Whenever I read Scripture, whether Old Testament or New, I always ask "How does this pertain to me?" and "What are you showing me about yourself today, Lord?" So even if I don't understand very much of what I read, I'm still going to come away having had an encounter with the Lord. My goals of understanding Him more and being more equipped to live for Him are therefore always fulfilled.
One thing that stands out to me when I read the prophets is how much God hates idolatry. This isn't going to touch me much if I keep myself at a distance from these expressions, or put them in the past tense, or aim them in someone else's direction. In the here and now, Christ is passionate about burning away the things that I substitute for Him, the things that I worship that are not Him. The things that I fear and bow down to-- the things that intimidate me-- or the things I try to fill up with other than Him. Even though I know very well that nothing can fill the emptiness that we all feel without Him, I still struggle at times to keep from seeking fulfillment from other sources. We all do.
Accepting God's feelings about idols helps me to lay them down. As I move from being motivated mostly by the fear of the Lord to being motivated by love for Him, I find that I don't want to grieve His heart. Hidden idols in my heart grieve Him, and I want to be rid of them at all cost. I have to ask Him what they are, because it is still part of my sin nature to hide them from myself. Once we're willing to deal with this issue, He gently guides us towards freeing ourselves from all that is contrary to pure heart worship.
When I see how much Ezekiel was willing to go through to demonstrate God's Word to His people I feel pretty wimpy in comparison. God hasn't called me to do the things Ezekiel did (whew!) but He has called me to do some things, which I often find lame excuses for not doing. I wonder if idols have anything to do with this? I think I'll ask Him.
I love the book of Hebrews! What glorious visions of Christ we find here! Today, I'm grateful to be reminded of His loving priesthood and how we can, because of Him, come boldly to the throne for mercy and grace. Every day is my time of need! If I want to do the works He's called me to do, I'll have to enter into (and remain in) that seventh day. This is the place of pure worship that I'm looking for!
Avoiding things I'm called to do is just as much outside of the Rest as doing things I'm not called to do (it's all my own works).
"There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." Hebrews 4:9-10 NKJV
I embrace the sword of His Word, as painful as it sometimes is, because it so clearly shows me where I'm at, as well as vividly revealing the Lord. As His sword cuts away the junk, it makes more room in my life for Him.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
October 30, 2010 Effective Grieving
The book of Lamentations makes a lot more sense when you read it right after Jeremiah. Considering what had happened to Jerusalem, the siege and the exile to Babylon, it makes total sense to grieve. Most of us are familiar with the "stages of grief" from psychology. Instead of referring to that right now, I am looking solely at what I learned about grieving from what we've read so far in Lamentations. Then we can evaluate the observations as we read the rest of the book and review what we've already read.
There are different points of view expressed in this long poem of grief. It's not so confusing when you read it this way. However, strong feelings of confusion are natural when experiencing grief, especially something so deeply affecting as what Jeremiah is writing about. As we see Jerusalem personified as a grieving widow, and then enter in to her experience and the expression of her grief, we can learn a lot.
There's Jeremiah's personal grief expressed here, too; and sometimes it even seems that God is expressing His own grief through Jeremiah. I came to the conclusion that God grieved as much as anyone for having to put His people through the stuff. If you're a parent, you most likely know how painful it is for parents to do the needed discipline at times. It is obvious that God did not enjoy the destruction and the resulting grief of His people. He's a compassionate God.
So, my first conclusion is this: if you've suffered loss, no matter what type, tell the story and express the grief as thoroughly and honestly as you can (and a creative medium such as journaling or poetry can help you do this). At first, you don't have to think through the feelings, make sense of them, dissect them or judge them (they may seem irrational to you or others). Just get them out in reviewable form.
