How many times have I heard the argument that if God is a God of love, then everyone should be able to get to heaven. Especially if it’s someone they know and love, and if that person is a ‘good person’.
I was muddling on that one recently and a few scenarios came to mind…
A man is applying to the RCMP. He passed the aptitude tests. He passed the interview. Now he is being required to submit to a lengthy assessment – some call it Deviant Testing – to assess his suitability. Is that reasonable? I think we all agree that we don’t want just anybody wearing that uniform! Restricting who can be an RCMP officer is critical given the authority such a person has, and the expectations and trust our citizens place in the RCMP.
People from other countries often seek refugee status to be allowed to come into and live in our country. The immigration department screens their stories, looks into their history, checks on past behavior to see if they are safe and productive, or if their presence would drain our resources, or put our communities at risk. If so, they can’t come.
Couples decide they want to adopt a child. The assessment of criminal and child protection history checks, the many hours of interviews and home study assessments take months before it is decided if they are suitable to take another person’s child and raise it as their own. Again, given the vulnerability of a little one, we consider this a reasonable expectation.
But what of heaven? We look forward to it as the perfect place, where there is peace, goodness, joy… ‘No tears in heaven’! Why then do so many think everyone who appears to be good and kind should be able to go there without any criteria other than the fact that those who love them think they deserve it? How often have people I love gotten into serious trouble, or done terrible things I didn’t know they were capable of? Maybe I’m not such a great judge of character.
Even so, people still think that the God of the Bible who screens entrance into heaven is an unreasonable, judgmental, critical God.
But hold on just a minute! How much more reasonable is He? Our RCMP, our Immigration, our Child Welfare system all say that, based on who your life has created you to be, we have the right to reject you on the basis that you aren’t suitable for a particular position. We say this based on our historical knowledge of how badly things can go for all concerned when a person is allowed access to places or people who doesn’t have the moral character to live up to the expectations of the position.
God is so much better than that, though! God says He won’t reject us based on our history, based on our weaknesses. Instead, He says He’ll put the Holy Spirit in the heart of any applicant, any refugee, any person with a past, no matter how terrible. All that person has to do is ask for it, and He’ll “fit us for heaven to live with Him there”!
How amazing is that!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
MISSIONS: GOD-GIVEN VISAS
There’s a passage in Matthew that I used avoid, and felt very guilty about it because they were Jesus’ words!
Matthew 28:18-20: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The church refers to this as “The Great Commission”, and it annoyed me to no end. (No, it’s okay. Lightning didn’t just strike me, so I’ll continue with my thoughts.)
Actually, the Lord and I have gone around on this discussion many times. What He showed me was that it was not the commission, but man’s spin on the commission that I was having trouble with. I despised sermons that pressured me to go and talk to my friends and neighbors about the Lord. As a youth I’d been ‘evangelized’ by people who were clearly disgusted with my lifestyle and I was repelled by their obvious repulsion of me. I sure wasn’t going to go and do the same now.
Such sermons left me hollering (silently, of course), “Quit making me feel guilty for not leading people to Christ. That’s His job, not mine!!!!”
Over the years, though, as my conversations with Jesus about evangelizing and missions ministries continued, He has shown me many things that allow me to feel I am capable of obeying the commission Jesus gave to His disciples, and therefore to all believers. The key is to look at missions through the Lord’s eyes and realize how differently He defines them, according to His knowledge of the ‘missionary’. (That would be me… and you!)
I have friends who felt called by the Lord to enter the mission field in the Far East. They were there openly as missionaries, and were funded by churches and their mission society. They taught and preached. They planted churches and shared the gospel message with many of God’s children. They lived the life we typically think of when we consider missions, and they lived that life wonderfully well.
Their daughter and her husband are also missionaries. However, the picture is a little different for them. They are in a closed country where Christians are not welcome. As such, they can’t obtain visas to be there unless they are working at a government approved job. So, while they are subsidized by the mission society, they also work and live ordinary lives in the same manner as the citizens of that country. They cannot openly evangelize as their parents did or they would be deported, or even arrested. Instead, they live their faith out loud. Bit by bit friends and neighbors who get to know them see a difference in them. Some ask about that difference. And as God leads, some embrace that difference, finding their own relationship with Jesus.
Another friend has a husband in the military. They move around a lot. Recently they were posted to a city in Eastern Canada. The lady asked the Lord how she could serve Him in this new city. In her heart she had always dreamed of attending a church nearby, one she could walk to. Lo and behold there was a church just down the block from the home they found, but it is one that teaches only partial truth. The denomination picks and chooses what suits them from the Bible and bases their faith on this. The lady prayed and asked the Lord for discernment. In answer to that prayer, she and her husband felt strongly that they should attend this church. So, in a unique twist of the definition of a mission field, she remains in her own community, but the Lord has commissioned her to proclaim the full truth of God’s word. She loves the people, and they need to learn about the Gospel just as much as those in East Asia do!
My pastor has just been given a visa to a very different, but disturbingly common mission field. In fact, he and his wife were preparing for a short mission trip to Central America when God turned them in this unexpected direction – a mission field just as much in need of the Hope of Jesus Christ as the field they had planned to visit. A few months ago Pastor discovered a growth in his body. Diagnosed with cancer, he and his wife will now enter a mission field steeped with fear, anger, pain, disfigurement, hopelessness… all under the heading of “cancer treatment”. Now they have a choice. Do they join in the accepted and expected mindset of those members of this small stratum of society? No one could fault them if they did. That doesn’t seem to be the case though. From what I see, they are looking at this as a visa to a mission field that is closed to most. Unless you’re a card carrying member, so to speak, you can’t witness to this group with any credibility. It seems that the Lord has opened the door so they can enter in and live out loud His love, His peace, His grace, His hope as they encounter staff, patients, family, friends…
So having cancer is opening a door to this ‘mission field’. Now, all of this is wonderfully noble and righteous. But what of our pastor and his wife? Is it not unfair that after decades of faithful service God is allowing this terrible disease to mar their lives? Should we not pray for and expect miraculous healing? Many people love this couple and will pray that way, I’m sure. And maybe God will respond, as He has in other lives. However, if Pastor is healed miraculously, I wonder how quickly people will forget? How would that help the unbelievers at the Cancer Clinic? We all know that only those who have personal experience of a situation are considered credible. Well meaning people teach and preach, but only one who has walked in those shoes will be considered plausible. If Pastor were to be miraculously healed, who would go to the clinic day after day to share God’s love in the waiting room? Many family members go with their loved one. Who will relate to the unique struggle of helplessness they’re experiencing if Pastor’s wife isn’t there? Yes, this is definitely a mission field.
