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 16, 2010 The Prince of Peace Builds His House

There is a generation that does great warfare in the spirit and subdues their enemies all around.  They gather the foundation stones and all the materials needed to build the temple-- a temple for God's name.  These great stones are foundational truths from the Word of God.  These they quarry and hew and dress with great labors.  They gather the knowledge (trees) and the tested, pure testimony of God (gold tried in the fire).  They dig deep for rubies and diamonds and sapphires and emeralds of revelation and bequeath these treasures to their children.  All these things they prepare for the next generation, imparting to them a great love and value of the truth, until the children become the stones and the trees and the gold.  The children become the jewels for the King's crown.  The parents prepare all:  they impart the vision: they lay down their lives so the children can be built into the house for God's name. 

The Prince of Peace spares no expense in building His habitation, which must be glorious.  He is a man of rest, for He has subdued His enemies all around.  His name is Peaceful.  His children rest in Him and are assured of peace, for they are secure in Him.  There is no more intimidation or striving in war, for just a word and the enemies all around cower and flee.  The house is built quietly and with a noble order so reverent that no voice is heard except that of the Prince.  He places His stones with great care, for they are living, breathing beings who are equally at home in the heavenly realm as in the earthly realm.  Nothing can shake them because they are being built together in peace. 

The house for the name of God is exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries.  There the name of God is revealed in all its facets, and the worship of Him creates such splendor that the nations are drawn to its boundless wisdom, beauty, holiness and power.   

July 9, 2010 Trusting God In Someone Else's Ship

Have you ever felt frustrated when you feel the person in charge is making a serious mistake?  I have.  I've been a "voyager in someone else's ship" most of my life-- as a child dependent on parents in a troubled marriage, as a teenager in a ultra-restrictive boarding school, as a college student on scholarships trying to please a demanding professor, as a young new-Christian wife struggling to submit to her less-than-wise husband, as an employee attempting to do good work under a corrupt boss, and even as a church member trying her best to follow a confused pastor.  I'm sure there are as many tales like this as there are people.  The challenge is to stay true to our faith and keep our trust in the Lord.

Once we come of age, we often have choices about what we will do about a "captain" who is sailing off into a seemingly life-threatening storm.  I've had to make some difficult decisions, but the Lord was always with me through it all.  The Apostle Paul had a word from God to keep him staying on with a ship that was sure to sink. That takes some strong faith!  Sometimes marriage feels like a sinking ship, and if you're a wife, you may feel like jumping!  (Fortunately, we're not prisoners as Paul was, although it may feel like it sometimes.  Reminding ourselves of our desire to make the commitment can help us weather the storm.) Guys have a different problem: they are the ones who have to decide where to take that ship.  I'm glad I don't have to take the helm!  However, sometimes we have to say what we see, whether it's believed or not.  Paul did.  Then he just had to hold on to his vision and trust in God for the outcome.  I have to wonder what was going on in Dr. Luke's mind during all this, since he was on the ship too!

Prayer is always the first action we should take-- it should be automatic.  That's when we get our directions, and peace.  So often, things just seem to straighten themselves out when we pray.  Staying in the Word, too, keeps our eyes focused on the Lord:  isn't He really the Captain of our life anyway?  He knows exactly what's going on, and He's committed to our well-being.  He is the manager of our trials.  Even though being under the leadership of, or even being dependent on, another human being is probably one of the most difficult trials we undergo, we can be assured that the Lord is still watching over us for our benefit-- and for the other person's as well.

There are times we feel we must confront.  Emotional pleas just do not work!  I've tried it many times, and I simply give up.  My overwrought emotional state doesn't convince anyone of my ability to think clearly!  I will not be listened to, no matter how right I am.  Getting my focus on the Lord and seeking Him for peace is top priority.  Then, I may be heard by the "captain" if I present the information I have with calm and clarity.  It's up to him, then, to decide what to do with my intelligence (it's called intelligence for a reason-- you'd better know what you're talking about if you want to be listened to).  I must maintain in faith.

Even if you end up having to go through a shipwreck, know this: God is able to preserve you.  His ways are always redemptive, never forget.  He may be working with the "captain" of the ship you're in, to bring some level of change or repentance or growth; but even if it's mostly about them, guess what?  God's going to bring you to another level of faith, trust, backbone, maturity-- whatever it is you need to grow in.  He uses all things for our good, even shipwrecks.

May 27, 2010 The Overcomer's Cheer

Could there be a more impacting statement than Jesus' saying, "I have overcome the world"?  The outcome of believing His statement is "good cheer."  I had to look that word up in the Greek-- it's tharseo: the root is "courage, confidence."  Tharseo can also be translated "be of good comfort." 

So, the sense I get from this is not a "cheer" that ignores all what's going on (the end of that path is a drunken "ignorance is bliss" mentality), but a joy and comfort that comes from having courage.  Our courage comes from our knowledge that He is in control, He wins, and He is with us, and in us, to help us and strengthen us.  His goal is for us to be overcomers in Him, Who has already overcome.  We can go through whatever we have to with this assurance, with peace, joy, and confidence.

April 7, 2010

lack of faith (leads to)= anxious mind  (leads to) = idolatry
+repentance+
trusting God (leads to) = peace (leads to)= seeking the Kingdom

January 15, 2010

This reading seems to hold a great paradox! But as we know there are no real contradictions in Scripture, only apparent ones. Proverbs 3:17 says of wisdom: "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."

One of the big issues in the world today is "how can we have peace and stop all the fighting?" We will have to bring heaven to earth.

Jacob's less-than-peaceful situations seem to be related all to family members giving him trouble. David's complaints in the Psalms had to do with enemies causing him sorrow and pain. I think we can safely say that most of our grief is centered in our relationships with other people, often family.

Jesus said, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34. The whole section has to do with how we respond to others. The sword of truth is cutting us off from the earthly way of relating. Jesus says:
1. Don't be surprised when you're criticized or rejected because of Christ.
2. Don't fear people; fear God.
3. Have your worth in God and you won't worry about people accepting you (which leads to compromise).
4. Don't hold back your testimony: say what He tells you to.
5. If you love Him more than anyone else, you will have life.
6. If you live Him, speak Him, demonstrate Him, others will see Him; if they respond to Him, then they will come into right relationship with Him and with you.

Jacob obeyed God's word and his enemies were compelled to make peace with Him. David trusted in God and prevailed. They were both rooted in the reality of the Kingdom and promises of God rather than in the earthly realm.

The tree of life is rooted in the heavenlies. If we choose that tree, rather than the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which is rooted in the earthly realm (the Word is cutting us off from that), we will have life and peace regardless of our earthly situation.