August 11, 2010 The Secret Pavilion

I will share something about the book of Nehemiah that will revolutionize it for you, in case you've never seen it before.  I learned it while doing my degree work in Christian Biblical Psychology.  It's all about restoration, and it is pertinent to the rebuilding of a broken person, as well as the entire Church.  As are all the histories of the Jewish people, they are all written for our instruction.

Today I saw something a little different that I hadn't noticed (maybe I was taught it before, but I don't remember).   All the different people who worked on the wall are like all the different people we come in contact with when we are "under construction."  The Lord will use various people to be His hands in our life when we need help.  A great many people have been devastated emotionally and spiritually, and even physically (often as a result of those) and are in need of being healed and put back together.  God doesn't use any one person (such as a counselor or pastor) to "fix" someone; otherwise I think we would take credit for "building" someone or for making them who they are to become.  God uses teams, and He gets all the glory for it.    The teams are organized by the Holy Spirit, and not necessarily in a way we can see.  I can testify that while I was going through the greatest part of my restoration, that many people had a part to play in different areas in my life.  Sometimes they didn't even realize that God was working through them for the purpose of healing and restoration.  Others didn't realize they were getting in the way.

Notice that first Nehemiah assessed the damage, and then they began to work on the wall.  Most people who have been through life traumas don't have anything in the way of proper defenses.  This might be noticed in the lack of good boundaries, in behavior lacking in any kind of normal sense about what is healthy, and in the tendency to be overrun by harmful agents.  The picture of a war-ravaged city, burned down and with the walls in ruins, is a powerful image to help us understand how damaged people can be.  If you haven't been there yourself, I guarantee you know someone who is.  Likely, you are one of the people who is working on your little section of the wall.  When everyone does their part, a person is able to be restored to functioning more quickly.  The deeper issues of healing then, are dealt with in a safer environment.

While all this work is going on, God nurtures us in the Secret Pavilion.  It's the secret place of His presence, and it's there for all who fear God and trust Him.  It's for the workers and well as those "under construction."  Sometimes it takes a person a while to learn to trust God, as well as have the right kind of reverent awe of the Lord.  When those around them are living in this place, it's a lot easier for them to be led to into it.  No matter who's trying to do you in, or who's speaking evil against you, you're hidden from it in the Secret Pavilion.  Even plaguing inner voices are shut down in this tent of peace, where the love of God surrounds you and protects you.

In the Secret Pavilion, you can also receive a vision of the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem.  "Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!" Psalm 31:21  This vision of  the wholeness, holiness, and oneness of the finished product of God's people-- what Jesus is working on and will finish--  is what gives the workers and the people being restored, hope enough to continue.  It's what gives us courage, strengthening our hearts.  And Satan will be just as surprised about the results as he was when Jesus was resurrected!

Questions to ponder:
Have you ever noticed how many loud and opposing voices there are all around you all the time?  Have you ever experienced the peace and quiet of God's secret pavilion?
Who do you know that is in a broken and ruined condition?  How is God moving through you to help rebuild the wall?
What was your impression of how Nehemiah communicated with the king?  What kind of instruction does this give you for your own life? 

July 12, 2010 What We're All About

This simple statement is so powerful on its own that I really don't feel the need to say much about it:  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17 NKJV  It was the Apostle Paul's mission statement in a way, if I remember rightly what that term means.  It was what he was all about, in a nutshell.

After reading in Acts about the conversion and ministry of Paul, I am quite ready to learn from him (via the Holy Spirit) about the power and righteousness of God, the walk of faith, and the message of the gospel of Christ.  I want to have his heart, for truth and for souls, imparted to me-- you? 

I think I enjoyed, more than ever before,  vicariously going on those mission trips as I imagined sailing on the numerous ships to various places, seeing the miracles and rejoicing in the people who received Christ.  Now I am looking forward to sitting at that preacher's feet, in a way, and letting the things that motivated him to so lay down his own life get into me and motivate me.  There is no time barrier in the Kingdom of God.  It's just as real and alive now as it was then.  With this attitude, then, I plan on diving into the letters and coming out changed.  Want to join me?    

May 4, 2010

What a good role-model is John the Baptist!  He faithfully and passionately carried out his mission from God: to prepare the people for the Messiah.  He was a great preacher, and got results.  Lots of people followed him.  But when the Messiah was indeed revealed to him, just as God had told him, John the Baptist gave way to him.  "He must increase, but I must decrease."  He had joy, not resentment when the fulfillment of his calling had brought his ministry to an end.  His testimony about Christ is one of the most clearly articulated in Scripture: he left no doubt as to who Jesus was and what He was here to accomplish.  It would be good for us to meditate on John the Baptist's words and get them deep into our hearts.

There is plenty of practical application of John the Baptist's gracious giving-way to Christ.  Parents' ministry is to raise children to grow up and have their own life.  Ministers are preparing the saints to mature and carry out their own callings.  If we do our job well, we will come to an obvious place of having to release that which we birthed, for it has a life of its own. 

