I realized yesterday during my prayer time how very blah I have been in my attitude toward spending time with God lately. I have not approached it with any kind of urgency or priority, letting all of the 'urgent' circumstances in day-to-day life to take the lead. Very simply put, I realized how utterly ashamed I would be if Christ would have return right then. I would have nothing to do but fall on my face and beg for forgiveness, pray for mercy and grace.
I am astonished at how quickly the world can sneak in and steal what belongs to God. I am astonished at how very little effort I really made to stop it. I am thankful for God's forgiveness, because I am weak and in desperate need of Him.
Psalm 103:2-4, 8 - Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not one of all His benefits-- Who forgives every one of all your iniquities, Who heals each one of all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
To Alter History
I heard something today that has renewed my mental view of prayer. It was very simple, and it seemed very obvious. Yet the more I thought about it, the more I realized that, although I believe in prayer, I have not been truly viewing and approaching prayer as though I do believe it.
It was simply this: Every time I pray, I have acted to altered the course of history because I have invited God to work in and alter circumstances. Without prayer, history goes in one direction. With it, it goes another.
This is the truth of prayer. It's time for me to see it as an opportunity for God, through me, to shape the course of history.
It was simply this: Every time I pray, I have acted to altered the course of history because I have invited God to work in and alter circumstances. Without prayer, history goes in one direction. With it, it goes another.
This is the truth of prayer. It's time for me to see it as an opportunity for God, through me, to shape the course of history.
Peace
I am so thankful for this peace. I wouldn't be able to get through many days (including this one) without it. As we count down to Thanksgiving, this is definitely one of my blessings I am counting. It's the best feeling when His peace washes over me and takes away the tension, the worry, the anxiety. And He gently reminds me that He is big enough to take on all of my cares and my worries. And I don't have to take the responsibility for things only He can do. His peace brings such wholeness, and such release and perspective in my every-day life. I am so thankful.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Leaven of the Pharisees
Mark 3: 1-6 AGAIN JESUS went into a synagogue, and a man was there who had one withered hand [as the result of accident or disease]. And [the Pharisees] kept watching Jesus [closely] to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might get a charge to bring against Him [formally]. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Get up [and stand here] in the midst. And He said to them, Is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to take it? But they kept silence.
And He glanced around at them with vexation and anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, how they might [devise some means to] put Him to death.
It is very easy for me to read through this quickly and think, 'Those awful Pharisees! How could they be such horrible people?' But as I read this tonight, I realized that I am often very much like these men. They didn't object to His healing the man...only that He did it in a time that they deemed inappropriate. In essence, they had compartmentalized their lives, with acceptable time slots being made available for God to move and work. They had their plans for the way the Sabbath was to go - their own agendas, their own expectations for a given trip to the Synagogue. They were mad because Jesus operated outside of their own agenda/expectation structure. They had an idea of what was acceptable on the Sabbath, and their preconceptions were directly and openly challenged - we could even say they were violated.
How different are we really from that? I know I'm not that far off. There have been so many times where I knowingly close myself off from what I think God might be wanting or trying to do in or through me - not because I don't want Him to move...just that I don't want Him to do it right then. For whatever reason, really, but they all basically boil down to an inconvenience to me. I've definitely been guilty of compartmentalizing my life, and keeping God out when I might be delayed, or embarrassed, or personally convicted if I let Him in. I have been guilty of closing off certain times - sometimes it is Sunday morning, while I'm sitting in church - selfishly keeping that time to myself, in my own control, hoping it will run by my own agenda, my own timing, my own expectations. How different am I really from the Pharisees?
Luke 12:1 - ...Be on your guard against the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy [producing unrest and violent agitation].
Just a note: I looked up "leaven" in Websters for clarification, just to make sure I understood clearly what Jesus was saying. Leaven, generally speaking, is an agent that causes dough to rise, as yeast does. One definition, though, that Websters gives states this: 'to leaven is to spread throughout, causing a gradual change.'
Any kind of gradual change that Jesus warns against is a gradual change I do not want. Lord, please change this in me, and help me be always available to You. What good is my life if it is not always open and available to You to work in and through me as You wish?
And He glanced around at them with vexation and anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, how they might [devise some means to] put Him to death.
It is very easy for me to read through this quickly and think, 'Those awful Pharisees! How could they be such horrible people?' But as I read this tonight, I realized that I am often very much like these men. They didn't object to His healing the man...only that He did it in a time that they deemed inappropriate. In essence, they had compartmentalized their lives, with acceptable time slots being made available for God to move and work. They had their plans for the way the Sabbath was to go - their own agendas, their own expectations for a given trip to the Synagogue. They were mad because Jesus operated outside of their own agenda/expectation structure. They had an idea of what was acceptable on the Sabbath, and their preconceptions were directly and openly challenged - we could even say they were violated.
How different are we really from that? I know I'm not that far off. There have been so many times where I knowingly close myself off from what I think God might be wanting or trying to do in or through me - not because I don't want Him to move...just that I don't want Him to do it right then. For whatever reason, really, but they all basically boil down to an inconvenience to me. I've definitely been guilty of compartmentalizing my life, and keeping God out when I might be delayed, or embarrassed, or personally convicted if I let Him in. I have been guilty of closing off certain times - sometimes it is Sunday morning, while I'm sitting in church - selfishly keeping that time to myself, in my own control, hoping it will run by my own agenda, my own timing, my own expectations. How different am I really from the Pharisees?
Luke 12:1 - ...Be on your guard against the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy [producing unrest and violent agitation].
Just a note: I looked up "leaven" in Websters for clarification, just to make sure I understood clearly what Jesus was saying. Leaven, generally speaking, is an agent that causes dough to rise, as yeast does. One definition, though, that Websters gives states this: 'to leaven is to spread throughout, causing a gradual change.'
Any kind of gradual change that Jesus warns against is a gradual change I do not want. Lord, please change this in me, and help me be always available to You. What good is my life if it is not always open and available to You to work in and through me as You wish?
Friday, November 7, 2008
These are a few of my favorite things
Mark 1:35 - And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed.
This is one of my favorite things about the way Jesus lived His life. Time and time again, we see that He gives of Himself completely to others, pouring out His love and power in their lives. Then He makes it a priority to take time to be alone with His Father.
This is one of my favorite things about the way Jesus lived His life. Time and time again, we see that He gives of Himself completely to others, pouring out His love and power in their lives. Then He makes it a priority to take time to be alone with His Father.
- to pray
- to know His heart
- to stay connected so that He is sure to be constantly doing the Father's will
- to be refilled, refreshed, restored after pouring Himself out to all those He touched and healed
If you read a few verses before this verse, and then consider the timing of His prayer time, it's obvious how necessary and what a priority prayer time was to Jesus. The Bible says (in Mark 1) that that day, He was up and around early, teaching in the synagogue and healing people. Then, at sunset, the whole town gathered, and they began to bring the sick and the afflicted to Him to be healed and cleansed. If they didn't start until after sundown, and if the whole town was gathered there, surely it was very late by the time they finished. And remember, He had already been up all day. Still, verse 35 tells us that 'long before sunrise' Jesus went off on His own to pray. I wonder, did He even sleep at all? If so, it couldn't have been for long. He must have been physically very tired, and still it was more important to Him to have time alone with His Father.
I am SO not there yet. This is a definite weakness of mine, and a continual struggle for me. I'm challenged at least 4 times a week to get up early before everyone is awake to read and pray. Yet, so often, 4 times a week, I choose to sleep a little longer and I give up that opportunity.
Mark 1:38 - And He said to them, Let us be going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.
This is another of my favorite characteristics of Jesus: He did not get wrapped up in doing what others expected or wanted of Him. He didn't allow others to pull Him off track from doing His Father's will. It is my prayer that God would continue to work in me until I am at a place where I value His approval and His will far above the approval or expectations of any person.
Mark 1:31 - And He went up to her and took her by the hand and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she began to wait on them.
Mark 1:40-41 - And a leper came to Him, begging Him on his knees and saying to Him, If You are willing, You are able to make me clean. And being moved with pity and sympathy, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I am willing; be made clean!
At first I skipped over this, but as I continued reading, I realize that this verse gives an example of yet another endearing quality of Jesus, which is very simply that He is engaging and personal. He went up to her, touched her, took her by the hand, and healed her. Other examples in Scripture show us clearly that Jesus has the capacity to heal without even being present - clearly no physical contact is required for Him to bring about healing in a person's life. I realized as I was reading this, and also as I was reading the story of the leper who was healed, that the element of physical touch was probably for no other purpose than to engage and make intimate contact with the person on the receiving end. Imagine what that touch from Jesus must have meant to the leper - a man who, by the nature of his disease, had surely not been touched by another human being for what must have seemed like a lifetime. Jesus touching him was a profound demonstration of His extreme love, and His desire for intimacy with those whom He came to save. I love that about Him. I love that He is willing to go out of His way, to do what is unnecessary, simply to make someone else feel really recognize how much they are loved and how important they are to Him. He's awesome.
A Heart of No Compromise
There's a song by Brian & Jen Johnson called Where You Go I Go that plays on my ipod quite often. In this song, she sings, 'Give me a heart of no compromise. Help me to be more like You.' I can't tell you how many times I've prayed a prayer like that. I recognize that compromise in my own life has been the element that has undone a lot of good that could have been otherwise.
Today I was reading in Mark 1:14-20, as part of a Bible study I'm taking part in right now. In verse 18, it says this about the men Jesus had called to follow Him: 'And at once they left their nets (yielding up all claim to them) and followed Him.' Verse 20 also says this: '...abandoning all mutual claims, they left their father Zebedee...and went off after Him (Jesus).'
I thought I'd share these thoughts:
These men were a few of the 12 men who would eventually work to establish the church, spread the Gospel, and change the course of history in a major way to include Christianity. Look at their heart conditions, even at the moment Jesus first called them. They dropped everything - leaving behind work and family - and gave up all claims to their former ways of life. They unreservedly joined Him, following wherever He went.
I often wonder at the fact that 12 men could begin what a billion Christians today cannot seem to finish, and I wonder why. This seems to shed some light on that very issue. I think the Church, generally speaking, has lost this heart of no compromise. When we hear God calling us, or asking something of us, we are willing to respond, but only to a certain degree. We go far enough to be doing something, but not so far that we let go of all claims to what we already have. We are a people holding on to our current lives, not really willing to lay them down, as Jesus says we must. We genuinely love God, we believe in God, but we are trying to serve Him on our own terms.
Think of how vastly different things would have been if the disciples had responded then as we do now:
Today I was reading in Mark 1:14-20, as part of a Bible study I'm taking part in right now. In verse 18, it says this about the men Jesus had called to follow Him: 'And at once they left their nets (yielding up all claim to them) and followed Him.' Verse 20 also says this: '...abandoning all mutual claims, they left their father Zebedee...and went off after Him (Jesus).'
I thought I'd share these thoughts:
These men were a few of the 12 men who would eventually work to establish the church, spread the Gospel, and change the course of history in a major way to include Christianity. Look at their heart conditions, even at the moment Jesus first called them. They dropped everything - leaving behind work and family - and gave up all claims to their former ways of life. They unreservedly joined Him, following wherever He went.
I often wonder at the fact that 12 men could begin what a billion Christians today cannot seem to finish, and I wonder why. This seems to shed some light on that very issue. I think the Church, generally speaking, has lost this heart of no compromise. When we hear God calling us, or asking something of us, we are willing to respond, but only to a certain degree. We go far enough to be doing something, but not so far that we let go of all claims to what we already have. We are a people holding on to our current lives, not really willing to lay them down, as Jesus says we must. We genuinely love God, we believe in God, but we are trying to serve Him on our own terms.
Think of how vastly different things would have been if the disciples had responded then as we do now:
- 'I'll go with you, but I have to come back tomorrow to fish.'
- or, 'I'd love to follow You and go with You, but let's not go far. I want to be near my dad.'
They would have been part-time disciples, coming in and out of service to Jesus, always coming back to the life they had before. They would have missed out on the experiences of traveling with Him, hearing Him teach, seeing Him perform miracles, and having Him pour into their own lives. They would have missed out on the friendship and intimacy that comes only from being with someone committedly and continuously. They would have missed out on the opportunity to change the world!
Think of all we give up by compromising - doing some version of what He asks of us, but still holding on to our own ideas and ways of living. What are we missing out on? If we only would live with a heart of no compromise, what would He be willing and able to do through us for His kingdom? It's an awesome thought.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A 2-Week Challenge
Tonight our small group met. We've been talking (based on a teaching by Andy Stanley) about margins in our lives - the time, space, energy, emotion, etc. that we have left over - the resources we have available to dedicate to God, family, and all those things that SHOULD be our priority, but that seem to be squeezed out by daily life. The idea being that when we over-schedule, over-commit, over-do, we chip away at our margins - our reserve, our borders, our boundaries - until we're right at the edge of our max capacity. When we live without margins, we have no time; we have no energy; we have no patience; we have no mercy; our relationships with each other suffer; our relationship with God suffers.
The focus tonight was understanding inherent limitations on our time, and then taking the next step to surrender our time-management to God, and allow Him to lead and direct us with regards to how our time is spent. The key to prioritizing and utilizing our time to the fullest is to give God our time.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33, NAS)
When we seek Him first, we are promised that all the other things we spend our time seeking after will be given to us. When we seek Him, we begin to know Him and to know His heart. We begin to understand His priorities, and we want those to be our priorities as well. When our priorities are in line with His, we will spend our time on those things that matter most. By spending time with Him and seeking to know His heart, we will inherently shift the way we spend our time, and we will begin to spend it in the best possible way on the things that matter most.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6, KJV) This was one of the first verses I ever committed to memory, because it hung on a plaque on the wall in our house when I was a child. The more hectic life becomes, and the more craziness that comes my way, the more clearly this verse rings true. When we acknowledge Him and spend time with Him, He gives us direction and leads us where we should go. He will direct us as to how our time would best be spent.
