Loves Little or Loves Much?

Bible study this week took me to Luke chapter 7 verses 36-50. This is the portion of scripture where Simon invites Jesus over for dinner and the woman with the alabaster jar comes and publicly anoints Jesus' feet with her hair, tears and kisses. While Jesus is receiving this act of worship he makes a teaching moment with Simon. I've never really liked this passage because I identify more with Simon than the woman in the scene and that makes me very uncomfortable with myself.

Scripture doesn't tell us Simon's motives for having Jesus over for supper, but we do know that he was a Pharisee and that carries much definition on its own.  And given the ritualistic and perfect performance the Pharisees kept, it is interesting to note all the things Simon didn't do when Jesus got there.

As they were eating, the woman comes in and makes quite a public display of affection. Oddly enough the love that motivated this act is not what upsets Simon, but rather the reputation and character of the woman is what rattles him most. He is not upset over this display so much as that "a sinner" would touch Jesus.

 I love that we don't read Jesus' tone to be an angry one. It could be that Simon's thoughts were simply what he had been taught and had never ventured away from, something Jesus has grace for. We see Jesus teach in his usual pattern of a gentle parable and leading questions. A good coach always asks the right questions that will lead you to discover the answer yourself. Jesus leads Simon to a place where he could begin to look past a person's issues and see their heart. A heart that loves much and a heart that loves little. "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little," he says. Then he speaks to the woman and tells her "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  In the camera view of this in my mind, I see Simon sit back and take it all in and I wonder, did he get it?

 As one who knows all too well a Pharisee's heart, it completely unnerves me to think that I might be one who Jesus considers "loves little."

I wrestled this out with Jesus hard. Thank you Lord for my upbringing and your hand of protection and provision over and on my life. Thank you Jesus that my testimony is not one I will be embarrassed to tells my kids about someday. Thank you God for the blessing of a family who lead me to you early in life and a church body that kept me busy enough to not get in difficult trouble.  You put people in my life that steered me well and lead me rightly, it has shaped me into who I am today!

But does all that mean I love you little?

Have there been times I've entertained you and neglected to worship you? Have I gained your gracious attention forgetting to honor you with all I have? Have I been in your presence and considered myself....anything other than "a sinner?"


Yes.


Devastating.


A brokenness comes over me as I repent and confess my arrogance and unworthy heart. Why are you so patient with me Lord? So gentle when you coach me to see me for who I really am? So gracious as you open my eyes to see you for who you really are?

Through my tears his tender voice responds, "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace." And in this moment he shows me I have moved from identifying with Simon the self righteous to this unnamed woman, the worshiping sinner.  No longer to love little, but to go in peace and to love much.

Father, in the upbringing you allowed, somehow I picked up wrong theories and warped theologies.  Sometimes it's so hard to look past a person's issues and look to their heart, my own included. Transform my eyes Lord to see how you see.  Your kindness changes everything. I don't ever want to gain your attention again without giving you my all. May all of my days be a continual act of worship that shows you how much I love you. Your love is better than life! 

Kids

Do you ever have those times when you are reading scripture and you see something you've never seen before even thought it's been there all along? This has happened to me several times in the past few weeks.

The first was when I was studying Hannah's story in first Samuel for some writing I was doing. Chapter 3 reveals Samuel's calling in the opening verses by labeling him as a young man. Many translations read "boy." This account in scripture jumped off the page at me. The dialog that takes place is incredible. Samuel hears God, responds "here I am" and doesn't wait for a response but runs to his trusted leader. (There's a blog post in itself.) Eli tells him, "I didn't call you, go back to bed." The whole thing plays out again and when Eli realizes what's really going on, he says "Oh yeah. That's God. Tell him your listening. Then listen."

Instructions that seem to roll off the tongue as if conversing audibly with God in the middle of the night is as common as taking out the trash. The details given are few, yet the message is clear. God is speaking to this child. And the child is hearing God speak. Astounding.

Then at group later that week, we were discussing David's anointing to become king over the nation of Israel in 1 Samuel 16. We considered that this happened when David was possibly as young as 9 or 10 years old. A juvenile. A preteen potentially. Anointed to be king over God's chosen people. In this year with a presidential election on the horizon, this thought is almost indigestible.

In bible study the following morning, a quick reference to Hagar's story was made in Genesis 21. She and her son are in the wilderness about to die. Verse 16 records the desperate cries of a mother begging for mercy. But verse 17 says: And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is."

Woah. Again, such few details supplied except a mother's request and God's response to an unrecorded prayer from a kid.

