Interesting - accountability. Or, perhaps what holds one accountable or makes one conscious of accountability. It came in an unexpected form for me today - a cross. In our society where so many wear various crosses of all sizes, shapes and from various origins, we've almost desensitized ourselves to the cross.
I was given one recently by a Prayer Sister (the women of our congregation draw names and secretly pray for someone for several months, writing notes of encouragement, and leaving little gifts for one another until our periodical 'revealing' where we do it all over again). The cross is too large to wear around my neck but is very beautiful. It also seemed a bit too small to hang on a wall. It lay on my make-up table for months while each day that I looked at it, I wondered what to do with it.
When I got my white car, I 'marked' it as mine by adorning the rear view mirror with a dream catcher. It had three feathers hanging from the bottom. The center feather broke and bothered me for about a week until this morning. I decided to resolve the broken feather issue and the what to do with my pretty new cross issue at the same time. About ten minutes later I was on my way to work, my new cross dangling from my mirror and that's when I noticed it.
I confess, I am not what one might call a laid back driver. In fact, it would not be stretching the truth to admit that there are times that my behavior behind the wheel bordered on road-rage. I am a very impatient driver. I managed to quit honking at people a few years ago, but have still been known to scowl fiercely at them when I felt they were delaying me or when I knew they weren't situated just right to trip the sensor at a red light. But this morning, I had a cross dangling in my peripheral vision that seemed to grow larger with each swing. I became acutely aware of my responsibility as one representing herself as a child of God to conduct myself in a manner befitting a child of God! Never before has displaying a cross had such an effect on me!
I don't recall who first told me, but someone told me that I might be the only Bible that some folks ever read. It took a long time for me to truly absorb that concept. It's apparent that the Holy Spirit has been at work within me since that time because now it is important to me how I portray myself to others - not because of how they will perceive me, but because of how they will perceive The Father! It's also not a matter of feeling guilty if I conduct myself poorly and reflect a bad light on Him, it's more a matter of having a deep desire to please Him, to honor Him - from gratitude and increasingly from love. Isn't it amazing how He will even teach us to honor and love Him! Oh, I'm not saying I do it perfectly, I certainly do not! But every success, regardless how small, I am keenly aware that He sees... and I imagine He smiles.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Immaturity vs Stunted Development
It's interesting and fascinating to me how something can trigger a thought that ends up completely changing your perspective on something. It can be a song, an aroma, something you hear someone say maybe not even to you but you hear it, a line in a movie - it can come from any where at any time.
Such is my experience today. I have some uncongealed thoughts that I hope will solidify by the time I finish writing.
The dictionary defines immaturity as: — adj 1. not fully grown or developed 2. deficient in maturity; lacking wisdom, insight, emotional stability, etc The dictionary defines stunt as: — vb 1. ( tr ) to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc) (At least for the direction I am going with this - just bear with me, I'm sorting this out as I write.)
As I study these two words and and their definitions, I notice that immaturity, then, could be based on the individual character while stunted growth development (referring specifically, in this case, to emotional growth and development) could be inflicted by another or external circumstances. It seems to me, then, that it would take close and careful observation to distinguish between the two. It requires more than a casual knowledge or understanding of an individual to make a determination. I believe, too, that when one is given new information about a person, one needs to check that he or she is not continuing to operate - to relate to that individual based on old information. Therefore, rewriting one's dictionary may be necessary to best interact with someone in your life whose growth has been stunted.
However, this is not to say that someone who is immature requires less love and attention than someone who is emotionally stunted. I believe that both require generous amounts of love, compassion, patience, kindness, tenderness, even firmness. If I believe this, then why do I find it necessary to make a distinction between the two? Would it matter? Oh yes, I believe it does matter. Because the one experiencing stunted emotional development has been wounded, usually deeply wounded - psychologically, mentally, emotionally, even physically. This means that the one experiencing stunted emotional development likely has a trust issue, perhaps an abandonment issue, perhaps a variety of issues.
There is a difference when someone who has been described as lazy or lacking in motivation is then found to have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - typically associated with those who have seen combat but is not limited to them). Everything hinges on a traumatic experience in that one's life and that one tends to evaluate self and life in general through the lens of that event. I believe that such an event marks the same point at which that one suffers the onset of stunted emotional development. And I believe that how we respond to such a one should be different than how we respond to one who is a bit immature.
This is raw and rough, I know, I've typed it out as the thoughts have formed in my mind. I hope to polish this topic and be able to post about it again, soon. But for now, please consider the possibility of that someone in your life that may be suffering from stunted emotional development and consider those needs vs. the needs of someone who needs time to mature.
The dictionary defines immaturity as: — adj 1. not fully grown or developed 2. deficient in maturity; lacking wisdom, insight, emotional stability, etc The dictionary defines stunt as: — vb 1. ( tr ) to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc) (At least for the direction I am going with this - just bear with me, I'm sorting this out as I write.)