As a group, tonight we put out a challenge to each other: to give God the first 15 minutes of each day for the next 2 weeks until we meet again. By giving Him the first portion of our day, we have the opportunity to set the course of our day, to invite Him into every moment and every circumstance, to turn it over to Him completely, and to get our hearts and minds focused on Him before anything else creeps in to steal our time and attention. I know 15 minutes isn't much, but if it is done with a right heart, I believe it can make a big difference - not only for all of the reasons I just mentioned, but also because when we honor God with our time and attention, and with a heart that is truly open to Him, I believe He is faithful to His Word and all that He promises for those who will diligently seek Him. In my own life, I have seen that when I am faithful to give my time to God, somehow my time I have remaining runs more smoothly, and I operate more efficiently than I otherwise would. Somehow, even when I think I don't have time for Him because I have so much else to do, if I give Him my time anyway, it seems that everything else still manages to get done. Interesting how that works. (Sorry, I got off on a tangent.)
I'm excited to see how the next few weeks go. I'm hoping that I am up to the challenge. It's so easy to compromise and give up those first few minutes of the day to so many other things that seem so pressing...like sleep??? or rushing to get the kids ready on time??? A few of us have decided to do a sort of self-guided Bible study to keep some accountability and some focus for those of us who may tend to struggle for one reason or another. We've decided to simply take a book of the Bible (we've chosen Mark) and start at the beginning. We'll go through it bit by bit, and share our thoughts and our understanding etc. I think this is going to be an awesome opportunity for us to grow closer to God, and for us to grow closer together. I'm very excited!
The focus tonight was understanding inherent limitations on our time, and then taking the next step to surrender our time-management to God, and allow Him to lead and direct us with regards to how our time is spent. The key to prioritizing and utilizing our time to the fullest is to give God our time.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33, NAS)
When we seek Him first, we are promised that all the other things we spend our time seeking after will be given to us. When we seek Him, we begin to know Him and to know His heart. We begin to understand His priorities, and we want those to be our priorities as well. When our priorities are in line with His, we will spend our time on those things that matter most. By spending time with Him and seeking to know His heart, we will inherently shift the way we spend our time, and we will begin to spend it in the best possible way on the things that matter most.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6, KJV) This was one of the first verses I ever committed to memory, because it hung on a plaque on the wall in our house when I was a child. The more hectic life becomes, and the more craziness that comes my way, the more clearly this verse rings true. When we acknowledge Him and spend time with Him, He gives us direction and leads us where we should go. He will direct us as to how our time would best be spent.
As a group, tonight we put out a challenge to each other: to give God the first 15 minutes of each day for the next 2 weeks until we meet again. By giving Him the first portion of our day, we have the opportunity to set the course of our day, to invite Him into every moment and every circumstance, to turn it over to Him completely, and to get our hearts and minds focused on Him before anything else creeps in to steal our time and attention. I know 15 minutes isn't much, but if it is done with a right heart, I believe it can make a big difference - not only for all of the reasons I just mentioned, but also because when we honor God with our time and attention, and with a heart that is truly open to Him, I believe He is faithful to His Word and all that He promises for those who will diligently seek Him. In my own life, I have seen that when I am faithful to give my time to God, somehow my time I have remaining runs more smoothly, and I operate more efficiently than I otherwise would. Somehow, even when I think I don't have time for Him because I have so much else to do, if I give Him my time anyway, it seems that everything else still manages to get done. Interesting how that works. (Sorry, I got off on a tangent.)
I'm excited to see how the next few weeks go. I'm hoping that I am up to the challenge. It's so easy to compromise and give up those first few minutes of the day to so many other things that seem so pressing...like sleep??? or rushing to get the kids ready on time??? A few of us have decided to do a sort of self-guided Bible study to keep some accountability and some focus for those of us who may tend to struggle for one reason or another. We've decided to simply take a book of the Bible (we've chosen Mark) and start at the beginning. We'll go through it bit by bit, and share our thoughts and our understanding etc. I think this is going to be an awesome opportunity for us to grow closer to God, and for us to grow closer together. I'm very excited!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Overcomplicated?
Today I had a conversation with someone I respect immensely. I always enjoy our conversations because he has interesting perspective and insight on just about everything it seems. Anyway, today he said something that has gotten me thinking. He said, our focus in living a life for the advancement of God's kingdom can really be narrowed down to 2 things: 1) reaching the lost, 2) helping those who are reached find their place in the body of Christ. He observed, and I would agree, that we seem to really overcomplicate things and make it so hard. It's really not. If we would run everything we do through this test, we could quickly weed out the complications: is what I'm doing working to reach and save the lost? or is it helping someone who has received Jesus find their way to that sweet spot where God has designed them to be?
The Bible tells us that we have been created with a specific purpose in mind, and that God, long ago, prepared good things for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) - For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago) So this has got me thinking a bit - examining and evaluating my own life and actions. How much of what I do is lending itself to these two basic elements of God's work - reaching the lost and helping each other live in the midst of what we have been created for? We can only carry out the fullest portion of God's plan for our lives when we are living in alignment with His plan and purpose for us. Furthermore, the Bible makes it clear that it is God's intention for us to function as a united body, not as individuals. So, we are most likely to succeed when we work together toward a common goal, helping each other along the way.
Look at this same passage of Scripture in another version of the Bible:
The Bible tells us that we have been created with a specific purpose in mind, and that God, long ago, prepared good things for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) - For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago) So this has got me thinking a bit - examining and evaluating my own life and actions. How much of what I do is lending itself to these two basic elements of God's work - reaching the lost and helping each other live in the midst of what we have been created for? We can only carry out the fullest portion of God's plan for our lives when we are living in alignment with His plan and purpose for us. Furthermore, the Bible makes it clear that it is God's intention for us to function as a united body, not as individuals. So, we are most likely to succeed when we work together toward a common goal, helping each other along the way.
Look at this same passage of Scripture in another version of the Bible:
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
(Ephesians 2:7-10, The Message)
Again, I come back to the idea that we've been apathetic for far to long. I really believe that if we are not living in the midst of this place that God has designed for us, we cannot be happy. I think that probably has a lot to do with why there are so many unhappy, unfulfilled, lukewarm (and on and on) Christians. I think it's a lot of the reason why people fall away from the church. They feel like they've tried the church thing, and there was nothing there for them. But going to church is not the same as living for God, and letting Him lead and guide the steps of our lives. It's not the same as living in the midst of God's purpose. That's awesome!
So many of us are takers when it comes to our church experience. We go to get something- to get a blessing, to get a lesson, to get a good feeling. When that's our mindset, we're only living out half of the equation, and, by the nature of things, we are out of balance and incomplete. We have been designed in God's likeness, and God is a giver. We are designed to be givers. We are to give of ourselves, our hearts, our energy, our love, our resources, our time, and all that God has given to us. We aren't meant to receive from God so that we can hoard it all up. What we receive from Him is intended to pass through us and onto someone else, and on to someone else from them, and so on, like a river flows. A body of water that's not flowing becomes stale and stagnate. So does a Christian whose not giving, whose not reaching, whose not helping and loving.
I believe with all that is in me that it all comes down to what motivates us. What is our driving force? It is my sincere prayer that every person who calls themselves a Christian, and who has made themselves open and available to God will be moved to a place in their hearts where they are motivated by eternal things much more than they are by earthly things. To be driven by the same things that drive God - to know His heart and be moved by it. When His priorities are ours, we will inherently find ourselves focused on reaching the lost and helping those who are saved live out the purpose for which they have been created.
God does not complicate matters. Why do we?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A prayer for the Finish
Lord, that You have trusted your will, Your plan, into the hands of humanity, I do not understand. For we are untrustworthy, and so unlikely to handle it properly. How long must You wait until we get it right? How long will our selfishness, our self-serving hearts, delay the completion of all You have desired? How long must You wait before we finally go unto all the world - until every man has heard and has been given the opportunity to choose You - until Your will is made complete?
Can twelve men change the course of the world, spread Your word so truly in so little time, and yet one billion cannot finish what twelve men started? How can that be? Do we not love You enough to do Your will? Do we not long to see Your triumphant return? Do we not hope to finally look upon You with our eyes as well as with our hearts - do we not hold the hope of eternity spent with You? What is it that roots us to the ground, that holds us where we are, keeping us from moving forward, going and doing?
Lord, You alone can get inside a man and get to the heart of a matter. In Jesus' mighty name, with all that is in me, I pray that You would get deep into the heart of every believer and break away and destroy the ties that hold us where we are. God, move in - invade - every heart that has been made available to You. Change the heart, transform it and bring healing, that the heart would drive the man. Lord, let Your people be truly Yours, and let us be driven by what drives You, and motivated by the eternal.
Father, find those who even now are ready and willing to do Your will, to sacrifice in the flesh for the sake of spiritual gain. Raise them up, God, according to Your will, and place them in positions of influence - not only over non-believers, but over believers as well. God, that a life lived out as an act of worship to You from a position of influence would impact others to also live their lives unto You.
Lord, raise us up, and bring us together, in unity, undivided, bound together in humility by bonds of genuine love for You and for each other. Let us move in one direction - Your direction. Let us act in one accord for the sole purpose of completing Your perfect plan. Let us come the end of our lives and be able to declare, as You did Jesus, 'It is Finished. I have completed all that the Father has laid before me.' Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Let us finish that which twelve men started two thousand years ago. Let it begin now. Let us not delay for any reason, but let us begin, so that through us, You may finish it. Amen.
I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted. (Job 42:2)
Can twelve men change the course of the world, spread Your word so truly in so little time, and yet one billion cannot finish what twelve men started? How can that be? Do we not love You enough to do Your will? Do we not long to see Your triumphant return? Do we not hope to finally look upon You with our eyes as well as with our hearts - do we not hold the hope of eternity spent with You? What is it that roots us to the ground, that holds us where we are, keeping us from moving forward, going and doing?
Lord, You alone can get inside a man and get to the heart of a matter. In Jesus' mighty name, with all that is in me, I pray that You would get deep into the heart of every believer and break away and destroy the ties that hold us where we are. God, move in - invade - every heart that has been made available to You. Change the heart, transform it and bring healing, that the heart would drive the man. Lord, let Your people be truly Yours, and let us be driven by what drives You, and motivated by the eternal.
Father, find those who even now are ready and willing to do Your will, to sacrifice in the flesh for the sake of spiritual gain. Raise them up, God, according to Your will, and place them in positions of influence - not only over non-believers, but over believers as well. God, that a life lived out as an act of worship to You from a position of influence would impact others to also live their lives unto You.
Lord, raise us up, and bring us together, in unity, undivided, bound together in humility by bonds of genuine love for You and for each other. Let us move in one direction - Your direction. Let us act in one accord for the sole purpose of completing Your perfect plan. Let us come the end of our lives and be able to declare, as You did Jesus, 'It is Finished. I have completed all that the Father has laid before me.' Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Let us finish that which twelve men started two thousand years ago. Let it begin now. Let us not delay for any reason, but let us begin, so that through us, You may finish it. Amen.
I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted. (Job 42:2)
Friday, October 3, 2008
Essentially One
I came across something in my study time that is so cool to me, and I want to share. Hopefully someone who reads this will get a little excited about this like I did.
Philippians 2:6-7 - (About Jesus) Who, although being essentially one with God, and in the form of God, possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God, did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, but stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to...become like men, and He was born a human being.
Essentially one with God. Out of curiosity, I looked up the dictionary definition of 'essentially.' Websters has this to say about the word:
Philippians 2:6-7 - (About Jesus) Who, although being essentially one with God, and in the form of God, possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God, did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, but stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to...become like men, and He was born a human being.
Essentially one with God. Out of curiosity, I looked up the dictionary definition of 'essentially.' Websters has this to say about the word:
- having the intrinsic fundamental nature of something
- inherent
- absolute, complete and perfect
- containing or having the properties of; a concentrated extract of (ex. - a food or plant oil extract)
- " essential, in strict usage, is that which constitutes the absolute essence or the fundamental nature of a thing, and therefore must be present for the thing to exist, function, etc."
Wow. Wow. Wow. I mean, I would try to highlight the best parts, but each bullet point is awesome!
I've shared before that someone once asked me a simple question - 'are God and Jesus the same person?' That one question threw me for such a loop, because I realized that I didn't have a solid understanding of its answer. I was tossed into one of the deepest and darkest periods of doubt and struggle in all of my Christian walk. I've also shared before that slowly God has revealed the truth of the matter to me in a way that I can understand. I've put His answers through extreme scrutiny in my own heart and mind, and have very much settled on the validity and truth of what was revealed to me through His Word. But now, even after having come to terms with the struggle and doubt that I once had, still I love to find verses in Scripture that fill in the blanks, expand on the foundations, and confirm what I've come to understand. This verse in Philippians is definitely one of those verses, and even the dictionary definition of one of the key words in this verse serves to confirm and deepen my dependence on the truth of God's Word.
All wrapped up in this one verse we learn that Jesus and God were together in heaven. They have the same fundamental nature and character. One is inherently present with the other. Together they are absolutely and completely perfect. Jesus can be described as a concentrated extract of the Father - having the same properties. One must be present for the other to exist, function, etc. Jesus possesses the FULLNESS of the attributes which make God God - so there is no hierarchy in strength of power, authority, purity, goodness, love, or whatever else you can come up with. Yet, even in all of this, we can see in this verse that there is a distinction between God the Father and God the Son, because it tells us that Jesus separated Himself from the Father and became like men.
Separate but inseparable. Separate parts of a single unit.
John 1:1 - In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
I am what You've made
At lunch the other day, I went and sat by a river that runs through a park here in town. I took my food, my ipod, and my Bible and walked down by the river and sat. As I ate, I went back & forth between just looking around and observing nature, and reading bits and pieces of my Bible. The whole time, my ipod was going. Still somehow, God managed to find His way in.
During that time, a song played. The lyrics: You are Creator, and I am what You've made.
I've listened to this song hundreds of times. I like it. It's a great song. And I've always enjoyed the sentiment behind the song. But somehow, sitting in the middle of so many beautiful things God created, I saw the truth behind the lyrics in a way I've never seen it before.