But there is still one question that begs to be raised. Will Pastor’s life be ended as a result of this circumstance? In my mind, that question isn’t a contributing part to the equation. Philippians 1:6 promises His believers that we can be… “confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Jesus will not stop working with Pastor and his wife until His good work has been completed. A physical growth cannot hinder God from honoring His promise. He’s much bigger than that!
So, I am learning that when things appear, in my worldly view, to go sideways, perhaps it is the Lord sending us into a new mission field. We may suffer culture shock, especially at first! But with His help, we’ll be able to settle in and allow Him to work through us. May God’s name be praised as He spreads His gospel message of Hope in His unique and creative ways! And may I have the wisdom and grace to recognize the opportunities He might be giving me, instead of trying to pray them away.
Matthew 28:18-20: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The church refers to this as “The Great Commission”, and it annoyed me to no end. (No, it’s okay. Lightning didn’t just strike me, so I’ll continue with my thoughts.)
Actually, the Lord and I have gone around on this discussion many times. What He showed me was that it was not the commission, but man’s spin on the commission that I was having trouble with. I despised sermons that pressured me to go and talk to my friends and neighbors about the Lord. As a youth I’d been ‘evangelized’ by people who were clearly disgusted with my lifestyle and I was repelled by their obvious repulsion of me. I sure wasn’t going to go and do the same now.
Such sermons left me hollering (silently, of course), “Quit making me feel guilty for not leading people to Christ. That’s His job, not mine!!!!”
Over the years, though, as my conversations with Jesus about evangelizing and missions ministries continued, He has shown me many things that allow me to feel I am capable of obeying the commission Jesus gave to His disciples, and therefore to all believers. The key is to look at missions through the Lord’s eyes and realize how differently He defines them, according to His knowledge of the ‘missionary’. (That would be me… and you!)
I have friends who felt called by the Lord to enter the mission field in the Far East. They were there openly as missionaries, and were funded by churches and their mission society. They taught and preached. They planted churches and shared the gospel message with many of God’s children. They lived the life we typically think of when we consider missions, and they lived that life wonderfully well.
Their daughter and her husband are also missionaries. However, the picture is a little different for them. They are in a closed country where Christians are not welcome. As such, they can’t obtain visas to be there unless they are working at a government approved job. So, while they are subsidized by the mission society, they also work and live ordinary lives in the same manner as the citizens of that country. They cannot openly evangelize as their parents did or they would be deported, or even arrested. Instead, they live their faith out loud. Bit by bit friends and neighbors who get to know them see a difference in them. Some ask about that difference. And as God leads, some embrace that difference, finding their own relationship with Jesus.
Another friend has a husband in the military. They move around a lot. Recently they were posted to a city in Eastern Canada. The lady asked the Lord how she could serve Him in this new city. In her heart she had always dreamed of attending a church nearby, one she could walk to. Lo and behold there was a church just down the block from the home they found, but it is one that teaches only partial truth. The denomination picks and chooses what suits them from the Bible and bases their faith on this. The lady prayed and asked the Lord for discernment. In answer to that prayer, she and her husband felt strongly that they should attend this church. So, in a unique twist of the definition of a mission field, she remains in her own community, but the Lord has commissioned her to proclaim the full truth of God’s word. She loves the people, and they need to learn about the Gospel just as much as those in East Asia do!
My pastor has just been given a visa to a very different, but disturbingly common mission field. In fact, he and his wife were preparing for a short mission trip to Central America when God turned them in this unexpected direction – a mission field just as much in need of the Hope of Jesus Christ as the field they had planned to visit. A few months ago Pastor discovered a growth in his body. Diagnosed with cancer, he and his wife will now enter a mission field steeped with fear, anger, pain, disfigurement, hopelessness… all under the heading of “cancer treatment”. Now they have a choice. Do they join in the accepted and expected mindset of those members of this small stratum of society? No one could fault them if they did. That doesn’t seem to be the case though. From what I see, they are looking at this as a visa to a mission field that is closed to most. Unless you’re a card carrying member, so to speak, you can’t witness to this group with any credibility. It seems that the Lord has opened the door so they can enter in and live out loud His love, His peace, His grace, His hope as they encounter staff, patients, family, friends…
So having cancer is opening a door to this ‘mission field’. Now, all of this is wonderfully noble and righteous. But what of our pastor and his wife? Is it not unfair that after decades of faithful service God is allowing this terrible disease to mar their lives? Should we not pray for and expect miraculous healing? Many people love this couple and will pray that way, I’m sure. And maybe God will respond, as He has in other lives. However, if Pastor is healed miraculously, I wonder how quickly people will forget? How would that help the unbelievers at the Cancer Clinic? We all know that only those who have personal experience of a situation are considered credible. Well meaning people teach and preach, but only one who has walked in those shoes will be considered plausible. If Pastor were to be miraculously healed, who would go to the clinic day after day to share God’s love in the waiting room? Many family members go with their loved one. Who will relate to the unique struggle of helplessness they’re experiencing if Pastor’s wife isn’t there? Yes, this is definitely a mission field.
But there is still one question that begs to be raised. Will Pastor’s life be ended as a result of this circumstance? In my mind, that question isn’t a contributing part to the equation. Philippians 1:6 promises His believers that we can be… “confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Jesus will not stop working with Pastor and his wife until His good work has been completed. A physical growth cannot hinder God from honoring His promise. He’s much bigger than that!
So, I am learning that when things appear, in my worldly view, to go sideways, perhaps it is the Lord sending us into a new mission field. We may suffer culture shock, especially at first! But with His help, we’ll be able to settle in and allow Him to work through us. May God’s name be praised as He spreads His gospel message of Hope in His unique and creative ways! And may I have the wisdom and grace to recognize the opportunities He might be giving me, instead of trying to pray them away.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
How can God Allow Suffering?
