I have been reading through the Book of Galatians in my quiet time in the morning. A strange occurrence, not unfamiliar, except in its intensity happened, having portion of scripture “jump out” at you from the page. The last part of the 6th verse of Galatians 5:6 did this morning. And I applied it to myself with great relief. I can do that, express faith through love although in incomplete and imperfect measure. I can wrap my mind around it. I understand it. To say, God willing and in His strength I will express faith through love. It fills me with peace.
What I cannot do is what the Galatians had started to do and that is to be justified by the law, or better yet by works or any other human standard whether it is mine or another. You have no idea how freeing that as for me. It lifted a burden of trying to be right in other people’s eyes. I am beginning to see myself as God sees me, through Jesus Christ.
My God has forgiven me even of anything that might have caused Him shame. He is capable of forgiving me and desires for me to walk in that forgiveness.
How about you? Are you free from trying to live by a standard instead of grace? Do you judge yourself and others by a standard that you have measured in your own mind? A friend recently told me to stop trying to figure God out, walk in faith. I think that applies here. Another friend often says to judge nothing before its time, really judge nothing because God is not finished with us and He is the judge. I think my friend is referring to Paul. He does not even judge himself.
The application here for me to begin to seek God’s will in my life, now. I think I have waited a season or two. I have begun, but not begun in earnest. Maybe because to seek God’s will for my life will encourage dealing with difficult situations, relationships and the mess of accumulated judgment I have stored inside of me that really, really, really is not of God.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Apostles of Christ So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Opps! Did I Say That!!???
People come into the print shop and with an expectation that has been cultivated by a long history with my boss Terry. Terry is a copier genius. I mean that. If it can be done on a copier, she knows how, there is a real art here. And I am not Terry.
Too often that makes people angry like a lady today who wanted hand written notes copied onto stationary. I can do it, but I have to take my time and it makes me nervous. If I mess up I have ruined expensive paper that the customer bought elsewhere. Terry can run it in her sleep with one hand tied behind her back while she talks to a customer on the phone about the price of two colors on linen. OK.
So I tell the lady, "it will take 20 minutes. Are you going to come back?" [insert adult temper tantrum].
Now I want to say, "I am the graphic designer, I can find a font and make a pdf print BLACK. OK. But this will take me 20 minutes." I am glad I can do it with a little trial run on copied stationary cut to fit and lots of trial and error.
I tell her I am not Terry… during the adult temper tantrum. This makes me nervous. I may ruin your paper.
She leaves in a fit. Tom tell my other boss tells me, I don’t have to run it.
But I decide to. I also decide to be nice when the adult temper tantrum returns although I think she is REDICULOUS.
I am sweet. It works. The stationery gets copied and she is happy. She runs into Terry and her mom as they return from lunch. Terry’s mom, former owner of the shop says to me, “Do you want an aspirin?” and smiles.
I just want to get back to the Menu I am updating in my office.
I ask myself and Jesus, “Do I ever act that way?” You would have thought she was our most profitable customer. I think her bill was under $10.00.
I get impatient with fast food people. No adult temper tantrums, but I am think ugly things. To make it worse, I hate fountain sodas. I often I just get a sandwich so I am this under $ 3.00. Big spender and I want million dollar treatment. Reality check here. Why do we do that?
I know I am not the only one. It is Wendy’s not Turtle Creek.
I joined a site on Facebook this week a kindness awareness type thing particularly for women. YEAH!
Let’s be kind to each other. Most of us aren’t the Bank president, but a mom, an administrative assistant, a Customer Service Person, hair stylist, teacher. I am not saying if we were a bank president we would get a pass, but I can see we might think we were above it all.
What does the Bible say? I will make this very, very simple.
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Too often that makes people angry like a lady today who wanted hand written notes copied onto stationary. I can do it, but I have to take my time and it makes me nervous. If I mess up I have ruined expensive paper that the customer bought elsewhere. Terry can run it in her sleep with one hand tied behind her back while she talks to a customer on the phone about the price of two colors on linen. OK.