As I study these two words and and their definitions, I notice that immaturity, then, could be based on the individual character while stunted growth development (referring specifically, in this case, to emotional growth and development) could be inflicted by another or external circumstances. It seems to me, then, that it would take close and careful observation to distinguish between the two. It requires more than a casual knowledge or understanding of an individual to make a determination. I believe, too, that when one is given new information about a person, one needs to check that he or she is not continuing to operate - to relate to that individual based on old information. Therefore, rewriting one's dictionary may be necessary to best interact with someone in your life whose growth has been stunted.
However, this is not to say that someone who is immature requires less love and attention than someone who is emotionally stunted. I believe that both require generous amounts of love, compassion, patience, kindness, tenderness, even firmness. If I believe this, then why do I find it necessary to make a distinction between the two? Would it matter? Oh yes, I believe it does matter. Because the one experiencing stunted emotional development has been wounded, usually deeply wounded - psychologically, mentally, emotionally, even physically. This means that the one experiencing stunted emotional development likely has a trust issue, perhaps an abandonment issue, perhaps a variety of issues.
There is a difference when someone who has been described as lazy or lacking in motivation is then found to have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - typically associated with those who have seen combat but is not limited to them). Everything hinges on a traumatic experience in that one's life and that one tends to evaluate self and life in general through the lens of that event. I believe that such an event marks the same point at which that one suffers the onset of stunted emotional development. And I believe that how we respond to such a one should be different than how we respond to one who is a bit immature.
This is raw and rough, I know, I've typed it out as the thoughts have formed in my mind. I hope to polish this topic and be able to post about it again, soon. But for now, please consider the possibility of that someone in your life that may be suffering from stunted emotional development and consider those needs vs. the needs of someone who needs time to mature.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
One so Lost
This morning I heard on the news what Demi Moore said of herself; that what scares her is that she is going to ultimately find out at the end of her life that she is really not lovable, that there is something fundamentally wrong with her. (This, by the way, is what the enemy wants us to believe about ourselves!) The typical first response of most to such an admission is, "Her? She has everything - had everything. Looks, talent, Ashton..." I can almost hear someone now proclaiming that if she had what Demi has, she would not be depressed or ever experience self-doubt.
To me, Demi's statement affirms what I have long believed - one doesn't need to be of what society deems as mediocre to feel the sting of insecurity, of feeling inadequate, of a feeling of worthlessness. Such feelings come from the inability to see self through His eyes or from a lack of faith to believe that it could be true that the Creator of All would notice me, much less love me! Also typical is when one asks 'why', they look for the answer in self and see, recognize and acknowledge unworthiness for such love. When asking 'why', the answer comes from Him, through Him! He is why! Because He is love! He proved that by sending His One and Only Son to die for us - to take the penalty of sin for us... a gift none of us could ever earn or be worthy of but given anyway because of His love for us! It takes a long time for that truth to sink in for some. I know that it took a while for me to grasp it.
My next thought was how could someone like me - whom society deems as unworthy of ever approaching someone like Demi - ever get close enough to share The Message with her? I wondered how it could be that she is 49 and has either not heard or has not believed the Blessed Message. I thought about mentors again. As I got ready for work, various scenarios played out in my mind about me personally attempting to reach her with news that would completely turn her life around, whether or not Ashton ever came back in it to stay. None of the scenarios I imagined turned out very well.
After finishing my morning routine at work, I pulled out my little book, "His Princess - Love Letters from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd. On page 28 I read, "Pray with Power" and was reminded on page 29 of John 14:13-14 You can ask anything in My Name and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to The Father. Yes, ask anything in My Name and I will do it.
So, I prayed for Demi. And through this experience, I am compelled to add to my daily prayers, a prayer for all of those who are in her position... not that of celebrity, but that of fearing they are unlovable when they are loved by The Most High! I have long known I should pray for the lost. I will pray for a while and then they drop off my prayer list for a time. The process through which I've gone this morning in my response to Demi Moore's confession of fear has helped me realize that one so lost does need our prayers - I am reminded of the pain of being one so lost, the fear, the anguish, the hopelessness. How I think of the lost has gone from abstract to very real and personal to me - I didn't realize it wasn't before now.
Not to embark into another subject and detract from what I've already discussed, but I need to mention briefly that I do realize in what all I've said here that I've made the assumption (and perhaps the judgment) that Demi is one so lost. If I am guilty of judging, I believe God will reveal that to me and I will repent. What I believe I have done is discern the reason for her fear and launched into the only action available to me in order to help her - called upon The One Who truly can... and truly will help her!
