in knowing that He can already see a person's heart. He knows who will believe in Him and who wont, so He is giving my heart rest in letting me see that it is ok if I allow people to choose how they are living, for really I have no say in their lives anyway. I am not to get wrapped up in people's lives and try and direct their heart by directing their actions. It is up to God to see their heart. But I am to be a vessel of mercy. We cannot earn the heart of our God. His love is given. All we need to do is to have faith. That faith is expressed in knowing His heart and His goodness. It is not loved eared, but love given.
When Jason and I were first married I did not love him. I truly was walking down the isle in obedience. I said "I do", not out of a heart in love, but a heart broken. It was never me living as an "obedient" wife that changed my heart, but it was his constant consistency, patience, and care that softened my heart toward his. I was hurt and wounded by so many men. I just saw Jason as another man who was going to hurt me again. I would have never changed my heart toward him if he had demanded me to obey him and to follow his rules. Rules and laws would have only driven me further into defiance. It was his patience and constant caring that finally got to me and after three years of being married, two children later, I finally told him "I think I am falling in love with you."
It was only after this that my actions toward this man started to change. He gave me enough time for my heart to soften toward him. If he had demanded that I "act" in a certain way, I could have played the part, but he would have never had my heart. And it is our heart that our God is after. He is not focused on our ability to follow a rule, but our willingness to give Him our whole heart.
"So if you believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice you allegiance by confessing the truth that 'Jesus is Lord,' then you will be saved! Belief begins in the heart and leads to a life that is right with God..." (Romans 10:9)
I put a question recently on FB, "Has Christianity failed you?" And with this I received many wonderful responses... Wonderful because people were willing to share with me their broken hearts. Stories that made me cry and ask God the big "Why?" I want to share an opening of a very lengthy and very heart felt response from a broken heart.
"I have deep seated intellectual and theological concerns about the Christian faith. As a PhD in Religion, I didn't just read the bible, and I didn't study it from a faith based standpoint, but I studied it form intellectual standpoint, both as a historical document, and as a work of literature."
I printed her response and have carried it with me everywhere I have gone. I often pull it out and read the two and a half pages asking God to show me exactly where her true heart cry is revealed. And this time He showed me just the beginning lines. Just yesterday through the words of a friend I heard the answer to this woman's first lines. In my heart I heard, "If your heart is wanting a spiritual relationship and you look to God through knowledge you will be left wanting."
He wants your heart, first. It is only after a heart given in love that the true knowledge of Him is revealed. It is only after faith is expressed in your heart and out of your mouth that He can begin to change our desires and give us a heart of love. It is only after we see Him through our brokenness that we can begin to accept His mercy. All of our questions of "why" can be summed up in one answer, Worship. It is only in the truly intimate moments of surrendering your whole body, mind and soul to Him in worship that you can feel His embrace and learn to follow Him in His dance through life. Do you want what you want, or do you want His best? Are you willing to have His heart of patience, love, and mercy for others? Or are you going to demand that they obey your laws, but never surrender their whole heart? This is my first response, but it is in my memory that I am reminded how I was loved first. So why then do I constantly place upon others a law that I was never meant to give out. Why do I want to settle for instant "change" instead of a truly love filled heart?!
Chapter 9 starts with Paul revealing his heart for his people. He aches for them to see what he sees. This is my same heart ache. He tries to separate the true children of the promise from those who only claim it by birth, but know nothing about God Himself. Then he moves into some seemingly hard discussion about how God chooses to show mercy to some and hardens the hearts of others, and in this I can get so easily caught up. His answers to the questions of how a loving God can do this are summed up in a very quick answer of "Who are you to argue with God?" And it is here that I take pause. Paul knows what Job had to learn. Who are we to question God? When waves of questions consume us, we are to turn our focus on the goodness of God, not the parts we do not understand. And in seeing His goodness, my heart can rest in knowing that He can already see a person's heart. He knows who will believe in Him and who wont, so He is giving my heart rest in letting me see that it is ok if I allow people to choose how they are living, for really I have no say in their lives anyway. I am not to get wrapped up in people's lives and try and direct their heart by directing their actions. It is up to God to see their heart. But I am to be a vessel of mercy. We cannot earn the heart of our God. His love is given. All we need to do is to have faith. That faith is expressed in knowing His heart and His goodness. It is not loved eared, but love given.
When Jason and I were first married I did not love him. I truly was walking down the isle in obedience. I said "I do", not out of a heart in love, but a heart broken. It was never me living as an "obedient" wife that changed my heart, but it was his constant consistency, patience, and care that softened my heart toward his. I was hurt and wounded by so many men. I just saw Jason as another man who was going to hurt me again. I would have never changed my heart toward him if he had demanded me to obey him and to follow his rules. Rules and laws would have only driven me further into defiance. It was his patience and constant caring that finally got to me and after three years of being married, two children later, I finally told him "I think I am falling in love with you."