Wow! How many times before have I passed over these verses as if it was seemingly insignificant? God hearing, moving and providing on behalf of a boy. Jehovah anointing, what we would consider a minor, to be king of his chosen people. The I AM speaking and giving prophecy to a child that would be difficult at best for it's recipients to hear. Nearly unimaginable.

I have been thinking and rethinking about the three instances of God interacting with kids and I'm instantly reminded of Jesus saying "Let the children come to me, don't stop them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to them," and "whoever humbles themselves like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

While stewing and brewing over all these accounts, one thing is clear: Age is of no discrimination to Jesus.  That's very convicting to me as one who defines a main area of ministry life as my children. In what ways am I being diligent to show my children this quality of God? How am I leading my girls to pray and anticipate God to move and respond? Am I myself expecting God to hear and answer their prayers? Such real examples in scripture that have come alive and I can no longer act as if I haven't seen them.

God speaking to children. God hearing little one's prayers. God anointing a youth to profound leadership.

How tired God must get of the small box I keep trying to put him in? I'm so thankful for his patient grace that not only choose me and adults, but chooses children. My children and yours.

Lord Jesus, your ways are so much higher than mine. You use the things this world considers weak and lowly to display your glory so that no one can boast. Forgive me God for when I brush my kids away and am dismissive of their thoughts and actions of you.  Continually remind me of how much you treasure childlike faith. Transform my heart and the hearts of my girls into a place where your kingdom reigns. Hallelujah that you hear my children's prayers! Open their ears that they may hear from you. You Jesus, are my and my children's righteousness, holiness and redemption. All glory, from birth to death, is yours and yours alone. 

They shall be called...

Yesterday morning my bible study took me to Matthew 5:9, a familiar passage of the beatitudes. It says this:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. 

A few things jumped out at me.

I learned long ago there is a great difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. Far too often a peacekeeper isn't really keeping the peace. So much of the time in difficult situations we mistakenly think that if we don't say anything or just let stuff lie, then all will eventually be well. And, there are times that this is appropriate, however, I wonder if more often than not, this thinking proves more toxic than beneficial. It seems to me that the fear driven, forced indifference rarely brings real peace. This type of passive, responsibility-less, void of genuine love for another usually just brings a nice big pot to stew in, that eventually boils and explodes at the first stir.

To the contrary, peace making some times looks like having a difficult conversation with humility and compassion. Peace making sometimes looks like directly ending an unhealthy relationship. Peace making sometimes means standing up and speaking the truth in love with grace. Peace making is not always the most easy way out. Peace making, I believe, is often vastly different than peace keeping.

The other thing that grabbed me was the part that says "they shall be called".  I recently was taught a new to me method of studying scripture by learning how to ask questions to hear God speak. So my question is; who is going to be doing the calling? Who is it that is going to look at a person's life and say "Whoa! This person is a peacemaker. They must belong to God!"

I think there are several answers. First, I think God sees when we are living the sometimes difficult life of peace making and says "Yes! You are mine and I will pour out my favor on you!"

I also think that our christian brothers and sisters see when we are choosing to walk in genuine love for others and recognize the truth as they see it. And then the Spirit moves in them to heap blessings on us in gifts of grace and compassion, mercy and encouragement.

But the option that I felt God really impress on me as an answer were the people that have yet to have an encounter and intimate relationship with Jesus. John 13:35 came to mind which says this: By this all people will know that you are mine, if you have love for one another all the time.

It's only in walking with Jesus that we can ever have productive, difficult conversations. It's only in being led by His Spirit that we can have healthy, growing relationships. It's only by His power we can be bold and be strong in a fruitfully lasting way.

Real love for one another.
Being a peacemaker, not a pseudo peacekeeper.
Keeping in step with Jesus.

This is a life of blessing.

This is how I want to be called.

Tangled

I read an article once about the way that some people in third world countries train elephants. These people get the elephants when they are babies and chain one leg with a big heavy chain that keeps them "caged" and unable to escape. Then when the elephant's strength is needed, the chain is loosed and the elephant is made to perform whatever task is needed. When the elephant's services are complete, the chain is replaced. Over time however, as the elephant grows, the weight of the chain is reduced slowly till eventually only a thin string is needed to keep the elephant imprisoned. The elephant's memory of the pain from early in life provides all the bondage needed to keep the elephant trapped and at the whim of the people.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you that I woke up wrestling with an issue and felt God speak to my heart to press on. There were many verses in my bible study that morning that the Lord took me to. One of them was Hebrews 12:1-2 which says this:

Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.

The timing of reading this was so cool because that very week were the final days of training enabling me to run a 15K race.  I was so encouraged as I felt God was cheering me on for my race. But the more I thought about this verse the more I began wondering what weights I needed to lay aside and what sin was clinging so closely to me and not just in a physical sense.