I had been spending much of my lunch time admiring the beauty of all He has made; wondering at the intricacy and detail of nature; worshiping Him for the creativity and variety that He has constructed. I truly was in awe of His creation. For a while, I considered how beautiful those parts of nature truly are that go relatively untouched by man. It seems that when we keep our hands out of things and allow nature to carry on about its ways, perfection is attained. The way the vines wrap around the trees and the branches hang down to create a covering for the animals that live on the ground below. The way the flowers reach for the sun, and open and close with its rise and fall. The way the butterflies chase each other from one flower to another and the ants find their way with seemingly flawless navigation. And the river winds and flows without ceasing. How could I possibly sit in such surroundings and not be moved?
But the whole time I was considering His work, I was looking outwardly. I was admiring the beauty of trees, flowers, birds, and bugs (even the little ants who were trying to walk off with my lunch). But it had not for a moment crossed my mind to look inwardly - to consider myself a part of His creation.
It was one of those moments that seem to take me completely off guard. I was unspeakably humbled by the truth of what I was able to understand in that moment. To Him, I am as beautiful as the flowers, as majestic as the giant oak trees. When He looks on me, He sees a work of art, carefully, and intricately crafted, and perfectly planted. He finds joy in planting into my life and watching me grow. And to Him, I am more precious than even the trees, the flowers, and the birds that He so beautifully formed and placed.
How can that be?
It is a strange thing. To think that God could love me - with my many flaws and shortcomings, my pride, my indifference to others, my selfishness, my impatience, my temper, my critical attitudes. That He could love a person like me at all is, in itself, enough to try to comprehend, but to realize that He loves me MORE - more than all the rest of His breathtaking creation... that, I believe, can only truly be understood through a moment of divine revelation. Anything else falls short of being able to fully comprehend such a thing.
To think that He has placed His highest esteem on man over everything else He has made! It goes against human nature to place the highest value on the thing most likely to hurt or disappoint us, don't you think? Maybe that's why it's so difficult for us to understand and really believe His love for us. It just doesn't make sense to us, because our tendency is one of self-preservation and protection. As I sat by the river, looking at the trees and thinking about this, I struggled with this for a moment. I mean, the trees are beautiful; they are solid and faithful in standing tall and remaining, in serving as a shelter; the trees have spent their entire existence in such a way as to never once hurt or offend their Creator. In comparison to myself, surely the trees are more deserving of adoration.
But the trees serve faithfully in the absence of free will. They stand still because they cannot walk. They do not fail because they are incapable of choosing between success and failure. It is the element of free will that makes us what we are - that distinguishes us from the rest of His creation. It is our free will that allows us the opportunity to love Him with our whole hearts and to serve Him because we love Him so much. As much as I can tell, the risk of being hurt or disappointed is not nearly as great as the joy and happiness He finds in being loved, adored, and worshiped by a willing heart.
And so whether or not it makes sense to me, in that moment, I was faced with a deeper understanding of how much God loves and values me as an individual. I do not deserve His adoration. I have done nothing to earn His affection. But He has created me (and not only me, but each of us) to be the recipient of His love, and to love Him in return, with a willing heart. And He looks on each one of us with a love that is beyond our comprehension, and He places a value on every individual that we may never fully know. And while I can never do enough to deserve His love, I am grateful, and will receive it with a willing heart. He is so good!
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. (Ephesians 3:18)
During that time, a song played. The lyrics: You are Creator, and I am what You've made.
I've listened to this song hundreds of times. I like it. It's a great song. And I've always enjoyed the sentiment behind the song. But somehow, sitting in the middle of so many beautiful things God created, I saw the truth behind the lyrics in a way I've never seen it before.
I had been spending much of my lunch time admiring the beauty of all He has made; wondering at the intricacy and detail of nature; worshiping Him for the creativity and variety that He has constructed. I truly was in awe of His creation. For a while, I considered how beautiful those parts of nature truly are that go relatively untouched by man. It seems that when we keep our hands out of things and allow nature to carry on about its ways, perfection is attained. The way the vines wrap around the trees and the branches hang down to create a covering for the animals that live on the ground below. The way the flowers reach for the sun, and open and close with its rise and fall. The way the butterflies chase each other from one flower to another and the ants find their way with seemingly flawless navigation. And the river winds and flows without ceasing. How could I possibly sit in such surroundings and not be moved?
But the whole time I was considering His work, I was looking outwardly. I was admiring the beauty of trees, flowers, birds, and bugs (even the little ants who were trying to walk off with my lunch). But it had not for a moment crossed my mind to look inwardly - to consider myself a part of His creation.
It was one of those moments that seem to take me completely off guard. I was unspeakably humbled by the truth of what I was able to understand in that moment. To Him, I am as beautiful as the flowers, as majestic as the giant oak trees. When He looks on me, He sees a work of art, carefully, and intricately crafted, and perfectly planted. He finds joy in planting into my life and watching me grow. And to Him, I am more precious than even the trees, the flowers, and the birds that He so beautifully formed and placed.
How can that be?
It is a strange thing. To think that God could love me - with my many flaws and shortcomings, my pride, my indifference to others, my selfishness, my impatience, my temper, my critical attitudes. That He could love a person like me at all is, in itself, enough to try to comprehend, but to realize that He loves me MORE - more than all the rest of His breathtaking creation... that, I believe, can only truly be understood through a moment of divine revelation. Anything else falls short of being able to fully comprehend such a thing.
To think that He has placed His highest esteem on man over everything else He has made! It goes against human nature to place the highest value on the thing most likely to hurt or disappoint us, don't you think? Maybe that's why it's so difficult for us to understand and really believe His love for us. It just doesn't make sense to us, because our tendency is one of self-preservation and protection. As I sat by the river, looking at the trees and thinking about this, I struggled with this for a moment. I mean, the trees are beautiful; they are solid and faithful in standing tall and remaining, in serving as a shelter; the trees have spent their entire existence in such a way as to never once hurt or offend their Creator. In comparison to myself, surely the trees are more deserving of adoration.
But the trees serve faithfully in the absence of free will. They stand still because they cannot walk. They do not fail because they are incapable of choosing between success and failure. It is the element of free will that makes us what we are - that distinguishes us from the rest of His creation. It is our free will that allows us the opportunity to love Him with our whole hearts and to serve Him because we love Him so much. As much as I can tell, the risk of being hurt or disappointed is not nearly as great as the joy and happiness He finds in being loved, adored, and worshiped by a willing heart.
And so whether or not it makes sense to me, in that moment, I was faced with a deeper understanding of how much God loves and values me as an individual. I do not deserve His adoration. I have done nothing to earn His affection. But He has created me (and not only me, but each of us) to be the recipient of His love, and to love Him in return, with a willing heart. And He looks on each one of us with a love that is beyond our comprehension, and He places a value on every individual that we may never fully know. And while I can never do enough to deserve His love, I am grateful, and will receive it with a willing heart. He is so good!
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. (Ephesians 3:18)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Effects of Disobedience
I wanted to post this right away after my previous post, but time got away from me. When I was studying this, it was all together, but I split it into 2 parts so that the post wouldn't be too long. So here's the rest of my thoughts from a week ago:
If you look back at the previous post, you'll remember that I was thinking through what holds us back from the kind of victory that the Israelites experienced in Joshua 6. It boils down to a lack of obedience to God, for many reasons. But no matter what is at the root, the effect of it is that we are not moved to act on the things God requests or requires of us.
The result of all of this is mind-blowing to me. It's amazing to me to realize what we are willing to give up in exchange for having our own way / doing our own thing. Thinking through this, I envisioned a literal what-if situation where the Israelites chose NOT to do what God asked of them. Had they not obeyed, they would have remained on the outer edge of Jericho, on the outside looking in, unable to overcome their circumstances, and unable to take hold of all that God had promised to them. What's more, if they did not move forward to the place that God had called them to, then their enemy would remain wholly unaffected by their presence, and they (the Israelites) would, by default, either sit idly by, or wander into the wilderness to a place they were not supposed to be.
The same is true for us. When we are disobedient, we remain on the outskirts of God's will. We never really tap into God's power to move in a situation and to alter circumstances. If we do not do our part, He cannot - or will not - do His. If we do not trust Him, and have faith enough to act on account of His Word, He will not move on our behalf. He is not moved by a lack of faith. Only faith brings about the reward of God's presence and power working in and through our lives. When we fail to act on His Word, we are failing to demonstrate faith in Him.
If our circumstances remain unchanged, then our enemy remains unaffected by our presence. The people of Jericho wouldn't have cared if the Israelites sat outside until the end of time, as long as they weren't being bothered. The same is true for our enemy. As long as we are not invading his territory or shaking his walls, he doesn't care whether or not we are sitting right outside. Unless we are in the will of God, being obedient to all that He asks and requires of us, we are not in a position to upset our enemy.
When we live lives of disobedience, we live lives without purpose. If we are not in the will of God, following where He leads, and going where He has asked us to go, then we are doing one of two things. Either we are sitting still, being idle and doing nothing, or we are moving in the wrong direction, headed to places we were not intended to be. Neither is good. Both lack purpose, and both have the potential to create disastrous complications and troubles in our lives. I do not want to live a life without purpose, and I surely do not want to complicate my life with trouble that I could have, and should have, avoided.
Ultimately, though, without obedience, there is no victory. As Christians, it seems we really like to focus in on the verses in the Bible that talk about being more than conquerors, victors, kings in life, the vast blessings of God. But we miss the notion that in front of many of His promises, He says, 'If' or 'For whosoever will.' The promises are available...IF. If we are willing to submit to His guidance. If we are willing to obey Him. If we are willing to dedicate our lives to knowing and loving and serving Him only. IF. If we are not living in obedience and submission to God's will and plan, then we are not in line with the ONE plan that will work to bring about victory in our lives. Victory comes through obedience.
So back to the original question...what holds us back? What keeps us from impacting our communities and our culture for God? What prevents us from breaking through in circumstances where our friends and neighbors are outside of the kingdom? When they need healing? When they need hope? What keeps us from making a difference in their lives? What holds us back from experiencing victory and peace in our own lives?
Is it indifference to others' circumstances? If we were truly being obedient to the Word of God, spending time in His presence, abiding in Him, reading and meditating on His Word, and LOVING one another, HOW could indifference even be a possibility?
Is it selfishness that holds us back? Pride? Insecurity? Lack of Faith? Lack of reverence? All of these things are erased as we let go of them and surrender to Him. Spending time in His presence in prayer and in reading the Bible has the power to transform our lives, replacing pride with humility, selfishness with generosity, insecurity with a firm foundation, and irreverence with a deeper awe and appreciation for all that He is. If we are being obedient to Him at the most basic level - giving Him our time, our attention, and ultimately our hearts - then the other things that hold us back will begin to fade away. As we take the time to get to know Him and to fall in love with Him, we are left with the ability to do nothing BUT be obedient. It becomes our very nature because He becomes a part of us. We obey Him because we love Him. We obey Him because He has become such a part of who we are that we can do nothing else.
So maybe the real problem is that we, the Church, need to take time to fall in love with Him. Maybe we've gotten so caught up in doing church that we've lost sight of the One thing that matters most. Maybe we need to seek HIM, not His STUFF. Not the victory. Not the blessings. Not the healing and miracle-working power. Those things are great, and I believe they are a vital part of His plan. But Jesus makes it very simple and clear when He says 'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and all these things will be given to you besides.' (Matthew 6:33) When we put first things first, we get right results. We get peace. We get joy. We get victory, power, and blessings that we could not imagine. But our motive must always be to know Him more, and to serve Him and obey Him out of a heart of love for Him. Nothing else will do.
If you look back at the previous post, you'll remember that I was thinking through what holds us back from the kind of victory that the Israelites experienced in Joshua 6. It boils down to a lack of obedience to God, for many reasons. But no matter what is at the root, the effect of it is that we are not moved to act on the things God requests or requires of us.
The result of all of this is mind-blowing to me. It's amazing to me to realize what we are willing to give up in exchange for having our own way / doing our own thing. Thinking through this, I envisioned a literal what-if situation where the Israelites chose NOT to do what God asked of them. Had they not obeyed, they would have remained on the outer edge of Jericho, on the outside looking in, unable to overcome their circumstances, and unable to take hold of all that God had promised to them. What's more, if they did not move forward to the place that God had called them to, then their enemy would remain wholly unaffected by their presence, and they (the Israelites) would, by default, either sit idly by, or wander into the wilderness to a place they were not supposed to be.
The same is true for us. When we are disobedient, we remain on the outskirts of God's will. We never really tap into God's power to move in a situation and to alter circumstances. If we do not do our part, He cannot - or will not - do His. If we do not trust Him, and have faith enough to act on account of His Word, He will not move on our behalf. He is not moved by a lack of faith. Only faith brings about the reward of God's presence and power working in and through our lives. When we fail to act on His Word, we are failing to demonstrate faith in Him.
If God doesn't pour out His presence and power on our circumstances, then our circumstances remain unchanged. Without God we are powerless to crumble walls and tear down strongholds. No amount of effort on our part will allow us to accomplish something that only He is capable of doing.But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him...
(Hebrews 11:6)
If our circumstances remain unchanged, then our enemy remains unaffected by our presence. The people of Jericho wouldn't have cared if the Israelites sat outside until the end of time, as long as they weren't being bothered. The same is true for our enemy. As long as we are not invading his territory or shaking his walls, he doesn't care whether or not we are sitting right outside. Unless we are in the will of God, being obedient to all that He asks and requires of us, we are not in a position to upset our enemy.
When we live lives of disobedience, we live lives without purpose. If we are not in the will of God, following where He leads, and going where He has asked us to go, then we are doing one of two things. Either we are sitting still, being idle and doing nothing, or we are moving in the wrong direction, headed to places we were not intended to be. Neither is good. Both lack purpose, and both have the potential to create disastrous complications and troubles in our lives. I do not want to live a life without purpose, and I surely do not want to complicate my life with trouble that I could have, and should have, avoided.