If we are around someone who is grieving, being able to hear/see, etc. the feelings helps us share the grief with them-- helps us understand. Reading this book, along with some of the Psalms and other people's expressions, can help us understand someone in extreme grief even if we haven't been there ourselves. Being open to sharing our grief expressions with intimate others can open us up to sharing our grief with God, and to experiencing His comfort as well. We understand from Lamentations that God does not hold Himself aloof from our grief, even if we have brought a loss onto ourselves (yes, I have been there).
IMPORTANT: I want to note that we must not apply the discipline reason for loss to someone (even to ourselves, as in the throes of grief, we may become self-condemning) unless it is our own child we ourselves are disciplining. It is up to the Holy Spirit to reveal the "whys" for things happening to people, and He may not always do so. It can be so terribly wounding to people for us to try to interpret their losses for them, even if we are correct-- and we most likely are not. Please refrain from doing so (unless you're the prophet Jeremiah--and remember, he warned them in advance by God's orders).
Second, in the midst of the grieving process, it is paramount to remember what we know about God, review things He's done for us, and praise Him for His goodness and steadfast love. Making ourselves read or listen to the Word is essential in this process. If we have journaled about His work in our lives, this is a good time to go back to it and read it again. We may be feeling really angry at God, and maybe we're blaming Him for stuff. He can handle it, and He is OK with us expressing these thoughts and feelings. But He also wants us to draw away from the feelings and the grief sometimes, and just meditate on Him. Sometimes others can remind us of His love and goodness, and His good plans for us-- this must be done gently and with love. Look how Jeremiah did this so tenderly in the middle of Lamentations. Such a good example!
The third part is a melding process of the first two. The Holy Spirit begins to work in us to compare and contrast our experience and feelings of grief with the realities of God. The more we are able to immerse ourselves in Him and His Word, including fellowship with wise and loving believers, the quicker we are able to integrate what we've experienced and feel with our knowledge of Him and the truth He reveals to us. Slowly, (and it's different for everyone in timing and the way the process looks), things start to clear up. We see where we need to repent, and we are able to do so. We see what God is doing in our life, and we are able to hear and accept His promises for the future. He imparts His peace to us as we hold on in faith to what we believe about Him.
The more solidly we are rooted into the Rock that is God, and the more thoroughly we have allowed His Word to change our thinking, the more equipped we will be to endure hardship, loss, and even disaster, and the more effectively we will be able to work through our grief and help others to do so as well. Even if we find ourselves being disciplined for something, we will be secure in the love and goodness of our Father. Perhaps we will even avoid said discipline by having experienced vicariously the loss and grief, repentance and restoration of another. I believe this is God's hope for us all.
There are different points of view expressed in this long poem of grief. It's not so confusing when you read it this way. However, strong feelings of confusion are natural when experiencing grief, especially something so deeply affecting as what Jeremiah is writing about. As we see Jerusalem personified as a grieving widow, and then enter in to her experience and the expression of her grief, we can learn a lot.
There's Jeremiah's personal grief expressed here, too; and sometimes it even seems that God is expressing His own grief through Jeremiah. I came to the conclusion that God grieved as much as anyone for having to put His people through the stuff. If you're a parent, you most likely know how painful it is for parents to do the needed discipline at times. It is obvious that God did not enjoy the destruction and the resulting grief of His people. He's a compassionate God.
So, my first conclusion is this: if you've suffered loss, no matter what type, tell the story and express the grief as thoroughly and honestly as you can (and a creative medium such as journaling or poetry can help you do this). At first, you don't have to think through the feelings, make sense of them, dissect them or judge them (they may seem irrational to you or others). Just get them out in reviewable form.
If we are around someone who is grieving, being able to hear/see, etc. the feelings helps us share the grief with them-- helps us understand. Reading this book, along with some of the Psalms and other people's expressions, can help us understand someone in extreme grief even if we haven't been there ourselves. Being open to sharing our grief expressions with intimate others can open us up to sharing our grief with God, and to experiencing His comfort as well. We understand from Lamentations that God does not hold Himself aloof from our grief, even if we have brought a loss onto ourselves (yes, I have been there).