In training for a race, endurance is the name of the game so carrying any extra unnecessary weight of any kind just doesn't cut it. But sin that clings so closely, that one seemed a little more tricky to identify. I decided to check out a few different translations on that phrase. The Message reads "no extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins." The NIV says "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." I like both of those. After reading them is when I was reminded of the story of the elephants in captivity.

I, and so many I know, are just like those elephants. We too were born into captivity, chained by the flesh.  Taught early on to keep all "the rules" and trained to perform and act rightly. Limited freedom came when we served as we were told and when we behaved in just the right way. But as soon as the expectation was met and the obligation was kept, the chain went right back on. And we were left alone and isolated. Wondering if our work would ever be good enough or ever completed so that real freedom could be experienced.

So what is this sin that clings so closely? This parasitic transgression? This error that so easily entangles?

It's when we are looking at anything but Jesus. It's when we are rehearsing our successes and faults. It's when we are obsessing over our guilt or lack of worth.  It's when all we can do is worry. It's when the only thing we see is our lack or someone else's gain. It's when every bit of our energy and effort is going for that next new toy. It's when we think consciencely or sub consciencely that that next bite, new outfit or one more workout will finally settle us. It's what ever way we are trying to cover that nagging pain.

This sin that clings so closely, this parasitic, entangling sin is the sin of taking our eyes off Jesus. The writer of Hebrews gave us the "how to" lay down this stuff in the directions. He says: "let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ( HOW?) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God."

You and I can never be good enough. There will always be something someone can make us feel guilty or unworthy over. In the physical realm, there is forever something more to want of every fashion imaginable. Just like that grown elephant who is really only bound by a memory, the deceiver is always throwing something our way that says "Hey look over here! You don't have this! You can't have that! You'll never get this!" All things that probably early in life might have even been healthy guidelines, but somewhere, somehow became bondage. Painful chains that kept us tied up and wrapped up and bound up and able to see nothing but the memory of slavery.

But here is the good news; Jesus was good enough! And he will NEVER use guilt as a means of communication. And all the work that needed to be done to make God happy is complete, that's why he's sitting at the right hand of God. And because of the shame he despised and endured, I don't ever have to wonder any more. Wonder if he's pleased with me because I acted right or mad at me because I messed up. I never have to worry if tomorrow is gonna work out. I don't need to ever again feel like I'm missing out on something, somehow, someway.

How can this be? How do we get to that place? Where does this happen?

By looking to Jesus. The founder. The perfecter. He is the one who began a good work in us. He is the one who is going to complete it too. To look to Jesus is the very definition of faith. Where he leads is out of captivity like a mighty elephant walking out of a thin string tied to his ankle and into real freedom. Looking at him instead of our chains. Looking at him instead of our pain. Looking at him, the perfecter of faith.

You see, every race is won the same way; with eyes forward, one step at a time.

So what do you think? Ready to lay aside some baggage with me, even if it's only memories?  Ready to focus in on Jesus? He's so beautifully, transformingly perfect. He's already freed our feet and he's enabling us to follow him. Straight to the victory line.

Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.

Remember the Duck

I have mentioned before that I recently started following Pastor Tullian on twitter. He posted the following post on his blog earlier this week that I thought was so great.

This story told by my friend and former professor, Steve Brown, illustrates well the radical discrepancy between the ways in which we hold other people hostage in their sin and the unconditional forgiveness that God offers to us in Christ.

Do you remember the story about the little boy who killed his grandmother’s pet duck? He accidentally hit the duck with a rock from his slingshot. The boy didn’t think anybody saw the foul deed, so he buried the duck in the backyard and didn’t tell a soul.

Later, the boy found out that his sister had seen it all. Not only that, she now had the leverage of his secret and used it. Whenever it was the sister’s turn to wash the dishes, take out the garbage or wash the car, she would whisper in his ear, “Remember the duck.” And then the little boy would do what his sister should have done.

There is always a limit to that sort of thing. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore–he’d had it! The boy went to his grandmother and, with great fear, confessed what he had done. To his surprise, she hugged him and thanked him. She said, “I was standing at the kitchen sink and saw the whole thing. I forgave you then. I was just wondering when you were going to get tired of your sister’s blackmail and come to me.”

If he already saw and forgave you, don’t let anybody say to you, “Remember the duck.”

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:19, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” The good news of the gospel is that, for all of us who trust in the finished work of Jesus, God does not count our sins against us–he counts our sins against Christ!

Our own failure to grasp the gospel shows itself when we demand penance from those who have wronged us. Whatever offense I’ve received is infinitely smaller than the offense God has received from me. And since God has freely, fully, and unconditionally forgiven us in Christ (counting our sins against him) we should be quick and desirous to freely, fully, and unconditionally forgive.