Ultimately, though, without obedience, there is no victory. As Christians, it seems we really like to focus in on the verses in the Bible that talk about being more than conquerors, victors, kings in life, the vast blessings of God. But we miss the notion that in front of many of His promises, He says, 'If' or 'For whosoever will.' The promises are available...IF. If we are willing to submit to His guidance. If we are willing to obey Him. If we are willing to dedicate our lives to knowing and loving and serving Him only. IF. If we are not living in obedience and submission to God's will and plan, then we are not in line with the ONE plan that will work to bring about victory in our lives. Victory comes through obedience.
So back to the original question...what holds us back? What keeps us from impacting our communities and our culture for God? What prevents us from breaking through in circumstances where our friends and neighbors are outside of the kingdom? When they need healing? When they need hope? What keeps us from making a difference in their lives? What holds us back from experiencing victory and peace in our own lives?
Is it indifference to others' circumstances? If we were truly being obedient to the Word of God, spending time in His presence, abiding in Him, reading and meditating on His Word, and LOVING one another, HOW could indifference even be a possibility?
Is it selfishness that holds us back? Pride? Insecurity? Lack of Faith? Lack of reverence? All of these things are erased as we let go of them and surrender to Him. Spending time in His presence in prayer and in reading the Bible has the power to transform our lives, replacing pride with humility, selfishness with generosity, insecurity with a firm foundation, and irreverence with a deeper awe and appreciation for all that He is. If we are being obedient to Him at the most basic level - giving Him our time, our attention, and ultimately our hearts - then the other things that hold us back will begin to fade away. As we take the time to get to know Him and to fall in love with Him, we are left with the ability to do nothing BUT be obedient. It becomes our very nature because He becomes a part of us. We obey Him because we love Him. We obey Him because He has become such a part of who we are that we can do nothing else.
Jesus answered, If a person really loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:23)
So maybe the real problem is that we, the Church, need to take time to fall in love with Him. Maybe we've gotten so caught up in doing church that we've lost sight of the One thing that matters most. Maybe we need to seek HIM, not His STUFF. Not the victory. Not the blessings. Not the healing and miracle-working power. Those things are great, and I believe they are a vital part of His plan. But Jesus makes it very simple and clear when He says 'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and all these things will be given to you besides.' (Matthew 6:33) When we put first things first, we get right results. We get peace. We get joy. We get victory, power, and blessings that we could not imagine. But our motive must always be to know Him more, and to serve Him and obey Him out of a heart of love for Him. Nothing else will do.
Monday, August 18, 2008
What holds us back?
This study was prompted by a question that Pastor Mark asked in service yesterday - 'What holds us back?' (Click here to listen - then click on Leveled to Reach)
Joshua 6 describes a tribe of people (the Israelites), lead by Joshua, a God-fearing man. The people were collectively obedient to God, and were therefore victorious over their enemy, even in seemingly impossible circumstances. Their task at hand was to overtake the city of Jericho. Jericho, however, was tightly closed up, and had high walls around it, making it nearly impossible to gain entrance. God gave Joshua specific instructions for conquering the city of Jericho - march around the city one time each day for six days. On the seventh day, march around seven times, blow your horns and shout. The people followed their leader, trusting in him and trusting in God. Because they were obedient, they were victorious.
Today we, as the collective church, find ourselves every day facing seemingly insurmountable circumstances. One easy example would be a friend, neighbor, or family member who does not know God and who seems completely closed off to the idea. If we have the same God today that Joshua had the day he lead the Israelites in the destruction of Jericho, then why are we not victorious? What holds us back? What is different between the Israelites in Joshua 6 and the church of 2008?
1. We do not move and work together in one accord. We tend to sort of do our own thing, want to be our own boss, go with what interests us. We can't even agree on a church service - some think the music is too loud, too fast, too slow, to contemporary, to traditional. We get so hung up on our own interests and our own ways, that we become rigid to the idea of melting together as a united body to accomplish a common goal.
2. We are not obedient. This is a major issue. I believe there are several root causes to this - see #3, 4, 5 & 6.
3. Our PRIDE, INSECURITIES, and LACK of FAITH keep us from being willing to obey God. Maybe we're not sure of the outcome. Maybe His instructions don't make sense to us. Maybe we think there's a better, more logical, easier way to accomplish the same thing. Maybe we're afraid to step out and try because we fear we might fail. Maybe we fear God will not come through for us. Maybe we might feel silly doing what God has asked of us. Maybe it's out of our comfort zone, and we are afraid of what others might think. I'm sure all of this was true to some extent for the Israelites. It is reasonable to imagine they might have felt silly walking around in parade-like fashion for seven days in a row. It's reasonable to imagine they might have thought the people of Jericho would be watching and laughing as they did the same thing over and over with no effect. It's reasonable to think that this plan didn't make a lot of sense to many, that they might have envisioned another way to go about their task. Still, they did what was asked of them. They obeyed God.
4. We don't have the endurance to wait for God's timing. We are an instant-gratification society. We want results fast. If we don't get the results we want when we want them, we deem the project a waist of time and we move on to something else. Sometimes we need to wait on God. We need to be willing to do what He has asked, simply because He has asked it of us, and we need to be willing to do it until He says stop...no matter how many times that is. I can imagine the first day of marching, the plan was okay. Maybe even the second. But by the third day, it's reasonable to assume that there was room for questioning. Why do we have to do this day after day? Why can't God work in three days instead of seven? Is this really going to work? What happens on the seventh day if nothing happens? Still, day after day, they were obedient. Day after day they marched, not making a sound, not saying a word.
5. We are indifferent to the fights that need to be fought today. We have a tendency to snuggle in to our own little world - our happy place where our family is fine, our house is fine, our finances are fine, and our church attendance is fine. We are fine. We can find a lot to do to keep ourselves occupied, and to give us something to focus on besides what God is focused on - the lost. We can get so wrapped up in our own lives, that we get blinders to what exists beyond us. We don't see the lost. If we see them, we don't care. We don't care that they are hurting now. We don't care that they are destined for an eternity apart from God and all that is good. The root of our indifference is selfishness. There is no other excuse.
6. We, as the collective church, do not have a proper reverential fear of God. We do not hold Him in a place of awe and wonder. We do not see Him for all that He is and all He deserves. We do not fear displeasing Him. We do not place any real value on pleasing Him through our worship and obedience. We do not truly respect and appreciate His ability, authority, power, and desire to carry out His will. We are not humbled in our spirits by the simple fact that He chooses to work through us to accomplish His will. If we revered Him as we ought to, we would obey Him. We would do so because we love Him; because He is worthy; because He is good; because He has all authority in heaven and on earth; because He is God. We would recognize the value of pleasing Him, and the danger of displeasing Him. Simply stated, we have let go of a right reverential fear of Him.
Joshua 6 describes a tribe of people (the Israelites), lead by Joshua, a God-fearing man. The people were collectively obedient to God, and were therefore victorious over their enemy, even in seemingly impossible circumstances. Their task at hand was to overtake the city of Jericho. Jericho, however, was tightly closed up, and had high walls around it, making it nearly impossible to gain entrance. God gave Joshua specific instructions for conquering the city of Jericho - march around the city one time each day for six days. On the seventh day, march around seven times, blow your horns and shout. The people followed their leader, trusting in him and trusting in God. Because they were obedient, they were victorious.
Today we, as the collective church, find ourselves every day facing seemingly insurmountable circumstances. One easy example would be a friend, neighbor, or family member who does not know God and who seems completely closed off to the idea. If we have the same God today that Joshua had the day he lead the Israelites in the destruction of Jericho, then why are we not victorious? What holds us back? What is different between the Israelites in Joshua 6 and the church of 2008?
1. We do not move and work together in one accord. We tend to sort of do our own thing, want to be our own boss, go with what interests us. We can't even agree on a church service - some think the music is too loud, too fast, too slow, to contemporary, to traditional. We get so hung up on our own interests and our own ways, that we become rigid to the idea of melting together as a united body to accomplish a common goal.
2. We are not obedient. This is a major issue. I believe there are several root causes to this - see #3, 4, 5 & 6.
3. Our PRIDE, INSECURITIES, and LACK of FAITH keep us from being willing to obey God. Maybe we're not sure of the outcome. Maybe His instructions don't make sense to us. Maybe we think there's a better, more logical, easier way to accomplish the same thing. Maybe we're afraid to step out and try because we fear we might fail. Maybe we fear God will not come through for us. Maybe we might feel silly doing what God has asked of us. Maybe it's out of our comfort zone, and we are afraid of what others might think. I'm sure all of this was true to some extent for the Israelites. It is reasonable to imagine they might have felt silly walking around in parade-like fashion for seven days in a row. It's reasonable to imagine they might have thought the people of Jericho would be watching and laughing as they did the same thing over and over with no effect. It's reasonable to think that this plan didn't make a lot of sense to many, that they might have envisioned another way to go about their task. Still, they did what was asked of them. They obeyed God.
4. We don't have the endurance to wait for God's timing. We are an instant-gratification society. We want results fast. If we don't get the results we want when we want them, we deem the project a waist of time and we move on to something else. Sometimes we need to wait on God. We need to be willing to do what He has asked, simply because He has asked it of us, and we need to be willing to do it until He says stop...no matter how many times that is. I can imagine the first day of marching, the plan was okay. Maybe even the second. But by the third day, it's reasonable to assume that there was room for questioning. Why do we have to do this day after day? Why can't God work in three days instead of seven? Is this really going to work? What happens on the seventh day if nothing happens? Still, day after day, they were obedient. Day after day they marched, not making a sound, not saying a word.
5. We are indifferent to the fights that need to be fought today. We have a tendency to snuggle in to our own little world - our happy place where our family is fine, our house is fine, our finances are fine, and our church attendance is fine. We are fine. We can find a lot to do to keep ourselves occupied, and to give us something to focus on besides what God is focused on - the lost. We can get so wrapped up in our own lives, that we get blinders to what exists beyond us. We don't see the lost. If we see them, we don't care. We don't care that they are hurting now. We don't care that they are destined for an eternity apart from God and all that is good. The root of our indifference is selfishness. There is no other excuse.
6. We, as the collective church, do not have a proper reverential fear of God. We do not hold Him in a place of awe and wonder. We do not see Him for all that He is and all He deserves. We do not fear displeasing Him. We do not place any real value on pleasing Him through our worship and obedience. We do not truly respect and appreciate His ability, authority, power, and desire to carry out His will. We are not humbled in our spirits by the simple fact that He chooses to work through us to accomplish His will. If we revered Him as we ought to, we would obey Him. We would do so because we love Him; because He is worthy; because He is good; because He has all authority in heaven and on earth; because He is God. We would recognize the value of pleasing Him, and the danger of displeasing Him. Simply stated, we have let go of a right reverential fear of Him.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thoughts on an Excellent Life
I want to share something with you that keeps coming up with me lately. It keeps coming up in prayer time, both concerning myself and the church as a whole, and I am continually reminded of it in opportunities to serve, to give, to bless others, and even to do mundane daily tasks. It is the concept of excellence in serving God.
A few years ago I first heard a teaching about the relationship that God has established between Himself and us. Since then, my understanding of this relationship continues to grow and develop. I have heard several such teachings since then, and it seems like I find myself thinking about this a lot.
So here's the gist of the foundation of what I'm getting at:
Yes, God is a sovereign God. Yes, He is capable of all things, and with Him nothing is impossible. BUT.... He has set up His master plan - His plan A, with no plan B - so that He works with us and through us. He needs us to do our part so that He can do His. And often, He will not do our part for us. We must do our part so that He can do His.
Like I said, lately I've been thinking about this a lot. The foundation of our relationship with God, and of all that we are to accomplish here on earth, is that we have a part to play in order for God's will and plan to be carried out. How good is my foundation? Is it solid and whole, strong and sturdy? Or is it cracked and crumbling, uneven and shaky? In building a house, the quality of a foundation determines the quality of the structure that can be built on that foundation. The same principal applies to our acts of service to God.
I have been challenged in almost every area of my life over the past few months. Am I serving with excellence? Giving with excellence? Doing daily tasks with excellence? How is my attitude? What about my follow-through? My willingness to do something unto God alone, something that will go wholly unnoticed by man? How do I treat people? How is my heart condition and the quality of attention given to God in my prayer time? Am I doing just enough, meeting the requirements and checking tasks off of my to-do list? Or am I living out a life of worship, a life that pours all of me into everything, so that I might please Him? Am I giving Him something good to work with? Or am I giving Him mid-grade, middle-of-the-road, plain and average offerings of service, worship, prayer, giving, etc.?
As I've examined areas of my life against this standard of excellence, I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit to take responsibility for every thing that I do and say. I have been challenged to increase my level of excellence in areas where I was taking a just-get-by approach. I do this not because my works earn me something from God, but because the quality of my offering means something to God. And because when I am giving my everything to Him, in the best way I can, then the part He has given me to do is done to the fullest, which gives Him a quality foundation to build on.
A few years ago I first heard a teaching about the relationship that God has established between Himself and us. Since then, my understanding of this relationship continues to grow and develop. I have heard several such teachings since then, and it seems like I find myself thinking about this a lot.
So here's the gist of the foundation of what I'm getting at:
Yes, God is a sovereign God. Yes, He is capable of all things, and with Him nothing is impossible. BUT.... He has set up His master plan - His plan A, with no plan B - so that He works with us and through us. He needs us to do our part so that He can do His. And often, He will not do our part for us. We must do our part so that He can do His.
Like I said, lately I've been thinking about this a lot. The foundation of our relationship with God, and of all that we are to accomplish here on earth, is that we have a part to play in order for God's will and plan to be carried out. How good is my foundation? Is it solid and whole, strong and sturdy? Or is it cracked and crumbling, uneven and shaky? In building a house, the quality of a foundation determines the quality of the structure that can be built on that foundation. The same principal applies to our acts of service to God.
