Last year at this time, with Christmas just on the way up the stairs to knock on the door, I was running in 'my woods' in Denmark talking with God about starting a blog.
It was one of those dialogues filled with "what ifs - I can't and I'm not", where each each doubt/argument was silenced with a "I am - just share what I give and don't ever compare yourself - be who I made you to be".
And so the adventure of this blog started.
I want to thank you all - you, who read what God puts on my heart.
Your comments and encouragements inspire me and spur me on, to keep sharing in hopes of putting a smile on your face and fill your heart with encouragement.
These past two months have been a mix of opposites; a sudden death of a dear friend, busy time in my jobs and the preparations before the arrival of my mom and daughter for Christmas.
I found my thoughts so jumbled and hit with an unusual inability to settle, finish and process thoughts and emotions. So if you wonder why I haven't posted anything - now you know.
This Christmas will be so very different - and I love it........... and I keep having to stop myself in my tracks, because - I get side tracked, caught up, and distracted.
This year Christmas will not be about all the fun secrets found, bought, wrapped and put under the tree....
there will be very few surprises under that tree.
As a matter of fact there will be very little under that tree this year. We are all good with that -
it's not what Christmas is about after all.
But..
Again and again I have wanted to find some fun secret thing to put under the tree - because there always has been.
I am caught up in the pure joy of seeing my mom
who suffered a stroke this past summer, had to cancel her planned trip here and is now making up for that),
and our daughter, who we haven't seen since last Christmas
- and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that joy what so ever.
We are all so very happy and thankful to be together!
- but that isn't what Christmas is about either now is it?
And there you have it - my distractions.
Surely I am not alone in this conundrum?
But this year I am being 'confronted' by it.
Now don't hear me saying that buying gifts and having a blast with that, or that looking forward to family gatherings with joy and impatience not to mention all the goodness that arrives at the table for dinner is wrong- it's not. It's all good things!!
I'm only saying, that in my heart I keep hearing 'it's not what it's about'.
Jesus!
That's who Christmas is about. (period)
-b
Monday, December 24, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Hills, Rocks and Thistles
Hills.....
don't know how you feel about them, but here are a few of my thoughts and feelings: they are fine for views, like either looking up, down or over them.
Favorite for me, is when I'm a bit elevated and able to see multiple hills roll in front of me, showing off their peeks and valleys.
Least favorite: when I meet one out on my run! They can be so deceiving. I approach them full of gusto and confidence, assured that I'll be at the top within a few strides and hitting the decline soon after. No huff, no puff right? Wrong!!!
A few strides later I am no way near the top, but the huffin' has started, the gusto is gone and confidence is fading fast.
It soon becomes slow going, - slow motion going - and the thought of quitting is bouncing around in my head like a ball in a pin ball machine.
Gone is gusto and confidence - left is will power and determination!
On the way up such hill I started thinking about John 3:16, a verse so well known and quoted by people who don't even believe in what it says: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
What a fact! Whether you believe in it or not.
God gave.... the day I chose to receive Jesus, chose to say; yes, I believe Jesus is God's son, who died and rose again - that day will be forever stored in the memory chambers of my heart. What a day - what a brand new day - I walked on a cloud because my heart was light, unburdened, and guilt free.
I was forgiven.
There was a smile on my face that wouldn't fade, oh it felt like I was flying.
Would I always feel like this?
Would my heart always be pouring out words of love and adoration for my God and Savior?
Well I wish, but life's journey is not a walk in the park - there's bound to be hills, rocks and thistles...
and then what?
The parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-9.
The sower scatters the seed and they fall in different kinds of soil:
there's the path where the seed doesn't even get a chance to sprout
The rocky ground with shallow soil that made the seed sprout quickly, but then got scorched by the sun because there was no root.
The soil where thorns grew and ended up chocking it to death
And the good soil that ended up producing big crops.
This soil business always fascinated me when I first started out in my faith, because I wanted my heart to have good soil, but didn't know how to make it happen. I knew there was dirt in there.
Was it good or bad?
Filled with rocks and thistles?
Did I have any say in this matter?
Could I change out the dirt, fertilize it with mulch or sprinkle it with weed killer?
The quality of the soil in my heart shows up when the journey of my faith is no longer a pick-nick. When the going gets tough as they say.
When I run in to a hill - or even a hill country! What do I do?
Do I quit? Do I decide it's too hard to go on? This God business isn't for me, it's no fun??
I wouldn't be the first one - many of Jesus followers decided it was too much. And I have seen it myself, people calling it quits. Can I relate to them? Yes and no.
My journey has brought me to places of loneliness, sadness, desert, highs and lows, I have had to choose to weed out thistles or suffocate, to keep walking or to quit.
So yes, I can relate to 'when the going gets tough' saying. But it's a no to the quitting.
We sing so many, many songs about when times are hard : I'll praise you in the storm! Blessed be your name! Yes Lord! and etc.....
They are easy to sing when the 'sun's shining down on me' - but what songs spring from my heart the other days or seasons?
At the end of my 'hill run' thoughts returned to John 3:16 - God's gift to me.
My gift to God is giving him praise. To love and worship him in and through whatever may come.
When I walk in a desert place, feel mistreated, lose my job, when someone I love is taken from me, or pain and sorrow cloak my heart....
"Though the fig tree should not blossom - nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." - Habakkuk 3:17-19
- no matter what, may there always be a "Yet I Will....." in my heart!
-b
don't know how you feel about them, but here are a few of my thoughts and feelings: they are fine for views, like either looking up, down or over them.
Favorite for me, is when I'm a bit elevated and able to see multiple hills roll in front of me, showing off their peeks and valleys.
Least favorite: when I meet one out on my run! They can be so deceiving. I approach them full of gusto and confidence, assured that I'll be at the top within a few strides and hitting the decline soon after. No huff, no puff right? Wrong!!!
A few strides later I am no way near the top, but the huffin' has started, the gusto is gone and confidence is fading fast.
It soon becomes slow going, - slow motion going - and the thought of quitting is bouncing around in my head like a ball in a pin ball machine.
Gone is gusto and confidence - left is will power and determination!
On the way up such hill I started thinking about John 3:16, a verse so well known and quoted by people who don't even believe in what it says: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
What a fact! Whether you believe in it or not.
God gave.... the day I chose to receive Jesus, chose to say; yes, I believe Jesus is God's son, who died and rose again - that day will be forever stored in the memory chambers of my heart. What a day - what a brand new day - I walked on a cloud because my heart was light, unburdened, and guilt free.
I was forgiven.
There was a smile on my face that wouldn't fade, oh it felt like I was flying.
Would I always feel like this?
Would my heart always be pouring out words of love and adoration for my God and Savior?
Well I wish, but life's journey is not a walk in the park - there's bound to be hills, rocks and thistles...
and then what?
The parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-9.
The sower scatters the seed and they fall in different kinds of soil:
there's the path where the seed doesn't even get a chance to sprout
The rocky ground with shallow soil that made the seed sprout quickly, but then got scorched by the sun because there was no root.
The soil where thorns grew and ended up chocking it to death
And the good soil that ended up producing big crops.
This soil business always fascinated me when I first started out in my faith, because I wanted my heart to have good soil, but didn't know how to make it happen. I knew there was dirt in there.
Was it good or bad?
Filled with rocks and thistles?
Did I have any say in this matter?
Could I change out the dirt, fertilize it with mulch or sprinkle it with weed killer?
The quality of the soil in my heart shows up when the journey of my faith is no longer a pick-nick. When the going gets tough as they say.
When I run in to a hill - or even a hill country! What do I do?
Do I quit? Do I decide it's too hard to go on? This God business isn't for me, it's no fun??
I wouldn't be the first one - many of Jesus followers decided it was too much. And I have seen it myself, people calling it quits. Can I relate to them? Yes and no.
My journey has brought me to places of loneliness, sadness, desert, highs and lows, I have had to choose to weed out thistles or suffocate, to keep walking or to quit.
So yes, I can relate to 'when the going gets tough' saying. But it's a no to the quitting.
We sing so many, many songs about when times are hard : I'll praise you in the storm! Blessed be your name! Yes Lord! and etc.....
They are easy to sing when the 'sun's shining down on me' - but what songs spring from my heart the other days or seasons?
At the end of my 'hill run' thoughts returned to John 3:16 - God's gift to me.
My gift to God is giving him praise. To love and worship him in and through whatever may come.
When I walk in a desert place, feel mistreated, lose my job, when someone I love is taken from me, or pain and sorrow cloak my heart....
"Though the fig tree should not blossom - nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." - Habakkuk 3:17-19
- no matter what, may there always be a "Yet I Will....." in my heart!
-b
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
What state are you in? - part ll
I left you last time in the state of Hope......
Let's continue on as I share my own journey that next brought me to the state: Between.
Parents are given to us with the intent of being our guardians, protectors, role models, nurtures and instructors. They are supposed to be our visible image of who God is. But they are imperfect, fallen and often broken, scarred and unhealed. therefore we, their children, often end up disappointed, hurt and with a broken image of them, ourselves and God our Father.
I remember living in the state of Hope. Being young made it a natural and easy state to live in day by day as each new morning, for me, broke with the chance of receiving
an apology,
a compliment -
a day without having to navigate criticism or mood swings.
The chance of change...
I left the state of Hope, when each little parcel of memory or action that gave it sustenance, was smashed to pieces too small to hold me up any longer. The foundation crumbled under the weight of years of disappointments, and being hurt and wronged in different ways.
My mind ran out of excuses and explanations and grew weary of self blame....
The state of Forgiveness was unknown to me - I did not know if its existence.
Yes, I knew the word forgiveness - but that it is an actual state you can live in?
If you are unaware that the state of Forgiveness exists, - or know of it, but chose not to live in it - you automatically live in Between.