There’s simply no better way to get people to contemplate God’s unfathomable love and grace than by granting them what he’s already granted.

Making Room

In my bible study this week there was a story that spoke to me and I wanted to share with you.

I have a hard time with change. I moved five years ago from a medium-sized town in Iowa, and have just in the last year been able to use the words I love in the same sentence as Nashville. It wasn't that I didn't like the city or enjoy the four years prior to this last one, but it was that I was here in body and in Iowa in spirit.

My husband and I are moving to a new house soon and have been purging our closets and cupboards of things we don't need or want. I was standing on the kitchen counter the other day digging through the top shelf of glasses and mugs, when I looked down at the pile of giveaways at my feet and saw two plastic juice glasses from my grandmother and a faded plastic Northern Iowa mug. I've tried to give these things away before but I couldn't bring myself  to do it because it felt like I was giving up a part of my Iowa past, a part of me.

All of the little physical things I was holding on to, like the glasses, were little metaphors of the way my heart was grabbing anything that represented home for me. Not that there is anything wrong with holding onto memorabilia, heirlooms, or things from my past. It's just that all the while I was praying that God would give deep relationships here-would give me a home here-I felt like He was ignoring that prayer. I realize now that He was just waiting for me to make room in my heart for exactly that. I'm finding that when I dwell on a memory or a tradition in an unhealthy dose, it occupies every part of my brain that could otherwise be taking in my surroundings and what God may be trying to reveal to me. There is a place for sentimentality,  But I've been a junkie, and living in the moment is a much fuller way to live. (pg 110)

Of course, we may feel grief when parting with something we enjoy, but if true conviction is present, we will begin to look at the thing as something that was taking the place of God, something that was stealing from us. As we rid it from our lives we will be hopeful with anticipation, anxious to see what God will do in this newly-created space. We will not look for loopholes. We will be resolved. We will know that we are in a position to gain, not to be stolen from any longer. (pg 70 emphases added)

Father, I want to know Thee, but my cowardly heart fears to give up it's toys.  I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus' name. Amen. (Prayer by Tozer, pg 118)

"I am well pleased"

This morning in my study time, my devotional prompted me to read Matthew 17:7. But my eyes caught this part of verse 5 first which says this: This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.

I wondered if I'm not the only one who needed to know this today. I want to encourage you in what I felt Him say to me;

In Christ, you are His MOST precious, beloved child, and with you He is well pleased! There is no need to perform, worry or be anxious. 'Rise up dear one, and have no fear.' (Matt 17:7)

He is pleased with you and I! Lets get up in the knowledge of that and leave the dismay behind! We have the approval, admiration and acceptance of the Most High. What more is there? I pray you feel His face shining on you today, you are the apple of His eye!

Come and Listen

This came in my email devotion this morning. Great reminder!

"Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me." Psalm 66:16 (NIV)

Devotion:

Kids are fighting, complaining, whining.

To-do list is calling.

Emails are begging to be responded to.

Packing for a trip needs to be done.

Instead I sit with my journal and my Bible and drink Him in. I land in Psalm 66. What do you have for me today, Father?

Psalm 66:5, "Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf." (NIV)

Psalm 66:16, "Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me." (NIV)

I begin to list the things in my journal, taking time to write out what He has done. My joy swells. The noise diminishes. My life is good, rich, full. He has brought me out to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:12, NIV).

I need this reminder, to come and see what God has done; to take notes on His goodness to me. I am so forgetful. I want to remember more than I forget. To record what He has done before I move on and leave the past in the past, as I am apt to do. Before I extend my hand, saying like a petulant child, "What have You done for me lately?" It is good to stop and remember instead of rushing into my list of needs.

This day, I will notice the abundance instead of the lack. I will see the fullness instead of the decrease. I will run my fingers across words that mark His goodness to me and whisper the most important prayer I can offer: "Thank You."

Dear Lord, let my mouth and my heart praise You. Help me to remember Your goodness, the awesome things You have done for me. I confess that I am forgetful but I don't want to be. Help me see You at work and take the time to remember. In Jesus' Name, Amen

.

"That is what God has called you to do..."

I am amazed at the greatness of my foolish pride; the shear amount of energy focused on myself and my intentions.

Last Monday night at bible study my teacher referenced the sermon on the mount and my attention was taken to the first thing Jesus says : "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

I have since been wrestling with the questions "Who are the poor in spirit? Are there rich in spirit? Will the rich in spirit then not inherit the Kingdom of heaven?"

I had the opportunity Thursday night to join my friends from The Roots Community in bible study to ask and talk out some of my thoughts. This is the conclusion I came to: the poor in spirit are those that need Jesus. That's me. That's you. That's everyone.