It was only after this that my actions toward this man started to change. He gave me enough time for my heart to soften toward him. If he had demanded that I "act" in a certain way, I could have played the part, but he would have never had my heart. And it is our heart that our God is after. He is not focused on our ability to follow a rule, but our willingness to give Him our whole heart.
"So if you believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice you allegiance by confessing the truth that 'Jesus is Lord,' then you will be saved! Belief begins in the heart and leads to a life that is right with God..." (Romans 10:9)
I put a question recently on FB, "Has Christianity failed you?" And with this I received many wonderful responses... Wonderful because people were willing to share with me their broken hearts. Stories that made me cry and ask God the big "Why?" I want to share an opening of a very lengthy and very heart felt response from a broken heart.
"I have deep seated intellectual and theological concerns about the Christian faith. As a PhD in Religion, I didn't just read the bible, and I didn't study it from a faith based standpoint, but I studied it form intellectual standpoint, both as a historical document, and as a work of literature."
I printed her response and have carried it with me everywhere I have gone. I often pull it out and read the two and a half pages asking God to show me exactly where her true heart cry is revealed. And this time He showed me just the beginning lines. Just yesterday through the words of a friend I heard the answer to this woman's first lines. In my heart I heard, "If your heart is wanting a spiritual relationship and you look to God through knowledge you will be left wanting."
He wants your heart, first. It is only after a heart given in love that the true knowledge of Him is revealed. It is only after faith is expressed in your heart and out of your mouth that He can begin to change our desires and give us a heart of love. It is only after we see Him through our brokenness that we can begin to accept His mercy. All of our questions of "why" can be summed up in one answer, Worship. It is only in the truly intimate moments of surrendering your whole body, mind and soul to Him in worship that you can feel His embrace and learn to follow Him in His dance through life. Do you want what you want, or do you want His best? Are you willing to have His heart of patience, love, and mercy for others? Or are you going to demand that they obey your laws, but never surrender their whole heart? This is my first response, but it is in my memory that I am reminded how I was loved first. So why then do I constantly place upon others a law that I was never meant to give out. Why do I want to settle for instant "change" instead of a truly love filled heart?!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Reflections on Prayer
I received a text question last night from one of my friends about prayer. He started off with scripture verses Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." And also Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Here were his questions: Have you ever been unsure of what to ask God for? How did you make up your mind?
As I sit here thinking of this young man's heart and his prayer, my mind reels with my own prayers and how each one was answered, mainly through the unanswered ways of God. Let me give some examples, maybe this will make it more clear as my mind sifts through and unfolds the "easy" examples.
With my first pregnancy I did not find out the sex of the baby until it was revealed at birth. My heart was hard against men and I was afraid that if I found out it was a boy child, I would not love him. Every morning and evening I begged God, "Please give me a girl. Please!" I was giving God a chance to change His mind and turn the child into a girl at the very last second if He needed to. Delivery time, the doctor placed the baby on my stomach and I looked at my SON! Betrayal... for both of us is all I could feel. "How could you do this to me!" I cried out to God. "How could you do this to him? I cannot raise a man child! I hate men!"
For 5 days I reeled with unanswered questions. 5 days, until I found myself on a plane out of Gunnison watching the nurses take care of my baby as we were flight for life to Denver. My world was spinning. My prayers were begging God not to take him and my mind was determined that I would love this man child.
Another time, oh whose kidding, for years I begged God to take away my MS. I begged and pleaded with Him to heal me. I had memorized the entire book of James. I was seeking God like no other. My life was changed and I no longer desired the same things. I was living Good and I knew the scripture. So I took James 5 to our church leaders. "Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well." Over and over, I had different people pouring oil on me, praying for my healing. My hair has never been more healthy as the time on my knees and oil on my head. People, I am sure, were tired of my begging. But I kept knocking, for I just knew the door had to open... I still have MS. Unanswered Prayers
I have so many examples of prayers offered, prayers that seemed unanswered. However, each time He has been there revealing my broken heart. Showing me that what He truly desires is for my heart to be healed. Its not about my circumstances, even though I seem to think it is. It is about my heart and how I value myself, how I see my God, how I do/do not love others. Hebrews 11:13, "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it." How do I see my relationship with my God? Can I still walk confidently in faith without my answer to my prayers?
I have a very good life! I know that my God loves me, but it isn't through my desires being given to me. I wanted a girl, I have my girl through my college girls He has showered on me. I needed healing. I have been healed. My heart was hard toward men. Now I know, they are not my enemies. I needed that son to begin to soften my heart. My hands are still numb and I stumble when I walk. It is a battle, but not a physical battle. It is a battle in learning to love myself. Without MS, I would live with indulgence. I wouldn't learn the lesson of restraint and how to truly take care of me. He loves me too much to allow me to live as a glutton. For everything that I would do, nothing would be good for me. I've proven that one!