IMPORTANT: I want to note that we must not apply the discipline reason for loss to someone (even to ourselves, as in the throes of grief, we may become self-condemning) unless it is our own child we ourselves are disciplining. It is up to the Holy Spirit to reveal the "whys" for things happening to people, and He may not always do so. It can be so terribly wounding to people for us to try to interpret their losses for them, even if we are correct-- and we most likely are not. Please refrain from doing so (unless you're the prophet Jeremiah--and remember, he warned them in advance by God's orders).
Second, in the midst of the grieving process, it is paramount to remember what we know about God, review things He's done for us, and praise Him for His goodness and steadfast love. Making ourselves read or listen to the Word is essential in this process. If we have journaled about His work in our lives, this is a good time to go back to it and read it again. We may be feeling really angry at God, and maybe we're blaming Him for stuff. He can handle it, and He is OK with us expressing these thoughts and feelings. But He also wants us to draw away from the feelings and the grief sometimes, and just meditate on Him. Sometimes others can remind us of His love and goodness, and His good plans for us-- this must be done gently and with love. Look how Jeremiah did this so tenderly in the middle of Lamentations. Such a good example!
The third part is a melding process of the first two. The Holy Spirit begins to work in us to compare and contrast our experience and feelings of grief with the realities of God. The more we are able to immerse ourselves in Him and His Word, including fellowship with wise and loving believers, the quicker we are able to integrate what we've experienced and feel with our knowledge of Him and the truth He reveals to us. Slowly, (and it's different for everyone in timing and the way the process looks), things start to clear up. We see where we need to repent, and we are able to do so. We see what God is doing in our life, and we are able to hear and accept His promises for the future. He imparts His peace to us as we hold on in faith to what we believe about Him.
The more solidly we are rooted into the Rock that is God, and the more thoroughly we have allowed His Word to change our thinking, the more equipped we will be to endure hardship, loss, and even disaster, and the more effectively we will be able to work through our grief and help others to do so as well. Even if we find ourselves being disciplined for something, we will be secure in the love and goodness of our Father. Perhaps we will even avoid said discipline by having experienced vicariously the loss and grief, repentance and restoration of another. I believe this is God's hope for us all.
Friday, October 29, 2010
October 29, 2010 Private Righteousness
I love today's Psalm for its applicability to my life, and it's ability to convict me when I need it! I like it better in the hard-cover version I read most days:
"I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it?
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base." Psalm 101:2-3a NRSV
I've had years of practice at walking with the Lord at home-- from being a stay-at-home mom with three kids, to a work-at-home artist and writer. Most of the time it is only the Lord who knows whether I have lived with integrity or not, although the fruit that I have borne, good or bad, all comes from this tree, grown at home. Especially now, when the routine of raising children is over, there are lots of opportunities to waste time on worthless things. Even though I'm careful not to get into evil things, I've discovered that even "harmless" things can steal the fruit I was meant to bear. Since Jesus Himself is my righteousness, and the Way in which I'm to walk, staying in His presence is the only way I'm going to attain a useful and blameless life that pleases Him. If I don't purposely set myself to live before Him at all times, I can easily drift (and occasionally do).
As a person who spends a great deal of time alone, I've discovered that my worst enemy is myself. I believe David realized this as well, and expressed it in this Psalm. If I do nothing but look into the mirror, I'm going to have to deal with a person who could possibly: do something base, fall away from grace, be perverse of heart, think evil thoughts, secretly slander someone, have a haughty or arrogant attitude, practice deceit or utter lies. If I don't face up to the wickedness that dwells in my own selfish nature, I've already practiced deceit with myself. So I'm with David-- I'm not going to wear a mask to fool myself (and I can't fool God, of course). Instead, I'm going to get into conflict with all evil that thinks it wants to dwell in my private lodgings. "Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the Lord." vs 8 NRSV
And in the holographic sense, I'm the city of the Lord, and so are you.