So I tell the lady, "it will take 20 minutes. Are you going to come back?" [insert adult temper tantrum].
Now I want to say, "I am the graphic designer, I can find a font and make a pdf print BLACK. OK. But this will take me 20 minutes." I am glad I can do it with a little trial run on copied stationary cut to fit and lots of trial and error.
I tell her I am not Terry… during the adult temper tantrum. This makes me nervous. I may ruin your paper.
She leaves in a fit. Tom tell my other boss tells me, I don’t have to run it.
But I decide to. I also decide to be nice when the adult temper tantrum returns although I think she is REDICULOUS.
I am sweet. It works. The stationery gets copied and she is happy. She runs into Terry and her mom as they return from lunch. Terry’s mom, former owner of the shop says to me, “Do you want an aspirin?” and smiles.
I just want to get back to the Menu I am updating in my office.
I ask myself and Jesus, “Do I ever act that way?” You would have thought she was our most profitable customer. I think her bill was under $10.00.
I get impatient with fast food people. No adult temper tantrums, but I am think ugly things. To make it worse, I hate fountain sodas. I often I just get a sandwich so I am this under $ 3.00. Big spender and I want million dollar treatment. Reality check here. Why do we do that?
I know I am not the only one. It is Wendy’s not Turtle Creek.
I joined a site on Facebook this week a kindness awareness type thing particularly for women. YEAH!
Let’s be kind to each other. Most of us aren’t the Bank president, but a mom, an administrative assistant, a Customer Service Person, hair stylist, teacher. I am not saying if we were a bank president we would get a pass, but I can see we might think we were above it all.
What does the Bible say? I will make this very, very simple.
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Convince Me
Early in March when Sarah was in third grade, Mrs. Lorenz her teacher read a chapter a day from the book A Secret Garden. It was on one of those days while the air was still crisp and the sky gray that Sarah slipped out of her house and walked in the snow covered backyard to see if she could see any signs of spring. There in the snow she found the tips of the crocuses that were fooled into believing that spring was near, just a few days before while the sun had shown and promised better days.
Seeing the first sign of spring that day was the first indication to Sarah that she was a watcher of the seasons. That spring she taught herself to be carefully observant as she went out to the garden to look for the subtle changes that took place over night. She was pleasantly surprised as new flowers in her mother’s garden came to life and brought their own color to the garden each in their turn; Crocus, Daffodil, Tulip, Lilac and the Iris. On the side of the house were the Lily of the Valley and the Violet, wildflower her mother had taken from the wooded land by her grandmother’s house.
Sarah’s neighbor Mrs. Myers was an artist and a gardener. She won awards for her landscape and beds of all sorts of plants and flowers. Sarah found the gardens around her house enchanting. There were rock gardens and stone pathways with bird baths that Mrs. Myers labored over. Mrs. Myers was very proud of her yard and welcomed neighbors to view her lovely work. She told Sarah she could visit anytime. There was only one rule, “please don’t walk in the flower beds,” Mrs. Myers would say.
In the summer while the sky was blue and the days grew longer Mrs. Myers hung Japanese lanterns on her patio lattice. Lights illumined the garden pathways and neighbors often strolled through her gardens as the sun set. Sarah would go there too just before the street lights came on, then she would run home. The most wonderful thing about the garden at Mrs. Myers house was the goldfish pond in the front yard by the garden entry way.
Sarah as by nature a shy child, but she liked Mrs. Myers. When Mrs. Myers discovered Sarah was an artist too she invited her to work in her garage on the potter’s wheel. Sarah learned to cut the clay and kneed it, cut the clay and kneed it until the air bubbles were removed and the clay was safe in the kiln. “Air bubbles will cause your pot to explode in the kiln.” Mrs. Meyers warned. Sarah spent many hours that summer in the garage with mounds of wobbly clay she carefully pulled into a pot or a bowl or maybe a cup.