God does heal people all of the time. Its just not always how we think it should be. God does answer all of our prayers, but it is often not how we think it is going to be. I have changed my perception of how God answers prayers. He is not Santa, but a God who loves me too much than to leave me the way I am. He sees my heart. He knows that above anything else, my heart is what needs healing. My heart needs focusing on Him, no matter what I'm doing, what is going on in my life, the circumstances that may come up. Where is my focus? As I start my day, am I willing to listen to what He is trying to say to me? Am I willing to accept His answers to my prayers? Do I love Him enough to allow Him to change my life through changing my heart? Do I focus on things of this world, or a relationship with Him? Will I be okay through the storms of life? Am I strengthening myself now for what is to come later? Can I still believe and have faith when I see "my prayers" for myself answered in someone else's life? (ex: They're physically healed from their disease. Mine is still hanging on.) What are your prayers? Are you willing to allow God the sovereignty to know more than you and to give Him your heart and time even if?
Let me make it clear, I pray all of the time about my wants and needs! "Please heal my body" is still right at the top. "Please take care of... as they travel." "Help me this day in....." I'm always giving my requests to God. But my focus is trying to change, as He is trying to change my hearts desire to match His desire. Its not about, "should I take this job or that?" "What is going to happen to my life if...?" It is all about your heart walk with God...
He does "give jobs, heal the diseases, change our circumstances" , but through it all He is constantly calling us in relationship to Him. How is He calling you? How is He healing my heart?
Jim McGuiggan, Reflections on Prayer
As I sit here thinking of this young man's heart and his prayer, my mind reels with my own prayers and how each one was answered, mainly through the unanswered ways of God. Let me give some examples, maybe this will make it more clear as my mind sifts through and unfolds the "easy" examples.
With my first pregnancy I did not find out the sex of the baby until it was revealed at birth. My heart was hard against men and I was afraid that if I found out it was a boy child, I would not love him. Every morning and evening I begged God, "Please give me a girl. Please!" I was giving God a chance to change His mind and turn the child into a girl at the very last second if He needed to. Delivery time, the doctor placed the baby on my stomach and I looked at my SON! Betrayal... for both of us is all I could feel. "How could you do this to me!" I cried out to God. "How could you do this to him? I cannot raise a man child! I hate men!"
For 5 days I reeled with unanswered questions. 5 days, until I found myself on a plane out of Gunnison watching the nurses take care of my baby as we were flight for life to Denver. My world was spinning. My prayers were begging God not to take him and my mind was determined that I would love this man child.
Another time, oh whose kidding, for years I begged God to take away my MS. I begged and pleaded with Him to heal me. I had memorized the entire book of James. I was seeking God like no other. My life was changed and I no longer desired the same things. I was living Good and I knew the scripture. So I took James 5 to our church leaders. "Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well." Over and over, I had different people pouring oil on me, praying for my healing. My hair has never been more healthy as the time on my knees and oil on my head. People, I am sure, were tired of my begging. But I kept knocking, for I just knew the door had to open... I still have MS. Unanswered Prayers
I have so many examples of prayers offered, prayers that seemed unanswered. However, each time He has been there revealing my broken heart. Showing me that what He truly desires is for my heart to be healed. Its not about my circumstances, even though I seem to think it is. It is about my heart and how I value myself, how I see my God, how I do/do not love others. Hebrews 11:13, "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it." How do I see my relationship with my God? Can I still walk confidently in faith without my answer to my prayers?
I have a very good life! I know that my God loves me, but it isn't through my desires being given to me. I wanted a girl, I have my girl through my college girls He has showered on me. I needed healing. I have been healed. My heart was hard toward men. Now I know, they are not my enemies. I needed that son to begin to soften my heart. My hands are still numb and I stumble when I walk. It is a battle, but not a physical battle. It is a battle in learning to love myself. Without MS, I would live with indulgence. I wouldn't learn the lesson of restraint and how to truly take care of me. He loves me too much to allow me to live as a glutton. For everything that I would do, nothing would be good for me. I've proven that one!
God does heal people all of the time. Its just not always how we think it should be. God does answer all of our prayers, but it is often not how we think it is going to be. I have changed my perception of how God answers prayers. He is not Santa, but a God who loves me too much than to leave me the way I am. He sees my heart. He knows that above anything else, my heart is what needs healing. My heart needs focusing on Him, no matter what I'm doing, what is going on in my life, the circumstances that may come up. Where is my focus? As I start my day, am I willing to listen to what He is trying to say to me? Am I willing to accept His answers to my prayers? Do I love Him enough to allow Him to change my life through changing my heart? Do I focus on things of this world, or a relationship with Him? Will I be okay through the storms of life? Am I strengthening myself now for what is to come later? Can I still believe and have faith when I see "my prayers" for myself answered in someone else's life? (ex: They're physically healed from their disease. Mine is still hanging on.) What are your prayers? Are you willing to allow God the sovereignty to know more than you and to give Him your heart and time even if?