A story came around through the internet saying that in Haiti, as in all places where natural disasters strike, one of the horrible outcomes is that young girls, and boys as well are exploited as a result. They sell themselves for food or water or shelter, or are sold by others for those same commodities. A friend e-mailed, ”For the young girls in Haiti, where is God?”
It’s a fair question. It’s much easier to believe in a God of love and fairness and forgiveness and joy when we don't have to know about the horrors man inflicts on his fellow human beings. I guess each of us has to come to an understanding of this individually, and for me that understanding required two steps. First, I started praying daily and became serious about not trying to protect God from my thoughts. Second, I finally began asking His opinion after I’d shared those thoughts.
Through my Lord’s teaching, this is what I’ve come to understand. Others may see things differently, but here's my piece.
Back in the beginning God’s Word says that He made a choice. While He has the power to stop or change anything going on in the universe, it was His decision to give man dominion over His creation. I think that means that how we handle this power is extremely important. While it is a privilege from the Lord, we are in a position to make it our right. Everyone - from a disobedient servant girl in Abraham's day to a relief worker in Haiti who reportedly bought a young girl for his pleasure - will answer for what we've done and not done. God's word says that clearly, so it's important that we understand it, and respond accordingly when we make our decisions in handling His creation - from the soil all the way to the people.
So that was my first understanding. God set it up so that we're in charge of our actions and the consequences of them. He does not promise to step in and stop the horrors man perpetrates on his fellow human beings. What He does promise is that He will heal us from the consequences if we allow it. More on that in a moment.
My next understanding came from something He taught me when I was reading in the book of Job. I was right ticked when I read that story and I prayed, "Lord, how could You wipe out all of Job’s children and their families and servants just to make a point? If this is true, then You're a cruel God!" and He said, in answer to that prayer, "Wipe them out? I didn't erase them. I brought them Home." That answer stunned me. I never truly realized that this life is the temporary one - like serving a rotation in the navy, or spending a few years in the mission field. After I’ve done my time here, then the real living begins in the next life, the tangible, enduring one. After understanding that about the story of Job I had to read scripture very differently, remembering what God’s end goal is, and that this life is not the be-all-end-all. It's only the means to the everlasting life.
Means to everlasting life... Once I grasped that, I began to see this life as being very similar to our school system. In many countries around the world, everyone has access to free schooling. There is no cost to us. All you have to do is show up at the door and walk in. Some folk never attend. Some start and move forward for a few years, and then get comfortable at a particular grade and keep living according to what they learned at that level. I think that’s perfectly fine with the Lord. God will nudge them if He so chooses, but they may be serving Him exactly as His will dictates, so that’s fine for those students of the Lord. Some choose to finish a grade and then enroll in the next, and the next, and the next. By definition of learning, each grade is more difficult and entails more challenges and work, more insecurity and unsureness, but eventually deeper understanding and greater skill. (And, as it says in James, greater responsibility!) I believe that in the same way our level of education has an impact on how we live our adult lives in this life, all the learning and field practice we carry out here will have an impact on what our experience will be in eternity. With that in mind, I tend to treat fellow believers as students, and that makes it very easy to not judge their learning experience because I’m well aware that everyone learns at different rates, in different ways, and all of it is valuable.
Back to God. Scripture says that His goal for His human creation is that He wants all to come to Him. Jesus said it doesn't matter what our fellow humans do to us, and it doesn't matter what we've done in the past. Ultimately He wants us to be in heaven with Him. That's why I believe that death row conversions are possible. That's why I believe that the 13 yr old girl in Haiti being bought for a piece of bread can be told in truth that her horror is man-made, and that she has the power to turn to Jesus who can provide healing and spiritual rescue. And as hard as it is to say, I also believe that the man who bought her can be saved and forgiven and healed as well. (But to be honest, I don’t like to think about him! If it was up to me, he wouldn’t have that chance. Thankfully for him, it’s not up to me!)
My own story is not one of peace and tranquility. My childhood saw a variety of evils and chronic suffering that resulted in my attempt to find escape through suicide attempts and cutting. Suicidal thoughts were my default whenever things went wrong, even as an adult. I had two breakdowns, two stints in the psych ward, until I could stabilize. My daughter suffered an accident that left her severely disabled. People who know me and my family know that I’m not speaking Christian clichés here. I’ve lived what that girl in Haiti is experiencing, and I can attest unequivocally that I have been healed!
Because of my own experience, I can truly say that healing is possible, and that Jesus will provide that healing. But there was a cost to me. I had to give up my anger and pain and sense of identity as a victim. I had to accept that I could have a different identity in Him, and give over who I believed I was to see what He'd do with it. It's hard to let go of what you know, what you're comfortable with (even if what’s comfortable is awful!) because you don't know what there might be to replace it. So stepping out and trusting Jesus feels dangerous and brings with it great insecurity. That’s something many Christians don’t get, I’m sure. Everyone says ‘Trust in the Lord! He is your strength!” But the idea of trusting Him when you are a barely holding yourself together in your state of vulnerability and fragility… yeah, that’s difficult.
What began my healing was to take Jesus at His word. He says, “Come to me”, so I did. I started by having daily frank discussions with Him - a good start, but not enough to heal.
The next, and more difficult step was to began to have the willingness to listen to His response. Sometimes I was rather embarrassed by what He was impressing on me. Sometimes I was downright ashamed and I’d push the concepts away for months at a time before I was willing to entertain them. Often His answers to my emotional and spiritual 'whys' came from way out in left field. I had to really think about them, since they'd never crossed my mind before.
That's when healing began to take place. He gave me NEW thoughts, NEW understandings that no human had ever been able to give me, and they were so very personal to me, to my story, to how I’d been damaged, to what I needed to understand, that no human could ever have provided that help and insight - only someone Who knew me as intimately as my Lord Jesus. And always, ALWAYS His understandings were laid on my heart with love.
This is the prayer I began with, to start this change within me.
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
May the Lord speak to all our hearts in the way that He knows is right for each of us.