To me, Demi's statement affirms what I have long believed - one doesn't need to be of what society deems as mediocre to feel the sting of insecurity, of feeling inadequate, of a feeling of worthlessness. Such feelings come from the inability to see self through His eyes or from a lack of faith to believe that it could be true that the Creator of All would notice me, much less love me! Also typical is when one asks 'why', they look for the answer in self and see, recognize and acknowledge unworthiness for such love. When asking 'why', the answer comes from Him, through Him! He is why! Because He is love! He proved that by sending His One and Only Son to die for us - to take the penalty of sin for us... a gift none of us could ever earn or be worthy of but given anyway because of His love for us! It takes a long time for that truth to sink in for some. I know that it took a while for me to grasp it.
My next thought was how could someone like me - whom society deems as unworthy of ever approaching someone like Demi - ever get close enough to share The Message with her? I wondered how it could be that she is 49 and has either not heard or has not believed the Blessed Message. I thought about mentors again. As I got ready for work, various scenarios played out in my mind about me personally attempting to reach her with news that would completely turn her life around, whether or not Ashton ever came back in it to stay. None of the scenarios I imagined turned out very well.
After finishing my morning routine at work, I pulled out my little book, "His Princess - Love Letters from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd. On page 28 I read, "Pray with Power" and was reminded on page 29 of John 14:13-14 You can ask anything in My Name and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to The Father. Yes, ask anything in My Name and I will do it.
So, I prayed for Demi. And through this experience, I am compelled to add to my daily prayers, a prayer for all of those who are in her position... not that of celebrity, but that of fearing they are unlovable when they are loved by The Most High! I have long known I should pray for the lost. I will pray for a while and then they drop off my prayer list for a time. The process through which I've gone this morning in my response to Demi Moore's confession of fear has helped me realize that one so lost does need our prayers - I am reminded of the pain of being one so lost, the fear, the anguish, the hopelessness. How I think of the lost has gone from abstract to very real and personal to me - I didn't realize it wasn't before now.
Not to embark into another subject and detract from what I've already discussed, but I need to mention briefly that I do realize in what all I've said here that I've made the assumption (and perhaps the judgment) that Demi is one so lost. If I am guilty of judging, I believe God will reveal that to me and I will repent. What I believe I have done is discern the reason for her fear and launched into the only action available to me in order to help her - called upon The One Who truly can... and truly will help her!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Flat-line or Peace
For the past several weeks, perhaps even months, I have been a little concerned for myself. In a discussion I had with one of my Sisters, I described myself as flat-lined - no peaks, no dips. I expressed that while I am grateful for the lack of dips, I am also concerned about the lack of peaks. I assured her that I did not feel sad or depressed, but neither was I elated or full of joy. This concerned me, you see, because I kept thinking about the verses that talk about being filled with the joy of God. And while I could claim many things from God on a daily basis, joy was not among them. I had begun taking this to God in prayer, 'where is my joy'? Not in the sense of accusing Him of denying me His joy, but concern that perhaps I was missing something that precluded me from experiencing His joy. I even began to question if I truly had the things I claimed to have from Him if there was no evidence of joy in my life.
My Sister said something to the effect that we level out and don't stay hyped up all the time in any of our relationships. She added that if we did, we would have no counter against which to weigh our joy and thereby know when we are joyful or how much joy we have. I reasoned that she was right and decided to relax about the issue and our visit moved on to other topics.
Later she made a comment about the peace in her life - which, I might add, was very hard to come by for her... as I am sure it was for most of us for one reason or another. As soon as she made that comment it struck me; what I was defining as "flat-line" was probably actually peace in my life! It further struck me that so much of my life has been such a series of high peaks and low valleys that now that I find myself on fairly level ground, while refreshing, it is rather foreign to me. I didn't recognize it for what it was; Peace!
And I have to smile as I confess, recognizing and realizing that I have a heart full of peace, knowing that this peace is from Him, I am also filled with joy! Here again is another example of God rewriting my dictionary (a processed started by Him through Dr. Timothy Young more than 15 years ago - mentioned in "Mama's Legacy" posted 10-12-10... or for a more in-depth description read: The Journey Begins) when He redefined Love, Family, God, and even Jenney Lou. Now He has redefined peace so that I may more readily recognize that I have it in my life instead of fearing that I am living a 'flat-line' life! I am so blessed! As my Son-in-law likes to say when asked how he is doing or when telling someone how blessed he is, better than I deserve!
My Sister said something to the effect that we level out and don't stay hyped up all the time in any of our relationships. She added that if we did, we would have no counter against which to weigh our joy and thereby know when we are joyful or how much joy we have. I reasoned that she was right and decided to relax about the issue and our visit moved on to other topics.
Later she made a comment about the peace in her life - which, I might add, was very hard to come by for her... as I am sure it was for most of us for one reason or another. As soon as she made that comment it struck me; what I was defining as "flat-line" was probably actually peace in my life! It further struck me that so much of my life has been such a series of high peaks and low valleys that now that I find myself on fairly level ground, while refreshing, it is rather foreign to me. I didn't recognize it for what it was; Peace!