Let me make it clear, I pray all of the time about my wants and needs! "Please heal my body" is still right at the top. "Please take care of... as they travel." "Help me this day in....." I'm always giving my requests to God. But my focus is trying to change, as He is trying to change my hearts desire to match His desire. Its not about, "should I take this job or that?" "What is going to happen to my life if...?" It is all about your heart walk with God...
He does "give jobs, heal the diseases, change our circumstances" , but through it all He is constantly calling us in relationship to Him. How is He calling you? How is He healing my heart?
Jim McGuiggan, Reflections on Prayer
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Digging in the Sandbox
Appearances can be deceiving. Have you ever done something with the intentions of it being a good thing only to find out everything you had just done was the exact thing that caused your destruction? In 2 Samuel chapters 1 and 4, two different men bring the news to David that his enemies were dead. Two different men were trying to kill him. The first soldier brought the news that Saul was dead. He had seen him suffering from a fatal wound and Saul begged him to finish the job, 2 Samuel 1:1-16. He brought "good news" to David. David was distressed, not relieved, and ordered that the messenger be killed. Then only what seems a short time later, in chapter 4, another messenger brought news that he had defeated another enemy of David's and this was his response. "Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn't I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?'
So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron." (Vs. 10-12)
Ah, being the messenger is not always what it appears to be. Realizing this brings me fear and trembling before the throne of God! I find myself in a mix of emotional overload and struggling to organize it all inside is about to tear me apart. I want nothing more than to bring my life story to light, not in letting everyone know about me, but about His redemptive truth. With my life being so openly exposed, how do I do this without causing someone to stumble with the illusions that can be given. How do I keep my focus without loosing my head? (No pun intended;)
Its all about focus. What were these men focused on? The approval of David, a man. What is my focus? What are the truths that my story is telling? Is it just about me, or am I bringing the story around full circle and landing on Him?
Oswald Chambers, "If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself— begin to have spiritual discernment."
There should always be great apprehension about a new project, about sharing our lives, about telling others anything! But in the fear, where is our focus? In the sandbox, we are building. Go with me...
As a child plays in the sand he can do so many things. He can dig deep holes, he can find buried treasures. Most of the time is spent digging, looking down. But if he will get up, turn on the water and bring the water to the sand, he can then start building. The sand becomes sticky and his vision will change. He stops looking down in the ground before him and starts to look up. What he is doing is bringing in something that binds and changes his view. This is what we are to do. It isn't about what we have done, but what He is doing.
"The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create your own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is much better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than it is to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice . . .” (1 Samuel 15:22). Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know . . .” (John 7:17), Oswald.
As I go on the mission of delivering a message I must keep my focus. I must make sure that I am not seeking to please any one person in particular, but to please my God. I mustn't loose my head in loosing my focus. We do not know the final outcome of anything we are doing today. What we think our goals are, are often not His goals, but if we will keep our ultimate focus on Him our destination will be life. And in this we cannot fail! Where is our focus? Are we digging in the past, or are we looking up to the future in the now?
So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron." (Vs. 10-12)
Ah, being the messenger is not always what it appears to be. Realizing this brings me fear and trembling before the throne of God! I find myself in a mix of emotional overload and struggling to organize it all inside is about to tear me apart. I want nothing more than to bring my life story to light, not in letting everyone know about me, but about His redemptive truth. With my life being so openly exposed, how do I do this without causing someone to stumble with the illusions that can be given. How do I keep my focus without loosing my head? (No pun intended;)
Its all about focus. What were these men focused on? The approval of David, a man. What is my focus? What are the truths that my story is telling? Is it just about me, or am I bringing the story around full circle and landing on Him?
Oswald Chambers, "If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself— begin to have spiritual discernment."
There should always be great apprehension about a new project, about sharing our lives, about telling others anything! But in the fear, where is our focus? In the sandbox, we are building. Go with me...
As a child plays in the sand he can do so many things. He can dig deep holes, he can find buried treasures. Most of the time is spent digging, looking down. But if he will get up, turn on the water and bring the water to the sand, he can then start building. The sand becomes sticky and his vision will change. He stops looking down in the ground before him and starts to look up. What he is doing is bringing in something that binds and changes his view. This is what we are to do. It isn't about what we have done, but what He is doing.