I wandered around in Between for years, visiting and residing in the cities.
You may say: " I've never been to the state Between!" Let me introduce you to some of the cities that I know are located there - and maybe you'll recognize the state by the cities....
Resentment, Anger, Revenge, Sorrow, Time Heals AllWounds, Forget AboutIt, Guilt 'n Shame, EverNeedy, Hater of Self, Pity of Self, EternalVictim.
I'm convinced there are many more.
Each of these cities have their own enticement - they draw you in by offering what seems to be exactly what you want. And you'll have the company of many who will hug you in a kind welcome, nod in agreement as you share. They'll spur you on, not in moving on/out of the state mind you, but in your quest for settlement, attention or satisfaction.
My years in Between brought me many things but settlement, satisfaction or peace.
I was always hungry, always thirsty.
Anger will not settle the wrong, or sooth the pain - all it does is cover the pain... for a while.
It was like the itch that ends up hurting when you scratch it.
The city of Revenge draws you in as hours and hours are spent spinning tales and dreaming up scenarios of a final show down - the modern version of "an eye for an eye" - where the thirst is quenched at last, drowned in the ability to expose and inject a pain equal to what you suffered.
Habakkuk, a prophet in the old testament had seen so much unpunished wrong that he ended up asking God how long before he would bring justice.
God answers that it will happen, he will bring justice - to wait for it!!
God then uses a phrase about a traitor in the next paragraph: "...whose greed is as wide as Sheol, like death he has never enough"!
This description, to me, fits the state of Between and what all it's cities provide: dissatisfaction and greed.
Forgiving someone who has hurt you can be hard, but because of what a parent is meant to be, forgiving them can be a very long, heart wrenching and choice dependent process, so completely muddied by emotions, it often feels like taking one step forward and two steps back.
But it all starts with Jesus in whom Forgiveness is found. Do not be fooled by the "forgiveness" that comes by letting time go by.
The saying; "Time heals all wounds", is a lie if ever I knew one, - time has no ability to heal!
Neither is it forgiveness when you by the power of your will suppress or ignore painful memories, or even pretend it wasn't so bad after all....
Jesus offers forgiveness out of a love deeper than the world has ever known - : Matt. 6:14 "...For if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
I have a choice, but I tell you, experiencing that sweet forgiveness that made my heart burden free and able to soar, compels me to pass it on.
When I choose to day by day live in the state of Forgiveness, there is nothing like it.
It does not change the past -
but my present and future are no longer ruled by it.
John 6:35
"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes shall not thirst".
-b
Let's continue on as I share my own journey that next brought me to the state: Between.
Parents are given to us with the intent of being our guardians, protectors, role models, nurtures and instructors. They are supposed to be our visible image of who God is. But they are imperfect, fallen and often broken, scarred and unhealed. therefore we, their children, often end up disappointed, hurt and with a broken image of them, ourselves and God our Father.
I remember living in the state of Hope. Being young made it a natural and easy state to live in day by day as each new morning, for me, broke with the chance of receiving
an apology,
a compliment -
a day without having to navigate criticism or mood swings.
The chance of change...
I left the state of Hope, when each little parcel of memory or action that gave it sustenance, was smashed to pieces too small to hold me up any longer. The foundation crumbled under the weight of years of disappointments, and being hurt and wronged in different ways.
My mind ran out of excuses and explanations and grew weary of self blame....
The state of Forgiveness was unknown to me - I did not know if its existence.
Yes, I knew the word forgiveness - but that it is an actual state you can live in?
If you are unaware that the state of Forgiveness exists, - or know of it, but chose not to live in it - you automatically live in Between.
I wandered around in Between for years, visiting and residing in the cities.
You may say: " I've never been to the state Between!" Let me introduce you to some of the cities that I know are located there - and maybe you'll recognize the state by the cities....
Resentment, Anger, Revenge, Sorrow, Time Heals AllWounds, Forget AboutIt, Guilt 'n Shame, EverNeedy, Hater of Self, Pity of Self, EternalVictim.
I'm convinced there are many more.
Each of these cities have their own enticement - they draw you in by offering what seems to be exactly what you want. And you'll have the company of many who will hug you in a kind welcome, nod in agreement as you share. They'll spur you on, not in moving on/out of the state mind you, but in your quest for settlement, attention or satisfaction.
My years in Between brought me many things but settlement, satisfaction or peace.
I was always hungry, always thirsty.
Anger will not settle the wrong, or sooth the pain - all it does is cover the pain... for a while.
It was like the itch that ends up hurting when you scratch it.
The city of Revenge draws you in as hours and hours are spent spinning tales and dreaming up scenarios of a final show down - the modern version of "an eye for an eye" - where the thirst is quenched at last, drowned in the ability to expose and inject a pain equal to what you suffered.
Habakkuk, a prophet in the old testament had seen so much unpunished wrong that he ended up asking God how long before he would bring justice.
God answers that it will happen, he will bring justice - to wait for it!!
God then uses a phrase about a traitor in the next paragraph: "...whose greed is as wide as Sheol, like death he has never enough"!
This description, to me, fits the state of Between and what all it's cities provide: dissatisfaction and greed.
Forgiving someone who has hurt you can be hard, but because of what a parent is meant to be, forgiving them can be a very long, heart wrenching and choice dependent process, so completely muddied by emotions, it often feels like taking one step forward and two steps back.
But it all starts with Jesus in whom Forgiveness is found. Do not be fooled by the "forgiveness" that comes by letting time go by.
The saying; "Time heals all wounds", is a lie if ever I knew one, - time has no ability to heal!
Neither is it forgiveness when you by the power of your will suppress or ignore painful memories, or even pretend it wasn't so bad after all....
Jesus offers forgiveness out of a love deeper than the world has ever known - : Matt. 6:14 "...For if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
I have a choice, but I tell you, experiencing that sweet forgiveness that made my heart burden free and able to soar, compels me to pass it on.
When I choose to day by day live in the state of Forgiveness, there is nothing like it.
It does not change the past -
but my present and future are no longer ruled by it.
John 6:35
"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes shall not thirst".
-b
Friday, September 28, 2012
What state are you in?
I recently discovered new state- well it's not really new, since it is as old as the human heart, which is also where I found it and named it: "Between".
It appears to be a state with countless round-abouts making it easy to get from one town to another - making it easy to get lost and wander around for a long, long time.
I believe some never find their way out.
Maybe you have visited, been or lived in Between - we all find ourselves there at one time or another.
A young friend of mine has, through the divorce of her parents, lost her dad - he has moved far away. Communication is pretty scarce between them, and there are no visits on the horizon - only promises.
I ache for her, recognizing the mix of emotions that like opposite poles, battle for the 'take over of the heart'.
Optimism fighting despair, feeling loved against feeling unwanted. I have seen these internal battles in many people; battle between being a victim and being victorious, between being scarred and healed, between being set free by Jesus but condemned by oneself - the battle is internal, and the emotions fill the soul - unseen but through the eyes; the windows to that guarded place.
I found my friend living in the state of: "Hope".
She is not alone either. Our world is filled with children of all ages struggling with being left or abandoned by either mom or dad - or both - for reasons unrelated to them. They are left to deal with hurt and disappointments - and countless are camped out in Hope.
"What is wrong with living in Hope"? you might ask - "Hope is a peaceful and happy place - the Bible talks a lot about Hope". I agree! The state of Hope seems to be a pleasant place to live in - but the foundation is pretty thin. The Hope the bible talks about, is the hope we have in God - and when our hope is in God, then it is a solid hope as He has promised to never leave or forsake us, and is a keeper of his promises.
The state of Hope I am confronting,- the one with a thin foundation that would easily crumble and leave you clinging to feeble strings of pleasant memories from the past, so long ago the details have become vague,- is a fragile place to live in, because it is based on disappointment(s), or in circumstances or people changing - it is a wishful state of Hope.
What else is there?
The state of: "Forgiveness". That is the state to live in! There is a freedom there, because there are no worries about when, or if promised promises will be fulfilled.
There is no reason as to why we can't move from the state of Hope to the state of Forgiveness in one single step - but,
it seems more often the case that we set foot in Between.
- the journey from Hope to Forgiveness and the state in Between will continue in the next blog post.
-b
It appears to be a state with countless round-abouts making it easy to get from one town to another - making it easy to get lost and wander around for a long, long time.
I believe some never find their way out.
Maybe you have visited, been or lived in Between - we all find ourselves there at one time or another.
A young friend of mine has, through the divorce of her parents, lost her dad - he has moved far away. Communication is pretty scarce between them, and there are no visits on the horizon - only promises.
I ache for her, recognizing the mix of emotions that like opposite poles, battle for the 'take over of the heart'.
Optimism fighting despair, feeling loved against feeling unwanted. I have seen these internal battles in many people; battle between being a victim and being victorious, between being scarred and healed, between being set free by Jesus but condemned by oneself - the battle is internal, and the emotions fill the soul - unseen but through the eyes; the windows to that guarded place.
I found my friend living in the state of: "Hope".
She is not alone either. Our world is filled with children of all ages struggling with being left or abandoned by either mom or dad - or both - for reasons unrelated to them. They are left to deal with hurt and disappointments - and countless are camped out in Hope.
"What is wrong with living in Hope"? you might ask - "Hope is a peaceful and happy place - the Bible talks a lot about Hope". I agree! The state of Hope seems to be a pleasant place to live in - but the foundation is pretty thin. The Hope the bible talks about, is the hope we have in God - and when our hope is in God, then it is a solid hope as He has promised to never leave or forsake us, and is a keeper of his promises.
The state of Hope I am confronting,- the one with a thin foundation that would easily crumble and leave you clinging to feeble strings of pleasant memories from the past, so long ago the details have become vague,- is a fragile place to live in, because it is based on disappointment(s), or in circumstances or people changing - it is a wishful state of Hope.