I have been challenged in almost every area of my life over the past few months. Am I serving with excellence? Giving with excellence? Doing daily tasks with excellence? How is my attitude? What about my follow-through? My willingness to do something unto God alone, something that will go wholly unnoticed by man? How do I treat people? How is my heart condition and the quality of attention given to God in my prayer time? Am I doing just enough, meeting the requirements and checking tasks off of my to-do list? Or am I living out a life of worship, a life that pours all of me into everything, so that I might please Him? Am I giving Him something good to work with? Or am I giving Him mid-grade, middle-of-the-road, plain and average offerings of service, worship, prayer, giving, etc.?
As I've examined areas of my life against this standard of excellence, I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit to take responsibility for every thing that I do and say. I have been challenged to increase my level of excellence in areas where I was taking a just-get-by approach. I do this not because my works earn me something from God, but because the quality of my offering means something to God. And because when I am giving my everything to Him, in the best way I can, then the part He has given me to do is done to the fullest, which gives Him a quality foundation to build on.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Let me tell you what He has done.
Sometimes just hearing something that God is doing or has done in some one's life is all it takes to stir me up and get me over-the-top excited about the God we serve. So, I have such a story to share. It is a little thing, really. But it was very cool, and unmistakably God.
This past Sunday, our church hosted a car show for the community. There were tons of cars, kids games, fire truck rides, a burn-out competition, free snow cones, a DJ and a band, and food! I had offered to help with the car show, and so my job was manning payment for the food. As I sat there, from about 11:30 until almost 3:00, taking people's food tickets and money, I had the opportunity to talk to almost everyone who was there that day, since most of them were hungry at some point (and since most of them were eating for free...who's gonna pass up free food?!).
As the day wore on, the traffic to the food line got slower and slower. Eventually, the fire truck rides started up, and the pick-up and drop-off spot happened to be only about 10 yards away from me. At some point in the afternoon, a mom, who I had noticed a few times throughout the day, and who I had spoken with briefly as she went through the food line, put her two girls on the fire truck, and sat down in a chair very close to where I was sitting. So, I started a conversation, asking about her day, her girls, and so on. We talked for quite a while (as the fire truck rides were about 10 minutes long). The longer we talked, the more I could sense her relaxing and letting her guard down a bit. I could tell that, all in all, she felt a little uncomfortable with her surroundings that day, and it was a bit too much for her to take in. But in our ten minutes of conversation, she seemed to forget it all and relax.
The fire truck returned. The kids got off. And my new friend Brooke walked off. That was the end of that really. I didn't see her again for the rest of the day. I didn't think much of it. I was busy with other things going on and with talking to other people.
At about 3:30 - almost an hour and a half after I had spoken with Brooke - I decided to head for home. It had been a long day, and I was just thinking of getting home and relaxing. As I walked through the field on my way to the truck, I was stopped in my tracks by an instant - I mean ALL OF A SUDDEN, out of nowhere - image in my mind. In that moment, I realized I had met Brooke before - about eight months ago. I saw her clearly in my mind, standing outside in the freezing cold winter weather, just as I had seen her when we first met.
Last December, I was going to a friend's apartment to drop something off. As I drove up to her building, I noticed a young mother outside with a few small children. For a moment, my eyes met hers, and I felt flooded with what she was feeling - love for her kids, and immense loneliness and sadness. I admired her for taking the time to be outside with them on such a cold and windy winter day. And I thought how lucky those little girls were to have a mom that would take the time for them the way she was. Then I tried to go on about my business, when God stepped in on me. He put it on my heart to do something for her so that she would know that He loves her and that He sees her. As I left my friend's house, I tried for a moment to ignore it - I was busy and in a hurry and really didn't have time to do what He was asking me to do. But I knew in my heart that He was reaching out to her, and if He was willing to use me to do that, then I must be willing to be used.
So, I went down the road to McDonald's and bought a gift card. Then I drove back to my friend's apartment, stopping before I got to her building. I was relieved, and also a little nervous, to see that the mother was still outside. I stopped my van, and rolled the window down. Nope. It's best to get out, I decided. So I got out, and approached her. I kept my distance, knowing that she would very likely be wondering what on earth I was doing. I held the card out to her, and briefly explained that God had put it on my heart to do this for her so that she could take her kids somewhere fun for lunch. She took the card and thanked me. I could hear a little disbelief in her voice, and gratitude. And I could see tears beginning to build in her eyes. I wished her a wonderful day, got in my van and drove off.
Several times since then, I've pulled into my friend's apartment building, and have wondered if that mom and her kids still lived there. I haven't seen them again since then. Until Sunday.
I thought about this after it happened, and I wondered if I could have counted this second meeting as a coincidence. Maybe, if I had realized it on my own. Maybe if I would have made the connection while we were sitting there talking. But on my own, I had NO idea. On my own, I would never have made that connection. I might not have really even given her much more of a thought, seeing as I spoke with so many people that day. On my own, I'm sure my mind would have blended her in with the rest of the crowd. But I was not left on my own. God had something else in mind. And I am certain that he brought us together again for His own will and purpose. And the coolest thing about it was that He kept it to Himself until it was all said and done, so that I could not write it off as coincidence or take any of the credit for it. But it was awesome the way He revealed it to me...more of a reminder to me that He is always working... a reminder that He accomplishes His plan through US - through those who are willing to be used by Him - and He uses us in very ordinary ways to do what will some day prove to be very extraordinary things in and for His kingdom. I am amazed by His ways.
This past Sunday, our church hosted a car show for the community. There were tons of cars, kids games, fire truck rides, a burn-out competition, free snow cones, a DJ and a band, and food! I had offered to help with the car show, and so my job was manning payment for the food. As I sat there, from about 11:30 until almost 3:00, taking people's food tickets and money, I had the opportunity to talk to almost everyone who was there that day, since most of them were hungry at some point (and since most of them were eating for free...who's gonna pass up free food?!).
As the day wore on, the traffic to the food line got slower and slower. Eventually, the fire truck rides started up, and the pick-up and drop-off spot happened to be only about 10 yards away from me. At some point in the afternoon, a mom, who I had noticed a few times throughout the day, and who I had spoken with briefly as she went through the food line, put her two girls on the fire truck, and sat down in a chair very close to where I was sitting. So, I started a conversation, asking about her day, her girls, and so on. We talked for quite a while (as the fire truck rides were about 10 minutes long). The longer we talked, the more I could sense her relaxing and letting her guard down a bit. I could tell that, all in all, she felt a little uncomfortable with her surroundings that day, and it was a bit too much for her to take in. But in our ten minutes of conversation, she seemed to forget it all and relax.
The fire truck returned. The kids got off. And my new friend Brooke walked off. That was the end of that really. I didn't see her again for the rest of the day. I didn't think much of it. I was busy with other things going on and with talking to other people.
At about 3:30 - almost an hour and a half after I had spoken with Brooke - I decided to head for home. It had been a long day, and I was just thinking of getting home and relaxing. As I walked through the field on my way to the truck, I was stopped in my tracks by an instant - I mean ALL OF A SUDDEN, out of nowhere - image in my mind. In that moment, I realized I had met Brooke before - about eight months ago. I saw her clearly in my mind, standing outside in the freezing cold winter weather, just as I had seen her when we first met.
Last December, I was going to a friend's apartment to drop something off. As I drove up to her building, I noticed a young mother outside with a few small children. For a moment, my eyes met hers, and I felt flooded with what she was feeling - love for her kids, and immense loneliness and sadness. I admired her for taking the time to be outside with them on such a cold and windy winter day. And I thought how lucky those little girls were to have a mom that would take the time for them the way she was. Then I tried to go on about my business, when God stepped in on me. He put it on my heart to do something for her so that she would know that He loves her and that He sees her. As I left my friend's house, I tried for a moment to ignore it - I was busy and in a hurry and really didn't have time to do what He was asking me to do. But I knew in my heart that He was reaching out to her, and if He was willing to use me to do that, then I must be willing to be used.
So, I went down the road to McDonald's and bought a gift card. Then I drove back to my friend's apartment, stopping before I got to her building. I was relieved, and also a little nervous, to see that the mother was still outside. I stopped my van, and rolled the window down. Nope. It's best to get out, I decided. So I got out, and approached her. I kept my distance, knowing that she would very likely be wondering what on earth I was doing. I held the card out to her, and briefly explained that God had put it on my heart to do this for her so that she could take her kids somewhere fun for lunch. She took the card and thanked me. I could hear a little disbelief in her voice, and gratitude. And I could see tears beginning to build in her eyes. I wished her a wonderful day, got in my van and drove off.
Several times since then, I've pulled into my friend's apartment building, and have wondered if that mom and her kids still lived there. I haven't seen them again since then. Until Sunday.
I thought about this after it happened, and I wondered if I could have counted this second meeting as a coincidence. Maybe, if I had realized it on my own. Maybe if I would have made the connection while we were sitting there talking. But on my own, I had NO idea. On my own, I would never have made that connection. I might not have really even given her much more of a thought, seeing as I spoke with so many people that day. On my own, I'm sure my mind would have blended her in with the rest of the crowd. But I was not left on my own. God had something else in mind. And I am certain that he brought us together again for His own will and purpose. And the coolest thing about it was that He kept it to Himself until it was all said and done, so that I could not write it off as coincidence or take any of the credit for it. But it was awesome the way He revealed it to me...more of a reminder to me that He is always working... a reminder that He accomplishes His plan through US - through those who are willing to be used by Him - and He uses us in very ordinary ways to do what will some day prove to be very extraordinary things in and for His kingdom. I am amazed by His ways.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Looking to be found
This evening I went on a walk. I've been feeling restless. Sometimes I feel boxed in by people on all sides, and I am desperate for somewhere to really be alone with God. There seems to be nowhere. Even in prayer rooms designed specifically for that purpose, it's not what I'm looking for in my heart. In my heart I want to be in the middle of a wooded area, with no one around for miles, where I can shout and sing at the top of my lungs and only God will hear. I want to be on the top of an empty hill - maybe like the Sound of Music, I don't know. I picture David in the fields with only his flock and his God. I want room to dance and run and whatever else. I want privacy with God. Privacy is something hard to come by in my house, even with the kids gone, so I walked. Most of the time feeling very aware of just how close in proximity we've become to each other. House after house. Car after car.
Amazingly, I found a place to stop and sit. No houses blocked my view of the skyline. No cars passed by. And only one other person passed me - on a bike. So I sat and watched the clouds pass above me. I realized as I was sitting there that clouds move a lot like God moves. Sometimes they move so quickly and with so much power, and yet other times, their movement is barely perceivable. Tonight they barely seemed to move. But they did. I found that if I sat and watched them, they seemed to take forever to go anywhere, but as I gave them time to get where they were going, when I looked again, they had made quite a bit of progress. It amazes me how much nature imitates the ways of God. He is amazing to me.
My quiet time with God tonight brought me to wonder where He is moving. What is He doing? What is His plan? As I think back through the history of the church, He moves, His people respond, and they are passionate for a time. But somehow the excitement fades, and they begin to look away and lose sight of where He was going. And so He finds someone who is looking to be found, and through that someone, He re-awakens His people again, and the cycle continues. But we cannot forever continue in such a pattern of repetition. Can we? And it seems to me that the church is ready to be stirred awake once more. I'm certain that God is always moving, but we are not always aware of His movement. I am not always aware. But if I am not a part of what He is doing, am I really a part of Him? If my heart does not beat for the same reason His beats, have I missed the mark?
What am I to do with this obsessions that is swelling inside me? I am living the product of my own prayers. That I would be wholly unsatisfied, always wanting more of Him. Always wanting to do more for Him. Always wanting to live closer. To be more like Him. To never be satisfied, lest I should settle into a comfortable life and lose sight of Him. How easy it is to be distracted and lose sight of Him.
I want to be always seeking Him. I want this to be the generation that is different. I want this to be the generation that does not go back to sleep after being awakened. A generation that seeks Him and knows Him and loves Him and is wholly unsatisfied with life as usual. A generation that longs to know His heart and do something about it. A generation that shakes the world. Let all that we are, and all that exists between us and God be wholly genuine and real. Let it not be made up, not be acted out, not be a product of imitating what we've seen done before. I am desperate in my spirit to see this generation break away from the normal way of doing things, of being a Christian, of going to church, of worshiping, and I want us to take on God's way of doing things. I want to reach the world, so that every person is given a chance to know Him. This can be the generation that does that. Let it all start with seeking Him, with a generation of someone's who are looking to be found.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me as a vital necessity, and you will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you truly seek Him with all your heart and mind and soul and life. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
Lord, every time I find myself in Your presence, let me not be satisfied until I find myself there again, until the only way I can ever be satisfied is to be forever in Your presence. Amen.
Amazingly, I found a place to stop and sit. No houses blocked my view of the skyline. No cars passed by. And only one other person passed me - on a bike. So I sat and watched the clouds pass above me. I realized as I was sitting there that clouds move a lot like God moves. Sometimes they move so quickly and with so much power, and yet other times, their movement is barely perceivable. Tonight they barely seemed to move. But they did. I found that if I sat and watched them, they seemed to take forever to go anywhere, but as I gave them time to get where they were going, when I looked again, they had made quite a bit of progress. It amazes me how much nature imitates the ways of God. He is amazing to me.
My quiet time with God tonight brought me to wonder where He is moving. What is He doing? What is His plan? As I think back through the history of the church, He moves, His people respond, and they are passionate for a time. But somehow the excitement fades, and they begin to look away and lose sight of where He was going. And so He finds someone who is looking to be found, and through that someone, He re-awakens His people again, and the cycle continues. But we cannot forever continue in such a pattern of repetition. Can we? And it seems to me that the church is ready to be stirred awake once more. I'm certain that God is always moving, but we are not always aware of His movement. I am not always aware. But if I am not a part of what He is doing, am I really a part of Him? If my heart does not beat for the same reason His beats, have I missed the mark?
What am I to do with this obsessions that is swelling inside me? I am living the product of my own prayers. That I would be wholly unsatisfied, always wanting more of Him. Always wanting to do more for Him. Always wanting to live closer. To be more like Him. To never be satisfied, lest I should settle into a comfortable life and lose sight of Him. How easy it is to be distracted and lose sight of Him.