"The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create your own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is much better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than it is to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice . . .” (1 Samuel 15:22). Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know . . .” (John 7:17), Oswald.
As I go on the mission of delivering a message I must keep my focus. I must make sure that I am not seeking to please any one person in particular, but to please my God. I mustn't loose my head in loosing my focus. We do not know the final outcome of anything we are doing today. What we think our goals are, are often not His goals, but if we will keep our ultimate focus on Him our destination will be life. And in this we cannot fail! Where is our focus? Are we digging in the past, or are we looking up to the future in the now?
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Mercy and Grace, Judgement and Love
I had a conversation yesterday with one of my friends that took me back in time, back to another life.
A life time ago....
A warm summers day, the sand is warm beneath her feet. The water coming and going, one wave after another is rushing, then retreating. The air is thick with humidity. The sea gulls are above in the sky, they are below running toward the water as it leaves. A young woman dressed... hardly dressed at all, she is alone by the water. Her only companion is her beloved dog who seems to protect her from her stupidity as guys are driving by, then turning around to take another look. She seems brazen as she buys the lie of her young illusionary power. She seems indifferent. She thinks she likes this. She has forgotten. She has buried her emotions, her dreams with the constant flow of beta blockers that she keeps flowing through her veins. She is dying, but she believes she is living.
Another story, someone else's life....
A young mom, she is one of the viewed leaders of the church. She teaches and she preaches, but on Saturday night the bar is calling. The house is loud. Children are fighting. The announcers on the TV are reaching highs and lows as they anticipate the next play. There he is, just sitting there, lost in some game while her world is reeling. The keys, the car, the bar, this is her chance to have a pretend moment. A get away into another life that she dreams about, maybe this time she can turn her dreams into reality. The escape that is constantly right at her fingertips, but that is always just far enough that keeps her straining.
Two different women. Two different situations. How do you see them? Are they the same? Are they different? How do you treat them? Do you treat them the same or do you treat them differently? The one similarity, they are both lost.
Some people say that you treat everyone the same. They say, you give this person this, and that person the same thing because you must keep it fair. I say that is a lie. That is an excuse some use so that they will not be held accountable for what they are doing. Others use this excuse because in order to deal with people as individuals, you must get to know them. You have to get personal and personal is the part that is easiest to avoid. And lets face it, no on wants to be that person calling anyone out. For those of us who really know ourselves, we know we all mess up, we have all sinned.
"It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, 'You must remove the evil person from among you,'” 1 Corinthians 5:12.
But then you say, "Jesus said, If you judge other people, then you too will be judged. See the log in your eye. You have enough of your own stuff. Do not judge... period."
That too is false. Take a good look at the scripture, Matthew 7:1-5. He is not saying, not to judge, but how. Yes, we must first take a good look at ourselves. I used two very different, but similar women. The first was not someone seen as a leader, but as someone lost. The second woman put herself in a position of leadership at a church, but was also lost. "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes." James 3:1
A warm summers day, the sand is warm beneath her feet. The water coming and going, one wave after another is rushing, then retreating. The air is thick with humidity. The sea gulls are above in the sky, they are below running toward the water as it leaves. A young woman dressed... hardly dressed at all, she is alone by the water. Her only companion is her beloved dog who seems to protect her from her stupidity as guys are driving by, then turning around to take another look. She seems brazen as she buys the lie of her young illusionary power. She seems indifferent. She thinks she likes this. She has forgotten. She has buried her emotions, her dreams with the constant flow of beta blockers that she keeps flowing through her veins. She is dying, but she believes she is living.
Another story, someone else's life....
A young mom, she is one of the viewed leaders of the church. She teaches and she preaches, but on Saturday night the bar is calling. The house is loud. Children are fighting. The announcers on the TV are reaching highs and lows as they anticipate the next play. There he is, just sitting there, lost in some game while her world is reeling. The keys, the car, the bar, this is her chance to have a pretend moment. A get away into another life that she dreams about, maybe this time she can turn her dreams into reality. The escape that is constantly right at her fingertips, but that is always just far enough that keeps her straining.
Two different women. Two different situations. How do you see them? Are they the same? Are they different? How do you treat them? Do you treat them the same or do you treat them differently? The one similarity, they are both lost.
Some people say that you treat everyone the same. They say, you give this person this, and that person the same thing because you must keep it fair. I say that is a lie. That is an excuse some use so that they will not be held accountable for what they are doing. Others use this excuse because in order to deal with people as individuals, you must get to know them. You have to get personal and personal is the part that is easiest to avoid. And lets face it, no on wants to be that person calling anyone out. For those of us who really know ourselves, we know we all mess up, we have all sinned.
"It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, 'You must remove the evil person from among you,'” 1 Corinthians 5:12.