It’s a fair question. It’s much easier to believe in a God of love and fairness and forgiveness and joy when we don't have to know about the horrors man inflicts on his fellow human beings. I guess each of us has to come to an understanding of this individually, and for me that understanding required two steps. First, I started praying daily and became serious about not trying to protect God from my thoughts. Second, I finally began asking His opinion after I’d shared those thoughts.
Through my Lord’s teaching, this is what I’ve come to understand. Others may see things differently, but here's my piece.
Back in the beginning God’s Word says that He made a choice. While He has the power to stop or change anything going on in the universe, it was His decision to give man dominion over His creation. I think that means that how we handle this power is extremely important. While it is a privilege from the Lord, we are in a position to make it our right. Everyone - from a disobedient servant girl in Abraham's day to a relief worker in Haiti who reportedly bought a young girl for his pleasure - will answer for what we've done and not done. God's word says that clearly, so it's important that we understand it, and respond accordingly when we make our decisions in handling His creation - from the soil all the way to the people.
So that was my first understanding. God set it up so that we're in charge of our actions and the consequences of them. He does not promise to step in and stop the horrors man perpetrates on his fellow human beings. What He does promise is that He will heal us from the consequences if we allow it. More on that in a moment.
My next understanding came from something He taught me when I was reading in the book of Job. I was right ticked when I read that story and I prayed, "Lord, how could You wipe out all of Job’s children and their families and servants just to make a point? If this is true, then You're a cruel God!" and He said, in answer to that prayer, "Wipe them out? I didn't erase them. I brought them Home." That answer stunned me. I never truly realized that this life is the temporary one - like serving a rotation in the navy, or spending a few years in the mission field. After I’ve done my time here, then the real living begins in the next life, the tangible, enduring one. After understanding that about the story of Job I had to read scripture very differently, remembering what God’s end goal is, and that this life is not the be-all-end-all. It's only the means to the everlasting life.
Means to everlasting life... Once I grasped that, I began to see this life as being very similar to our school system. In many countries around the world, everyone has access to free schooling. There is no cost to us. All you have to do is show up at the door and walk in. Some folk never attend. Some start and move forward for a few years, and then get comfortable at a particular grade and keep living according to what they learned at that level. I think that’s perfectly fine with the Lord. God will nudge them if He so chooses, but they may be serving Him exactly as His will dictates, so that’s fine for those students of the Lord. Some choose to finish a grade and then enroll in the next, and the next, and the next. By definition of learning, each grade is more difficult and entails more challenges and work, more insecurity and unsureness, but eventually deeper understanding and greater skill. (And, as it says in James, greater responsibility!) I believe that in the same way our level of education has an impact on how we live our adult lives in this life, all the learning and field practice we carry out here will have an impact on what our experience will be in eternity. With that in mind, I tend to treat fellow believers as students, and that makes it very easy to not judge their learning experience because I’m well aware that everyone learns at different rates, in different ways, and all of it is valuable.
Back to God. Scripture says that His goal for His human creation is that He wants all to come to Him. Jesus said it doesn't matter what our fellow humans do to us, and it doesn't matter what we've done in the past. Ultimately He wants us to be in heaven with Him. That's why I believe that death row conversions are possible. That's why I believe that the 13 yr old girl in Haiti being bought for a piece of bread can be told in truth that her horror is man-made, and that she has the power to turn to Jesus who can provide healing and spiritual rescue. And as hard as it is to say, I also believe that the man who bought her can be saved and forgiven and healed as well. (But to be honest, I don’t like to think about him! If it was up to me, he wouldn’t have that chance. Thankfully for him, it’s not up to me!)
My own story is not one of peace and tranquility. My childhood saw a variety of evils and chronic suffering that resulted in my attempt to find escape through suicide attempts and cutting. Suicidal thoughts were my default whenever things went wrong, even as an adult. I had two breakdowns, two stints in the psych ward, until I could stabilize. My daughter suffered an accident that left her severely disabled. People who know me and my family know that I’m not speaking Christian clichés here. I’ve lived what that girl in Haiti is experiencing, and I can attest unequivocally that I have been healed!
Because of my own experience, I can truly say that healing is possible, and that Jesus will provide that healing. But there was a cost to me. I had to give up my anger and pain and sense of identity as a victim. I had to accept that I could have a different identity in Him, and give over who I believed I was to see what He'd do with it. It's hard to let go of what you know, what you're comfortable with (even if what’s comfortable is awful!) because you don't know what there might be to replace it. So stepping out and trusting Jesus feels dangerous and brings with it great insecurity. That’s something many Christians don’t get, I’m sure. Everyone says ‘Trust in the Lord! He is your strength!” But the idea of trusting Him when you are a barely holding yourself together in your state of vulnerability and fragility… yeah, that’s difficult.
What began my healing was to take Jesus at His word. He says, “Come to me”, so I did. I started by having daily frank discussions with Him - a good start, but not enough to heal.
The next, and more difficult step was to began to have the willingness to listen to His response. Sometimes I was rather embarrassed by what He was impressing on me. Sometimes I was downright ashamed and I’d push the concepts away for months at a time before I was willing to entertain them. Often His answers to my emotional and spiritual 'whys' came from way out in left field. I had to really think about them, since they'd never crossed my mind before.
That's when healing began to take place. He gave me NEW thoughts, NEW understandings that no human had ever been able to give me, and they were so very personal to me, to my story, to how I’d been damaged, to what I needed to understand, that no human could ever have provided that help and insight - only someone Who knew me as intimately as my Lord Jesus. And always, ALWAYS His understandings were laid on my heart with love.
This is the prayer I began with, to start this change within me.
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
May the Lord speak to all our hearts in the way that He knows is right for each of us.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thy Kingdom Come, My Kingdom Go!
What does that mean, Thy Kingdom Come? It seems reasonable to consider that the Lord’s work, plans, actions and desires all constitute His Kingdom.
So, is actuating His Kingdom my job, or is it His job? Hmmmm. No brainer. I could never aspire to actuate anything on the level that the One and Only Holy Lord could.