I want to be always seeking Him. I want this to be the generation that is different. I want this to be the generation that does not go back to sleep after being awakened. A generation that seeks Him and knows Him and loves Him and is wholly unsatisfied with life as usual. A generation that longs to know His heart and do something about it. A generation that shakes the world. Let all that we are, and all that exists between us and God be wholly genuine and real. Let it not be made up, not be acted out, not be a product of imitating what we've seen done before. I am desperate in my spirit to see this generation break away from the normal way of doing things, of being a Christian, of going to church, of worshiping, and I want us to take on God's way of doing things. I want to reach the world, so that every person is given a chance to know Him. This can be the generation that does that. Let it all start with seeking Him, with a generation of someone's who are looking to be found.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me as a vital necessity, and you will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you truly seek Him with all your heart and mind and soul and life. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
Lord, every time I find myself in Your presence, let me not be satisfied until I find myself there again, until the only way I can ever be satisfied is to be forever in Your presence. Amen.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Extraordinary in the Midst of Ordinary
Can I just say that the past three days following my Mega Sports Camp experience have been quite interesting. It seems like everywhere I go now, I am seeing some of my dance girls. Friday at Meijer I saw 2 of the girls. Then last night at Wal-Mart I got to see three more, and their families...very cool! Then today, one of the little girls and her family came to a picnic our church held to celebrate and honor those who serve our country. I can't even tell you how many times she ran back to me to give me just one more hug.
I love the fact that church and community are overlapping. I love that my interaction with these children and their families isn't limited to the three days of sports camp, but that I am being given opportunities to see them and be seen in every-day life kind of ways. I think that it's in the every-day way we live that we have the greatest impact on those who have taken notice of us. They may know us from a certain event or encounter or moment. But it's that introduction that causes them to observe us more carefully to see how we are every day.
Not long ago, in prayer, I was seeking God for some direction and that sort of thing regarding my own life, as well as for my family as a whole. He spoke something very simple to me: 'Live extraordinary in the midst of ordinary.' Then He immediately listed off Biblical examples for me - some of whose stories I had never read, so I had to go searching. Moses. Ester. Ruth. David. Peter. Paul.
Ruth was one of the stories I had to go looking for. I even had to read it a few times over to understand what exactly it was that she did so extraordinarily, because she appears to be quite ordinary. But I realized that she loved extraordinarily. She responded to Naomi with an extraordinary love and loyalty. A selflessness that goes above and beyond. She responded this way simply because it was her nature, not because she expected great things to come of it. But in doing so, she not only secured her family situation - a situation that had been quite shaky and worrisome for a time - but she also established herself as a member of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Her life was very ordinary, but she lived extraordinarily. She impacted the lives of others around her for the better. She shaped the course of her life, and of generations to follow. Ruth's extraordinary responses to ordinary circumstances impacted, shaped, changed the world forever. Her life became a layer upon which our lives have been built so many seemingly countless years later. That is the kind of life that God can use.
As I read through stories like Ruth's, and as I realize that in my own life my actions and responses to circumstances - every day ordinary circumstances - are being observed, and are shaping the ideas and attitudes of those observing me, I am challenged to press into Jesus more than I ever have before, so that His ways become mine. So that my natural manner of responding is one that will accurately reflect Him and that will please Him and honor Him. So that when others are watching, even when I am unaware or unsuspecting, they will see a life lived extraordinarily, no matter how ordinary the circumstances may be, and God will receive the glory for it. I want my life to be one that God can use.
I love the fact that church and community are overlapping. I love that my interaction with these children and their families isn't limited to the three days of sports camp, but that I am being given opportunities to see them and be seen in every-day life kind of ways. I think that it's in the every-day way we live that we have the greatest impact on those who have taken notice of us. They may know us from a certain event or encounter or moment. But it's that introduction that causes them to observe us more carefully to see how we are every day.
Not long ago, in prayer, I was seeking God for some direction and that sort of thing regarding my own life, as well as for my family as a whole. He spoke something very simple to me: 'Live extraordinary in the midst of ordinary.' Then He immediately listed off Biblical examples for me - some of whose stories I had never read, so I had to go searching. Moses. Ester. Ruth. David. Peter. Paul.
Ruth was one of the stories I had to go looking for. I even had to read it a few times over to understand what exactly it was that she did so extraordinarily, because she appears to be quite ordinary. But I realized that she loved extraordinarily. She responded to Naomi with an extraordinary love and loyalty. A selflessness that goes above and beyond. She responded this way simply because it was her nature, not because she expected great things to come of it. But in doing so, she not only secured her family situation - a situation that had been quite shaky and worrisome for a time - but she also established herself as a member of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Her life was very ordinary, but she lived extraordinarily. She impacted the lives of others around her for the better. She shaped the course of her life, and of generations to follow. Ruth's extraordinary responses to ordinary circumstances impacted, shaped, changed the world forever. Her life became a layer upon which our lives have been built so many seemingly countless years later. That is the kind of life that God can use.
As I read through stories like Ruth's, and as I realize that in my own life my actions and responses to circumstances - every day ordinary circumstances - are being observed, and are shaping the ideas and attitudes of those observing me, I am challenged to press into Jesus more than I ever have before, so that His ways become mine. So that my natural manner of responding is one that will accurately reflect Him and that will please Him and honor Him. So that when others are watching, even when I am unaware or unsuspecting, they will see a life lived extraordinarily, no matter how ordinary the circumstances may be, and God will receive the glory for it. I want my life to be one that God can use.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Mega Sports Camp
Just wanted to give God some praise!!
It's been a busy week. Busy but good...VERY good! This week was our church's Mega Sports Camp outreach. It's a free sports camp open to the community, for kids ages 6-12. This year, the sports offered were soccer, baseball, and dance. Because my good friend was overseeing the organization of the camp, and because there was a need for coaches, I agreed to be a dance coach, which somehow then evolved into a 'head' dance coach. I'll be honest, I was pretty reluctant to do it. Not for any particular reason. I simply underestimated how awesome the experience would be. Now I can't wait to do it again next year!
I was continually blown away by the love these little children were so ready and willing to express, and were so desperately wanting to receive. Children I hardly knew, or didn't know at all, were gravitating to me and following me wherever I went. They were walking up to me and randomly hugging me - the biggest squeezes imaginable. It was so completely cool to see the smiles on their faces just because I gave them a hug, or a high five, or a little compliment.
I was also consistently amazed at the depth of the issues that these little girls are facing day-to-day. In our small group times, the things they were saying were not the kind of things I expected them to bring up. There were issues of death, violence, divorces, custody battles, physical illnesses, money issues, and on and on. I was heartbroken to get a glimpse into the messes that some of them are immersed in. I felt privileged, and rather humbled really, to have a chance to pray for these girls, to pray over them, to pray for their families, and even to pray with a few of them to ask Jesus into their lives. AWESOME!
As I was praying tonight in preparation for tonight's camp session, I really felt led to pray that this event, and that these moments and encounters would be a catalyst for real life change for these kids & for their families - and as families are changing, our community would also begin to change. I know it just looked like a sports camp on the outside, but at the root of this event is an element of God's great plan. I've seen before how God can enter into a closed-off family through the open heart of a child. I'm excited to see how He uses this camp to carry out His plan for us! What awesome potential we just experienced over the past three nights! He is amazing!
It's been a busy week. Busy but good...VERY good! This week was our church's Mega Sports Camp outreach. It's a free sports camp open to the community, for kids ages 6-12. This year, the sports offered were soccer, baseball, and dance. Because my good friend was overseeing the organization of the camp, and because there was a need for coaches, I agreed to be a dance coach, which somehow then evolved into a 'head' dance coach. I'll be honest, I was pretty reluctant to do it. Not for any particular reason. I simply underestimated how awesome the experience would be. Now I can't wait to do it again next year!
I was continually blown away by the love these little children were so ready and willing to express, and were so desperately wanting to receive. Children I hardly knew, or didn't know at all, were gravitating to me and following me wherever I went. They were walking up to me and randomly hugging me - the biggest squeezes imaginable. It was so completely cool to see the smiles on their faces just because I gave them a hug, or a high five, or a little compliment.
I was also consistently amazed at the depth of the issues that these little girls are facing day-to-day. In our small group times, the things they were saying were not the kind of things I expected them to bring up. There were issues of death, violence, divorces, custody battles, physical illnesses, money issues, and on and on. I was heartbroken to get a glimpse into the messes that some of them are immersed in. I felt privileged, and rather humbled really, to have a chance to pray for these girls, to pray over them, to pray for their families, and even to pray with a few of them to ask Jesus into their lives. AWESOME!
As I was praying tonight in preparation for tonight's camp session, I really felt led to pray that this event, and that these moments and encounters would be a catalyst for real life change for these kids & for their families - and as families are changing, our community would also begin to change. I know it just looked like a sports camp on the outside, but at the root of this event is an element of God's great plan. I've seen before how God can enter into a closed-off family through the open heart of a child. I'm excited to see how He uses this camp to carry out His plan for us! What awesome potential we just experienced over the past three nights! He is amazing!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Unbroken Communion
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for and insistently require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord (in His presence) all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to meditate, consider and inquire in His temple. You have said, Seek My face - inquire for and require My presence as your vital need. My heart says to You, Your face, Your presence, Lord will I seek, inquire for, and require of necessity and on the authority of Your Word. (Psalm 27: 4, 8)
I know I've referenced these verses more than once before. They are some of my favorites, and I come back to them for strength and perspective pretty regularly. Since the first time I heard this passage of scripture, I was intrigued. There is a depth to it that seems to draw me in. It has served as many things to me. It has been a challenge to me - is God's presence my first priority? It has served as encouragement to me. It has given me perspective and helped me to refocus on God when life tries to take His place in my heart.
But for the past several months, it has been a point of pondering for me. I am captivated by David's heart for the Lord. I adore the passion that is at the root of the life he lived for God. I have often wondered at a young man standing in the fields spinning and dancing for the Lord. Although he was not spotless in life, his heart amazes me. And every time I would read this Psalm (27) again, the language he used in these particular verses stirred something in me. It is language that describes adamant, intentional, unbroken communion with God. Unbroken. Continual. Unceasing.
And without being fully aware of it at first, in my spirit, I began to wonder if this was a possibility. I began to recognize that I have only begun to skim the surface of what is possible in a relationship with God. Even before my awareness caught up with my heart, I had began to pray that I would remain in the presence of God; continue in His presence; be always aware of Him; to not for a moment to lose sight of Him or to turn away from Him. Because I was loving the times that I would worship or pray and I would feel Him with me, but I was frustrated at other times when I would try to pray and feel like I couldn't find Him. How could I feel so close to Him and so sure of Him one moment, and in the same day struggle to feel anything but complete separation? For me, His presence sometimes was good, but not enough. So I continue to pray that He would continually remind me to think of Him, continually prompt me to pray, until I have developed a habit in my life that is so ingrained in me that I can't do anything else.
About two weeks ago, I was reading a book and I came across a few excerpts of a journal that was kept by a man named Frank Laubach. As I read, his words took my breath away. He had put into words exactly all that I had been feeling and trying to formulate in my heart for the past six months or so. This man was born in the late 1800's, and dedicated his life to teaching the illiterate to read. At the age of 45, he was dissatisfied with his spiritual life, and so determined that he would either spend every moment in continuous communion with God, or he would spend the rest of his life trying. The following are a few excerpts from his journal:
I know I've referenced these verses more than once before. They are some of my favorites, and I come back to them for strength and perspective pretty regularly. Since the first time I heard this passage of scripture, I was intrigued. There is a depth to it that seems to draw me in. It has served as many things to me. It has been a challenge to me - is God's presence my first priority? It has served as encouragement to me. It has given me perspective and helped me to refocus on God when life tries to take His place in my heart.
But for the past several months, it has been a point of pondering for me. I am captivated by David's heart for the Lord. I adore the passion that is at the root of the life he lived for God. I have often wondered at a young man standing in the fields spinning and dancing for the Lord. Although he was not spotless in life, his heart amazes me. And every time I would read this Psalm (27) again, the language he used in these particular verses stirred something in me. It is language that describes adamant, intentional, unbroken communion with God. Unbroken. Continual. Unceasing.
And without being fully aware of it at first, in my spirit, I began to wonder if this was a possibility. I began to recognize that I have only begun to skim the surface of what is possible in a relationship with God. Even before my awareness caught up with my heart, I had began to pray that I would remain in the presence of God; continue in His presence; be always aware of Him; to not for a moment to lose sight of Him or to turn away from Him. Because I was loving the times that I would worship or pray and I would feel Him with me, but I was frustrated at other times when I would try to pray and feel like I couldn't find Him. How could I feel so close to Him and so sure of Him one moment, and in the same day struggle to feel anything but complete separation? For me, His presence sometimes was good, but not enough. So I continue to pray that He would continually remind me to think of Him, continually prompt me to pray, until I have developed a habit in my life that is so ingrained in me that I can't do anything else.
About two weeks ago, I was reading a book and I came across a few excerpts of a journal that was kept by a man named Frank Laubach. As I read, his words took my breath away. He had put into words exactly all that I had been feeling and trying to formulate in my heart for the past six months or so. This man was born in the late 1800's, and dedicated his life to teaching the illiterate to read. At the age of 45, he was dissatisfied with his spiritual life, and so determined that he would either spend every moment in continuous communion with God, or he would spend the rest of his life trying. The following are a few excerpts from his journal:
January 26, 1930: "Can we have that contact with God all the time? All the time awake, fall asleep in His arms, and awake in His presence? Can we attain that? Can we do His will all the time? Can we think His thoughts all the time?...Can I bring the Lord back in my mind-flow every few seconds so that God shall always be in my mind? I choose to make the rest of my life an experiment in answering this question."
March 1, 1930: "This sense of being led by an unseen hand which takes mine while another hand reaches ahead and prepares the way, grows upon me daily...sometimes it requires a long time early in the morning. I determine not to get out of bed until that mind set upon the Lord is settled."June 1, 1930: "Ah, God, what a new nearness this brings for Thee and me, to realize that Thou alone canst understand me, for Thou alone knowest all! Thou art no longer a stranger, God! Thou are the only being in the universe who is not partly a stranger! Thou art all the way inside with me - here...I mean to struggle tonight and tomorrow as never before, not once to dismiss thee. For when I lose Thee for an hour I lose. The thing Thou wouldst do can only be done when Thous hast full sway all the time."