And I have to smile as I confess, recognizing and realizing that I have a heart full of peace, knowing that this peace is from Him, I am also filled with joy! Here again is another example of God rewriting my dictionary (a processed started by Him through Dr. Timothy Young more than 15 years ago - mentioned in "Mama's Legacy" posted 10-12-10... or for a more in-depth description read: The Journey Begins) when He redefined Love, Family, God, and even Jenney Lou. Now He has redefined peace so that I may more readily recognize that I have it in my life instead of fearing that I am living a 'flat-line' life! I am so blessed! As my Son-in-law likes to say when asked how he is doing or when telling someone how blessed he is, better than I deserve!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Filling up
Today I am longing for home. Sometimes the stresses, cares, and chaos of this world seem a bit too much and I find my spirit sighing and longing for home. Of course, when I say home, I assume you know that I mean, my home in heaven with Him. Probably, what I am really saying is I long for peace - which, I know won't come in this world. We are afforded fragments of peace throughout our lives that will not, cannot compare to the peace we will have at home with Him.
Sometimes I am strong and find myself seeking out those who need a little help getting through in this life. Not today. Today... well, take this very moment. I am listening to contemporary Christian music on Pandora. The song currently playing is Angus Del by Passion. I so need this type of song today - it lifts me up, makes me feel alive instead of so burdened; as though I am being carried.
So I will accept songs like this that feed and fill my spirit today, because tomorrow may be different and I may be called upon to lift, fill or feed!
Sometimes I am strong and find myself seeking out those who need a little help getting through in this life. Not today. Today... well, take this very moment. I am listening to contemporary Christian music on Pandora. The song currently playing is Angus Del by Passion. I so need this type of song today - it lifts me up, makes me feel alive instead of so burdened; as though I am being carried.
So I will accept songs like this that feed and fill my spirit today, because tomorrow may be different and I may be called upon to lift, fill or feed!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Scary Fruit?
John 15:15-17
15 - I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you.
16 - You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that what ever you ask in My Name, The Father will give you.
17 - This is My command - Love each other.
"...appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last..." Scary words for someone who leans towards being a bit reclusive. This doesn't just denote responsibility, it's blatant! Appointed by Jesus. Why? To bear fruit, and not just bear fruit, but fruit that will last. And, what is this fruit we are to bear? Souls for The Kingdom? Oh, well, definitely that for sure! But, is that all? I believe the verse indicates that it is definitely not all! The souls for The Kingdom would be fruit, fruit that will last is assisting those souls to be thoroughly rooted in The Kingdom, nurtured so that they can grow, fed, watered - the whole nine yards!
When I think back to when I first believed, I was baptized but, it didn't stick. I was baptized several times as a preteen and during my teen years. Why? I really didn't know or understand what I was doing. My heart was touched, convinced of His love and sacrifice for me and I knew I wanted to be a part of that... a part of His church family. I was convinced that baptism was the way in, but I didn't know what to do once I got in there. So, I kept going back out and coming back in again. In short, someone dropped the ball. I had very little guidance other than to be lectured as to proper and acceptable conduct of teens residing in a church-sponsored children's home. I received my 'don't list' for life. I still did not know what to do. I didn't know how to love Him. I didn't even know how to grow in Him. And I certainly didn't know how to love others! The King James version was the acceptable version of the day and very difficult to follow and understand. It seemed I was always directed to those verses that made The Father seem cold, distant, harsh, even cruel and mean, lacking in compassion and aloof.
So it is that I am aware that those Babes in Christ need nurturing just as a new born baby. Because being left on one's own to wade through Scripture and try to understand, try to get a clear and accurate picture of God, is difficult at best! Being young in Christ, one isn't aware of the assistance of the Holy Spirit. It makes it nearly impossible to distinguish the voice of The Spirit from every other voice within - some accusing, some urging one direction, some urging another direction.
Let me just add right here that it doesn't matter a person's age, either! Unlike physical babies, new reborns in Christ can go through a period of no growth. Years may pass before someone comes along and nourishes the reborn so that growth may resume!
Fruit that will last, I believe, means we don't just count souls added to The Kingdom, but we become a mentor, a companion to help that one along as they grow in faith... grow in Christ!
My passion is helping those who have been added to The Kingdom, and perhaps grew for a while, but have been wounded, deeply wounded; primarily women, but men have been deeply wounded and have pulled away from God as well. I have a deep desire to seek out those people and aid them in their healing process - urging them back to God. Helping them to see that He IS safe, they can trust Him.
So, perhaps I'm not as afraid of fruit, or my responsibility concerning fruit as initially thought.
15 - I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you.
16 - You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that what ever you ask in My Name, The Father will give you.
17 - This is My command - Love each other.