But then you say, "Jesus said, If you judge other people, then you too will be judged. See the log in your eye. You have enough of your own stuff. Do not judge... period."
That too is false. Take a good look at the scripture, Matthew 7:1-5. He is not saying, not to judge, but how. Yes, we must first take a good look at ourselves. I used two very different, but similar women. The first was not someone seen as a leader, but as someone lost. The second woman put herself in a position of leadership at a church, but was also lost. "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes." James 3:1
The difference was their message. What they were themselves proclaiming to live. This is so touchy. This is the hard part about being in a family, learning to love. Sometimes love is all about grace and mercy. Sometimes if you treat another person the same way, you become an enabler and are the cause of their destruction.
Someone recently made a comment on one of my blogs, "The challenge for me now is to know how to love others as they are, but not to enable them to continue on as they want to be." This is the hard part of growing. As I have traveled through this life, from the beach, to the teacher. I have had to handle situations differently, but gently. I have not gotten them all right, but I must deal with them anyway. Learning and stumbling along the way, but my heart is trying. As young men and women come into my home I must handle them with mercy and gentleness, but the same? Now that would be a shame. Each person is beautifully unique. I would not be showing them their value if they were treated equally. What value is a diamond if it is looked upon as just another piece of cut glass? Would I be showing the seasoned Christ follower, the one who knows the scriptures by heart, any sort of love if I treated them and expected the same from them as I would the drug addicted person on the street? Is that love? What is love? You know the person individually. We are to see others as Christ sees us and He knows us personally.
The problem is that we get our love and mercy confused. We judge the world. I see Christians on my college campus pointing their fingers and shouting at my kids about sin. That is no sort of love and not a part of my God. And at the same time, I see other Christians saying do not judge as one of their leaders is leading in a most despicable way toward the grave. There is balance in love. Sometimes we take the most unclothed, cover them with mercy and grace, till they are warmed with love. And other times we must step up to the hard plate and call someone out. But both are act of His love. This is why we are to get to know our Lord. Daily reading His words so that we are not confused about our roles in His world.
"The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field”— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us." Oswald Chambers
Someone recently made a comment on one of my blogs, "The challenge for me now is to know how to love others as they are, but not to enable them to continue on as they want to be." This is the hard part of growing. As I have traveled through this life, from the beach, to the teacher. I have had to handle situations differently, but gently. I have not gotten them all right, but I must deal with them anyway. Learning and stumbling along the way, but my heart is trying. As young men and women come into my home I must handle them with mercy and gentleness, but the same? Now that would be a shame. Each person is beautifully unique. I would not be showing them their value if they were treated equally. What value is a diamond if it is looked upon as just another piece of cut glass? Would I be showing the seasoned Christ follower, the one who knows the scriptures by heart, any sort of love if I treated them and expected the same from them as I would the drug addicted person on the street? Is that love? What is love? You know the person individually. We are to see others as Christ sees us and He knows us personally.
The problem is that we get our love and mercy confused. We judge the world. I see Christians on my college campus pointing their fingers and shouting at my kids about sin. That is no sort of love and not a part of my God. And at the same time, I see other Christians saying do not judge as one of their leaders is leading in a most despicable way toward the grave. There is balance in love. Sometimes we take the most unclothed, cover them with mercy and grace, till they are warmed with love. And other times we must step up to the hard plate and call someone out. But both are act of His love. This is why we are to get to know our Lord. Daily reading His words so that we are not confused about our roles in His world.
"The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field”— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us." Oswald Chambers
Monday, May 13, 2013
New Birth or Rebirth?
The house is still. What do I hear? The tic of the clock. A bird is beginning to wake. The house stretches and quakes as the earth is warming. The coffee maker just sighed. A dove is calling. My breath seems loud against the stillness. What do I see? My chair stuffed full of pillows around me. An afghan blanket that was woven for me when my first son was born, covers my legs. My coffee is snug between two of my pillows. My always blooming plants are stretching toward the sun. The window that protects me from the cold outside is big right next to my sitting area. The shadows are no longer shadows, but trees and houses coming into view as the light is peaking over the horizon. A small rabbitt moves steadily along the curb, going toward his hiding place. The day is approaching. Am I in a play? Is this my stage? Is the dawn the opening of the curtain? Who is behind the curtain, backstage?
In New Birth or Rebirth, by Ravi Zacharias, this is one of the main topics, along with many others. Have you ever been in a play? Opening night is a really big night. Your heart is pounding, your mind is racing. "What if I forget?" "Who is here?" So you peak around one of the curtains trying to get a glimpse of the audience. There are many things that should be asked as we enter the play; For the actors: What is my message? What are others going to do with their lives after they are impacted with my role? For the director/writer: What am I really trying to say? How has this changed the mind of my crew as they have learned my words? For the audience: What are we seeking as we seek our entertainment? How is this play going to affect me when I leave? Is it going to become my reality? So many more questions.... In this great conversation Krishna and Jesus talk about their similarities and their differences. Just a glimpse...