At the same time, He created us humans and gave us dominion over this earth. So clearly I fit into this picture somehow. I wonder… is my job to make His Kingdom happen, or let His Kingdom happen?
Thy Kingdom Come…. The flip side of that would be ‘my kingdom go’, wouldn’t it?
Lord, what exactly is MY kingdom? What do I do that puts barriers in the way of Your Kingdom being manifested in me and through me?
I’ve been praying about that for some time now, and a few things keep coming to mind, over and over.
Barrier: MY plans and MY schedule. I set up MY to-do list and then arrange and manipulate things through the day to make sure it gets done.
Solution: About a year ago I changed the conclusion of my prayer time. Every morning I finish my prayer time by going over my To-Ask list with You. Maybe all those things I think are so urgent really aren’t. And maybe You don’t have everything in place to get them done or meet the needs in Your way just yet.
Barrier: Tasks. Yes, I’m task oriented. I know that. It feels good to get something completed, done right, and finished. But that love chapter in 1 Corinthians Ch. 3 says all the gifts of the Lord are worthless unless they are done with love. (Check out BibleGateway.com to read the chapter.)
Solution: When I do something for or with someone, the real goal must be the person, not the task. It’s about fellowship, not achievement.
Hmmm. What about when I’m feeling overloaded, and I start yammering to everyone around how busy I am, how my very important tasks are taking over my life, how hard done by I am…. Is that conducive to anyone feeling they could ask me for help? Or just ask of my time to hang out, be together, to encourage each other? I don’t think so!
I guess self-pity doesn’t fit into Thy Kingdom Come either.
Barrier: Manipulation of events. In scripture the Lord causes or allows things to happen that ultimately serve His purpose. The stories of Joseph (Genesis Chapters 37 – 45) are a prime example. My response, though, when something seems to be going sideways is to bemoan it and work hard to get back on what I believe is the correct path. But maybe the reality is that the Lord is shifting me off the wrong path at that given moment to achieve or put into play something that will glorify Him and His Kingdom.
Solution: Rest in the glitches. When something interferes with my schedule, or what I perceive to be the correct series of events, I need to run with it rather than panic and try to bring things back to the status quo. The story of the Good Samaritan comes to mind on this one. Two passers-by, both of whom should have been open to helping someone in need, carried on because their important tasks clearly took precedence. But the third, the Samaritan, put the fellow’s needs before his scheduled plans.
Luke 10 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.]"
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
So, is actuating His Kingdom my job, or is it His job? Hmmmm. No brainer. I could never aspire to actuate anything on the level that the One and Only Holy Lord could.
At the same time, He created us humans and gave us dominion over this earth. So clearly I fit into this picture somehow. I wonder… is my job to make His Kingdom happen, or let His Kingdom happen?
Thy Kingdom Come…. The flip side of that would be ‘my kingdom go’, wouldn’t it?
Lord, what exactly is MY kingdom? What do I do that puts barriers in the way of Your Kingdom being manifested in me and through me?
I’ve been praying about that for some time now, and a few things keep coming to mind, over and over.
Barrier: MY plans and MY schedule. I set up MY to-do list and then arrange and manipulate things through the day to make sure it gets done.
Solution: About a year ago I changed the conclusion of my prayer time. Every morning I finish my prayer time by going over my To-Ask list with You. Maybe all those things I think are so urgent really aren’t. And maybe You don’t have everything in place to get them done or meet the needs in Your way just yet.
Barrier: Tasks. Yes, I’m task oriented. I know that. It feels good to get something completed, done right, and finished. But that love chapter in 1 Corinthians Ch. 3 says all the gifts of the Lord are worthless unless they are done with love. (Check out BibleGateway.com to read the chapter.)
Solution: When I do something for or with someone, the real goal must be the person, not the task. It’s about fellowship, not achievement.
Hmmm. What about when I’m feeling overloaded, and I start yammering to everyone around how busy I am, how my very important tasks are taking over my life, how hard done by I am…. Is that conducive to anyone feeling they could ask me for help? Or just ask of my time to hang out, be together, to encourage each other? I don’t think so!
I guess self-pity doesn’t fit into Thy Kingdom Come either.
Barrier: Manipulation of events. In scripture the Lord causes or allows things to happen that ultimately serve His purpose. The stories of Joseph (Genesis Chapters 37 – 45) are a prime example. My response, though, when something seems to be going sideways is to bemoan it and work hard to get back on what I believe is the correct path. But maybe the reality is that the Lord is shifting me off the wrong path at that given moment to achieve or put into play something that will glorify Him and His Kingdom.
Solution: Rest in the glitches. When something interferes with my schedule, or what I perceive to be the correct series of events, I need to run with it rather than panic and try to bring things back to the status quo. The story of the Good Samaritan comes to mind on this one. Two passers-by, both of whom should have been open to helping someone in need, carried on because their important tasks clearly took precedence. But the third, the Samaritan, put the fellow’s needs before his scheduled plans.
Luke 10 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.]"
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saving the Lost
I came across this article by A.N. Wilson called “Why I Believe Again”. The article is good article, but beyond that, it served as a marvelous springboard for a discussion amongst atheists and theists (and one agnostic) who raise some very compelling intellectual arguments addressing many facets of the age old question – is there a God, and if so is He The God?
http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism
I couldn’t help but respect the ability of the human mind to dissect and support aspects of a person’s experience and opinion. And the intellectual pride displayed is amazing!
In the end, thoug, one comment brought it all together, and made a point that I truly believe is the key when it comes to evangelizing the unsaved. God will do it when God knows the person’s heart is ready. All my efforts will be not just useless, but perhaps detrimental if I try to save others in my strength.
For me, spreading the gospel and evangelizing the unsaved is accomplished in a simple way. Every morning I pray and ask the Lord to use me as He chooses, according to His knowledge of both the listener (that would be ‘them’) and the speaker (that would be me!). It takes the pressure off me and puts the responsibility for saving lost souls squarely where it belongs – on Jesus Christ.
http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism
I couldn’t help but respect the ability of the human mind to dissect and support aspects of a person’s experience and opinion. And the intellectual pride displayed is amazing!