Here is how I got there.

Genesis 6:5 says this:

The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. (emphasis added.)

Jeremiah 17:9 says this:

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,

and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?

Psalm 53:3 says this:

Everyone has turned away,

they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

The simple truth is that I am poor in spirit.

But here is what I struggle with in my mind; God made me and in His image...so there must be something good in me right? And to be transparent, I have not settle this within my self yet.

My buddy Doug says that we have heard it suggested that man is good and it was because of that goodness that God stepped down in His compassion to save us. He also says that this is not what the scriptures teach.

So this takes me back to my pride. How foolish, vain, and blatantly arrogant for me to think so highly of myself. The truth is that I do believe these passages of scripture that show me who I am, but my thoughts and actions also prove otherwise. Because I think if I really believed that I needed Jesus the way the scriptures describe that I do, then these words of His would have more action in my life:

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:32-36

I like the way Peter sums it up:

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 1 Peter 3:8-9

Pay them back with a blessing.

How simple yet profoundly difficult to do. It is simple in light of how much energy I spend on judgement, justification, self assurance, retaliation, revenge or future avoidance. And it was brought to my attention that it is only so hard because I have not fully recognized and acknowledged that this is exactly what Christ has done for me.

He loves me when I do not love Him.

He does good to me when I do not do good to Him.

He lends to me what I cannot repay.

He is kind to me when I am unfaithful and wicked.

What a generous God . And he has called us to be generous like He is generous "so that we may take hold of the life that is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:19).

Jesus, you have blessed me and called me to be a blessing to others. I believe you, but my actions prove otherwise; help me in my unbelief. I long to take you at your word. Thank you for your grace that never condemns but always corrects. I confess to You my foolish, foolish pride; I am so poor in spirit. Help me to stop comparing myself with others but to remember the truth and greatness of my own depravity. You are the blessing.

About God

These were the final thoughts in my study this morning: (reading from Luke 2:39-52 : Jesus as a boy in the temple)

Before we close, please understand one more thing about questions and answers. In verse 48 Mary asked Christ a question. In verse 49, Christ gave her an answer. Verse 50 tells us however, that she didn't understand the answer He supplied. There you have it. Another very real possibility: we might ask Christ a question and receive and answer, though we still may not understand the answer-until later. Maybe much later.

In my opinion Christ's response was quite interesting. I've searched every Greek translation I can find and none of my resources have an original word that directly translates to house(NIV) or business(KJV). From what I can gather, a more precise translation of Christ's response might be: "Didn't you know I had to be about my Father?"

That question implies the desire of my heart more than any other I can imagine. I just want to be about God. Not about ministry. Not about my own agenda. Not about writing bible studies. Not about me at all. When all is said and done, I would give my life for people to be able to say, "She was just about God." That would be the ultimate legacy. "Not that I have already obtained this...but I press on" (Phil. 3:12)

Dear student, may we live lives that would cause others to be surprised to find us any other place than to "be found in him" (Phil3:9).

Jesus, please continue to draw me to You the way Your Father drew You to Him. I too, want to be about You.

Tender Mercy

In my study this morning I read something I wanted to share. May you too be reminded today that you are God's passion and His tender mercy is fresh for us today and every day.

Luke 1:78-79:

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.

The Greek word for tender is splagchnon, meaning, figuratively, "the inward parts indicating the breast or heart as the seat of emotions and passions." The original word for mercy is eleos, meaning "mercy, compassion, active pity ... special and immediate regard to the misery which is the consequence of sin."

God is many things: a ruling God, a righteous God, a judging God, a holy God. He is also a feeling God. Please meditate on the depth of feeling portrayed through the words tender mercy. He feels for us - not only when we are innocent victims of a depraved world. He also feels for us when we are drowning in misery as a consequence of our own sin. He who knows no sin feels for us who do.

God possesses active pity - He not only feels for us, but also He does something about it. God throws out the Lifeline to every soul drowning in the consequences of sin - we have only to be willing to grab on for dear life.

Taken from Jesus the One and Only pg 25.

A Connection

Last week Mike led worship in North Orlando and the preacher spoke on Romans 12:3-21. I jotted down a few thoughts he shared that rang out in my soul:

- A lack of humility is what causes relational stress. See vs 3.

- Do you bring peace or chaos to your relationships? See vs 18.

- If you do not pursue love, you will be overcome with evil. See vs 21. (Whoa! That's a big thought!)

And the one that struck me the most was this one;

- Pray for God's favor on people who are cruel to you. See vs 14.

The speaker paused here for a while and talked about several reasons why we are to do this and while he was talking the Lord led my mind to another verse in Romans that says it's God's kindness that leads to repentance.