What else is there?
The state of: "Forgiveness". That is the state to live in! There is a freedom there, because there are no worries about when, or if promised promises will be fulfilled.
There is no reason as to why we can't move from the state of Hope to the state of Forgiveness in one single step - but,
it seems more often the case that we set foot in Between.
- the journey from Hope to Forgiveness and the state in Between will continue in the next blog post.
-b
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
If I were a rich man.....
A rich man came running up to Jesus inquiring how to inherit eternal life.
I think this is one of the more "known" parables in the New Testament. Mark 10:17-22 says the man ran up to Jesus asking him what to do to inherit eternal life - Jesus goes over the list with him and is told by the man that these rules have all been kept. It then says that Jesus looks at him and "loved him" - then tells him to sell his possessions and come follow him and here we find out that the man is wealthy and therefore walks away sorrowful. What a sad ending! He desired eternal life, Jesus loved him, but............
His possessions meant more to him than heaven - they had laid claim to his heart to a degree where he couldn't give them up.
I am far from rich in a monetary way. Maybe I have a lot of things, but they aren't really worth a whole lot, and my attachment to them beyond liking and enjoying them isn't very strong. And yet this story speaks to me asking me the question; What am I rich in?
My husband -
oh, he makes me feel rich in his love for me.
Our daughter -
I am rich in the blessing she is to me
- they both make me feel rich, because they are above and beyond what I had dreamed of.
Do they mean the world to me? Yes.
Would I give my life for them? Yes.
Are they above God in my life? No - they shouldn't and wouldn't want to be.
What about independence?
Think I have a lot of that. Being on my own early on in life taught me that, it became part of who I am and is hard to let go of. (so don't tell me what to do or how to do what I do...)
Riches...
Matthew 6:21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also".
Image! Status! Friends! Past! Job! Attention! Praise!
What we treasure demands our focus, protection, time. It also demands upkeep - looking at each of the areas mentioned above, I see all that to be true.
Time to ask...
What is it that is so very important to us? What, in different ways than money, has made us rich and laid claim on our heart?
Philippians 3:8
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ!"
That is an incredible statement to make!
These words were spoken by Paul the apostle made me take a closer look at what was it that would count as rubbish? What did he walk away from?
He was a Pharisee, a Jew, tent maker, he had authority, esteem, knowledge, status, Roman citizenship by birth, position, reputation, respect among fellow Pharisees for his zealous hunt for the believers following the Way of Jesus.
I'd say he was rich in many ways!
Are your riches holding you back? - are you willing to count it rubbish so you may gain Christ?
-b
I think this is one of the more "known" parables in the New Testament. Mark 10:17-22 says the man ran up to Jesus asking him what to do to inherit eternal life - Jesus goes over the list with him and is told by the man that these rules have all been kept. It then says that Jesus looks at him and "loved him" - then tells him to sell his possessions and come follow him and here we find out that the man is wealthy and therefore walks away sorrowful. What a sad ending! He desired eternal life, Jesus loved him, but............
His possessions meant more to him than heaven - they had laid claim to his heart to a degree where he couldn't give them up.
I am far from rich in a monetary way. Maybe I have a lot of things, but they aren't really worth a whole lot, and my attachment to them beyond liking and enjoying them isn't very strong. And yet this story speaks to me asking me the question; What am I rich in?
My husband -
oh, he makes me feel rich in his love for me.
Our daughter -
I am rich in the blessing she is to me
- they both make me feel rich, because they are above and beyond what I had dreamed of.
Do they mean the world to me? Yes.
Would I give my life for them? Yes.
Are they above God in my life? No - they shouldn't and wouldn't want to be.
What about independence?
Think I have a lot of that. Being on my own early on in life taught me that, it became part of who I am and is hard to let go of. (so don't tell me what to do or how to do what I do...)
Riches...
Matthew 6:21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also".
Image! Status! Friends! Past! Job! Attention! Praise!
What we treasure demands our focus, protection, time. It also demands upkeep - looking at each of the areas mentioned above, I see all that to be true.
Time to ask...
What is it that is so very important to us? What, in different ways than money, has made us rich and laid claim on our heart?
Philippians 3:8
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ!"
That is an incredible statement to make!
These words were spoken by Paul the apostle made me take a closer look at what was it that would count as rubbish? What did he walk away from?
He was a Pharisee, a Jew, tent maker, he had authority, esteem, knowledge, status, Roman citizenship by birth, position, reputation, respect among fellow Pharisees for his zealous hunt for the believers following the Way of Jesus.
I'd say he was rich in many ways!
Are your riches holding you back? - are you willing to count it rubbish so you may gain Christ?
-b
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Speaking walls and flies and such
Have you ever walked through an old house letting yourself go beyond admiring the architecture and the top layer of wall paper you know hides 3 or 4 other layers underneath - and simply start to wonder what had taken place in the rooms you now wander through?
"I wish I could be a fly on the wall" fits in that same frame of mind - the desire to know what went on. And then Amy Grant sang; "If these old walls could speak". I was a fairly new believer when it hit the charts some 25 years ago, and it stirred that poetic, musing, pondering part of my heart.
So what if the walls started speaking - would you listen? Would you believe what they said?
If you walked through the temple courts where Jesus had been interrogated before Pilate - or inside the home where they let the man down through the roof - or in the home of Simon the Leper where Mary pours perfume over Jesus - if these walls started speaking of these events, would you then believe?
Or are you looking for the writing on the wall as it happened to king Belshazzar - or the speaking donkey that rebuked Balaam?
Maybe God could make walls speak since he truly is the maker of miracles, but would you then need a translator? Would he speak in Greek - Hebrew or choose English for your sake?
What if he chose to speak an universal language that everybody can understand? And not only that, but that if you listened you could hear him speak no matter where you are?
I believe he did!
Don't you ever stand under the starry night sky and gaze and gaze, getting lost in the never ending vastness of it? Doesn't a sunrise or sunset stir your heart with its beauty? When you arrive at the ocean, don't you breathe in more deeply? Aren't you in awe driving through mountain ranges? Or stunned when standing at the top of a mountain and seeing the beauty stretched out before you isn't there a song trying to be set free inside of you?
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy." Psalm 19:1-5
God is speaking!
Will you listen?
Will you believe?
-b
"I wish I could be a fly on the wall" fits in that same frame of mind - the desire to know what went on. And then Amy Grant sang; "If these old walls could speak". I was a fairly new believer when it hit the charts some 25 years ago, and it stirred that poetic, musing, pondering part of my heart.
So what if the walls started speaking - would you listen? Would you believe what they said?
If you walked through the temple courts where Jesus had been interrogated before Pilate - or inside the home where they let the man down through the roof - or in the home of Simon the Leper where Mary pours perfume over Jesus - if these walls started speaking of these events, would you then believe?
Or are you looking for the writing on the wall as it happened to king Belshazzar - or the speaking donkey that rebuked Balaam?
Maybe God could make walls speak since he truly is the maker of miracles, but would you then need a translator? Would he speak in Greek - Hebrew or choose English for your sake?
What if he chose to speak an universal language that everybody can understand? And not only that, but that if you listened you could hear him speak no matter where you are?
I believe he did!
Don't you ever stand under the starry night sky and gaze and gaze, getting lost in the never ending vastness of it? Doesn't a sunrise or sunset stir your heart with its beauty? When you arrive at the ocean, don't you breathe in more deeply? Aren't you in awe driving through mountain ranges? Or stunned when standing at the top of a mountain and seeing the beauty stretched out before you isn't there a song trying to be set free inside of you?
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy." Psalm 19:1-5
God is speaking!
Will you listen?
Will you believe?
-b
Monday, August 13, 2012
letting........ go
Letting go!
How soon does that lesson start? When does it end?
More often than not, it seems hard to do - the letting go. And although it's an ongoing adventure, I can't say that it's become much easier for me, or that I have gotten any better doing it. I fast forget that what I have - is only borrowed........even the presents given, I sense I have to hold loosely.
Our daughter, is the most wonderful present God could ever place in our hands - but I have always known, that although she is our daughter, she is also God's.
And though she is the most tender spot in my heart, it has been so important that I do hold her loosely. Why?
- so she could grow,
flap her wings
and as time went on, venture out and test the water on her own.....away from us.
Does that mean I didn't love her as strongly as I could/should? Absolutely not!
It is a very hard balance to manage -
to love deeply and at the same time, be,
if not ready, then willing to let go.
When we shipped our daughter off to Denmark, or 'the land of the Danes' as she likes to call it, it was one of many previous send offs - filled with the same emotions; joy and sadness mingled together. Sadness in the knowledge that it would be a while before we would see each other again, but joy overflowing in the knowledge of how wonderful this time would be for her - the maturing that was bound to happen, the stories yet to be told, and the unnumbered memories to be written on her heart.
Letting go -
is it good for me? But of course.
Is it good for her - hello!!
Does it feel as if she is slipping away through my hands or like I'm loosing her? No, not really, it feels more like she is moving to the next season or stage. Just like she moved from a nursing baby to a toddler, and on to kindergarten ....each transition demands adjustment, but it must be!
What is the alternative? - to "love" our children so very much that we stifle them? Keep them from growing into their own through each small departure from one stage to another?
Don't we desire to raise up independent - or rather God-dependent children?
But if we micro manage/hover over them/ check and keep track of every move or appointment,
we not only contradict our desire, but make a clear statement of
trusting neither our child nor God with their future.
Oh we - we the parental units - we want the very best for our offspring...... but in our loving efforts, let's not stand in the way of The One, who has prepared for them -
"what no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man imagined..." (1 Cor. 2:9)
-b
How soon does that lesson start? When does it end?
More often than not, it seems hard to do - the letting go. And although it's an ongoing adventure, I can't say that it's become much easier for me, or that I have gotten any better doing it. I fast forget that what I have - is only borrowed........even the presents given, I sense I have to hold loosely.