In the end, thoug, one comment brought it all together, and made a point that I truly believe is the key when it comes to evangelizing the unsaved. God will do it when God knows the person’s heart is ready. All my efforts will be not just useless, but perhaps detrimental if I try to save others in my strength.
For me, spreading the gospel and evangelizing the unsaved is accomplished in a simple way. Every morning I pray and ask the Lord to use me as He chooses, according to His knowledge of both the listener (that would be ‘them’) and the speaker (that would be me!). It takes the pressure off me and puts the responsibility for saving lost souls squarely where it belongs – on Jesus Christ.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Rest in the Glitches
A dear friend sent an e-mail detailing a cluster of troubles that have swarmed into her life all at once – computer virus, sick dog, car breaking down… It makes me think of what You’ve been teaching me about trouble, Lord. Talk about the perfect opportunity to sit down in the muck and say “Lord, I love You! Is there anything You'd have me do? If not, I'll just love You and trust this all to You.'
Sometimes negative events are the result of sin. But sometimes I believe they’re just the world ganging up on you, or there are bigger spiritual motives going on, like the story of Job in the Bible.
This last while, my response to glitches is to refuse delivery of the pain and anxiety when things go drastically wrong, and simply wait it out. It seems pretty passive - almost irresponsible - but I'm finding that when everything suddenly spins out of control, if I can remove my desire to care about the worldly consequences and focus on asking Jesus for His desires in my heart, then I can watch it play out with a level of detachment that's similar to watching a TV show or reading a book.
I can't always achieve this, but when I do, it's amazing how Jesus orchestrates and manipulates things so everything falls into place again.
Looking back at things historically, they have always worked themselves through and I’ve come out the other end – either back to the status quo, or in some different level of balance. But peace always returns in some form. So why let the transition period before that peace set me into a state of anxiety? My goal is to refuse! I accept that I can’t fix things or change things anymore than I can change the course of the story line on a TV show or in a book. Eventually this chapter will end and I’ll see what God’s outcome is.
Doesn’t Jesus say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:29-30
But I can’t do that in my strength, Lord. My security isn’t in my bank account, my safety, my health, or the stability of those I love. My security is in You and You alone.
Sometimes negative events are the result of sin. But sometimes I believe they’re just the world ganging up on you, or there are bigger spiritual motives going on, like the story of Job in the Bible.
This last while, my response to glitches is to refuse delivery of the pain and anxiety when things go drastically wrong, and simply wait it out. It seems pretty passive - almost irresponsible - but I'm finding that when everything suddenly spins out of control, if I can remove my desire to care about the worldly consequences and focus on asking Jesus for His desires in my heart, then I can watch it play out with a level of detachment that's similar to watching a TV show or reading a book.
I can't always achieve this, but when I do, it's amazing how Jesus orchestrates and manipulates things so everything falls into place again.
Looking back at things historically, they have always worked themselves through and I’ve come out the other end – either back to the status quo, or in some different level of balance. But peace always returns in some form. So why let the transition period before that peace set me into a state of anxiety? My goal is to refuse! I accept that I can’t fix things or change things anymore than I can change the course of the story line on a TV show or in a book. Eventually this chapter will end and I’ll see what God’s outcome is.
Doesn’t Jesus say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:29-30
But I can’t do that in my strength, Lord. My security isn’t in my bank account, my safety, my health, or the stability of those I love. My security is in You and You alone.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sowing to the Spirit Pt II
This whole weight and health thing I’ve given to Jesus is resulting in some interesting consequences. I do realize it’s only been a couple of days, but I am surprised at what I’m seeing.
First, in the last couple of days I have found myself LEAVING FOOD on my plate. And NOT THINKING ABOUT MY NEXT SNACK while watching TV. Anyone out there with a weight challenge knows that this is quite amazing.
Now, I’m not always doing well in my repentance (total change from the way I used to behave.) By that I mean that often I don’t remember to talk to Jesus before I eat, or plan to eat. I sometimes forget to thank Him for His provision until I’m actually putting the bread in the toaster, or the cookie in my mouth. But when it hits me, I stop, literally, and thank Him for what He’s provided in such abundance, and I pray that He will use it to strengthen my body to do His will.
And you know what? I really mean it when I say it.
The usual prayer was always ‘use this food to strengthen MY body’, which translated to ‘keep me strong and healthy and feeling good so I can do whatever the heck I want, when I want and how I want!’. That was sowing to the flesh.
But now when I talk to Him about food, I really am thinking about what He might want to do with my strong, well-nourished body. So that’s a major shift.
Second, every morning I put my dog on the treadmill to exercise her (it’s winter you know!) and I do some low-impact aerobics while she’s jogging. It’s a major chore and I do it because I love her, and it’s good for me (Ick). But the last 2 days, when I’ve told myself I will go for, say, 20 minutes, I find myself going a little longer because IT FEELS GOOD! Can you imagine???
I think the shift is twofold. First, I’m shifting my focus from taking care of my own needs to asking Jesus to use the energy from the food for His plan. Second, I’m refraining from figuring out how many calories are in the item, how much fat, how long since I last ate, how soon til I can eat again… all those seriously life-consuming dieting rules and regulations.
Those are the reason I keep giving up my diets, even when they’ve been successful. I don’t have the desire to put that much energy into eating or not eating for the rest of my life. I want to focus on other things.
And this is exactly what Jesus told me to do. Focus on HIM when I eat!
But here’s the kicker. When He told me that, six months ago, I translated it to mean I needed to basically say grace, and then count my calories, turn away from the succulent dessert, and overload on spinach and celery. I was still thinking it was me, myself and I who had to achieve this.
But He’s saying I only have to repent. Then focus on Him. And even tho it’s only been a couple of days, I really find I’m not thinking of food anywhere near as much as I normally do.
Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Lord, I am delighting in You. You are amazing and as I learn more about You I am captivated by all that You already do, and still want to do in me and through me. Lord Jesus, I want Your desire in my heart. To heck with the things I desire. They’re pathetic in comparison to the promises You say You want to bestow on me in Your Word. So Jesus, as I delight in You each time I nourish myself with Your provision of food, I beg that You will place Your desires in my heart so that I will yearn only for that which is a blessing to You.
In Jesus, I pray.