"...appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last..." Scary words for someone who leans towards being a bit reclusive. This doesn't just denote responsibility, it's blatant! Appointed by Jesus. Why? To bear fruit, and not just bear fruit, but fruit that will last. And, what is this fruit we are to bear? Souls for The Kingdom? Oh, well, definitely that for sure! But, is that all? I believe the verse indicates that it is definitely not all! The souls for The Kingdom would be fruit, fruit that will last is assisting those souls to be thoroughly rooted in The Kingdom, nurtured so that they can grow, fed, watered - the whole nine yards!
When I think back to when I first believed, I was baptized but, it didn't stick. I was baptized several times as a preteen and during my teen years. Why? I really didn't know or understand what I was doing. My heart was touched, convinced of His love and sacrifice for me and I knew I wanted to be a part of that... a part of His church family. I was convinced that baptism was the way in, but I didn't know what to do once I got in there. So, I kept going back out and coming back in again. In short, someone dropped the ball. I had very little guidance other than to be lectured as to proper and acceptable conduct of teens residing in a church-sponsored children's home. I received my 'don't list' for life. I still did not know what to do. I didn't know how to love Him. I didn't even know how to grow in Him. And I certainly didn't know how to love others! The King James version was the acceptable version of the day and very difficult to follow and understand. It seemed I was always directed to those verses that made The Father seem cold, distant, harsh, even cruel and mean, lacking in compassion and aloof.
So it is that I am aware that those Babes in Christ need nurturing just as a new born baby. Because being left on one's own to wade through Scripture and try to understand, try to get a clear and accurate picture of God, is difficult at best! Being young in Christ, one isn't aware of the assistance of the Holy Spirit. It makes it nearly impossible to distinguish the voice of The Spirit from every other voice within - some accusing, some urging one direction, some urging another direction.
Let me just add right here that it doesn't matter a person's age, either! Unlike physical babies, new reborns in Christ can go through a period of no growth. Years may pass before someone comes along and nourishes the reborn so that growth may resume!
Fruit that will last, I believe, means we don't just count souls added to The Kingdom, but we become a mentor, a companion to help that one along as they grow in faith... grow in Christ!
My passion is helping those who have been added to The Kingdom, and perhaps grew for a while, but have been wounded, deeply wounded; primarily women, but men have been deeply wounded and have pulled away from God as well. I have a deep desire to seek out those people and aid them in their healing process - urging them back to God. Helping them to see that He IS safe, they can trust Him.
So, perhaps I'm not as afraid of fruit, or my responsibility concerning fruit as initially thought.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Breathe Him In
John 15:15-17
15 - I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you.
16 - You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in My Name, The Father will give you.
17 - This is My command, Love each other.
Have you thought about it; "for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you"?
Jesus, as a human, learned from His Father - the same Father we now claim as our Heavenly Father, the same that we know as God, the Creator. How did He do that? Supernaturally? Because He was the Son of God, He had something special we don't have in order to be able to learn from The Father while here on earth? I used to think so. But the more I learn, the more I grow and come to realize, the more I believe that Jesus, while here, was all human. He never ceased to be God, but He was all man. That's a mystery only God can explain and I will not attempt to - instead, where I am going with this is back to my new favorite verse. "...for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you."
Everything.
I believe this includes the ability to have the same kind of relationship with The Father that Jesus enjoyed. I believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit enables us... assists us in establishing and deepening that relationship! I believe that such a relationship is the foundation to all else we will learn from The Father throughout our lives.
Perhaps my age has something to do with this, but I have noticed that as time goes on, this becomes more important to me. I deeply desire such a relationship with The Father that it's as if He were my constant companion by my side - which He is, but I want to be so acutely aware of it that He's almost physically real. I want to breathe Him in and exhale love... the kind of love that Jesus commands that we have for each other.
15 - I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you.
16 - You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in My Name, The Father will give you.
17 - This is My command, Love each other.
Have you thought about it; "for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you"?
Jesus, as a human, learned from His Father - the same Father we now claim as our Heavenly Father, the same that we know as God, the Creator. How did He do that? Supernaturally? Because He was the Son of God, He had something special we don't have in order to be able to learn from The Father while here on earth? I used to think so. But the more I learn, the more I grow and come to realize, the more I believe that Jesus, while here, was all human. He never ceased to be God, but He was all man. That's a mystery only God can explain and I will not attempt to - instead, where I am going with this is back to my new favorite verse. "...for everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you."
Everything.
I believe this includes the ability to have the same kind of relationship with The Father that Jesus enjoyed. I believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit enables us... assists us in establishing and deepening that relationship! I believe that such a relationship is the foundation to all else we will learn from The Father throughout our lives.
Perhaps my age has something to do with this, but I have noticed that as time goes on, this becomes more important to me. I deeply desire such a relationship with The Father that it's as if He were my constant companion by my side - which He is, but I want to be so acutely aware of it that He's almost physically real. I want to breathe Him in and exhale love... the kind of love that Jesus commands that we have for each other.