And there was the connection.

When someone is ugly to you, if you ask God to be kind to them, that's what leads them to change.

This is what we see from Jesus on the cross when He said "Father forgive them." It is truly one of the opposites in His Kingdom that doesn't seem to come natural to our flesh. Our human nature wants to retaliate. To get even and payback. To show we are stronger. To have power and be in control. Our pride says we have something to prove.

But the truth of the scriptures says to not stand up to an evil person. That if someone slaps your right cheek, give the left. If you are forced to go one mile, instead go two. To relinquish our rights. To disregard the idea of fair. To forsake our selfish thoughts of entitlement. To surrender power and control.

Surrendering power and control is nearly impossible if we have the idea that we are yielding to our offender. But when we come to know who we are in Christ, and that it is Him we are entrusting all power and control to, then and only then can we realize that we don't have to prove anything nor have anything to prove. Except that our humility brings His kindness which brings their repentance which brings glory to the King - the only one who is stronger, who has power and who is worthy of being in control.

Lord Jesus, I am baffled and perplexed that in Your infinite wisdom you use the humble and lowly to demonstrate your Kingdom and love. I submit to you. You alone are wise. May I be a connection of You to those You have placed around me.

The Whole Magilla

I have just finished a 10 week in-depth study on the book of Esther and it was outstanding! Such a great study of seeing the hand of God and work when you can't see His face. A book of providence and destiny. Who knows if it was written for such a time as this?

The title of this series is It's Tough Being a Woman. We took seven scenarios about the difficulties of being a woman that Esther faced and applied them to our own lives and sought the Word for how God might turn the tables on these settings in our own lives.

We learned that it's faith that reverses the detours of adversity into highways of destiny.

Scenario #1 - over shadowed

It's tough being a woman in another womans shadow.

The Turn-Around

No body is big enough to shadow God's shadow.

Psalm 91:1 - He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Scenario #2 - underrated

It's tough being a woman in a world where beauty is a treatment. (Amen anyone??)

The Turn-Around

In man's realm, time diminishes beauty, in God's realm beauty is a destiny.

Ecclesties 3:11 -He has made everything beautiful in it's time.

Scenario #3 - overwrought

It's tough being a woman in a mean world (and not get mean with it).

The Turn-Around

In a mean world, New Testament believers are called to a good fight.

1 Timothy 1:18 -I gave you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. (Also see Eph 2:10)

Scenario #4 - under qualified

It's tough being a woman thrown a giant size weight.

The Turn-Around

Trade your weight for a weapon.

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you. (Also see Deut. 23:3-5)

Scenario #5 - under attack

It's tough being a woman in the tight fist of fear.

The Turn-Around

When you are in a tight fist of fear, remember you're in something much tighter.

Isaiah 49:16 - See I have engraved you in the palm of my hands. (Also see Ps 13910)

Scenario #6 - over anxious

It's tough being a woman who can balance passion with patience.

The Turn-Around

God's patience always involves His passion.

Isaiah 30:18 - Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.

Scenarios #7 - over responsible

It's tough being a woman who feels responsible for the "how."

The Turn-Around

The Lord knows how.

2 Peter 2:9 -The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement. (Also see Ps 103:14)

Whew, isn't our God amazing?? Praise his name, He not only gives us an answer for our struggles, He is the answer! He is into the business of reversal of destines and is working in every detail. His providence cancels out every coincidence and in Christ all's well that ends well becase He emphatically does all things well.

Our study appropriately ended with this verse: "God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes" (Psalm 18:24 - The Message)

It's the first again...

...and I am back on Facebook! Yea!! I have missed seeing what's going on in my friends lives!

It is also time for my next verse. I am once again going to learn the same verse my teacher is:

I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me, Psalm 57:2 NIV

I'm so glad He doesn't give up on me! Aren't you?

Hey, I was thinking, wanna join me in memorizing some scripture? We have half the year left - it's a great time to get started!

What verse would you like to memorize?

What will you choose?

You have a choice today.

• You can choose to be stressed, or to rest in His peace
• You can choose to be sad or to be happy.
• You can choose to worry or to have faith.
• You can choose to look at how big your mountains are or to look at how big your God is.
• You can choose to be positive or to be negative.
• You can choose to love or to be selfish.

The choice is yours.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19

It's the 15th...

...and I love the verses that my teacher has chosen to memorize this time:

"I have resolved that my mouth will not sin." Psalm 17:3b NIV

"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3 NIV

I have prayed the 2nd one over myself so many times but I didn't know where it was in Scripture. And now in light of some recent personal events, these verses seem so much more important. Proverbs 18:21 says that life and death are in the power of the tongue.