"For when I lose Thee for an hour I lose." I've felt like that so many times. The stark contrast between the satisfaction I feel when I sit in His presence and I am focused on Him compared to the withered feeling I feel when I am away too long. It makes me wonder why I stay away. If God is always present, why would I not pay attention to Him every moment of every day? Why would I not include Him in everything I do? Why would I not talk to Him about everything and in everything?
David says, I will seek You and insistently require You. Your presence will I require as my vital need. God's presence was not something David fell into on occasion, or at certain times of the week. He sought after God's presence. He actively looked for God, continually. A vital need is not a casual element of life. It is something we cannot be without. Like air to breath, it must be constant, and we must be continually breathing it in. It cannot cease to exist for even a moment, or we will cease to exist. It is vital. It is continuous. And we must actively take it.
God's presence, like the air we breath, is everywhere around us; it is readily available. But if we stubbornly hold our breath and refuse to take it in, it will be of little use to us. Like Frank Laubach, I am convinced that there is more than glimpsing the presence of God on occasion. What God wants from us, and what we need from Him is continued, unbroken communion. Sometimes talking; sometimes listening; or worshiping; or praising. But always aware of His presence, and always acknowledging Him in one way or another, so as never to lose sight of Him, not even for a moment. For when we lose Him for a moment, we lose. And all that He wants to do in and through us cannot be done until He has our everything, all the time.
Above all things, this is my heart's desire, and I will spend the rest of my life learning to never lose sight of Him and to remain continually in His presence.
Friday, May 30, 2008
For these 3 things alone?
When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do--with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.
He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go. He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said to him, Follow Me!
But Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following...When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me! (John 21: 15-22)
Look at the way Jesus wants us to love Him:
- with reasoning
- intentional spiritual devotion
- as one loves the Father
- with deep, personal affection
- as a close friend
As I was reading through this passage time and time again, I listened from Peter's perspective. What if Jesus told me today that I would certainly suffer an unpleasant death, and that He was not going to deliver me from that suffering, but that, instead, I would be asked to endure it for the glory of God? That's a pretty difficult thing to wrap my mind around, if I'm being honest. Really, I don't know about you, but I've always kind of had this idea that, as a child of God, I should be protected and exempted from suffering. Even though I know that's not what the Bible says, it still seems like it should be that way. Doesn't it? I mean, Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. As His own child, why wouldn't He step in and put a stop to the suffering?
This, in several forms, is a basic question that many non-believers offer up as a challenge to even the possibility that God exists. I've faced such questions myself, as unbelieving friends have challenged me to defend my faith. "If God is real, why..." Why do children die? Why do bad things happen? Why do Christians suffer? Why? Why? Why?
And it seems like Peter, in a less direct way, is asking the same thing of Jesus. "Well, what about that guy? Is he going to have to suffer? Why me? Why?"
Jesus knew that this was going to be a difficult pill for Peter to swallow. Look how He prefaces the topic. "Peter, Do you love Me? Do you love Me? Do you love Me?" Peter, do your life circumstances determine your willingness to serve Me? Or do you serve Me because you love Me? Will you love Me - will you follow Me - even if there are painful trials? Even if it seems someone else has it better?
Do you love Me with an intense, intentional, spiritual devotion; with a deep personal affection, as you love a close friend; love Me as one loves the Father? Do you love Me?
Then, because you love Me, follow Me. Live out your life as unto Me; be about My business here on earth while I am away. Use the time given to you to further the kingdom of heaven...in spite of circumstances. Don't follow Me because of what I can do for you - not for how you might benefit from knowing Me. Follow Me because you love Me; because I am God. Follow Me!
[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy. These three things Jesus died to give us -
- right standing with God,
- peace that passes understanding,
- and joy unspeakable.
These three things alone. I should have no other preconceived idea of what I will gain from following Jesus. This is not to say that God will not poor out blessings upon my life - upon the lives of those who love Him; it is not to say that He is an absent, removed God who does not protect and care for His children. It is simply this: At the root of my faith, am I willing to accept Him, to love Him, to follow Him, based on the kingdom Jesus died to make available to me? Am I willing to follow Him, love Him, and if need be suffer for Him, for these three things alone?
Is my God enough for me?
Yes.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The tragedy of religion
Okay. I've been sitting on this for about two months now. This is something I wrote in my journal back at the end of March, but have not shared so far for a couple reasons. The first reason: it's LONG (consider that your warning...LOL). The second reason: It's very likely to rock the boat, if you know what I mean. Finally today, for no reason in particular, I've decided to step out there and share these thoughts with you. The first part of it is a quoted passage directly from a book I've been reading (Authority of Prayer, by Dutch Sheets). The second part, my thoughts. Hang in there with me if you will. It's a little lengthy, but there is such power in the truth behind it.
The tragedy of 'religion' (words or actions without the power or substance that should accompany them - religiosity- see 2 Timothy 3:5) is this:
The tragedy of 'religion' (words or actions without the power or substance that should accompany them - religiosity- see 2 Timothy 3:5) is this:
Expressions like ['ruling and reigning' and 'more than conquerors'] are often only heartwarming phrases of religious denial among Christians - stemming from a mentality that spouts slogans and verses about 'overcoming,' while people are actually being beaten up by circumstances and walked on by the adversary at
every turn. For many believers it seems enough to simply be called an overcomer or to think of themselves as one. Christ's abundant life is, for them, an appealing hope, perhaps even an intent, but not actual. The tragic reality is:
- Their minds are controlled by sin and compromising thought.
- Their marriages fail along with those of the world around them.
- Their children grow up questioning God's reality or relevancy.
- Their business fail alongside those whose owners don't know God.
- They walk in very little true peace or joy, experiencing the same stressed
out lifestyle as unbelievers. (No wonder most unsaved Americans see no need for
God. What difference would He make? they question.)- They speak of prayer's power, but rarely pray; even less frequently do they
see answers.- They speak of an all-powerful God who is 'in charge' but who seems to be
losing control of our nation - our schools, government, and culture as a
whole.- They glibly sing, 'Come on, let's take this city...' but they haven't taken
even one yet, at least in the U.SYet off we go to our church services, week after week, learning our lingo and getting our denial fix, all the while wondering why the rest of society - and many of our children - think we live in a make-believe world of religion without reality, performance without power.
What I see as I read through this is that this is the vital key to reaching America, which is arguably the 3rd largest mission field in the world:
The church must heal - individual by individual - each person taking responsibility for his or her own life, living vitally connected to and ultimately governed by Christ Jesus, until one by one our lives are transformed into lives of victory, full of God's presence and power and abiding peace and joy. When the church is full of healthy Christians who live the lives God intended - seeking constantly to know Him better, to love Him more, and to be ever in His presence - our lives will begin to mirror Him to a nation of individuals who have been watching and waiting for a reason to believe the Bible is true and that God is Who He says He is - that we are what He says we are. That we are conquerors; we do live with peace and joy. Until our words match our lives, until our actions are backed with power and substance, we will hold no weight with the unbelievers of our nation. We will go on in a charade of religion without substance, power or purpose. We will continue in denial of all that is really lacking, completely and utterly falling short of the purpose God has intended for our lives. We will continue to sell ourselves short on the awesome life that we could experience if we would just get it and get real!
Truly, until we do this, they have every reason to question, 'What difference is He making in our lives?' What do we have to offer up as evidence of our God to a lost and desperate world but a life empty and void of peace and power? Until we get over ourselves, connect with God, and allow His ways to guide and govern every aspect of who we are, we cannot tap into all He wants to manifest in our lives, and through us, in the lives of others. Until we really connect with God, completely abandoning our lives to Him, we ourselves run the risk of falling into doubt, and questioning the reality and relevancy of the very God we so love to profess.
Until we become vitally connected to Christ, as individuals within the church, the church as a whole will continue its cycle of internal illness and will continue to be wholly ineffective at reaching out to, ministering to, and impacting the lives of the unbelieving men and women who are standing right outside the church - just on the other side of the walls that hold us in.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Few and far between
It seems my blog posts here are getting fewer and farther between as time goes on. This is NOT intentional. I've been wanting to post for weeks. The problem when you have a brain that works the way mine works...if I don't sit down and post it right away, after a while I just sort of move on. Sad, isn't it? Welcome into the head of a slightly-adult-ADD girl like me! So now I have a journal full of things that I've not shared, and they feel 'old' to me now. (Another side effect of having a quirky mind like mine...I internalize things quickly and get bored easily. So after I've thought it through and processed it, I just sort of move on???)
Anyway, I have had a very busy few weeks, and I've been living life very last-minute...getting somewhere just as it starts, or maybe a few minutes late; getting things done in the last possible moment; jumping from one task to the next to the next without having time to pause or get ahead. Today seems to be shaping up in much the same way already, since I have way more to do today than hours in the day. So I say a prayer for God's grace to rest on me, so that I can work efficiently and with ease.
Not surprisingly, God has, in the last few days, brought some correction to me in this aspect of my life. It is not the best way to go about life, being always rushed, doing the bare minimum. God's plan for us is to live lives of excellence, and to enjoy the life we are living (not watch it go by in a blur!). Anyhow, His correction came through a story in the Bible that I have known since childhood - the story of Martha & Mary.
Luke 10:38-42 - Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord's feet and was listening to His teaching. But Martha, overly occupied and too busy, was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me! But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; There is need of only one or but few things. Mary has chosen the good portion that which is to her advantage, which shall not be taken away from her.
Martha was not doing wrong - she was serving the Lord. The problem was that she was too busy serving to take time to enjoy what she was doing. Why was she so busy? Probably the same reason I get busy - because I fail to adequately prepare ahead of time, and my chores ends up invading the time I should be enjoying. Poor time management. Doesn't sound super spiritual, but it can be the difference between enjoying life or rushing through it, having time to enjoy those around me or feeling to busy to give them my attention, receiving from the Lord or missing what He has for me.
As I go through the day today, with so much to do to get ready for weekend guests, I want to keep this story at the forefront of my mind. It is good to serve, but it is not the most important thing. There is need of only one or a few things, and I want to focus on that. Lord help me get this.
Anyway, I have had a very busy few weeks, and I've been living life very last-minute...getting somewhere just as it starts, or maybe a few minutes late; getting things done in the last possible moment; jumping from one task to the next to the next without having time to pause or get ahead. Today seems to be shaping up in much the same way already, since I have way more to do today than hours in the day. So I say a prayer for God's grace to rest on me, so that I can work efficiently and with ease.
Not surprisingly, God has, in the last few days, brought some correction to me in this aspect of my life. It is not the best way to go about life, being always rushed, doing the bare minimum. God's plan for us is to live lives of excellence, and to enjoy the life we are living (not watch it go by in a blur!). Anyhow, His correction came through a story in the Bible that I have known since childhood - the story of Martha & Mary.
Luke 10:38-42 - Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord's feet and was listening to His teaching. But Martha, overly occupied and too busy, was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me! But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; There is need of only one or but few things. Mary has chosen the good portion that which is to her advantage, which shall not be taken away from her.
Martha was not doing wrong - she was serving the Lord. The problem was that she was too busy serving to take time to enjoy what she was doing. Why was she so busy? Probably the same reason I get busy - because I fail to adequately prepare ahead of time, and my chores ends up invading the time I should be enjoying. Poor time management. Doesn't sound super spiritual, but it can be the difference between enjoying life or rushing through it, having time to enjoy those around me or feeling to busy to give them my attention, receiving from the Lord or missing what He has for me.
As I go through the day today, with so much to do to get ready for weekend guests, I want to keep this story at the forefront of my mind. It is good to serve, but it is not the most important thing. There is need of only one or a few things, and I want to focus on that. Lord help me get this.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Cure for Unbelief
"Unbelief is stifling the flow of God's presence and power in our church today." (Quote taken from previous post)
We are hesitant - afraid - to really put ourselves out there and truly believe. We fear disappointment. Worse, if we're gut-level honest, at times we fear that nothing at all will happen, which might poke holes in our decision to believe in God. We're afraid if nothing happens, we will have to justify our belief in God, and maybe we're not sure we can do that. The possibility of believing and not receiving 'results' brings us face to face with our now-wavering faith and the ugly question that lurks somewhere below the surface...'What if God's not real? What if He's not Who He says He is?'
We must recognize that unbelief leads to unbelief. If God cannot, or will not, act in our circumstances when there is unbelief, yet we are afraid to believe because we fear He will not act, then we spin ourselves into a circle of dormant, inactive, ineffective faith, at the core of which lies a seed of doubt with regards to the very existence and/or sovereignty and ability of God Himself.
The remedy for this must be a sweeping epidemic of personal intimacy with the Creator of the universe. It may seem a stretch to seek intimacy with someone whose existence we are, for the moment, unsure of, but it must be if we are to correct the shift of unbelief that is weighing down the Body of Christ. When we know someone personally, it becomes quite difficult to doubt their very existence. The same holds true with knowing God.
As we seek Him, with the determined purpose of knowing the TRUTH, of knowing Him, He will make Himself known. But before any of this can begin to take place, a decision must be made. We must set our minds and keep them set. Regardless of our feelings, we must, in our hearts, rely on the fundamental assumption that God IS and that His Word is true. Not that we believe without reason, but rather we choose to persevere and press on in times of trial, giving God the benefit of the doubt for the time being, and allowing Him the necessary time to do a work in us and for us, that He would be given the opportunity to reveal Himself and make Himself known.
I have walked through this in my own life, facing some monumental, and seemingly insurmountable struggles in my faith. I've faced questions for which I had no answers. I've battled with severe, almost suffocating doubt. I've struggled to pray - to even force myself to say the words because they seemed so absurd. I believe that one factor made the difference in the outcome of my struggles. At the outset, I had determined that I would give God a chance to be known. For the time being, I clung to the foundations that His Word is true. I stayed in His Word, and time and time again, I found answers to the questions; I found peace to quiet the doubt. I found strength to pray when I had no words.