Sarah took to sitting by the goldfish pond watching the goldfish waltz in the water. She studied the rocks and the plants and the garden around the pond. It seemed to transport her into another world. One day she was lying on her stomach in the grass looking at the goldfish when she caught her first glimpse of the fairy. Frozen with awe Sarah lay there for a long time barely breathing. She hoped if she lay still enough she could see the fairy again.
Sarah returned to the goldfish pond faithfully every night just before the sunset and the street light came on, the exact time she had first seen the fairy. She would wait as the fireflies flitted about for the fairy to return.
Sarah saw the fairy several times before the days changed and autumn came and she returned to school as a fourth grader. Every day as she walked home she passed the goldfish pond she thought of the fairy and wanted to speak to her if only once. If she spoke to the fairy would she answer? Sarah often wondered. It became a question that would not leave Sarah’s mind as she passed the pond day after day.
The first night that the wind blew in the cold and the world outside Sarah’s window was transformed by the frost she asked that question again, this time out loud as she fell asleep. “If I could speak to the fairy would she talk?”
In the morning when she woke up Sarah went to the window in her room to look out on the world through the frost covered window panes, she saw it. Scratched into the ice that covered her window in delicate and beautiful script were these words, Yes, if you talk to me I will answer, Flores.
Seeing the first sign of spring that day was the first indication to Sarah that she was a watcher of the seasons. That spring she taught herself to be carefully observant as she went out to the garden to look for the subtle changes that took place over night. She was pleasantly surprised as new flowers in her mother’s garden came to life and brought their own color to the garden each in their turn; Crocus, Daffodil, Tulip, Lilac and the Iris. On the side of the house were the Lily of the Valley and the Violet, wildflower her mother had taken from the wooded land by her grandmother’s house.
Sarah’s neighbor Mrs. Myers was an artist and a gardener. She won awards for her landscape and beds of all sorts of plants and flowers. Sarah found the gardens around her house enchanting. There were rock gardens and stone pathways with bird baths that Mrs. Myers labored over. Mrs. Myers was very proud of her yard and welcomed neighbors to view her lovely work. She told Sarah she could visit anytime. There was only one rule, “please don’t walk in the flower beds,” Mrs. Myers would say.
In the summer while the sky was blue and the days grew longer Mrs. Myers hung Japanese lanterns on her patio lattice. Lights illumined the garden pathways and neighbors often strolled through her gardens as the sun set. Sarah would go there too just before the street lights came on, then she would run home. The most wonderful thing about the garden at Mrs. Myers house was the goldfish pond in the front yard by the garden entry way.
Sarah as by nature a shy child, but she liked Mrs. Myers. When Mrs. Myers discovered Sarah was an artist too she invited her to work in her garage on the potter’s wheel. Sarah learned to cut the clay and kneed it, cut the clay and kneed it until the air bubbles were removed and the clay was safe in the kiln. “Air bubbles will cause your pot to explode in the kiln.” Mrs. Meyers warned. Sarah spent many hours that summer in the garage with mounds of wobbly clay she carefully pulled into a pot or a bowl or maybe a cup.
Sarah took to sitting by the goldfish pond watching the goldfish waltz in the water. She studied the rocks and the plants and the garden around the pond. It seemed to transport her into another world. One day she was lying on her stomach in the grass looking at the goldfish when she caught her first glimpse of the fairy. Frozen with awe Sarah lay there for a long time barely breathing. She hoped if she lay still enough she could see the fairy again.
Sarah returned to the goldfish pond faithfully every night just before the sunset and the street light came on, the exact time she had first seen the fairy. She would wait as the fireflies flitted about for the fairy to return.
Sarah saw the fairy several times before the days changed and autumn came and she returned to school as a fourth grader. Every day as she walked home she passed the goldfish pond she thought of the fairy and wanted to speak to her if only once. If she spoke to the fairy would she answer? Sarah often wondered. It became a question that would not leave Sarah’s mind as she passed the pond day after day.