Our daughter, is the most wonderful present God could ever place in our hands - but I have always known, that although she is our daughter, she is also God's.
And though she is the most tender spot in my heart, it has been so important that I do hold her loosely. Why?
- so she could grow,
flap her wings
and as time went on, venture out and test the water on her own.....away from us.
Does that mean I didn't love her as strongly as I could/should? Absolutely not!
It is a very hard balance to manage -
to love deeply and at the same time, be,
if not ready, then willing to let go.
When we shipped our daughter off to Denmark, or 'the land of the Danes' as she likes to call it, it was one of many previous send offs - filled with the same emotions; joy and sadness mingled together. Sadness in the knowledge that it would be a while before we would see each other again, but joy overflowing in the knowledge of how wonderful this time would be for her - the maturing that was bound to happen, the stories yet to be told, and the unnumbered memories to be written on her heart.
Letting go -
is it good for me? But of course.
Is it good for her - hello!!
Does it feel as if she is slipping away through my hands or like I'm loosing her? No, not really, it feels more like she is moving to the next season or stage. Just like she moved from a nursing baby to a toddler, and on to kindergarten ....each transition demands adjustment, but it must be!
What is the alternative? - to "love" our children so very much that we stifle them? Keep them from growing into their own through each small departure from one stage to another?
Don't we desire to raise up independent - or rather God-dependent children?
But if we micro manage/hover over them/ check and keep track of every move or appointment,
we not only contradict our desire, but make a clear statement of
trusting neither our child nor God with their future.
Oh we - we the parental units - we want the very best for our offspring...... but in our loving efforts, let's not stand in the way of The One, who has prepared for them -
"what no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man imagined..." (1 Cor. 2:9)
-b
Friday, August 3, 2012
A moment of 7 miles
Sometimes life runs into you so hard, it knocks you over - usually from behind.... you don't see it coming. Sometimes you land on your knees right away (in prayer) - other times there are 'moments' of floating in limbo.
So often it happen when you get one of "those" phone calls......
I received two of 'those' calls within two weeks. The first one from my brother in-law letting me know something had happened and to call him asap. Unable to reach neither him, nor my mom at 2am DK time, set off thoughts running down every avenue at full speed for 5 hours until my sister called to explain what had happened. Mom had a stroke, but she is ok.
- and she is better than ok, a week later she is back home and almost her former self.
The second one from my mother in-law Sunday morning, - my sister in-law passed away at the age of 44. A medical history as long as Methuselah was old, but still unexpected and sudden.
~
The air seemed to leave me, replaced by a subtle shakiness, thoughts started to jumble, but acting like erupted bag of bouncy balls lead nowhere and make no sense. Unable to focus, eyes roam looking for something or somebody to connect with. Walking from one chair to another, sometimes in circles, picking up something here and there only to put it down there and here instead...... the desire or need to DO something is constant - only there is nothing I can do.
The feeling of not being present is overwhelming and uncomfortable - as if I am walking next to myself. I am performing tasks, but with such a complete detachment it might as well be somebody else.
I found myself in moments of fragmentation knowing I should pray, but unable to focus send up sporadic unconnected sentences as scrambled as both I and my thoughts are.
It made me think of the two Emmaus walkers from Luke 24:13-31. These two, one named Cleopas, were there when the women came running back from the tomb with the news of it being empty - considering it idle talk, they decided to walk to Emmaus.
They were in a state too I believe - still in shock over the death of Jesus, their hope of deliverance crucified with him - gone. Now what? Can you hear them talking? Sometimes to each other, sometimes to themselves, trying to sort out thoughts, events, future. I wonder how scattered they were.
It says their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus when he showed up walking next to them, talking with them asking what they are so engrossed in conversation about.
7 miles later when they share their supper with him, their eyes were opened so they saw it was Jesus.
I don't know what 'eyes being kept from recognizing' and 'eyes being opened' is all about - the why, or how and all that. Were they in such upheaval that they just couldn't focus? Or was it a case of seeing somebody in an unexpected place.....I have found myself not recognizing someone as I met them outside of their 'normal' setting.....Jesus was dead and buried. But maybe it was just one of those acts of God, wouldn't be the first time eyes being closed or opened - as I said I just don't know.
But here's the fact;
even though they didn't recognize Jesus, he walked with them the whole 7 miles.
There is no place where Jesus is not -
and no matter what 'state' I am in, floating in limbo, or walking beside myself -
Jesus walks with me all the time........all the way!
-b
So often it happen when you get one of "those" phone calls......
I received two of 'those' calls within two weeks. The first one from my brother in-law letting me know something had happened and to call him asap. Unable to reach neither him, nor my mom at 2am DK time, set off thoughts running down every avenue at full speed for 5 hours until my sister called to explain what had happened. Mom had a stroke, but she is ok.
- and she is better than ok, a week later she is back home and almost her former self.
The second one from my mother in-law Sunday morning, - my sister in-law passed away at the age of 44. A medical history as long as Methuselah was old, but still unexpected and sudden.
~
The air seemed to leave me, replaced by a subtle shakiness, thoughts started to jumble, but acting like erupted bag of bouncy balls lead nowhere and make no sense. Unable to focus, eyes roam looking for something or somebody to connect with. Walking from one chair to another, sometimes in circles, picking up something here and there only to put it down there and here instead...... the desire or need to DO something is constant - only there is nothing I can do.
The feeling of not being present is overwhelming and uncomfortable - as if I am walking next to myself. I am performing tasks, but with such a complete detachment it might as well be somebody else.
I found myself in moments of fragmentation knowing I should pray, but unable to focus send up sporadic unconnected sentences as scrambled as both I and my thoughts are.
It made me think of the two Emmaus walkers from Luke 24:13-31. These two, one named Cleopas, were there when the women came running back from the tomb with the news of it being empty - considering it idle talk, they decided to walk to Emmaus.
They were in a state too I believe - still in shock over the death of Jesus, their hope of deliverance crucified with him - gone. Now what? Can you hear them talking? Sometimes to each other, sometimes to themselves, trying to sort out thoughts, events, future. I wonder how scattered they were.
It says their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus when he showed up walking next to them, talking with them asking what they are so engrossed in conversation about.
7 miles later when they share their supper with him, their eyes were opened so they saw it was Jesus.
I don't know what 'eyes being kept from recognizing' and 'eyes being opened' is all about - the why, or how and all that. Were they in such upheaval that they just couldn't focus? Or was it a case of seeing somebody in an unexpected place.....I have found myself not recognizing someone as I met them outside of their 'normal' setting.....Jesus was dead and buried. But maybe it was just one of those acts of God, wouldn't be the first time eyes being closed or opened - as I said I just don't know.
But here's the fact;
even though they didn't recognize Jesus, he walked with them the whole 7 miles.
There is no place where Jesus is not -
and no matter what 'state' I am in, floating in limbo, or walking beside myself -
Jesus walks with me all the time........all the way!
-b
Friday, July 20, 2012
Unlimited Minutes.....
Religious rules and regulations. Beautiful temples filled with lifeless laws, and hearts of stone.....
what has happened to God's house and the freedom He has given?
Is it any wonder Jesus spent his days outdoors -
breaking rules of what to do, when to do it and how it "should" be done?
He taught any time any where! Used everyday circumstances, settings and objects as prop for teaching about who he was and how his kingdom works. There was NEVER a certain time, place, specific mood or atmosphere demanded for him to be teaching/healing/reaching out/rescuing.
He walked under a tree- and there was Zacharia........In the town square Mary was accused and on the brink of being stoned.......He told Peter to "go fish" after he got cornered by the "two drachma" tax collectors.....Sitting watching the entrance to the temple he saw the little old woman giving all she had.......
Isn't that a wonderful change? There are no settings to be fulfilled for him to be there, no demand for certain behavior for him to pay attention. - But do I really live like that?
Do I have time for Jesus in my doings throughout my day, or is it more set up like office hours?
Mon-Fridays 6-7 am, Sat. (approx.) 7-8 am, Sundays; 10-11:30 am (sometimes till 12pm if the pastor keeps talking).
Isn't that religion? Like the unspoken rules of being quiet in church, somber faces, or putting on your best behavior - getting the dos and don'ts right - if you want God to pay you any attention, saying the right prayer, finding the words that evoke his presence, etc.?
When Jesus died, he created an open door policy into the holy of holies for me!
Do I offer the same for him?
What if He desired to talk to me while I was preppin' dinner? Or brushing my teeth? You might think this silly because I am exaggerating - but please consider this;
How small a perimeter have I created wherein God can reach me - where I am attuned to listening to/for him.
When I stand outside on a quiet evening in solitude, lifting my face to the sky and try to take in the expanse of the heaven, the layer upon layer of stars - do I then hear God speak? Do you?
I belong to a God that is above and beyond anything and everything - why oh, why would I put a limit on how, when and where to meet and interact with Him?
I would be missing out!
I could have a dialog or thought exchange going on off and on all day long with my maker -
I really could.
-b
what has happened to God's house and the freedom He has given?
Is it any wonder Jesus spent his days outdoors -
breaking rules of what to do, when to do it and how it "should" be done?
He taught any time any where! Used everyday circumstances, settings and objects as prop for teaching about who he was and how his kingdom works. There was NEVER a certain time, place, specific mood or atmosphere demanded for him to be teaching/healing/reaching out/rescuing.
He walked under a tree- and there was Zacharia........In the town square Mary was accused and on the brink of being stoned.......He told Peter to "go fish" after he got cornered by the "two drachma" tax collectors.....Sitting watching the entrance to the temple he saw the little old woman giving all she had.......
Isn't that a wonderful change? There are no settings to be fulfilled for him to be there, no demand for certain behavior for him to pay attention. - But do I really live like that?