Monday, January 9, 2012
An Amazing Gift
I will try my new favorite verse again;
John 15:15-17
15- I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friend, for everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
16- You did not choose Me, I chose you and have appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that what ever you ask in My Name, The Father will give you.
17- And this is My command - love each other.
I'm second guessing myself - was that John 15 or John 5? Well, just so that you know, when I am typing a new post, I do not have access to my previous posts so I cannot check for accuracy until after I have already published this post.
I have been thinking about the implications of no longer being called servants because a servant doesn't know his master's business. The implication being, we can therefore know The Father's business! I have several different subscriptions to Heartlight; the verse of the day, studying about the Holy Spirit, praying with Paul, etc. Recently, the discussion about the Holy Spirit reminds me that we can expect to do so much more than our own abilities when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit by Jesus and one of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to bring to our remembrance, everything that Jesus taught.
Today's verse regarding the Holy Spirit reminds me that while the disciples were taught so much regarding God's will and about His Kingdom, Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit - meaning; as much as they knew, as prepared as they were, they still could not go forth and share the Good News until they were given the gift of the Holy Spirit to direct them, guide them, help them, empower them, etc. Where I am struggling to determine with all of this is that it seems to me that knowing God's business may primarily come from His Word - we get the basics there. But applying that today comes from His Holy Spirit - I mean, knowing His Will for today, the immediate, in any given situation. I guess I said all of that to say that I think that it is the Holy Spirit that allows us to know The Father's business. And what an amazing gift that is!
John 15:15-17
15- I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friend, for everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
16- You did not choose Me, I chose you and have appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that what ever you ask in My Name, The Father will give you.
17- And this is My command - love each other.
I'm second guessing myself - was that John 15 or John 5? Well, just so that you know, when I am typing a new post, I do not have access to my previous posts so I cannot check for accuracy until after I have already published this post.
I have been thinking about the implications of no longer being called servants because a servant doesn't know his master's business. The implication being, we can therefore know The Father's business! I have several different subscriptions to Heartlight; the verse of the day, studying about the Holy Spirit, praying with Paul, etc. Recently, the discussion about the Holy Spirit reminds me that we can expect to do so much more than our own abilities when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit by Jesus and one of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to bring to our remembrance, everything that Jesus taught.
Today's verse regarding the Holy Spirit reminds me that while the disciples were taught so much regarding God's will and about His Kingdom, Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit - meaning; as much as they knew, as prepared as they were, they still could not go forth and share the Good News until they were given the gift of the Holy Spirit to direct them, guide them, help them, empower them, etc. Where I am struggling to determine with all of this is that it seems to me that knowing God's business may primarily come from His Word - we get the basics there. But applying that today comes from His Holy Spirit - I mean, knowing His Will for today, the immediate, in any given situation. I guess I said all of that to say that I think that it is the Holy Spirit that allows us to know The Father's business. And what an amazing gift that is!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Keep Him Real
"Start this year with a journal that collects your faith stories. Look
back on your pictures and search for God's fingerprints. Write down
what God reveals. There is more hidden in the past than you remember.
Listen for your story in silence ... even in the boring stuff.
Close your mouth. Open your eyes. Silence is the prerequisite to
imagination. We must be present and observant to the world around us,
the world within us, and the movements of God in both. See beyond your
vision." Ron Rose from a Heartlight Magazine article 01-06-12
I share this because I have found it to be so true! In the most mundane, ordinary, and unexpected ways and through the most mundane, ordinary, and unexpected sources God has given me little messages, stories... spice for life! I once watched an episode of The Andy Griffith Show; "Opie weaves the fabulous tale of Mr. McBeevee, a man who walks in the treetops, wears a silver hat, has twelve extra hands, blows smoke from his ears, and jingles when he walks as if he had rings on his fingers and bells on his toes. But other than those few quirks, Mr. McBeevee is normal. Andy and Barney laugh it off, but when Opie brings back a quarter he claims was given to him by his friend, Andy is forced to call the stories to a halt. Faced with the threat of a spanking, Opie is still unable to betray the existence of Mr. McBeevee. Andy may have to accept the unacceptable in the face of Opie's insistence. Later, when out for a walk, Andy happens past the very same tree Mr. McBeevee, a telephone linesman, is working in. Andy gets his own introduction to the man who walks in the trees and Opie is vindicated."
As I watched this episode, I was struck by how we are sometimes confronted by a new aspect of God we have not experienced but hear of someone else's experience. I realized how often it was much like Opie describing Mr. McBeevee to his Pa - it seems too far out there to be real or true. Like Opie, the one relating his or her experience has to deal with our skepticism or blatant disbelief.
Now, granted, Opie's experience was his lack of experience in being able to clearly relate to his Pa who he had encountered. And while I do believe that God's Word reveals to us what we need to know about God - even in His Word, we can often go back and see something we never recognized before!