Krishna: Because I believe all of life is a leela-a play, a drama. The universe is simply a cosmic puppet theater for the gods. We are simply actors on a stage. Roles and duties are all divinely assigned and beyond human control. Backstage there is always a different script. And I know there's an audience. There's always an audience at a play.
Jesus: We may disagree on the idea of a puppet show, Krishna- there is always a choice, a will, a decision. Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
But the subject of a man listening, I would agree-when man seeks, he finds, and when he knocks, the door is opened to him. So lets continue our discussion, for I too want to talk about he nature of who you and I are and what we teach. That is why we are talking today, you and me, for the sake of the man whose ear is pinned to the curtain. His soul is struggling. He is desperate for the truth, Krishna.. Let's speak of these things for his sake, not for the sake of argument between you and me.
Krishna: Agreed. There is no need for you and me to argue. You and I are complete in ourselves...
As the great conversion between Krishna and Jesus continues throughout the book, my mind and heart continually returns to the play. No we are not puppets in a drama for the gods to be entertained. But we are being watched and the world is our audience. As I try and sift through the different things that I am continually hearing, things that are good and right, I cannot get lost in the closeness of them. "Truth is powerful and truths that are almost truths are deadly and seductive.... Just because two things have one thing in common doesn't mean they have everything in common. The heart of humanity and the provision of God are the two central points we must understand."
Are we willing to ask the hard questions? Do we really want the answers? Is this life reality, or are we just part of a cosmic play? Are others watching you and learning from you on how they are going to live out their life? What path are you directing them toward?
Jesus: Truth will always divide, Krishna.... A single minute difference in the ecology of the world and you will end up with death. If you believe one lie, you are often led down the path of many lies... That's the difference between a drama and reality. Reality cannot be wiped out by a whim. Look at that truck.... and at its shadow on the sidewalk. Now tell me this; would you rather be run over by the truck or by its shadow?... Is the shadow real or imaginary?... because the truck momentarily blocks out the sun, which creates the shadow. You don't judge by the shadow; you judge by the light.
That's the story of the gospel. When I died on the cross for you and for every person born onto this earth, the truck of the judgement and penalty of the law went over me so that only the shadow of death would pass over you. You still have to face the pain of death, but I have paid the price. It was I who was crucified, but my disciples are still troubled and heartbroken by the shadow of death.
And the story continues..... What is your understanding? What part are you playing? Who is your audience?.....
In New Birth or Rebirth, by Ravi Zacharias, this is one of the main topics, along with many others. Have you ever been in a play? Opening night is a really big night. Your heart is pounding, your mind is racing. "What if I forget?" "Who is here?" So you peak around one of the curtains trying to get a glimpse of the audience. There are many things that should be asked as we enter the play; For the actors: What is my message? What are others going to do with their lives after they are impacted with my role? For the director/writer: What am I really trying to say? How has this changed the mind of my crew as they have learned my words? For the audience: What are we seeking as we seek our entertainment? How is this play going to affect me when I leave? Is it going to become my reality? So many more questions.... In this great conversation Krishna and Jesus talk about their similarities and their differences. Just a glimpse...
Krishna: Because I believe all of life is a leela-a play, a drama. The universe is simply a cosmic puppet theater for the gods. We are simply actors on a stage. Roles and duties are all divinely assigned and beyond human control. Backstage there is always a different script. And I know there's an audience. There's always an audience at a play.
Jesus: We may disagree on the idea of a puppet show, Krishna- there is always a choice, a will, a decision. Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
But the subject of a man listening, I would agree-when man seeks, he finds, and when he knocks, the door is opened to him. So lets continue our discussion, for I too want to talk about he nature of who you and I are and what we teach. That is why we are talking today, you and me, for the sake of the man whose ear is pinned to the curtain. His soul is struggling. He is desperate for the truth, Krishna.. Let's speak of these things for his sake, not for the sake of argument between you and me.
Krishna: Agreed. There is no need for you and me to argue. You and I are complete in ourselves...
As the great conversion between Krishna and Jesus continues throughout the book, my mind and heart continually returns to the play. No we are not puppets in a drama for the gods to be entertained. But we are being watched and the world is our audience. As I try and sift through the different things that I am continually hearing, things that are good and right, I cannot get lost in the closeness of them. "Truth is powerful and truths that are almost truths are deadly and seductive.... Just because two things have one thing in common doesn't mean they have everything in common. The heart of humanity and the provision of God are the two central points we must understand."
