Monday, July 20, 2009
thought
To struggle--that is, to allow a "little bit" of sin, to be cautious with ourselves, tolerant of a certain amount of plain disobedience, is to try to keep both eyes. (If it is your eye that is your undoing, tear it out and fling it away; it is better to enter into life with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell" Matthew 5:29)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
I am learning to wait...
Waiting for God's Time
11 Samuel 2:1-11
Second Samuel 2 opens with these words: "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron" (v. 1).
David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him. But we will surely suffer if we take things into our own hands and rush blindly ahead.
The word "Hebron" means "alliance" or "communion" in contrast to Ziklag, which refers to self-will. Being allied with God and being in communion with Him, David was in a place to be led in the will of God.
David's reign began by reigning first over Judah. It was not necessary for David to take the throne; God saw that he received it. God moved him back to Hebron, and his own tribe anointed him king.
Seven and a half years went by, however, before the whole kingdom was put under his hand. David still had to wait, but it was God's time he was waiting for, not people's.
"There is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Eccles. 3:17).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Could the 7.5 years be a significant time frame for me as well?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do You Want an Answer?
This is the question we need to ask ourselves when we are seeking "solutions" to our problems. Often we want only an audience. We want the chance to air grievances, to present our excuses, to make an explanation for our behavior, rather than a cure. More often than not the clearest and most direct answer can be found in the Word, but it must be sought honestly.
"The way of the Lord gives refuge to the honest man, but dismays those who do evil" (Prv. 10:29 NEB).
We can approach God's word with a will to obey whatever it says to us about our present situation, or we can avoid it and say to anyone who would try to point us to it, "Don't throw the Book at me." The latter is an evasion, which supports our suspicion that our problems are, in fact, insoluble. The honest (i.e., humble) heart will indeed find the Lord's way to be a refuge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I do want answers; however, I am content to to wait on the Lord and on His perfect timing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holy Spirit, enable your kindness to take root and flourish in me. Make me more like Jesus, who, though he was rich, was willing to become poor for my sake. In his name, Amen.
11 Samuel 2:1-11
Second Samuel 2 opens with these words: "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron" (v. 1).
David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him. But we will surely suffer if we take things into our own hands and rush blindly ahead.
The word "Hebron" means "alliance" or "communion" in contrast to Ziklag, which refers to self-will. Being allied with God and being in communion with Him, David was in a place to be led in the will of God.
David's reign began by reigning first over Judah. It was not necessary for David to take the throne; God saw that he received it. God moved him back to Hebron, and his own tribe anointed him king.
Seven and a half years went by, however, before the whole kingdom was put under his hand. David still had to wait, but it was God's time he was waiting for, not people's.
"There is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Eccles. 3:17).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Could the 7.5 years be a significant time frame for me as well?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do You Want an Answer?
This is the question we need to ask ourselves when we are seeking "solutions" to our problems. Often we want only an audience. We want the chance to air grievances, to present our excuses, to make an explanation for our behavior, rather than a cure. More often than not the clearest and most direct answer can be found in the Word, but it must be sought honestly.
"The way of the Lord gives refuge to the honest man, but dismays those who do evil" (Prv. 10:29 NEB).
We can approach God's word with a will to obey whatever it says to us about our present situation, or we can avoid it and say to anyone who would try to point us to it, "Don't throw the Book at me." The latter is an evasion, which supports our suspicion that our problems are, in fact, insoluble. The honest (i.e., humble) heart will indeed find the Lord's way to be a refuge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I do want answers; however, I am content to to wait on the Lord and on His perfect timing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holy Spirit, enable your kindness to take root and flourish in me. Make me more like Jesus, who, though he was rich, was willing to become poor for my sake. In his name, Amen.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
today...
Lord, may no gift of yours ever take your place in my heart. Help me to hold them lightly in an open palm, that the supreme object of my desire may always be You and You alone. Purify my heart--I want to love You purely.
Monday, July 13, 2009
for today..