"I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it?
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base." Psalm 101:2-3a NRSV
I've had years of practice at walking with the Lord at home-- from being a stay-at-home mom with three kids, to a work-at-home artist and writer. Most of the time it is only the Lord who knows whether I have lived with integrity or not, although the fruit that I have borne, good or bad, all comes from this tree, grown at home. Especially now, when the routine of raising children is over, there are lots of opportunities to waste time on worthless things. Even though I'm careful not to get into evil things, I've discovered that even "harmless" things can steal the fruit I was meant to bear. Since Jesus Himself is my righteousness, and the Way in which I'm to walk, staying in His presence is the only way I'm going to attain a useful and blameless life that pleases Him. If I don't purposely set myself to live before Him at all times, I can easily drift (and occasionally do).
As a person who spends a great deal of time alone, I've discovered that my worst enemy is myself. I believe David realized this as well, and expressed it in this Psalm. If I do nothing but look into the mirror, I'm going to have to deal with a person who could possibly: do something base, fall away from grace, be perverse of heart, think evil thoughts, secretly slander someone, have a haughty or arrogant attitude, practice deceit or utter lies. If I don't face up to the wickedness that dwells in my own selfish nature, I've already practiced deceit with myself. So I'm with David-- I'm not going to wear a mask to fool myself (and I can't fool God, of course). Instead, I'm going to get into conflict with all evil that thinks it wants to dwell in my private lodgings. "Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the Lord." vs 8 NRSV
And in the holographic sense, I'm the city of the Lord, and so are you.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
October 19, 2010 Exercising Godliness
Reading the story of the Hebrews who went back on their word about freeing the slaves reminds me of how I tend to be sometimes. You might be able to relate too, if you think about it. How often do we agree with God about something, only to go back on it later? We don't usually admit that we're "changing our mind," but we do (backwards repentance!). We often assent to the freedom God gives us, only to put ourselves back in bondage to the thing we were enslaved by.
The problem is, I believe, that after the initial decision to do right, we discover the pain or trouble it will cost us to actually do right. Deciding to lose weight, or get in shape, or clean out the garage, or budget our time or money, all sound great in our minds, but doing them is another matter all together. Spiritual things are pretty much the same, aren't they? That's why Paul told Timothy to "exercise yourself toward godliness." 1 Timothy 4:7b
It's good to educate ourselves about the "whys" of doing something. "Why" should I eat healthy food? "Why" should I study the Word? "Why" should I strengthen my core muscles? "Why" should I be a doer of the Word? "Why" should I be faithful in the little things? Understanding things helps us do them. But no matter how much we understand, it's always going to cost us to do what we know. Perhaps this is why we need coaches. They've gone through the pain and they've gotten to the gain! They can help us continue when the going gets rough.
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."
1 Timothy 4:8
If the benefit of healthy living is "little" compared to the benefit of godly living (which includes development in spiritual things, God's way), then godliness is very profitable indeed! If people benefit from practicing a "zen" lifestyle, imagine how much greater the benefits of practicing life the way Jesus reveals it!
Having walked a bit in the living Way, I can personally testify that God's ways are totally worth walking in. For instance, the practice of forgiveness towards others keeps me in the flow of heaven, and relieves a lot of stress. But learning that practice has been a painful ordeal at times. It helps me to remember that my Coach already forgave us, and that cost Him more than I can imagine.
The problem is, I believe, that after the initial decision to do right, we discover the pain or trouble it will cost us to actually do right. Deciding to lose weight, or get in shape, or clean out the garage, or budget our time or money, all sound great in our minds, but doing them is another matter all together. Spiritual things are pretty much the same, aren't they? That's why Paul told Timothy to "exercise yourself toward godliness." 1 Timothy 4:7b
It's good to educate ourselves about the "whys" of doing something. "Why" should I eat healthy food? "Why" should I study the Word? "Why" should I strengthen my core muscles? "Why" should I be a doer of the Word? "Why" should I be faithful in the little things? Understanding things helps us do them. But no matter how much we understand, it's always going to cost us to do what we know. Perhaps this is why we need coaches. They've gone through the pain and they've gotten to the gain! They can help us continue when the going gets rough.