The first night that the wind blew in the cold and the world outside Sarah’s window was transformed by the frost she asked that question again, this time out loud as she fell asleep. “If I could speak to the fairy would she talk?”
In the morning when she woke up Sarah went to the window in her room to look out on the world through the frost covered window panes, she saw it. Scratched into the ice that covered her window in delicate and beautiful script were these words, Yes, if you talk to me I will answer, Flores.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
He Promises to Dwell With Us and to Forgive
David was not the one to build the Temple, even though it was the desire of his heart. The Lord spoke to David through the prophet Nathan. He heard David’s request and it pleased Him, but it was Solomon who God chose to build the Temple. David set Solomon up for success by gather materials for the construction.
As amazing as the finished Temple was the events of the dedication of the Temple are even more amazing. In the midst of the celebration and fanfare when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple the glory of the Lord filled the Temple and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud.
Solomon prayed the most amazing prayer.
2 Chronicles 6:18-21
"But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.”
What kind of faith, what kind of courage did it take to pray that prayer?
Big faith, complete trust that God would do as He said He would do.
When Jesus came into the world an even more miraculous event took place, the God who cannot be contained whose glory filled the Temple walked this earth. God became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus was fully God and fully man. This is miraculous beyond words, who can explain it?
When we invite this same God into our lives, when we agree with Him and say that Jesus’ sacrificial death is enough, that Jesus died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins, that the same God who cannot be contained, who filled the Temple with His glory, who walked the earth fully God and fully man comes to live inside us, illuminating us, transforming us, strengthening our inner man, conforming us to His image, how much faith does that take to believe it is true of us, to live this truth out in our daily lives?
Big faith, complete trust that God would do as He said He would do.
Read the account of the dedication of the Temple in 2 Chronicles 5-7, note Solomon’s request and God’s response and be amazed. Think about the truth that we are the temple of the Living God, really think about it. In light of this truth ask the Lord what you need to change in your life to make your life line up with this? If you are like me, you have underestimated God and what He wants and can do through you.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
"He is good;
his love endures forever."
As amazing as the finished Temple was the events of the dedication of the Temple are even more amazing. In the midst of the celebration and fanfare when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple the glory of the Lord filled the Temple and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud.
Solomon prayed the most amazing prayer.
2 Chronicles 6:18-21
"But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.”
What kind of faith, what kind of courage did it take to pray that prayer?
Big faith, complete trust that God would do as He said He would do.
When Jesus came into the world an even more miraculous event took place, the God who cannot be contained whose glory filled the Temple walked this earth. God became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus was fully God and fully man. This is miraculous beyond words, who can explain it?
When we invite this same God into our lives, when we agree with Him and say that Jesus’ sacrificial death is enough, that Jesus died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins, that the same God who cannot be contained, who filled the Temple with His glory, who walked the earth fully God and fully man comes to live inside us, illuminating us, transforming us, strengthening our inner man, conforming us to His image, how much faith does that take to believe it is true of us, to live this truth out in our daily lives?
Big faith, complete trust that God would do as He said He would do.
Read the account of the dedication of the Temple in 2 Chronicles 5-7, note Solomon’s request and God’s response and be amazed. Think about the truth that we are the temple of the Living God, really think about it. In light of this truth ask the Lord what you need to change in your life to make your life line up with this? If you are like me, you have underestimated God and what He wants and can do through you.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
"He is good;
his love endures forever."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Beach
My niece is studying to be a nurse and is working in a hospital. One afternoon she posts on one of her social network sites that she "is hoping when she gets older and delirious that her hallucinations are happy. "
I commented on her post and she explains further; "No I'm at work... The floor I work on is a mix between neurology and urology and I’m psy sitting two patients for my last eight hour of this shift... One thinks he's on the beach in Martha’s Vineyard and the other just moans and screams... I want to be the one who thinks he's on the beach."