How Long Will This Last?
A couple years ago I shared my experience of enduring a spiritual storm, a crisis of faith. Since then I've had the privilege of corresponding with numerous precious saints who are enduring similar storms.
A common experience is that after the initial blast of the storm, it often takes a long time to regain a sense of spiritual equilibrium. A friend wrote me recently essentially asking me how long it will take to "get past this" to feeling normal again. I thought I would share my response to him in case others of you are finding yourselves asking, "How Long, O Lord" (Ps. 90:13)
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
Grace be with all of you who are struggling now.
A couple years ago I shared my experience of enduring a spiritual storm, a crisis of faith. Since then I've had the privilege of corresponding with numerous precious saints who are enduring similar storms.
A common experience is that after the initial blast of the storm, it often takes a long time to regain a sense of spiritual equilibrium. A friend wrote me recently essentially asking me how long it will take to "get past this" to feeling normal again. I thought I would share my response to him in case others of you are finding yourselves asking, "How Long, O Lord" (Ps. 90:13)
Thank you for the update. Yes, I remember well. I would say it took me a good year from the time I experienced an initial breakthrough until I really felt my spiritual equilibrium was more "normal." Changing metaphors, if the initial crisis was a massive earthquake, I felt aftershocks for a long time. And some were strong.
My experience is that God brings deliverance from these things gradually. Because his purpose is to strengthen faith and character. A different analogy: it is similar to endurance and strength training. It's the adversity of the struggle that builds spiritual understanding, muscle, and endurance. And it generally takes longer and is more difficult and painful than we imagine at first.
One last analogy. Remember Frodo in The Lord of the Rings? He is stabbed with the Mordor blade of the wraith king on Weathertop. It almost kills him. But thanks to the divine healing gift of Elrond the elf lord, the evil poison is removed. However, for the rest of his life, Frodo still sometimes feels the icy pain in the scar.
It's like that with such wounding as you and I have experienced. I still feel the icy pain occasionally in the scar. But it has become a reminder of grace and a reminder to set my hope on God and his promises. It is a reminder that I walk by faith and not sight.
I will pray for you. The Lord will not forsake you. It is he who will get you past this. Keep following Jesus who endured Gethsemane, the trial, the scourging, the cross, and death for you.
He showed you that sometimes the path of faith takes you through indescribably deep darkness. He is not asking you to endure what he has not already endured—and infinitely worse. And he showed that you can trust the Father, whose will sometimes is that you drink a cup you really wish you didn't have to drink.
But it's only because there is joy unspeakable and full of glory for those who do.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
Grace be with all of you who are struggling now.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thought that made me go, "hmmmmmmm".
The Society of International Law in London recently reported a startling statistic: the world has been at peace for less than 8 percent of its history. The study stated that in the past 3,530 years, there have been only 286 years of peace. Over the same time period, more than 8,000 peace treaties have been made—and broken.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
today...
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him" (Ps. 62:5).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wait Quietly
Few of us enjoy having to wait for something we want. It is human nature to desire instant gratification, and it is divine nature to do many things very, very slowly. Growth is always imperceptible. But the farmer exercises long patience in waiting for his crop. He has done his work and is assured of the result, hence he waits quietly. He is at rest because the outcome (barring disastrous "acts of God") is certain. If we could simply remember that this is true of everything--that God's purposes are slowly being worked out for his glory and our good--we would, like the farmer, keep faith and wait quietly.
Lord, take from us all fretting and hurrying and teach us to rest our hearts in the "ultimate certainty" (Jas 5:7 JBP).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOY FROM WITHIN
Scripture Reading: Psalm 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Psalm 126:2
Joy is often confused with happiness. Happiness depends on our outward circumstances—how things are going in our jobs, our relationships, or our health, for example. But joy isn’t dependent on the weather, or on our weight, or on our bank accounts. Joy is a quality of the spiritual fruit (love) that grows within us.