Do I have time for Jesus in my doings throughout my day, or is it more set up like office hours?
Mon-Fridays 6-7 am, Sat. (approx.) 7-8 am, Sundays; 10-11:30 am (sometimes till 12pm if the pastor keeps talking).
Isn't that religion? Like the unspoken rules of being quiet in church, somber faces, or putting on your best behavior - getting the dos and don'ts right - if you want God to pay you any attention, saying the right prayer, finding the words that evoke his presence, etc.?
When Jesus died, he created an open door policy into the holy of holies for me!
Do I offer the same for him?
What if He desired to talk to me while I was preppin' dinner? Or brushing my teeth? You might think this silly because I am exaggerating - but please consider this;
How small a perimeter have I created wherein God can reach me - where I am attuned to listening to/for him.
When I stand outside on a quiet evening in solitude, lifting my face to the sky and try to take in the expanse of the heaven, the layer upon layer of stars - do I then hear God speak? Do you?
I belong to a God that is above and beyond anything and everything - why oh, why would I put a limit on how, when and where to meet and interact with Him?
I would be missing out!
I could have a dialog or thought exchange going on off and on all day long with my maker -
I really could.
-b
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Memories are for remembering
Memories!
The heart is full of them - some good some bad, but there they are.
New ones are being made every day -some precious and beautiful worthy of being pulled out relived through thoughts and telling in the years to come - others are wished a vanishing act so complete that they'll never flash through the mind again.
As a family we have had countless laughs, as we re-live funny memories together in the recounting of them.
Reunions, it seems, are centered around not only catching up, but often re-living old memories, refreshing them when combined effort add details otherwise forgotten.
Memories - they can be powerful in their ability to either lift our hearts, give them wings to soar far above wind and worry, or bring with them a sadness, casting dark shadows that even the sun is unable to overcome.
Memories - to be re-told to bring laughter, tears, warning, encouragement, edification, bonding...
Memories - to be pulled out like a photo album, opened up by a sound, a smell, a picture, a
comment, a look-alike...
I have encountered people who soon give me the impression of living in the past - in the highlights of their lives; where they were successful at something, living a dream, - or the opposite; the dark, dried up well that somebody or something dropped them in, and there they went through the hardest time of their life.
One day this sentence fluttered through my thoughts:
Don't set up camp around memories!
- but....
I have some pretty amazing memories (as we all do!) - powerful victories, miracles of wedding, the birth of our daughter, the odds of meeting my wonderful husband, restored hope, a healed sense of self, and .... I could go on - wouldn't it be great to just stay in those? I do know this;
at times I set up camp and celebrated, but then stayed on instead of breaking camp as dawn broke.
The Israelites immediately came to mind, how God saved them from slavery through the River Jordan. When they have all crossed safely, God instructs Joshua to chose someone from each tribe, 12 in all, to go back into the dry riverbed and collect a big rock and with the 12 stones build a memorial.
Why? Really doesn't seem like this event would be something you'd forget very fast...
Josh 4:6 "that this might be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come; "what does those stones mean to you?", then you shall tell them..." God wanted them to make something tangible in memory of the miracle he just gave them - so they could tell their children about it.
And the next day - after the big celebration - they broke up camp and moved on, leaving the stone memorial behind! But ... - ".. they are there to this day" Joshua 4:9.
photo by; www.misskaylaphotography.com
So let's build memories - let's build memorials for some of them, like the victories, the miracles, - let's celebrate and give praise and glory to God.
But when dawn breaks - let's move on to build new ones!
-b
The heart is full of them - some good some bad, but there they are.
New ones are being made every day -some precious and beautiful worthy of being pulled out relived through thoughts and telling in the years to come - others are wished a vanishing act so complete that they'll never flash through the mind again.
As a family we have had countless laughs, as we re-live funny memories together in the recounting of them.
Reunions, it seems, are centered around not only catching up, but often re-living old memories, refreshing them when combined effort add details otherwise forgotten.
Memories - they can be powerful in their ability to either lift our hearts, give them wings to soar far above wind and worry, or bring with them a sadness, casting dark shadows that even the sun is unable to overcome.
Memories - to be re-told to bring laughter, tears, warning, encouragement, edification, bonding...
Memories - to be pulled out like a photo album, opened up by a sound, a smell, a picture, a
comment, a look-alike...
I have encountered people who soon give me the impression of living in the past - in the highlights of their lives; where they were successful at something, living a dream, - or the opposite; the dark, dried up well that somebody or something dropped them in, and there they went through the hardest time of their life.
One day this sentence fluttered through my thoughts:
Don't set up camp around memories!
- but....
I have some pretty amazing memories (as we all do!) - powerful victories, miracles of wedding, the birth of our daughter, the odds of meeting my wonderful husband, restored hope, a healed sense of self, and .... I could go on - wouldn't it be great to just stay in those? I do know this;
at times I set up camp and celebrated, but then stayed on instead of breaking camp as dawn broke.
The Israelites immediately came to mind, how God saved them from slavery through the River Jordan. When they have all crossed safely, God instructs Joshua to chose someone from each tribe, 12 in all, to go back into the dry riverbed and collect a big rock and with the 12 stones build a memorial.
Why? Really doesn't seem like this event would be something you'd forget very fast...
Josh 4:6 "that this might be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come; "what does those stones mean to you?", then you shall tell them..." God wanted them to make something tangible in memory of the miracle he just gave them - so they could tell their children about it.
And the next day - after the big celebration - they broke up camp and moved on, leaving the stone memorial behind! But ... - ".. they are there to this day" Joshua 4:9.
So let's build memories - let's build memorials for some of them, like the victories, the miracles, - let's celebrate and give praise and glory to God.
But when dawn breaks - let's move on to build new ones!
-b
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Book and the Cover issue
Christmas eve has arrived at the Haliski house bringing with it many different goodies. A special dinner is prepared, consumed with many 'yuuum' utterings, much to the delight of the cook. All things cleared away. the cozy living room is where you'll find us for the remainder of the evening. A small Christmas tree in one corner, lights up the rest of the room in all it's splendor, and under it awaits presents from far away. We've taken time to read the story of Christmas, given thanks, and for a little while ribbon is carefully untied, wrapping removed with much effort put in to not ripping it, oohs, aaahhhs and statements like " this is just what I wanted" or " wow, look, this is cool" float through the air.
One question though, is asked over and over again............
Who is it from?
James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
I read a story - a friend of mine received an unexpected and at first, unwanted gift. This gift would replace the contact lenses she had destroyed in an act of faith in hope of healing. Healing hadn't happened yet, and she didn't want to accept the gift as that also would have meant accepting defeat and suggested a lack of faith. But she trusted the one who had sent the gift and based on that, bowed her head and prayed to her heavenly Father - then humbly received the gift.
Who is it from?
A gift can be many things; - materialistic, money, a word of knowledge, prophesy, teaching, instruction, a hug, a meal .....
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 "Don't despise prophesy, but test everything: hold fast to what is good".
This is Paul's version of : Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Sometimes we get a 'mixed bag' - but let's sort through it, keep what we discern is from our 'Father of lights' and 'hold fast to' it, because that is good.
When I struggle with accepting a gift presented to me, based on who is delivering it - my hope and desire is, that I too will bow my head and pray to my heavenly Father for discernment - then humbly receive what He chooses to give me.
-b
One question though, is asked over and over again............
Who is it from?
James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
I read a story - a friend of mine received an unexpected and at first, unwanted gift. This gift would replace the contact lenses she had destroyed in an act of faith in hope of healing. Healing hadn't happened yet, and she didn't want to accept the gift as that also would have meant accepting defeat and suggested a lack of faith. But she trusted the one who had sent the gift and based on that, bowed her head and prayed to her heavenly Father - then humbly received the gift.
Who is it from?
A gift can be many things; - materialistic, money, a word of knowledge, prophesy, teaching, instruction, a hug, a meal .....
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 "Don't despise prophesy, but test everything: hold fast to what is good".
This is Paul's version of : Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Sometimes we get a 'mixed bag' - but let's sort through it, keep what we discern is from our 'Father of lights' and 'hold fast to' it, because that is good.
When I struggle with accepting a gift presented to me, based on who is delivering it - my hope and desire is, that I too will bow my head and pray to my heavenly Father for discernment - then humbly receive what He chooses to give me.
-b
Monday, June 18, 2012
Living under the Rainbow
There is something about rainbows!
Whenever one appears on the sky with its colorful streaks, it creates wonders below.
People stop in their tracks, from their busyness, point and crane their necks in odd angles to get a glimpse - that, to me, is wonder-filled behavior.
Have you ever walked under a rainbow?
I came pretty close to that experience one morning (or so it seemed - I think they look closer than they really are).
It was one of those mornings -on the track running my loops- with sluggish legs, a body with no spring in it and my mind in the same kind of state. As I rounded the corner to finish a loop a huge, vibrant colored rainbow was right there in front of me. So close, it seemed I would be under it within 3 steps, maybe even reach up and touch it. Beautiful it was.
It changed my morning run completely. My legs were still sluggish and what not, but the attitude of my heart did a 180, and my face turned smiley.
Rainbows always make me smile, you see, because I do believe what the Bible says, that God put it in the sky as a sign of his promise. Gen. 9:13
The Bible is packed with promises - somebody, not I, knows the exact number - promises for today, promises for tomorrow.
Some I discovered as if they were spoken into my heart while reading them, and my heart grew light and soared in joy.
Some make me bow my knees before the one and only God Almighty.
Others make me fall apart, at loss for words to express my love and gratitude toward my Lord and Savior.
So many, many more are waiting for me to find them, be led to them and hear them whisper in my heart.
I may never walk under a rainbow - but you see, I realized that God has invited me to walk in his promises every day! How can that but put a smile on my face?