My teacher closed out with these (piercing to me) thoughts:

Perhaps you'll be able to tell from my selection this time that I am, once again, working on something in particular. I'm not just looking to memorize, Sister. I'm looking to change. Scripture memory alone will just make you arrogant. Lapping up those Scriptures like they are the only spring in your desert will make you different.

Jesus, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you. I know that you despise a prideful heart. That is not who I want to be. Please make me different.

Oh, yes, He Loves Me

This is a stolen blog segment from the LPM blog that I read. You can check out the whole blog post here. I thought this was really powerful and worth sharing. It seems all to easily I forget who I am and need to be reminded. Maybe I'm not alone in that.

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but he is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

For the Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me!

He who died

Heaven’s gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

For the Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me

He will stay close beside me all the way

He’s prepared a home for me

And someday his face I’ll see.

Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.

Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.

He loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

For the Bible tells me so.

Pretty powerful, right? Perhaps we skipped a couple of those verses in kindergarten because I don’t remember the song being all that weighty. Maybe I was too busy eating a donut. The donuts were my favorite thing about Sunday school growing up. Yes, I was sinful at birth. The first line I love is “little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong”. I like to think of "little ones" not just as young children but as you and me. I figure I have some license since in the gospel of John, Jesus addresses grown men as “little children” (John 13:33; 21:5 “children”). Lately I’ve been reading a lot about being called children of God and what the implications of this reality are during our earthly journey. This past week I came across a sermon by John Piper in April 1995 called “The Depth of Christ’s Love: Its Lavish Benefits”. He comments on this text, 1 John 3:1 and I think you’ll enjoy reading it. I was most moved by the second half.

“Not only did it cost him his Son to save us from sin and death and hell and not only were we enemies so that God had to propitiate his own righteous anger in order to save us but he went way beyond the love of rescue and the love of sacrifice and the love of clemency to his enemies. In and through all this he had a greater design. He showed us another kind of love beyond all that. He might have rescued us, sacrificed for us, forgiven us, and not gone any further. But instead he showed us another kind of love—he took us into his family. He made us to be called children of God. Don't take this for granted. First of all, he might not have saved us at all. He might have said, "Enemies don't deserve saving, and that's that." He might have said, "My Son is too precious to pay for angels, let alone humans, let alone ungodly, rebellious humans." But he also might have said, "I will save them from hell, and forgive their sins, and give them eternal existence—on another planet, and I will communicate with them through angels." Nothing in us, or in the nature of the world required that God would go beyond all redeeming, forgiving, rescuing, healing love to this extreme—namely, to an adopting love. A love that will not settle for a truce, or a formal gratitude, or distant planet of material pleasure, but will press all the way in to make you a child of God. A member of the family. But even that is not an adequate description of this kind of love. When John writes about our becoming children of God, he is not thinking mainly in terms of adoption. He is thinking in terms of something more profound. He is thinking of new birth. There is no human analogy to this…The love that John has in view here in 1 John 3:1 is not the love that merely takes care of paper work and adopts. That would be amazing beyond words—to be adopted into God's family. And Paul does describe it this way. But John sees more. God does not adopt. He moves in, by his Spirit, his seed, John calls it, and imparts something of himself to us, so that we take on a family resemblance" (John Piper).

Being called a child of God is not just a metaphor.

It is who we are.

Regardless of how self-sufficient we imagine ourselves to be.

Or how old we are.

Our Father is close beside us all the way.

In our darkest and loneliest hours.

Long after our earthly parents are gone.

During a string of seemingly endless doctor’s appointments.

And at the moment we draw our very last breath.

In Christ, we are never truly orphaned.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

That we should be called children of God.

What a wonder.

May you be reminded of who you are today.

The "One Anothers"

I have been wanting to write this post for some time, but I'm so good at excuses. Alas here it is.

I have mentioned several times about reading this book and I am really enjoying it. I think no matter how long I've been married, it's always good to be reminded of the basics. There is no earthly relationship of more value to me than the one with my man.

There is a list of verses in the study portion of this book that I want to share. Since the book is about marriage, of coarse the author means for them to be directed toward my spouse, but really, they are about anyone you find yourself in relationship with.

The following are from the NIV translation.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."

1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another.

Jesus, help to treat the others in my life in the ways You have instructed me. Help me to remember how gracious, loving and patient You are with me. May I be an extension of You to the others You have placed in my life.

A Lesson in Community

I find it so easy to be selfish. It is so easy to be consumed with me, my world and my agenda. Not that I don't consider others, but certainly not to the degree that I'm concerned with myself. I think this is why Jesus gave us the instructions to love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Ouch! That really is a lot of love for my neighbor. Do I really want to love others that much? Hmm.