For instance, I have shared my D-Day experience and how I needed God to be real, present, today, now... immediate! Prior to that day, I had been taught about God in the past! It is an amazing history to be sure! I had been taught about the promises of God for our future, after this life. But I could not accept that there was nothing for us here, today other than what I could find printed on paper, bound in a book. I needed Him to come off the page and into my heart... to step down from my intellect and bring my spirit alive! Though it went against all I had been taught up to that point, I desperately needed Him tangible and immediate! That was nearly 16 years ago. I still discover something new about God - new to me - in His Word! But more than that, I hear Him now, see Him, feel Him, experience Him in ways I had been taught were not possible for us today; such as in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Such as in watching the clouds overhead and various scriptures immediately come to mind - to me, that's nothing short of a touch, a caress, an affirmation from The Father! One day, when suffering from severe congestion, I was listening to Pandora and heard a song that I decided I needed to check for the name and artist and saw that it was performed by "Needtobreathe"! Coincidence? I prefer to believe that it was a little humor from The Father! It gave me a chuckle!
I do believe you can find, hear, see, feel The Father every day... in the little things, in the ordinary ways, through mundane sources if you tune your heart to Him. Discover where He has been hiding in plain sight in your life, seeking Him every day in every way - you'll be surprised where and how you discover Him! If ever the expression "Keep it Real" applied to anything, it applies to this with a little tweak, "Keep Him Real"!
back on your pictures and search for God's fingerprints. Write down
what God reveals. There is more hidden in the past than you remember.
Listen for your story in silence ... even in the boring stuff.
Close your mouth. Open your eyes. Silence is the prerequisite to
imagination. We must be present and observant to the world around us,
the world within us, and the movements of God in both. See beyond your
vision." Ron Rose from a Heartlight Magazine article 01-06-12
I share this because I have found it to be so true! In the most mundane, ordinary, and unexpected ways and through the most mundane, ordinary, and unexpected sources God has given me little messages, stories... spice for life! I once watched an episode of The Andy Griffith Show; "Opie weaves the fabulous tale of Mr. McBeevee, a man who walks in the treetops, wears a silver hat, has twelve extra hands, blows smoke from his ears, and jingles when he walks as if he had rings on his fingers and bells on his toes. But other than those few quirks, Mr. McBeevee is normal. Andy and Barney laugh it off, but when Opie brings back a quarter he claims was given to him by his friend, Andy is forced to call the stories to a halt. Faced with the threat of a spanking, Opie is still unable to betray the existence of Mr. McBeevee. Andy may have to accept the unacceptable in the face of Opie's insistence. Later, when out for a walk, Andy happens past the very same tree Mr. McBeevee, a telephone linesman, is working in. Andy gets his own introduction to the man who walks in the trees and Opie is vindicated."
As I watched this episode, I was struck by how we are sometimes confronted by a new aspect of God we have not experienced but hear of someone else's experience. I realized how often it was much like Opie describing Mr. McBeevee to his Pa - it seems too far out there to be real or true. Like Opie, the one relating his or her experience has to deal with our skepticism or blatant disbelief.
Now, granted, Opie's experience was his lack of experience in being able to clearly relate to his Pa who he had encountered. And while I do believe that God's Word reveals to us what we need to know about God - even in His Word, we can often go back and see something we never recognized before!
For instance, I have shared my D-Day experience and how I needed God to be real, present, today, now... immediate! Prior to that day, I had been taught about God in the past! It is an amazing history to be sure! I had been taught about the promises of God for our future, after this life. But I could not accept that there was nothing for us here, today other than what I could find printed on paper, bound in a book. I needed Him to come off the page and into my heart... to step down from my intellect and bring my spirit alive! Though it went against all I had been taught up to that point, I desperately needed Him tangible and immediate! That was nearly 16 years ago. I still discover something new about God - new to me - in His Word! But more than that, I hear Him now, see Him, feel Him, experience Him in ways I had been taught were not possible for us today; such as in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Such as in watching the clouds overhead and various scriptures immediately come to mind - to me, that's nothing short of a touch, a caress, an affirmation from The Father! One day, when suffering from severe congestion, I was listening to Pandora and heard a song that I decided I needed to check for the name and artist and saw that it was performed by "Needtobreathe"! Coincidence? I prefer to believe that it was a little humor from The Father! It gave me a chuckle!
I do believe you can find, hear, see, feel The Father every day... in the little things, in the ordinary ways, through mundane sources if you tune your heart to Him. Discover where He has been hiding in plain sight in your life, seeking Him every day in every way - you'll be surprised where and how you discover Him! If ever the expression "Keep it Real" applied to anything, it applies to this with a little tweak, "Keep Him Real"!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
More Overflow
I have been working on my memorization - here's my first test, typing from memory:
John 15:15-17
15 I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I call you friends for every thing I have learned from My Father, I have... I have... I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, I chose you and appointed you that you might bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that what ever you ask for in My Name, The Father will give you.