-b
Whenever one appears on the sky with its colorful streaks, it creates wonders below.
People stop in their tracks, from their busyness, point and crane their necks in odd angles to get a glimpse - that, to me, is wonder-filled behavior.
Have you ever walked under a rainbow?
I came pretty close to that experience one morning (or so it seemed - I think they look closer than they really are).
It was one of those mornings -on the track running my loops- with sluggish legs, a body with no spring in it and my mind in the same kind of state. As I rounded the corner to finish a loop a huge, vibrant colored rainbow was right there in front of me. So close, it seemed I would be under it within 3 steps, maybe even reach up and touch it. Beautiful it was.
It changed my morning run completely. My legs were still sluggish and what not, but the attitude of my heart did a 180, and my face turned smiley.
Rainbows always make me smile, you see, because I do believe what the Bible says, that God put it in the sky as a sign of his promise. Gen. 9:13
The Bible is packed with promises - somebody, not I, knows the exact number - promises for today, promises for tomorrow.
Some I discovered as if they were spoken into my heart while reading them, and my heart grew light and soared in joy.
Some make me bow my knees before the one and only God Almighty.
Others make me fall apart, at loss for words to express my love and gratitude toward my Lord and Savior.
So many, many more are waiting for me to find them, be led to them and hear them whisper in my heart.
I may never walk under a rainbow - but you see, I realized that God has invited me to walk in his promises every day! How can that but put a smile on my face?
-b
Friday, June 15, 2012
One more drop.....
I forgot an important part in last weeks post "Who waters on a rainy day" and it keeps 'nagging' at my heart - so here it is.....
I can't count how many times I have heard how "we", believers in Jesus, are labeled as weak - and how often our avoidance of certain places/things/viewings are labeled the same. If we were truly strong, then these wouldn't be a problem or temptation........
Listen as I jump on a soap box at 'Speakers Corner' for a moment here!
Somebody very close to me, has been substance free for over 10 years - and it is impossible for me to find words to tell you just how immensely proud I am of this person. Would you call it weak, that alcohol is no longer a part of "his" life - not even a little sip? Guaranteed there was many times, when the easy way would have been to give in to that craving. But to say no - to avoid even, the places that are filled with the 'aroma'......
I call that courage!
And that, is exactly what I see when "we", believers in Jesus, make decisions on what we choose to let in our lives, or not - what to part take in, or not. Instead of giving in to what ever cravings are in our heart, that would ultimately pull us down, - we withstand them!
I call that strength!
Why? - to guard the LIFE and FREEDOM that has been given us.
That takes courage & strength!
-b
I can't count how many times I have heard how "we", believers in Jesus, are labeled as weak - and how often our avoidance of certain places/things/viewings are labeled the same. If we were truly strong, then these wouldn't be a problem or temptation........
Listen as I jump on a soap box at 'Speakers Corner' for a moment here!
Somebody very close to me, has been substance free for over 10 years - and it is impossible for me to find words to tell you just how immensely proud I am of this person. Would you call it weak, that alcohol is no longer a part of "his" life - not even a little sip? Guaranteed there was many times, when the easy way would have been to give in to that craving. But to say no - to avoid even, the places that are filled with the 'aroma'......
I call that courage!
And that, is exactly what I see when "we", believers in Jesus, make decisions on what we choose to let in our lives, or not - what to part take in, or not. Instead of giving in to what ever cravings are in our heart, that would ultimately pull us down, - we withstand them!
I call that strength!
Why? - to guard the LIFE and FREEDOM that has been given us.
That takes courage & strength!
-b
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Who waters on a rainy day?
Do you remember how much rain we've had, even all through April?
The vast amounts of rain wasn't what was on my mind this day in the very beginning of May, so when I was out in the front of our house watering the lawn, I wondered why somebody slowed down, starring as they drove by! Then it hit me, aah, yes, guess it must have looked a bit like water-wasting - unless of course you knew what I knew: the fact that my husband a few days prior, had scalped and reseeded the lawn. The weather then switched from April rain to August sun, made everybody put in their air conditioner, and put me on the front lawn with a water hose in hand, because to keep the seeds alive, they needed to be kept moist.
I started thinking what I do as a child of God, that must look weird to others - unless of course they know!
What can you ever really know of other people's souls -
of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles?
- C.S. Lewis
Former alcoholics stop going to bars, and I doubt you'll find beer or other alcoholic beverages in their house - but of course, you say. People starting a certain diet, tend to avoid invitations to dinners until they have a good handle on the should, should-nots and self discipline - well yes, that is understandable you say.
So it also is for me as a believer. Some things are pretty general and common for all believers. For example; you will most likely find us in church on Sunday mornings. Not so much in dark bars, smoking and drinking the night away. Reading material includes the Bible and so on.
But then there are things I do or avoid, unique to me as an individual, because of what I have walked through in life.
God has rescued me, healed and set me free.
And in order to protect and keep alive -so it will grow- what God has given me, would I not be willing to look odd and 'water the lawn' ?
Paul writes to Timothy, (whom he calls "my true son in the faith" 1 Timothy 1:2) "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2nd Timothy 1:14.
I have learned many lessons due to my unwillingness, at times, to guard what God had done for me. At last I have become not only older, but also wiser - and grown to value so much more what He has entrusted to me, than what others might think of my, in their eyes, odd behavior.
So with this, I urge you....
Protect what God has done for you - don't let it be stolen.
Keep alive what God has deposited in you - don't let it dry out
-b
The vast amounts of rain wasn't what was on my mind this day in the very beginning of May, so when I was out in the front of our house watering the lawn, I wondered why somebody slowed down, starring as they drove by! Then it hit me, aah, yes, guess it must have looked a bit like water-wasting - unless of course you knew what I knew: the fact that my husband a few days prior, had scalped and reseeded the lawn. The weather then switched from April rain to August sun, made everybody put in their air conditioner, and put me on the front lawn with a water hose in hand, because to keep the seeds alive, they needed to be kept moist.
I started thinking what I do as a child of God, that must look weird to others - unless of course they know!
What can you ever really know of other people's souls -
of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles?
- C.S. Lewis
Former alcoholics stop going to bars, and I doubt you'll find beer or other alcoholic beverages in their house - but of course, you say. People starting a certain diet, tend to avoid invitations to dinners until they have a good handle on the should, should-nots and self discipline - well yes, that is understandable you say.
So it also is for me as a believer. Some things are pretty general and common for all believers. For example; you will most likely find us in church on Sunday mornings. Not so much in dark bars, smoking and drinking the night away. Reading material includes the Bible and so on.
But then there are things I do or avoid, unique to me as an individual, because of what I have walked through in life.
God has rescued me, healed and set me free.
And in order to protect and keep alive -so it will grow- what God has given me, would I not be willing to look odd and 'water the lawn' ?
Paul writes to Timothy, (whom he calls "my true son in the faith" 1 Timothy 1:2) "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2nd Timothy 1:14.
I have learned many lessons due to my unwillingness, at times, to guard what God had done for me. At last I have become not only older, but also wiser - and grown to value so much more what He has entrusted to me, than what others might think of my, in their eyes, odd behavior.
So with this, I urge you....
Protect what God has done for you - don't let it be stolen.
Keep alive what God has deposited in you - don't let it dry out
-b
Friday, May 25, 2012
Pop goes Weasel the II
"A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes"
Mahatma Gandhi.
I hope you are up for another look at boxes - because there is another set besides the ones we use to 'put' people in. These boxes can be hard to identify for several reasons;
they can look very beautiful - noble even,
they might not have a confining feel to them,
they can be subtle,
familiar - even homey,
it takes courage to be honest about them
These are the self made boxes. Built carefully, sometimes subconsciously over years and often with different materials, these boxes can be very strong and hard to break out of.
Here are few examples of what the building material might be:
Comparison
Fear of failure
Perfectionism
Low self esteem
Expectations
Negative words spoken into your heart
False self image
I held my box together as the judge, the prisoner, the guard!
Do you see why they can be hard to break free of? But Jesus promised that the truth shall set us free - and I for one believe that with all my heart. Because I have experienced this and continue to do so. Truth has been spoken to me by friends, and that has brought down walls, built me up and encouraged me greatly - it is powerful when we speak truth to each other, even if it isn't cake and roses, - spoken in love, truth can do amazing things.
Some of my self-made boxes though, have been so strong and tight that even when friends spoke truth to me in love, it simply hit the walls like rain on a window, unable to penetrate.
Are you wondering what this could look like in real life?
Think of people struggling with anorexia..... I was headed towards becoming anorexic when a friend told me that I was thin, - laughter was almost my reply - I did not laugh, but neither did I believe her, my mind told me different when looking at my own reflection.
-and let me ask you this;
Have you ever let yourself down?
Ever sank below the standard you hold yourself to?
Lower than what you ever thought possible?
Done/said something you never thought yourself capable of?
I thought I knew myself pretty well, but one act involving a lie - a dark and ugly one, rooted in selfishness - showed me different, sank me to the lowest point in my life. I fell - and shattered I retreated to a dark box.
I lied to those closest to me, who supported me, loved me, hoped for me, believed and trusted me. I lied in an attempt to keep what wasn't mine to have.
Judged by myself I build the walls to my box around me, confined myself in dark solitude.
Written on the walls were the words; ' Self-disappointment' - 'Not trustworthy'
Have you been there too? Are you there now?
Remember Peter and his triple denial of Jesus after his arrest.
Luke 22:54-62.
It ends with Peter weeping bitterly. Can you feel his disappointment with himself? His shame over what he had done? Would he not like Adam and us, hide from God, close friends, (and himself if he could) retreat to a dark box - because who would (in Peter's mind) be his friend now, after what he'd done? We don't hear much about him until Mary comes running in to report that Jesus is gone, the grave is empty. As fast as his legs could carry him, Peter ran to the grave - and I wonder what thoughts were running with him in his heart.....