I have had several conversations lately about community. In fact I was sharing with someone how a third person just seems to not engage in a particular setting. I stated that I had been trying to persuade and encourage this third person to jump in but to no avail. I felt like I had been trying and trying and was just about done trying. My thought process being; at some point, you have to take responsibility for yourself. There comes a time when I can't keep pulling you in.

When I shared these thoughts my friend said to me; "Why? Why does there have to be that time? Why would you draw a line that says I will only go this far for you? Why would you stop tyring to engage this person you care about? What if the very time you gave up was going to be the time they engaged and you missed it?"

Great questions. It made me think, "Why do I do that? Why do I get lazy with people? Why do I give up? Why is there a line that would define the end of my love or at the very least my actions?"

Selfishness in full display.

Fast forward to another conversation with a girlfriend who is going through a most difficult time right now. She opened up the littlest bit to me and my heart began to break for her. Having no words or wisdom to offer, I quickly prayed for her and just asked Jesus to hold her and to draw her near. She said something to me that really impacted me. She said "Sometimes we can't get to Him on our own and need our friends to carry us like the paralytic."

The Lord taught me a lesson last year I will not soon forget about realizing that we never really know where people are and what they are going through. I had no idea the depth of my friend's pain and probably will never fully understand. I was so honored that she would open up to me like that. It was a privilege to pray for her and to use her words; "to carry her to Him". It really was all I could do.

So this morning as I was pondering all these thoughts I looked up the passage of the paralytic my friend referred to. You can read the whole passage here. What jumped out to me was verse 5. It says that when Jesus saw their faith he healed the paralytic. It was someone else's faith that brought healing to this lame man. That's a pretty heavy thought. Someone else's life might be changed because of my faith.

How could I be so quick to judge and abandon my first mentioned friend that is clearly paralyzed to opening up? Jesus may very well be waiting for someone with faith to bring this person to Him so He can bring instant healing. I want to be that faith filled friend. I want to have a front row seat to watch the miracle. I want the joy of seeing my friend restored.

Jesus, how patient you are with me and how slow I am to get the big picture! Thank you for your grace. It is amazing! Thank you for my friends you have given me. Thank you for the opportunity to love and be loved. Teach me faithfulness as you are faithful. Help me to love like You love - sacrificially and selflessly. I am such a mess. How amazing that You would use me to bring healing to others. Thank you for Your amazing love that first carried my paralyzed self to Your Father. I can only love because YOU first loved me! Take me to the end of myself.

Only One Thing

Yesterday I had some time to reflect and I was looking back over the past 8 or 10 months of my life. I was just thinking about what we have been doing and where we are in life right now. It seems like these most recent weeks have been filled with so much stress, aggravation and frustration.

So while I was reflecting, I asked God, "What's the deal? How come I don't feel like I am hearing You the way I was not so long ago?"

I felt the Lord say to me "Rachel, Rachel."

That was all I needed. My mind was immediately take to the passage of scripture where Jesus is in Martha's home. Martha is in the kitchen cookin' up a storm! ( And who could blame her, it's not like Jesus traveled alone, and who knows how much advance notice she had!) And Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus hanging on every word that falls from His lips.

In the meantime, Martha has had just about all she can take and she comes and wants Jesus to reprimand her sister for being lazy and not helping out. Oh, how many times do I want Jesus to scold someone in my life because of the work I see in front of me that needs to be done!

But Jesus doesn't respond quite how Martha was expecting. He lovingly says, Martha, sweet Martha, You're right! You are stressed! But Mary has found the only thing that needs attention right now.

I knew immediately Jesus was saying to me; "Your right! You are stressed and worried about many things." And of coarse He's right. We have taken a small break from school for the summer and I have managed to fill up that time with lots of other worries and neglected my time at His feet.

So here I am again, amazed at how easily I get thrown off track and distracted. There really is work to be done in my kitchen. There are people here who are expecting a meal soon. And from my limited perspective, just like Martha, that meal feels like all that matters.

But I see now that when I have not set at His feet enough to be filled and refilled with Him, catching His every word, my thought process goes very awry. Some weird sense of worth rises up as if my service to Him is worthy of more attention than He Himself, and my God given responsibilities become chores of obligation instead of opportunities for acts of worship.

Here is the passage of scripture from the New Living Translation:

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 38-42

Thank you Jesus that You really do come into my home. You are so welcome here! I truly am so honored to serve You. Thank you for your patience with me as I so easily get upset and worried and distracted from Your presence. Forgive me for my pride, wrong thinking and judgemental attitude. Who am I that You are mindful of me? Help me too, to find the only thing worth being concerned about. I don't want to miss another word You speak.