17 This is My command - love each other.
How did I do? I got stumped there for a moment but for the most part, I believe I got it right.
Jesus calls us Friends! Friends! The first thought that comes to my mind is - am I a good friend to Jesus? Immediately following that thought comes the one regarding (allow me to paraphrase from memory); "for insomuch as you have done this for the least of these, you have done it for me." Done what? Visited those in prison - me? Never. Offered a cup of water to the thirsty - me? Define thirsty. Are we talking physically thirsty? Then, never. Are we talking spiritually thirsty? I don't keep a tally, but I know that I have attempted to offer Jesus, the Living Water to those who are spiritually thirsty. Isn't there a third part to this? If so, it's not at the forefront of my memory. But, looking at this, I'm not doing so well as His friend. There's definitely room for improvement!
However, there's another side to this friendship. He, on the other hand, is The Perfect friend! He has forgiven me and continues to forgive me! He gave Himself for me! He is patient with me and assists me in becoming a better friend to Him! While I am disappointed at my score, His score sends me into overflowing again! I suspect He doesn't keep score, knowing He would always score the highest! I suspect He is always looking for ways to help us improve our scores! And I am undone with more overflow!
John 15:15-17
15 I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I call you friends for every thing I have learned from My Father, I have... I have... I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, I chose you and appointed you that you might bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that what ever you ask for in My Name, The Father will give you.
17 This is My command - love each other.
How did I do? I got stumped there for a moment but for the most part, I believe I got it right.
Jesus calls us Friends! Friends! The first thought that comes to my mind is - am I a good friend to Jesus? Immediately following that thought comes the one regarding (allow me to paraphrase from memory); "for insomuch as you have done this for the least of these, you have done it for me." Done what? Visited those in prison - me? Never. Offered a cup of water to the thirsty - me? Define thirsty. Are we talking physically thirsty? Then, never. Are we talking spiritually thirsty? I don't keep a tally, but I know that I have attempted to offer Jesus, the Living Water to those who are spiritually thirsty. Isn't there a third part to this? If so, it's not at the forefront of my memory. But, looking at this, I'm not doing so well as His friend. There's definitely room for improvement!
However, there's another side to this friendship. He, on the other hand, is The Perfect friend! He has forgiven me and continues to forgive me! He gave Himself for me! He is patient with me and assists me in becoming a better friend to Him! While I am disappointed at my score, His score sends me into overflowing again! I suspect He doesn't keep score, knowing He would always score the highest! I suspect He is always looking for ways to help us improve our scores! And I am undone with more overflow!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Overflowing
My new favorite verse is John 15:16, but I will attempt to memorize John 15: 15-17 (to keep it in context).
John 15: 15 - 17:
15 - I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for every thing that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.
16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in My Name The Father will give you.
17 - This is My command: Love each other.
The part that I already memorized that I did not have to look up is, "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." Just that part by itself spoke such healing, comfort, peace, joy and confidence to my heart! When I consider that He knew me back 'when'... when I refused to seek Him, when I was deliberately sinning, when I wanted the world and felt I deserved it - yet, He chose me anyway! Amazing!
When I consider that He knows me today... every selfish thought, every ounce of jealousy, every indulgence in thoughts of retaliation, every selfish, negative attitude - and yet, He chose me anyway! Really amazing!
When I consider that He knows my future... every mistake I will make, every rebellion against His Will, every failure on my part to be all that He is willing to help me become - still He chose me! Beyond comprehension!
Okay, to be perfectly honest, I had to look up the scripture that contained the part that I remembered and had not been aware that the rest went along with my favorite part. I was going to write more about the rest of the content, but after rereading it several times, I believe I need to allow myself more time to absorb and digest before I comment.
Meanwhile, I am filled to overflowing as I consider how He chose me... and... He chose you!
John 15: 15 - 17:
15 - I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for every thing that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.
16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in My Name The Father will give you.
17 - This is My command: Love each other.
The part that I already memorized that I did not have to look up is, "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." Just that part by itself spoke such healing, comfort, peace, joy and confidence to my heart! When I consider that He knew me back 'when'... when I refused to seek Him, when I was deliberately sinning, when I wanted the world and felt I deserved it - yet, He chose me anyway! Amazing!
When I consider that He knows me today... every selfish thought, every ounce of jealousy, every indulgence in thoughts of retaliation, every selfish, negative attitude - and yet, He chose me anyway! Really amazing!
When I consider that He knows my future... every mistake I will make, every rebellion against His Will, every failure on my part to be all that He is willing to help me become - still He chose me! Beyond comprehension!
Okay, to be perfectly honest, I had to look up the scripture that contained the part that I remembered and had not been aware that the rest went along with my favorite part. I was going to write more about the rest of the content, but after rereading it several times, I believe I need to allow myself more time to absorb and digest before I comment.
Meanwhile, I am filled to overflowing as I consider how He chose me... and... He chose you!
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