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."
1 Timothy 4:8
If the benefit of healthy living is "little" compared to the benefit of godly living (which includes development in spiritual things, God's way), then godliness is very profitable indeed! If people benefit from practicing a "zen" lifestyle, imagine how much greater the benefits of practicing life the way Jesus reveals it!
Having walked a bit in the living Way, I can personally testify that God's ways are totally worth walking in. For instance, the practice of forgiveness towards others keeps me in the flow of heaven, and relieves a lot of stress. But learning that practice has been a painful ordeal at times. It helps me to remember that my Coach already forgave us, and that cost Him more than I can imagine.
Monday, October 18, 2010
October 18, 2010 Bubbles of Hope
God loves us so much! He is daily sending out His messages of love and hope, if we just had ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand. Jeremiah received a message of hope in a mundane transaction of real estate. How often we miss these things because we're not expecting them.
Are you in the midst of disaster? Turn to God. He is the God of restoration.
Are you suffering from depression? I am your hope, says the Lord.
Are you being disciplined? "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
In Christ we have a new covenant, the promise of God's goodness forever. Even if you feel like you are at the bottom of the ocean. . . weighed down by impossible circumstances and crushed by unbearable heaviness. . . God is with you, and nothing is too hard for Him. Do you feel separated from God's love? There are bubbles all around you! Take these to your heart, for they contain the oxygen of hope that will sustain you until He comes and lifts you up.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good" Jeremiah 31: 40-41a NKJV
Are you in the midst of disaster? Turn to God. He is the God of restoration.
Are you suffering from depression? I am your hope, says the Lord.
Are you being disciplined? "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
In Christ we have a new covenant, the promise of God's goodness forever. Even if you feel like you are at the bottom of the ocean. . . weighed down by impossible circumstances and crushed by unbearable heaviness. . . God is with you, and nothing is too hard for Him. Do you feel separated from God's love? There are bubbles all around you! Take these to your heart, for they contain the oxygen of hope that will sustain you until He comes and lifts you up.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good" Jeremiah 31: 40-41a NKJV
Saturday, October 16, 2010
October 16, 2010 The Merciful Conscience
It's the insights we receive in our quiet study of the Word of God, and the applications we see as we internally meditate on that Word during our day, that prepare us for the things we face, day in and day out. We don't suddenly decide what we believe and how to react when someone accuses us falsely to our face, or when our child throws a temper tantrum in the middle of Walmart. We don't have time to think then-- we just react. Or better yet, respond. Responses we'll be happy with, and that will please the Lord, will be determined in the quiet times we spend with the Lord, not on the fly.
Reading Paul's instructions to Timothy today sounded so much like a loving father getting his son ready for dealing with people-- maybe some really obnoxious people-- getting him ready for times he'd more likely react than respond. It's like he was saying to him, "Son, when you're studying the Word, make sure you study how to be merciful." Paul gives us some tips.
He was telling Timothy that as much as we hate evil and want to teach people the right way, we first must be patient and merciful. The key to this is to remember how we've been in the past. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief," said Paul, who went on to express his appreciation for the mercy that Christ had shown him. I know we can all relate. The Lord expects us to take this mercy and pass it on. Without mercy, we are not instructing people, we are setting ourselves up as their judge. "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith," Paul explains. Without mercy, we will not have any of these, for we will not even forgive ourselves.
Our biggest incentive to be merciful, rather than legalistic and vengeful, is that God is: "O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." Psalm 86: 14-15 NKJV
As hard as it is to swallow sometimes, we must be merciful with sinners, because if we're not, we're "rejecting conscience." God will eventually punish the wicked. For now, it is our job to instruct in righteousness and to offer the saving grace of Christ.