I came to the Lord as a broken and dysfunctional person who had no idea who she was.  My personhood had been stolen from me.  The Lord Jesus, by His Spirit and Word, and through His godly ministers, nursed me back to health, restored me to healthy functioning, and gave me a sense of worth, identity and purpose.  He gave me back myself!  It was so awesome to finally feel good about myself and about being alive.  Then I truly had the opportunity to "lay down my life" for Him.  Before that, I had little to offer, only a "broken and contrite heart", which we know He does not despise.  Now I'm in a different place of making way for Christ. 

I think it is important to note that John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease."  The Lord certainly increased in me, building me up from the inside out, starting from a below-basement level of destruction.  As I learned who I was, I discovered my weaknesses and how He could fill them.  I discovered my empty places and how He could fill those too.  He revealed my wrong thinking and replaced it with His truth.  He showed me my strengths and how He could empower them for His glory.  There's much, much more to do, (I'm far from being Christlike) but at least now, I know how to let Him live in me. 

At a certain point in my life, however, I became aware that He was "letting go."  He again gave me a choice to follow and serve Him.  Now that He had restored me, He was setting me free!  Is this amazing or what?  Of course, it wasn't a difficult choice for me.  I was like that Old Testament picture of the slave who didn't want to be set free because of love for the master, choosing to become a bondservant for life.  My ear has been pierced!  I totally belong to Him!  He chose me first, but then He gave me a chance to choose Him back.  I chose Him, and I have never regretted it. 

Now, as I live for Him, study His Word and get more revelation of Him, He continues to grow in me; it gets very uncomfortable for my "self" and I have to make more room for Him by letting go of pride, an agenda, or anything else that doesn't fit with Him.  I don't just try to get rid of something about myself or "kill myself off".  Picking up your cross and following Him daily is not the same as trying to crucify yourself!  That just doesn't work.  It leaves holes in us that can be filled with something other than Him if we're not very careful.  I think it's dangerous to try to decrease yourself so that He can increase.  The Lord will expose deeper holes in you that need to be filled with Him (He's done this to me more than once lately, through some trials).  He will also discipline us if we're resisting Him.  Seek the Lord with as much of your heart as you can, being as pliable as you are able, and let Him increase.  Present yourself to Him, obey Him, and He will take care of the rest.

Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  I have total confidence in His ability to finish the work He started in me, and in you too.  He knows what He's doing.  He is the Author and Finisher of the Church too, and He is in charge (the Head).  We should trust Him in forming us, and in forming the Church.  He's going to present us to the Father without spot or blemish.  What a glorious day that will be!

March 31, 2010

The word "compassion" came to me today as I read about how Jesus responded to the people who came to Him.  He preached the truth to them, healed them and fed them, even though He had gone aside to be alone.  This was His habitual lifestyle. 

Meditating on this, I began to think of how seldom I am in the place to feel compassion, or be moved by it.  I work at home, where I am comfortable, have clothes to wear and food to eat.  When I go on errands, I rarely see anyone in need.  I am sheltered from the difficulties of life.   I see photos, almost daily, and read of the disasters and other horrors in the world on the internet, and it is easy to become overwhelmed by all of it.  But do I really feel compassion?  My response to Haiti was to give money through Samaritan's Purse, for I truly hurt for them.  But, in general, I find I can offer up prayer but little else.  I think the shear magnitude of all of it causes it to feel unreal.  If it all truly touched me, I think I would be crushed.

How different our Christian life would be if we walked about as Jesus did and really talked to people!  Is it possible that true compassion takes eye contact?  The sound of a voice? A touch?  If we could again encounter the world's need on a daily basis, in our own sphere first, then I think we would find ourselves again moved with compassion as Jesus was.  He still is!  If we could find ways to put ourselves in the presence of others who have need, then we would find Him again moving as He did before, and we would see the miracles it often takes to meet those needs.  It's just going to take deliberate action on the part of a modern-day person, on my part.

February 21, 2010

I noticed some different ways of receiving healing in today's Scripture:  it all had to do with people's faith, of course, since He often said " your faith has made you well" Mark 5:34

Sometimes people will be in a place where they will press through whatever, on their own, and come into Christ's presence, touch Him and receive His power to heal them.  Others will come to Jesus for help, but will need Him to accompany them and reassure them, touch them  or the person who is sick, and defend them from whatever will hinder their faith. 

So many times we need a healing touch, and an encouraging word-- and we need it to come to us through a touchable person.  I want to be the kind of person who can give these things, to take someone's hand and help them up, whether it be physically or emotionally, since that is what Jesus so often did.  He is still moved by compassion, and He wants to heal through us.  I want His power ("virtue") to go out from me, don't you?

February 8, 2010

In the priestly garments of Aaron I see testimony of Christ, especially in His ministry of intercession. Like the engraved jewels on the breastpiece, Jesus carries us in His heart as He goes before the throne of God. This makes me feel very loved when I meditate on it. It also gives me an example and a motivation to carry those, who are engraved on my heart, before the throne of grace in intercession. It is a way to share in the sufferings and in the joy of the Lord; it is a way to experience intimacy with Him.