So how do you view life? We live in a world full of insecurities and situations less than ideal. How we think about our situation matters. Who we trust within our situations matters more. I understand my niece’s observation when life reduces us to deliriums and hallucinations; she wants them to be good. Those of us who have the foundation of a solid faith in an unchanging God can count on more than a pleasant disposition. We can count on an unseen reality that is more real than what we now think is real. It all comes down to what do we trust in, or more important who do we trust.
In Isaiah this question was serious business. Isaiah 57 compares not trusting in God with idolatry that included orgies and child sacrifice, pretty sobering when you think about it. I think it illustrates the extremes people go to in order to trust in themselves or in anything other than God.
Isaiah 57:5
You burn with lust among the oaks
and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the ravines
and under the overhanging crags.
And
Isaiah 57:10
You were wearied by all your ways,
but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.'
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint.
What are some practical applications I can make in my life when I find myself moaning and groaning?, when anxiety fills my life?
Examine yourself and ask? Am I following my own agenda or asking for God’s agenda for my life?
Am I following through on what I know I need to do? Am I reading God’s Word, seeking answers through prayer and godly counsel? Am I following through on that guidance?
Most of the time trusting God is a process, we do well, and we struggle. Keep on because He is faithful. Life may not be a beach, but the heart of God towards you is love mightier than the deepest ocean. Think on the bigness of our God and trust.
I commented on her post and she explains further; "No I'm at work... The floor I work on is a mix between neurology and urology and I’m psy sitting two patients for my last eight hour of this shift... One thinks he's on the beach in Martha’s Vineyard and the other just moans and screams... I want to be the one who thinks he's on the beach."
So how do you view life? We live in a world full of insecurities and situations less than ideal. How we think about our situation matters. Who we trust within our situations matters more. I understand my niece’s observation when life reduces us to deliriums and hallucinations; she wants them to be good. Those of us who have the foundation of a solid faith in an unchanging God can count on more than a pleasant disposition. We can count on an unseen reality that is more real than what we now think is real. It all comes down to what do we trust in, or more important who do we trust.
In Isaiah this question was serious business. Isaiah 57 compares not trusting in God with idolatry that included orgies and child sacrifice, pretty sobering when you think about it. I think it illustrates the extremes people go to in order to trust in themselves or in anything other than God.
Isaiah 57:5
You burn with lust among the oaks
and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the ravines
and under the overhanging crags.
And
Isaiah 57:10
You were wearied by all your ways,
but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.'
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint.
What are some practical applications I can make in my life when I find myself moaning and groaning?, when anxiety fills my life?
Examine yourself and ask? Am I following my own agenda or asking for God’s agenda for my life?
Am I following through on what I know I need to do? Am I reading God’s Word, seeking answers through prayer and godly counsel? Am I following through on that guidance?
Most of the time trusting God is a process, we do well, and we struggle. Keep on because He is faithful. Life may not be a beach, but the heart of God towards you is love mightier than the deepest ocean. Think on the bigness of our God and trust.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Snow and Ice
I slept in and am lazily packing. Once the temperatures rose near noon I decided to go out with Scott's camera taking a prayer walk around the pond, stopping to take pictures. Maybe the best example of prayer walking in the scriptures is from the Psalms, the Psalm of Ascent, Psalms 120 to Psalm 134. They were sung by the Israelites as the made pilgrimage to Jerusalem for feast days. They were sung in preparation for worship.
I don't sing while I prayer walk, but I think that would be awesome. My prayers are more private. Today I prayed for my parents and I thanked God for who He is. Sometimes it is hard for me to remember He spoke the world into existence. Today as I took photos I marveled at the details of His creation, the ice on the shrub trees full of berries, the ducks on the pond and the way the pond looks frozen with ice and snow. I observed the shape of the snow on the brick path and the patterns it made as the wind blows it across the path. I watched the sun peek through the clouds heavy with more snow. I am glad our God is a God of color and sound, a God of music and speech, texture and wind.
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him
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