I find myself now on the other side of these struggles, and in the most incredible place. Time and time again, God not only saw me through my trials, but He used them to develop me and help me grow. He revealed His truths, His nature, and His character to me through His Word and through time in prayer. I began to see the evidence of His presence in my life. I began to recognize the sound of His voice, the promptings of His Holy Spirit. I began to know Him, and I began to fall in love with Him - desperately, madly, crazy in love like I never could have imagined. And the more I know Him and love Him, the more my eyes are opened to see more of Him. And the more I see and experience Him, the less room there is for doubt; the greater my courage becomes. I am much more willing now that I was even a year ago to make myself vulnerable in the hands of the Lord, because now that I know Him, my belief in Him is rooted in what I know - what I know from my own personal experiences. My experiences with God have given me more than enough reason to believe in Him, to believe that He is , that He is sovereign, that He is good, that He loves me, and that He is wholly capable.
Knowing Him is the cure for unbelief.
We are hesitant - afraid - to really put ourselves out there and truly believe. We fear disappointment. Worse, if we're gut-level honest, at times we fear that nothing at all will happen, which might poke holes in our decision to believe in God. We're afraid if nothing happens, we will have to justify our belief in God, and maybe we're not sure we can do that. The possibility of believing and not receiving 'results' brings us face to face with our now-wavering faith and the ugly question that lurks somewhere below the surface...'What if God's not real? What if He's not Who He says He is?'
We must recognize that unbelief leads to unbelief. If God cannot, or will not, act in our circumstances when there is unbelief, yet we are afraid to believe because we fear He will not act, then we spin ourselves into a circle of dormant, inactive, ineffective faith, at the core of which lies a seed of doubt with regards to the very existence and/or sovereignty and ability of God Himself.
The remedy for this must be a sweeping epidemic of personal intimacy with the Creator of the universe. It may seem a stretch to seek intimacy with someone whose existence we are, for the moment, unsure of, but it must be if we are to correct the shift of unbelief that is weighing down the Body of Christ. When we know someone personally, it becomes quite difficult to doubt their very existence. The same holds true with knowing God.
As we seek Him, with the determined purpose of knowing the TRUTH, of knowing Him, He will make Himself known. But before any of this can begin to take place, a decision must be made. We must set our minds and keep them set. Regardless of our feelings, we must, in our hearts, rely on the fundamental assumption that God IS and that His Word is true. Not that we believe without reason, but rather we choose to persevere and press on in times of trial, giving God the benefit of the doubt for the time being, and allowing Him the necessary time to do a work in us and for us, that He would be given the opportunity to reveal Himself and make Himself known.
I have walked through this in my own life, facing some monumental, and seemingly insurmountable struggles in my faith. I've faced questions for which I had no answers. I've battled with severe, almost suffocating doubt. I've struggled to pray - to even force myself to say the words because they seemed so absurd. I believe that one factor made the difference in the outcome of my struggles. At the outset, I had determined that I would give God a chance to be known. For the time being, I clung to the foundations that His Word is true. I stayed in His Word, and time and time again, I found answers to the questions; I found peace to quiet the doubt. I found strength to pray when I had no words.
I find myself now on the other side of these struggles, and in the most incredible place. Time and time again, God not only saw me through my trials, but He used them to develop me and help me grow. He revealed His truths, His nature, and His character to me through His Word and through time in prayer. I began to see the evidence of His presence in my life. I began to recognize the sound of His voice, the promptings of His Holy Spirit. I began to know Him, and I began to fall in love with Him - desperately, madly, crazy in love like I never could have imagined. And the more I know Him and love Him, the more my eyes are opened to see more of Him. And the more I see and experience Him, the less room there is for doubt; the greater my courage becomes. I am much more willing now that I was even a year ago to make myself vulnerable in the hands of the Lord, because now that I know Him, my belief in Him is rooted in what I know - what I know from my own personal experiences. My experiences with God have given me more than enough reason to believe in Him, to believe that He is , that He is sovereign, that He is good, that He loves me, and that He is wholly capable.
Knowing Him is the cure for unbelief.
Does Faith Really Work?
NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. (Hebrews 11:1, AMP)
There is some strong language in this verse. Assurance. Confirmation. Proof. Conviction. Reality. Fact. This verse is, more or less, defining faith the way God sees it and the way He has designed it to work. By definition, faith is all or nothing. It is total and complete. It leaves no room for doubting and wavering and hesitating. It is assurance. It is confirmation. It is proof. It is having conviction that something is reality, and perceiving in the spirit a fact before it can bee seen in the natural. Faith is certainty.
What if it's wrong? What if I'm certain of something that doesn't happen? What if I pray for my child to be healed, and she keeps coughing? What if I believe for someone to recover, but instead they pass away? Does faith really work?
When I was young, my mom and I took a lot of trips to West Virginia. Her parents lived there, and we would go a few times a year to visit. West Virginia is a beautiful state with the most amazing mountain landscape. I remember on one particular trip to my grandparents' house, I was looking out the back window of our car as we were waiving our goodbye's and heading home. I had recently learned a new verse in Sunday School that says, If you have faith and you believe, you can tell a mountain to move, and it will be moved (Matthew 17:20). So, I looked out the back window, and with all the faith in me, I prayed that the mountain I was looking at would be moved, just so I could see that this worked. I waited. I watched out the window until the road had wound around and the mountain was out of sight. The mountain never budged. Not even a little. I was at a loss to understand why it hadn't worked. I mean, I really believed the Bible. I really believed that what it says is true. And I had full faith that my mountain was going to crumble at any moment.
I think this was one of my first experiences of exercising my faith and feeling disappointed at the result. Since then I've had countless experiences of praying for something, believing for something, and seeing no obvious results. And every time, I was left with a hint of a doubt to preface my next prayer. It seems that, over time, every prayer for healing or prayer for God to work in a situation became clouded with a shadow of a doubt that whispers, 'This isn't going to work anyway.' Why? If faith really works, why didn't my mountain crumble? Why do people suffer? Why does anyone go unhealed?
Can I tell you a true story? About a month ago, I was driving down my road, on my way home from the grocery, and a fleeting glimpse of my childhood attempt to bring down the mountain flashed through my mind. Then God spoke something very simple to me. 'It was never my will to move that mountain.'
How odd. I had not been thinking about it. I had not been seeking an answer to my mountain riddle. Yet, He spoke to me directly about it. Plain and clear. Obviously, He has a few things He wants to teach me about faith and how it operates. That was the first thing that He made clear to me. My prayer must be in line with His will for it to be effective.
Now let me show you a second thing God showed me shortly after this 'mountain revelation' (LOL). Quite a while ago I bought a book called 'The Spirit of Faith' by Mark Hankins. I got about half way through it, but got distracted by something else and never finished reading it. One day, though, I sat down in my bedroom floor, and of all things, I picked up this book and started flipping through it. I came across something that made me stop and give a lot of thought to the impact of my faith on the outcome of what I am believing for. The following is taken directly from the book I just mentioned:
The second thing God has lead me to understand: Our own unbelief limits what God can do in our circumstances.
There's one more thing I want to share with you before I finish. This afternoon, as I read back through the verse in Hebrews that I shared at the beginning, even today my response was, 'What if it doesn't work?' (Clearly I've still got some work to do in this area). But what God put on my heart in response was so simple, yet so powerful. 'If it doesn't work, believe it again.' If I don't see results today, believe I will see them tomorrow. If I don't see results tomorrow, believe I will see them the day after. I will never see what I am unwilling to believe for - believing with complete certainty, as Hebrews describes. Faith is ongoing, and must outlast the circumstances. I would rather die in belief, never having received what I was believing for, than to never receive what I had hoped for because I would not believe.
Sometimes it does seem like our prayers aren't accomplishing anything. It feels like our faith is pointless, like it just doesn't work. Still, I've seen so many instances where the complete opposite has proven to be true. I've seen amazing answers to prayers that I've prayed. I've seen God work wonders in situations and circumstances that seemed impenetrable. Because I've seen God work, I KNOW my prayers are heard. I know that faith works. But faith does not leave room for doubt. When we doubt, we tie God's hands, and keep Him from being able to work miracles on our behalf. Further, our faith must line up with God's word and God's will. It is important that we take time to seek Him and sit in His presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers. That is when we are certain to pray according to the will of God. When I have prayed, in full faith, and in accordance with God's word and His will, I must continue to believe and wait on God, expecting to see an answer to my prayer at the exact moment, in God's perfect timing.
We are not often capable of understanding His plan, and we do not have the capacity to look ahead to see how circumstances will all work together for the good of His plan. We do, however, have the capacity to seek Him, to know Him and to trust Him, believing in full faith that He is a good God, that He alone is sovereign, and that He is capable of doing all things.
Jesus said to him, You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on. (John 17:3)
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait and hope for and expect the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)
There is some strong language in this verse. Assurance. Confirmation. Proof. Conviction. Reality. Fact. This verse is, more or less, defining faith the way God sees it and the way He has designed it to work. By definition, faith is all or nothing. It is total and complete. It leaves no room for doubting and wavering and hesitating. It is assurance. It is confirmation. It is proof. It is having conviction that something is reality, and perceiving in the spirit a fact before it can bee seen in the natural. Faith is certainty.
What if it's wrong? What if I'm certain of something that doesn't happen? What if I pray for my child to be healed, and she keeps coughing? What if I believe for someone to recover, but instead they pass away? Does faith really work?
When I was young, my mom and I took a lot of trips to West Virginia. Her parents lived there, and we would go a few times a year to visit. West Virginia is a beautiful state with the most amazing mountain landscape. I remember on one particular trip to my grandparents' house, I was looking out the back window of our car as we were waiving our goodbye's and heading home. I had recently learned a new verse in Sunday School that says, If you have faith and you believe, you can tell a mountain to move, and it will be moved (Matthew 17:20). So, I looked out the back window, and with all the faith in me, I prayed that the mountain I was looking at would be moved, just so I could see that this worked. I waited. I watched out the window until the road had wound around and the mountain was out of sight. The mountain never budged. Not even a little. I was at a loss to understand why it hadn't worked. I mean, I really believed the Bible. I really believed that what it says is true. And I had full faith that my mountain was going to crumble at any moment.
I think this was one of my first experiences of exercising my faith and feeling disappointed at the result. Since then I've had countless experiences of praying for something, believing for something, and seeing no obvious results. And every time, I was left with a hint of a doubt to preface my next prayer. It seems that, over time, every prayer for healing or prayer for God to work in a situation became clouded with a shadow of a doubt that whispers, 'This isn't going to work anyway.' Why? If faith really works, why didn't my mountain crumble? Why do people suffer? Why does anyone go unhealed?
Can I tell you a true story? About a month ago, I was driving down my road, on my way home from the grocery, and a fleeting glimpse of my childhood attempt to bring down the mountain flashed through my mind. Then God spoke something very simple to me. 'It was never my will to move that mountain.'
How odd. I had not been thinking about it. I had not been seeking an answer to my mountain riddle. Yet, He spoke to me directly about it. Plain and clear. Obviously, He has a few things He wants to teach me about faith and how it operates. That was the first thing that He made clear to me. My prayer must be in line with His will for it to be effective.
Now let me show you a second thing God showed me shortly after this 'mountain revelation' (LOL). Quite a while ago I bought a book called 'The Spirit of Faith' by Mark Hankins. I got about half way through it, but got distracted by something else and never finished reading it. One day, though, I sat down in my bedroom floor, and of all things, I picked up this book and started flipping through it. I came across something that made me stop and give a lot of thought to the impact of my faith on the outcome of what I am believing for. The following is taken directly from the book I just mentioned:
People often say, 'It's up to God. If God wants to do it, God can do anything. He is a sovereign God.' Apparently, Jesus didn't know that. If God can do anything anytime He wants to, why didn't Jesus do it right there in His own hometown?
Mark 6:5-6 - And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people and cured them. And He marveled because of the unbelief (their lack of faith in Him). And He went about...and continued teaching.
Unbelief is stifling the flow of God's presence and power in our church today.
The second thing God has lead me to understand: Our own unbelief limits what God can do in our circumstances.
There's one more thing I want to share with you before I finish. This afternoon, as I read back through the verse in Hebrews that I shared at the beginning, even today my response was, 'What if it doesn't work?' (Clearly I've still got some work to do in this area). But what God put on my heart in response was so simple, yet so powerful. 'If it doesn't work, believe it again.' If I don't see results today, believe I will see them tomorrow. If I don't see results tomorrow, believe I will see them the day after. I will never see what I am unwilling to believe for - believing with complete certainty, as Hebrews describes. Faith is ongoing, and must outlast the circumstances. I would rather die in belief, never having received what I was believing for, than to never receive what I had hoped for because I would not believe.
Sometimes it does seem like our prayers aren't accomplishing anything. It feels like our faith is pointless, like it just doesn't work. Still, I've seen so many instances where the complete opposite has proven to be true. I've seen amazing answers to prayers that I've prayed. I've seen God work wonders in situations and circumstances that seemed impenetrable. Because I've seen God work, I KNOW my prayers are heard. I know that faith works. But faith does not leave room for doubt. When we doubt, we tie God's hands, and keep Him from being able to work miracles on our behalf. Further, our faith must line up with God's word and God's will. It is important that we take time to seek Him and sit in His presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers. That is when we are certain to pray according to the will of God. When I have prayed, in full faith, and in accordance with God's word and His will, I must continue to believe and wait on God, expecting to see an answer to my prayer at the exact moment, in God's perfect timing.
We are not often capable of understanding His plan, and we do not have the capacity to look ahead to see how circumstances will all work together for the good of His plan. We do, however, have the capacity to seek Him, to know Him and to trust Him, believing in full faith that He is a good God, that He alone is sovereign, and that He is capable of doing all things.
Jesus said to him, You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on. (John 17:3)
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait and hope for and expect the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)
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