Amen
First, in the last couple of days I have found myself LEAVING FOOD on my plate. And NOT THINKING ABOUT MY NEXT SNACK while watching TV. Anyone out there with a weight challenge knows that this is quite amazing.
Now, I’m not always doing well in my repentance (total change from the way I used to behave.) By that I mean that often I don’t remember to talk to Jesus before I eat, or plan to eat. I sometimes forget to thank Him for His provision until I’m actually putting the bread in the toaster, or the cookie in my mouth. But when it hits me, I stop, literally, and thank Him for what He’s provided in such abundance, and I pray that He will use it to strengthen my body to do His will.
And you know what? I really mean it when I say it.
The usual prayer was always ‘use this food to strengthen MY body’, which translated to ‘keep me strong and healthy and feeling good so I can do whatever the heck I want, when I want and how I want!’. That was sowing to the flesh.
But now when I talk to Him about food, I really am thinking about what He might want to do with my strong, well-nourished body. So that’s a major shift.
Second, every morning I put my dog on the treadmill to exercise her (it’s winter you know!) and I do some low-impact aerobics while she’s jogging. It’s a major chore and I do it because I love her, and it’s good for me (Ick). But the last 2 days, when I’ve told myself I will go for, say, 20 minutes, I find myself going a little longer because IT FEELS GOOD! Can you imagine???
I think the shift is twofold. First, I’m shifting my focus from taking care of my own needs to asking Jesus to use the energy from the food for His plan. Second, I’m refraining from figuring out how many calories are in the item, how much fat, how long since I last ate, how soon til I can eat again… all those seriously life-consuming dieting rules and regulations.
Those are the reason I keep giving up my diets, even when they’ve been successful. I don’t have the desire to put that much energy into eating or not eating for the rest of my life. I want to focus on other things.
And this is exactly what Jesus told me to do. Focus on HIM when I eat!
But here’s the kicker. When He told me that, six months ago, I translated it to mean I needed to basically say grace, and then count my calories, turn away from the succulent dessert, and overload on spinach and celery. I was still thinking it was me, myself and I who had to achieve this.
But He’s saying I only have to repent. Then focus on Him. And even tho it’s only been a couple of days, I really find I’m not thinking of food anywhere near as much as I normally do.
Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Lord, I am delighting in You. You are amazing and as I learn more about You I am captivated by all that You already do, and still want to do in me and through me. Lord Jesus, I want Your desire in my heart. To heck with the things I desire. They’re pathetic in comparison to the promises You say You want to bestow on me in Your Word. So Jesus, as I delight in You each time I nourish myself with Your provision of food, I beg that You will place Your desires in my heart so that I will yearn only for that which is a blessing to You.
In Jesus, I pray.
Amen
Friday, January 15, 2010
Sowing to the Flesh
Scripture talks about 'sowing to the flesh' and 'sowing to the spirit'. I learned some time ago that if I'm having trouble in my life, I need to identify that crop of trouble as something I'm reaping. If I'm reaping something negative, then I need to follow the trail back to see what I've been sowing that has allowed that nasty crop to grow.
For instance, one day during prayer time I found myself telling the Lord about an ongoing struggle I was having when I was called on to do a certain task. As we talked, Jesus gently asked me what kinds of seeds I was sowing when I thought about this task. I kinda hung my head as all sorts of negative words and self-pitying thoughts came to mind.
I was definitely sowing weeds. And they were flourishing!
So I've learned the lesson in that particular area. When I'm called on to do that task, I have a litany of good things I've identified that I can focus on, and the task really is way more fun, and actually rewarding! So this positive thinking business really works.
But the last few months my Jesus has been challenging me to take this a bit further.
Like many folk in our over-abundant, liesure filled society, I struggle with keeping my weight in check. I often mourn the loss of the 3 mile walk to the store (before there were cars), and the occasional famine (before there were stores)... And of course I carry out this mourning from my comfy lounge chair in my cozy living room with my hot coffee beside me and a full pantry right down the hall. (Woe to you, you hypocrite! LOL)
Anyway, after a morning step on the scale I would sometimes I lift up a half-hearted prayer to Jesus, asking for His help in controlling my desire for food to the degree necessary to keep my body at an average, healthy weight.
Did He answer my prayer? Abosolutely!
Did I listen?
no.
"Why?" you ask! Here is a woman who purports to follow Jesus in all things, and He's giving you an answer? Why aren't you listening! And sharing!!!!
I'll tell you why. It's because my flesh doesn't want to let go of the control to self-nurture myself through satisfying the desires of my flesh! There. I said it. Confession has been made.
The answer Jesus gave me to my prayer was very simple. I must talk to Him each time I'm about to take something and put it in my mouth. Maybe I will say thank You for Your provision, if it's a regular meal. But I must also ask Him about how big a serving I should take, or if I should pick up that snack bar, or pop that chocolate in my mouth for no particular reason.
And that's where the hesitation kicked in, which turned to downright disobedience. I quickly left that prayer by the wayside (in the rocky soil?) and carried on in my comfy routine.
A few days ago the Lord impressed upon me the differences in sowing to the flesh and sowing to the spirit. Finally I took courage and thought about it in a little more depth. How much will I be giving up if I truly give over my eating to Jesus? Will He fulfill His promise that all things in Him are more wonderful than the things of the world? Can Jesus really nurture me to the same degree, in the same 'quick fix' method I'm used to when I pop something in my mouth over and over and over again?
And am I willing to give Him that opportunity?
I wonder if this is what Paul means when he talks about the "sacrifice of praise"? I want to praise Jesus in all that I do throughout my day. If I really make this decision to ....
Okay. I'm thinking "... to turn away". I must turn away from what I'm doing now. Turn away means that I'm repenting. I need to repent when I've sinned.
Oh Lord Jesus, is my refusal to turn my eating over to You a sin? I didn't realize that. Lord, I'm so sorry. I never want to purposefully sin. I never want to be separated from You, and I know that's what sin does.
But as I think about this, I realize that I have been keeping this eating part of me separate from You, because I don't want You to take it away.
Lord, can I trust that You'll replace it with something as good as food? What else is there that gives that quick-fix.... Good grief! I sound like an addict!