Reading Paul's instructions to Timothy today sounded so much like a loving father getting his son ready for dealing with people-- maybe some really obnoxious people-- getting him ready for times he'd more likely react than respond. It's like he was saying to him, "Son, when you're studying the Word, make sure you study how to be merciful." Paul gives us some tips.
He was telling Timothy that as much as we hate evil and want to teach people the right way, we first must be patient and merciful. The key to this is to remember how we've been in the past. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief," said Paul, who went on to express his appreciation for the mercy that Christ had shown him. I know we can all relate. The Lord expects us to take this mercy and pass it on. Without mercy, we are not instructing people, we are setting ourselves up as their judge. "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith," Paul explains. Without mercy, we will not have any of these, for we will not even forgive ourselves.
Our biggest incentive to be merciful, rather than legalistic and vengeful, is that God is: "O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." Psalm 86: 14-15 NKJV
As hard as it is to swallow sometimes, we must be merciful with sinners, because if we're not, we're "rejecting conscience." God will eventually punish the wicked. For now, it is our job to instruct in righteousness and to offer the saving grace of Christ.
Friday, October 15, 2010
October 15, 2010 Don't Grow Weary?
A verse really grabbed my attention today: the apostle Paul saying "do not grow weary in doing good." Since I tend to do that on a somewhat regular basis, I wondered if there were any readily available answers as to how to avoid that. This is what I saw, just in the passages for today:
From Jeremiah:
Do and say what God tells you, no matter how strange and unexpected, and don't follow the crowd. For one thing, this is not boring enough to get weary of, and for another, He strengthens and protects those who obey Him.
From Paul's letter to the Thessalonians:
The Word of God runs swiftly, so if we let it live in us, it will empower us. We tend to get weary when we get opposition from those without faith, but here we are again assured that God will protect us and deliver us, because He is faithful. We're warned not to hang around lazy leeches (I suppose that doesn't mean don't minister to such). This was partly to be a warning to the "disorderly" people, but I think it's also an intelligent precaution on our own part, so it doesn't rub off on us. If we hang around God, and His people who allow Him to move through them, we'll get motivated by Him. Although His atmosphere and attitude is established and peaceful, His glory is not idle.
From the Psalms:
Since we all do get weary sometimes (and even burned-out), we can turn to the Lord for help. He will forgive us, restore us, and revive us. His peace is an important factor in maintaining a steady and faithful lifestyle of service. Over-stress, worry, and improper burden-bearing wear us down and steal our health and our joy, eventually leading us into sinful coping behaviors.
I especially love verses 10-13 of Psalm 85, It is such a great picture!
"Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV
From Jeremiah:
Do and say what God tells you, no matter how strange and unexpected, and don't follow the crowd. For one thing, this is not boring enough to get weary of, and for another, He strengthens and protects those who obey Him.
From Paul's letter to the Thessalonians:
The Word of God runs swiftly, so if we let it live in us, it will empower us. We tend to get weary when we get opposition from those without faith, but here we are again assured that God will protect us and deliver us, because He is faithful. We're warned not to hang around lazy leeches (I suppose that doesn't mean don't minister to such). This was partly to be a warning to the "disorderly" people, but I think it's also an intelligent precaution on our own part, so it doesn't rub off on us. If we hang around God, and His people who allow Him to move through them, we'll get motivated by Him. Although His atmosphere and attitude is established and peaceful, His glory is not idle.
From the Psalms:
Since we all do get weary sometimes (and even burned-out), we can turn to the Lord for help. He will forgive us, restore us, and revive us. His peace is an important factor in maintaining a steady and faithful lifestyle of service. Over-stress, worry, and improper burden-bearing wear us down and steal our health and our joy, eventually leading us into sinful coping behaviors.
I especially love verses 10-13 of Psalm 85, It is such a great picture!
"Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV
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