Are we willing to ask the hard questions? Do we really want the answers? Is this life reality, or are we just part of a cosmic play? Are others watching you and learning from you on how they are going to live out their life? What path are you directing them toward?
Jesus: Truth will always divide, Krishna.... A single minute difference in the ecology of the world and you will end up with death. If you believe one lie, you are often led down the path of many lies... That's the difference between a drama and reality. Reality cannot be wiped out by a whim. Look at that truck.... and at its shadow on the sidewalk. Now tell me this; would you rather be run over by the truck or by its shadow?... Is the shadow real or imaginary?... because the truck momentarily blocks out the sun, which creates the shadow. You don't judge by the shadow; you judge by the light.
That's the story of the gospel. When I died on the cross for you and for every person born onto this earth, the truck of the judgement and penalty of the law went over me so that only the shadow of death would pass over you. You still have to face the pain of death, but I have paid the price. It was I who was crucified, but my disciples are still troubled and heartbroken by the shadow of death.
And the story continues..... What is your understanding? What part are you playing? Who is your audience?.....
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Masonry
I love to discover new things about my God. One of the things that I was turned on to several years ago was Ray Vanderlaan, Follow the Rabbi. Mind blowing things that can only be seen when you enter the world, the culture, the people. In one of his teachings he discusses how Jesus probably was no carpenter, but a stone mason. As I listened to him, I could see. I can see this so much easier than I can see a carpenter working with wood. Especially since when you see Israel you don't see forests, but deserts and lots and lots of rock. How often did Jesus refer to wood when he spoke? I can't recall many, if any. Turn that around to rocks. Now that one is all over the bible Old and New Testament. Just passages that refer to cornerstones, there are at least 10. And referring to Jesus as the cornerstone in the NT Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7. Now I could go on and on and I could gather more examples of stones; Mathew 16:18, when Jesus calls Peter the "Rock", 1 Corinthians 10:4 Jesus as the spiritual rock.... Seriously, do we need to proceed! I'll let you look it up yourself ;) Lets get to the issue....
Last night at L!VE I had a friend of ours, Kaine Leonard owner of Rocky Mountain Masonry, come and speak to everyone about masonry and lessons he has learned along the way. He started by telling everyone how in college he was an extreme gravity biker, adrenaline was his rush. He would take his 40lbs bike up to the top of mountains, often using ski lifts to get there, then fly down the mountain at top speeds. What a ride. He then graduated from Western with a geology degree and discovered that working in a cubical was not going to work for him. Masonry was calling him, but his first lesson was Pride. He had a college degree, an extreme biker and now was reduced to a grunt laborer. With this new role he had to force himself to plow through taking each moment by moment task and completing it with integrity as the low man on the totem poll. And this is how his masonry life began. With pride being toppled from the beginning.
A quick summery of other life lessons:
*Take each step moment by moment. You cannot rush through and complete your job. It takes time to do it right.
*Put your blinders on. You cannot look at the enormous job set before you. You start with the rock in hand. Focus on the small task and you will soon look around to discover that you have accomplished more than you realized.
*Rock doesn't care. If you mess up or break a rock, don't loose your cool. It won't help anything, the rock doesn't care that you did it wrong.
*Perfect product/perfect material. You don't have to have lots of tools and a huge supply of rock, what you have is sufficient.
*Work on your knees.... enough said
*Work smarter, not harder. If you go at the rocks before you with all of your strength the entire working day, you will burn out fast. It is about being smart with what you have now.
*Patience- go with the flow. This is not a race to see who can make it down the mountain first. It is about a slow and steady adaptability.
*Sometimes when you do everything right, it still seems not to work. You can't give up. It is about a new day, same job.
*You can be so proud of a job you have done. You think you did it without error, but when you return to that job after learning more, you discover that as you look at your past job, you didn't know as much as you thought you did. You look at the job you did and discover things with a new eye.
*Work from the outside in. You cannot start a task of smoothing a rock from where you want to end. You have to start from the outside, chipping away small pieces to finally achieve the rock you desired from the beginning. You cannot see it and start there. You see it, then work your way in.
So many life lessons in just a short amount of time. As we travel through this life, doing the slow and steady work before us God is teaching us. He is showing us who we really are and teaching us to work better. The most important stone is the cornerstone. This one is vital for any building. "The stone the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." We get so used to the rush of life. We see the race and want to be the first to cross the finish line. When we learn from our Lord, we see that it is not about fast, but efficient. You cannot rush through. You cannot focus on where you want to end, but you need to have miopia, nearsightedness. Today, work slowly and diligently. Do not get overwhelmed with the big construction sight, but pick up you rock and start chipping away piece by piece. Allow Christ to be your cornerstone and you will have a secure and well built building. Another little note that Kaine added, we laugh a lot on the job. When you are entrenched in the work set before you, you laugh. Enjoy this ride....
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