We do get to hear Jesus speaking to him directly, drawing him out, smashing the box, restoring him -
" Do you love me?" "Do you love me?" "Do you love me?"
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Psalm 138:8 "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me, your steadfast love oh Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."
Did Peter deny knowing Jesus because he didn't love him? I wonder if Peter was questioning his love for Jesus - I wonder, because Jesus hones in on that, - not on Peter being fearful - Jesus knew Peter, but on his thoughts, his heart........ "Peter, do you love me?
There are boxes that can only be broken down by Jesus. He speaks truth to us, because he knows us best - better than we know ourselves. Peter was functioning again - he was with the disciples, part of the group - but Jesus sought him out because he needed restoring. Freedom
Gandhi said; "A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes"
- if your thoughts don't line up with the thoughts Jesus has of you, I encourage you to replace yours and believe the ones from Jesus. After all, He knows you best, better than you know yourself and...
he is known to be truthful.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
-b
Mahatma Gandhi.
I hope you are up for another look at boxes - because there is another set besides the ones we use to 'put' people in. These boxes can be hard to identify for several reasons;
they can look very beautiful - noble even,
they might not have a confining feel to them,
they can be subtle,
familiar - even homey,
it takes courage to be honest about them
These are the self made boxes. Built carefully, sometimes subconsciously over years and often with different materials, these boxes can be very strong and hard to break out of.
Here are few examples of what the building material might be:
Comparison
Fear of failure
Perfectionism
Low self esteem
Expectations
Negative words spoken into your heart
False self image
I held my box together as the judge, the prisoner, the guard!
Do you see why they can be hard to break free of? But Jesus promised that the truth shall set us free - and I for one believe that with all my heart. Because I have experienced this and continue to do so. Truth has been spoken to me by friends, and that has brought down walls, built me up and encouraged me greatly - it is powerful when we speak truth to each other, even if it isn't cake and roses, - spoken in love, truth can do amazing things.
Some of my self-made boxes though, have been so strong and tight that even when friends spoke truth to me in love, it simply hit the walls like rain on a window, unable to penetrate.
Are you wondering what this could look like in real life?
Think of people struggling with anorexia..... I was headed towards becoming anorexic when a friend told me that I was thin, - laughter was almost my reply - I did not laugh, but neither did I believe her, my mind told me different when looking at my own reflection.
-and let me ask you this;
Have you ever let yourself down?
Ever sank below the standard you hold yourself to?
Lower than what you ever thought possible?
Done/said something you never thought yourself capable of?
I thought I knew myself pretty well, but one act involving a lie - a dark and ugly one, rooted in selfishness - showed me different, sank me to the lowest point in my life. I fell - and shattered I retreated to a dark box.
I lied to those closest to me, who supported me, loved me, hoped for me, believed and trusted me. I lied in an attempt to keep what wasn't mine to have.
Judged by myself I build the walls to my box around me, confined myself in dark solitude.
Written on the walls were the words; ' Self-disappointment' - 'Not trustworthy'
Have you been there too? Are you there now?
Remember Peter and his triple denial of Jesus after his arrest.
Luke 22:54-62.
It ends with Peter weeping bitterly. Can you feel his disappointment with himself? His shame over what he had done? Would he not like Adam and us, hide from God, close friends, (and himself if he could) retreat to a dark box - because who would (in Peter's mind) be his friend now, after what he'd done? We don't hear much about him until Mary comes running in to report that Jesus is gone, the grave is empty. As fast as his legs could carry him, Peter ran to the grave - and I wonder what thoughts were running with him in his heart.....
We do get to hear Jesus speaking to him directly, drawing him out, smashing the box, restoring him -
" Do you love me?" "Do you love me?" "Do you love me?"
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Psalm 138:8 "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me, your steadfast love oh Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."
Did Peter deny knowing Jesus because he didn't love him? I wonder if Peter was questioning his love for Jesus - I wonder, because Jesus hones in on that, - not on Peter being fearful - Jesus knew Peter, but on his thoughts, his heart........ "Peter, do you love me?
There are boxes that can only be broken down by Jesus. He speaks truth to us, because he knows us best - better than we know ourselves. Peter was functioning again - he was with the disciples, part of the group - but Jesus sought him out because he needed restoring. Freedom
Gandhi said; "A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes"
- if your thoughts don't line up with the thoughts Jesus has of you, I encourage you to replace yours and believe the ones from Jesus. After all, He knows you best, better than you know yourself and...
he is known to be truthful.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
-b
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Pop goes the Weasel.....
Boxes.......
endless is the line of shapes, sizes, colors, pattern and lid-option. They have one thing in common, no matter the outward look; they were created to contain something.
They are so very handy in helping with organizing things - or hiding them!
If we are extra organized, or simply just got tired of opening box after box before hitting the jack pot, we label them.
I have too many with the label; Christmas! One has our daughter, Kayla's memorabilia in it, one says; Terry's stuff.
Sometimes I open a box containing other things besides what the label says there should be in it, so
I am in for a surprise - even a small treasure hunt!
We also have boxes we "organize" people in, they also have labels - like;
I had my mind set on this "putting people in a box" issue being just wrong, and wanted to just smash and condemn it, but after pondering, that has changed. Why? Because I found that I don't mind you putting me in any kind of box, as long
- as long as your heart is still open for surprises!
If not, then you have put me in one of the boxes I hate - the ones that confine.... like a sleeping bag
- my, they drive me nuts.
You have to sleep like a stick!
And no way you can even think about bending a leg,
you know.... one leg bent in a 45 degree angle,
knee pointing to the side!!
(it's called Yoga if you can do it whilst awake and standing up.....)
Some boxes
Leave no room to expand To Grow & Change.
* No room for Jesus working in me.*
I found a box like that in an unexpected place - wasn't looking for one, but by taking a closer look at a well known phrase, a box took shape.
Here's the phrase; " oh, her, yes... I know her all too well" (or 'him' or 'them etc. etc.)
You have heard that phrase, right? maybe even said or thought it.
It kind of has a negative ring to it - if you reply; "oh, her , yes I know her well" - totally different sound - but add the two words 'all too' and it totally changes.
Something is being communicated underneath. You agree?
Throw in a "believe me - or; trust me" is like underlining it 3 times with a fat red marker!!
Here are the walls I hear being raised; Whatever 'she' does or says won't surprise me - it will just be typical 'her'..........
First wall; No Change - Second wall; No Growth -
Third wall; No desire to help (anymore) Fourth wall; No hope
Fifth wall; No Faith/Trust in her- Sixth wall; No Faith/Trust in Jesus' works in her
6 walls, 1 box, label; I know her all too well! If that is my mindset then....
She has become a prisoner........... I the guard!
This is a scary box! Why? Because it is elusive -
One wall is build on a lie! - let the truth shatter that, and the rest will crumble.
Remember Jesus said in John 5:17 " My Father is always at work..."
-And Paul wrote to the Philippians; (1:6)
"Being confident of this;
that He who began a good work in you,
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
There it is! The truth - let it shatter the lie -
don't ever doubt if God is at work!
-b
endless is the line of shapes, sizes, colors, pattern and lid-option. They have one thing in common, no matter the outward look; they were created to contain something.
They are so very handy in helping with organizing things - or hiding them!
If we are extra organized, or simply just got tired of opening box after box before hitting the jack pot, we label them.
I have too many with the label; Christmas! One has our daughter, Kayla's memorabilia in it, one says; Terry's stuff.
Sometimes I open a box containing other things besides what the label says there should be in it, so
I am in for a surprise - even a small treasure hunt!
We also have boxes we "organize" people in, they also have labels - like;
-
Free spirited Social
- Handy (usually used for males) Worshipper
I had my mind set on this "putting people in a box" issue being just wrong, and wanted to just smash and condemn it, but after pondering, that has changed. Why? Because I found that I don't mind you putting me in any kind of box, as long
- as long as your heart is still open for surprises!
If not, then you have put me in one of the boxes I hate - the ones that confine.... like a sleeping bag
- my, they drive me nuts.
You have to sleep like a stick!
And no way you can even think about bending a leg,
you know.... one leg bent in a 45 degree angle,
knee pointing to the side!!
(it's called Yoga if you can do it whilst awake and standing up.....)
Some boxes
Leave no room to expand To Grow & Change.
* No room for Jesus working in me.*
I found a box like that in an unexpected place - wasn't looking for one, but by taking a closer look at a well known phrase, a box took shape.
Here's the phrase; " oh, her, yes... I know her all too well" (or 'him' or 'them etc. etc.)
You have heard that phrase, right? maybe even said or thought it.
It kind of has a negative ring to it - if you reply; "oh, her , yes I know her well" - totally different sound - but add the two words 'all too' and it totally changes.
Something is being communicated underneath. You agree?
Throw in a "believe me - or; trust me" is like underlining it 3 times with a fat red marker!!
Here are the walls I hear being raised; Whatever 'she' does or says won't surprise me - it will just be typical 'her'..........
First wall; No Change - Second wall; No Growth -
Third wall; No desire to help (anymore) Fourth wall; No hope
Fifth wall; No Faith/Trust in her- Sixth wall; No Faith/Trust in Jesus' works in her
6 walls, 1 box, label; I know her all too well! If that is my mindset then....
She has become a prisoner........... I the guard!
This is a scary box! Why? Because it is elusive -
One wall is build on a lie! - let the truth shatter that, and the rest will crumble.
Remember Jesus said in John 5:17 " My Father is always at work..."
-And Paul wrote to the Philippians; (1:6)
"Being confident of this;
that He who began a good work in you,
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
There it is! The truth - let it shatter the lie -
don't ever doubt if God is at work!
-b
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
What fragrance are you wearing today?