Okay. Enough. I have to head off to work now, but this is the end of this playing around. Jesus I give to You my eating habits. I WILL talk to You, I WILL consult with You each time I consider eating. And I know I'm going to mess up on this, so I am trusting You to keep reminding me until it becomes a habit.
I don't know where this will go, but Lord, I am stepping out in faith. I give this over to You.
In Jesus, I pray.
Amen
For instance, one day during prayer time I found myself telling the Lord about an ongoing struggle I was having when I was called on to do a certain task. As we talked, Jesus gently asked me what kinds of seeds I was sowing when I thought about this task. I kinda hung my head as all sorts of negative words and self-pitying thoughts came to mind.
I was definitely sowing weeds. And they were flourishing!
So I've learned the lesson in that particular area. When I'm called on to do that task, I have a litany of good things I've identified that I can focus on, and the task really is way more fun, and actually rewarding! So this positive thinking business really works.
But the last few months my Jesus has been challenging me to take this a bit further.
Like many folk in our over-abundant, liesure filled society, I struggle with keeping my weight in check. I often mourn the loss of the 3 mile walk to the store (before there were cars), and the occasional famine (before there were stores)... And of course I carry out this mourning from my comfy lounge chair in my cozy living room with my hot coffee beside me and a full pantry right down the hall. (Woe to you, you hypocrite! LOL)
Anyway, after a morning step on the scale I would sometimes I lift up a half-hearted prayer to Jesus, asking for His help in controlling my desire for food to the degree necessary to keep my body at an average, healthy weight.
Did He answer my prayer? Abosolutely!
Did I listen?
no.
"Why?" you ask! Here is a woman who purports to follow Jesus in all things, and He's giving you an answer? Why aren't you listening! And sharing!!!!
I'll tell you why. It's because my flesh doesn't want to let go of the control to self-nurture myself through satisfying the desires of my flesh! There. I said it. Confession has been made.
The answer Jesus gave me to my prayer was very simple. I must talk to Him each time I'm about to take something and put it in my mouth. Maybe I will say thank You for Your provision, if it's a regular meal. But I must also ask Him about how big a serving I should take, or if I should pick up that snack bar, or pop that chocolate in my mouth for no particular reason.
And that's where the hesitation kicked in, which turned to downright disobedience. I quickly left that prayer by the wayside (in the rocky soil?) and carried on in my comfy routine.
A few days ago the Lord impressed upon me the differences in sowing to the flesh and sowing to the spirit. Finally I took courage and thought about it in a little more depth. How much will I be giving up if I truly give over my eating to Jesus? Will He fulfill His promise that all things in Him are more wonderful than the things of the world? Can Jesus really nurture me to the same degree, in the same 'quick fix' method I'm used to when I pop something in my mouth over and over and over again?
And am I willing to give Him that opportunity?
I wonder if this is what Paul means when he talks about the "sacrifice of praise"? I want to praise Jesus in all that I do throughout my day. If I really make this decision to ....
Okay. I'm thinking "... to turn away". I must turn away from what I'm doing now. Turn away means that I'm repenting. I need to repent when I've sinned.
Oh Lord Jesus, is my refusal to turn my eating over to You a sin? I didn't realize that. Lord, I'm so sorry. I never want to purposefully sin. I never want to be separated from You, and I know that's what sin does.
But as I think about this, I realize that I have been keeping this eating part of me separate from You, because I don't want You to take it away.
Lord, can I trust that You'll replace it with something as good as food? What else is there that gives that quick-fix.... Good grief! I sound like an addict!
Okay. Enough. I have to head off to work now, but this is the end of this playing around. Jesus I give to You my eating habits. I WILL talk to You, I WILL consult with You each time I consider eating. And I know I'm going to mess up on this, so I am trusting You to keep reminding me until it becomes a habit.
I don't know where this will go, but Lord, I am stepping out in faith. I give this over to You.
In Jesus, I pray.
Amen
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Conscious Christianity
why a blog? seems a bit egotistical, perhaps. maybe it is. to be honest, i have a tendency to pontificate, and this is a perfect venue for that. i also get very excited when i discover how to apply things about living in Christ to my everyday life. and when i discover things, i need to write them down so i don't have to be taught them again.
and again.
and AGAIN!!!!
up until a couple of years ago i was a blown-with-the-wind Christian. i loved Jesus, but had no idea how to apply the things i read in scripture to my everyday life.
these past few years i have learned to live my life in Christ with more consciousness. the things Jesus teaches me are so exciting at times that they almost knock my socks off! what's cool is that the learnings really are causing me to live my life differently. i thought i was doing that before, but in comparing that walk with my walk today, i realize that i hadn't a clue.
so i am taking the theoretical that we get from scripture and from the pulpit and i'm learning to take it a step further by asking Jesus about specific things, and then getting His answers. and yes, He does answer!
the first question took great courage, tho. it was the same one Jesus asked the blind man. "what is it you want?"
in asking that i had to allow that the answer might change my familiar, if uncomfortable way of doing things. i knew a pastor once who was afraid to give his life over to Christ 100% because he thought Jesus would make him become a missionary. he was very relieved when Jesus said being a pastor would be fine! and glad he'd had the courage to release himself to his Lord.
the first thing i had to release to Jesus was fear. i realized that each time scripture said "Fear Not!" it was actually a command. was my being afraid breaking a command of Jesus? i was shocked at that thought. the focus of my fear is irrelevant to this discussion, but the result, when i finally admitted it to Jesus, was awe-inspiring. i didn't know what to do, so i told Jesus that. i prayed and sobbed and said, "i'm sorry if i've been breaking a commandment. forgive me for my fear. but i don't know what to do about it. i have to leave it with You. whatever You decide should be done, i'm willing to go along with the plan."
yup. that was my great prayer, and that's what started me on a walk that would result in me actually gaining freedom in Christ.
it took about 6 weeks for that prayer to be answered. in God's amazing convoluted way He brought me to another church one sunday, and the preacher gave an interpretation of a little piece of scripture that blew the foundation of my fear right out of the water. and it's never been a problem since.
so there. post # 1 on my blog.
that was fun! :)
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