One day while cleaning at a house, running the vacuum my nose picks up the amazing fragrance of coffee. Looking in the office of the house, I think " she's got one good cup of coffee sitting somewhere" ..... only to find it empty and no steaming cup of coffee to be seen anywhere.
Then it dawned on me!
Sitting in the kitchen, is one of these big elaborate espresso machines and a coffee grinder next to it. They have told me that they are 'big' coffee drinkers and the evidence of that, is ground coffee beans scattered in piles and heaps around the grinder and espresso maker.
To make the clean up easy, I use the vacuum to suck it all up.
And there, my friends, is also the answer to the missing cup of fresh brewed coffee.
I smiled at my surprise and thought it a great room-freshener fragrance for one of those 'smelly' companies to pick up.
It happened again today, - almost got surprised - what can I say, I like surprises - but instead of looking for the cup of coffee I got to thinking.
We so readily accept that what we eat, we also exude, some things more that others. Garlic is the first and greatest example that comes to mind, coffee is another one, peanut butter, beer and so on.
When we spend time with God, in His presence - it will be His 'fragrance' we spread as we go about.
Know that to be true - even though you can't smell it yourself - just like garlic - others can!
Trust me! Personal experience with this amazing, simple fact, is behind my confidence.
And here's what I think - most people, even though they don't like coffee, love the smell of fresh brewed coffee.
Same thing with God's 'fragrance' - there's something about it that is irresistible and makes you want to take a deep breath and savor it.
-b
Then it dawned on me!
Sitting in the kitchen, is one of these big elaborate espresso machines and a coffee grinder next to it. They have told me that they are 'big' coffee drinkers and the evidence of that, is ground coffee beans scattered in piles and heaps around the grinder and espresso maker.
To make the clean up easy, I use the vacuum to suck it all up.
And there, my friends, is also the answer to the missing cup of fresh brewed coffee.
I smiled at my surprise and thought it a great room-freshener fragrance for one of those 'smelly' companies to pick up.
It happened again today, - almost got surprised - what can I say, I like surprises - but instead of looking for the cup of coffee I got to thinking.
We so readily accept that what we eat, we also exude, some things more that others. Garlic is the first and greatest example that comes to mind, coffee is another one, peanut butter, beer and so on.
When we spend time with God, in His presence - it will be His 'fragrance' we spread as we go about.
Know that to be true - even though you can't smell it yourself - just like garlic - others can!
Trust me! Personal experience with this amazing, simple fact, is behind my confidence.
And here's what I think - most people, even though they don't like coffee, love the smell of fresh brewed coffee.
Same thing with God's 'fragrance' - there's something about it that is irresistible and makes you want to take a deep breath and savor it.
-b
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Run like a turtle...
Most mornings when I make my laps around and around, it happens in solitude, but every now and then, somebody will come along for a little while. Sometimes they'll be running the "wrong" way. One time a small group were doing just that,- then had the audacity to tell me, I was running the wrong way!! When we met again on the next lap, not quite at the same spot, I pointed out the fact, that my way was faster :)
One morning there happened to come along a strapping young man, who decided to loop around the wrong way...
~ Ok wait, time out for a minute here, - I know we just started but......: What does that exactly mean, to be "strapping" ? I've noticed it always being attached to 'young' - nobody ever says; 'strapping' old men...and here is another thing, it isn't allowed with females either - what gives?
~ the Dane part of me just awonderin' ~
Alright then, back to the morning mentioned above; I had just started my first lap, but right off the bat I decided 'we' needed to meet at the same spot- at least - better yet if it was a bit further his way, which would show my speed being faster.
Then a few things became clear very quickly;
* I was not yet properly warmed up, this being lap # 1
* In effort to keep up, my pace was faster that usual at this point - it being lap #1
* For that reason I was getting winded fast ( surely that must've been the reason)
* No way I was going to be able to keep this pace up much longer
I started loosing ground around lap # 4 and let him rip. (he quit after the next).
Slowing down to my own pace and catching my breath, I started reflecting on what had just happened to me, and then about the race Paul talks about in the new testament:
Hebrews 12:1 ...and throwing off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us.
It's a different kind of race, with the goal being to finish rather than finish first!
But, there are a few things these two, the physical and the spiritual race, have in common.
Like I was trying to keep up with the "strapping" man, matching his pace rather than my own, I quickly became winded and had I tried to keep up for much longer would have had to quit before finishing.
* If I run to somebody else' pace, I "run" the risk of exhausting myself to the point of being unable to finish the race.
* I need to run at my own pace, according to my ability. Steadfast.
* Focusing on my own race and not comparing it against other 'racers'.
This, by the way, is where the turtle title came about... - they just have their own pace and keep at it!
So my friends, let us encourage one another to follow Him and as the author of Hebrews said in 12:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...."
Let us run this race set before us as He bids us - at the individual pace He sets for us.
- A simple song title "Stop and Stare" by 'One Republic' popped into my head and made me realize what kind of race Jesus is inviting us to run;
One, where we often stop in Wonder -
One, where we never seize to be Amazed -
One, that will leave us in Awe -
-b
One morning there happened to come along a strapping young man, who decided to loop around the wrong way...
~ Ok wait, time out for a minute here, - I know we just started but......: What does that exactly mean, to be "strapping" ? I've noticed it always being attached to 'young' - nobody ever says; 'strapping' old men...and here is another thing, it isn't allowed with females either - what gives?
~ the Dane part of me just awonderin' ~
Alright then, back to the morning mentioned above; I had just started my first lap, but right off the bat I decided 'we' needed to meet at the same spot- at least - better yet if it was a bit further his way, which would show my speed being faster.
Then a few things became clear very quickly;
* I was not yet properly warmed up, this being lap # 1
* In effort to keep up, my pace was faster that usual at this point - it being lap #1
* For that reason I was getting winded fast ( surely that must've been the reason)
* No way I was going to be able to keep this pace up much longer
I started loosing ground around lap # 4 and let him rip. (he quit after the next).
Slowing down to my own pace and catching my breath, I started reflecting on what had just happened to me, and then about the race Paul talks about in the new testament:
Hebrews 12:1 ...and throwing off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us.
It's a different kind of race, with the goal being to finish rather than finish first!
But, there are a few things these two, the physical and the spiritual race, have in common.
Like I was trying to keep up with the "strapping" man, matching his pace rather than my own, I quickly became winded and had I tried to keep up for much longer would have had to quit before finishing.
* If I run to somebody else' pace, I "run" the risk of exhausting myself to the point of being unable to finish the race.
* I need to run at my own pace, according to my ability. Steadfast.
* Focusing on my own race and not comparing it against other 'racers'.
This, by the way, is where the turtle title came about... - they just have their own pace and keep at it!
So my friends, let us encourage one another to follow Him and as the author of Hebrews said in 12:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...."
Let us run this race set before us as He bids us - at the individual pace He sets for us.
- A simple song title "Stop and Stare" by 'One Republic' popped into my head and made me realize what kind of race Jesus is inviting us to run;
One, where we often stop in Wonder -
One, where we never seize to be Amazed -
One, that will leave us in Awe -
-b
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
A Long Friday turned Good
Good Friday has arrived - in Denmark it is called Long Friday.
Easter is coming too, but this year I find my heart drawn to what happened back then on that day.
Specifically to Jesus' cry in Matthew 27:45-46 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me".
It has gripped my heart, do you hear the sound of agony, desperation and loneliness?
I have come to realize, this is the very first time Jesus gets separated from his father!
No oneness!
No presence!
No communication!
...... silence!
In that moment, when God made Jesus sin, he turned away also.
"He made Him,who knew no sin, to be sin for us" (2nd. Cor. 5.21) and for the very first time Jesus felt what sin was like, and it's dire consequence; separation from God.
He endured the last moments in life alone, separated from God, his father.
The Father heart of God -
sometimes I wonder if we forget that God feels, has emotions........ a heart.
What incredible sorrow and agony this must have brought to his heart.
The only way I can try and relate is by thinking as a parent; How much would I go through and how far would I go to rescue my daughter if she was in any kind of trouble or peril? Think of that. Can you imagine?
Jesus was God's son -
but for our sake he would not rescue him, even when he heard him cry out directly to him.
My heart has plummeted in to sorrow, 'understanding' just a snippet more of the cost and price paid.
-it also expanded in deeper gratitude yet, and in effort to grasp this love.
I pray your heart is open to receive this kind of love - it is not to be understood, earned, reasoned with - it is God, your Father and Creator's gift to you.
All you can do, is receive it.
Easter is coming too, but this year I find my heart drawn to what happened back then on that day.
Specifically to Jesus' cry in Matthew 27:45-46 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me".
It has gripped my heart, do you hear the sound of agony, desperation and loneliness?
I have come to realize, this is the very first time Jesus gets separated from his father!
No oneness!
No presence!
No communication!
...... silence!
In that moment, when God made Jesus sin, he turned away also.
"He made Him,who knew no sin, to be sin for us" (2nd. Cor. 5.21) and for the very first time Jesus felt what sin was like, and it's dire consequence; separation from God.
He endured the last moments in life alone, separated from God, his father.
The Father heart of God -
sometimes I wonder if we forget that God feels, has emotions........ a heart.
What incredible sorrow and agony this must have brought to his heart.
The only way I can try and relate is by thinking as a parent; How much would I go through and how far would I go to rescue my daughter if she was in any kind of trouble or peril? Think of that. Can you imagine?
Jesus was God's son -
but for our sake he would not rescue him, even when he heard him cry out directly to him.
My heart has plummeted in to sorrow, 'understanding' just a snippet more of the cost and price paid.
-it also expanded in deeper gratitude yet, and in effort to grasp this love.
I pray your heart is open to receive this kind of love - it is not to be understood, earned, reasoned with - it is God, your Father and Creator's gift to you.
All you can do, is receive it.
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