Psalm 126 was written at a difficult time in the -history of God’s people. They had been released from exile in Babylon, and as the people returned to their homeland, they found it in ruins. Jerusalem had been destroyed, and their temple had been flattened. Enemies still surrounded them on every side.
It’s no wonder that as they journeyed home, they prayed, “Restore our fortunes, LORD.”
Despite the people’s circumstances, however, their “mouths were filled with laughter” and their “tongues with songs of joy.” Why? Because they had determined to be joyful.
Centuries later, the apostle Paul wrote to Christian believers in Philippi, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). God’s people returning to the land of Israel after exile had learned the same lesson. Happiness may depend on the condition of our outward lives, but joy is something the Spirit grows within us, reflecting God’s unfailing love.
Prayer:
Father, grant me a sense of joy that does not depend on circumstances. Cultivate an inner joy that reflects your love within me, and help me to share it with others. In Jesus, Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is all so timely right now.
Anyone get the feeling/idea that God is trying to tell me something?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wait Quietly
Few of us enjoy having to wait for something we want. It is human nature to desire instant gratification, and it is divine nature to do many things very, very slowly. Growth is always imperceptible. But the farmer exercises long patience in waiting for his crop. He has done his work and is assured of the result, hence he waits quietly. He is at rest because the outcome (barring disastrous "acts of God") is certain. If we could simply remember that this is true of everything--that God's purposes are slowly being worked out for his glory and our good--we would, like the farmer, keep faith and wait quietly.
Lord, take from us all fretting and hurrying and teach us to rest our hearts in the "ultimate certainty" (Jas 5:7 JBP).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOY FROM WITHIN
Scripture Reading: Psalm 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Psalm 126:2
Joy is often confused with happiness. Happiness depends on our outward circumstances—how things are going in our jobs, our relationships, or our health, for example. But joy isn’t dependent on the weather, or on our weight, or on our bank accounts. Joy is a quality of the spiritual fruit (love) that grows within us.
Psalm 126 was written at a difficult time in the -history of God’s people. They had been released from exile in Babylon, and as the people returned to their homeland, they found it in ruins. Jerusalem had been destroyed, and their temple had been flattened. Enemies still surrounded them on every side.
It’s no wonder that as they journeyed home, they prayed, “Restore our fortunes, LORD.”
Despite the people’s circumstances, however, their “mouths were filled with laughter” and their “tongues with songs of joy.” Why? Because they had determined to be joyful.
Centuries later, the apostle Paul wrote to Christian believers in Philippi, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). God’s people returning to the land of Israel after exile had learned the same lesson. Happiness may depend on the condition of our outward lives, but joy is something the Spirit grows within us, reflecting God’s unfailing love.
Prayer:
Father, grant me a sense of joy that does not depend on circumstances. Cultivate an inner joy that reflects your love within me, and help me to share it with others. In Jesus, Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is all so timely right now.
Anyone get the feeling/idea that God is trying to tell me something?
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
For today..
Discerning the Will of God
The primary condition for learning what God wants of us is putting ourselves wholly at his disposal. It is just here that we are often blocked. We hold certain reservations about how far we are willing to go, what we will or will not do, how much God can have of us or of what we treasure. Then we pray for guidance. It will not work. We must begin by laying it all down--ourselves, our treasures, our destiny. Then we are in a position to think with renewed minds and act with a transformed nature. The withholding of any part of ourselves is the same as saying, "Thy will be done up to a point, mine from there on."
Paul gives four important steps to discerning the will of God:
1. "Offer your very selves to Him,"
2. "Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world."
3. "Let your minds be remade."
4. "Your whole nature transformed."
"Then you will be able to discern the will of God" (Rom 12:1,2 NEB).
The primary condition for learning what God wants of us is putting ourselves wholly at his disposal. It is just here that we are often blocked. We hold certain reservations about how far we are willing to go, what we will or will not do, how much God can have of us or of what we treasure. Then we pray for guidance. It will not work. We must begin by laying it all down--ourselves, our treasures, our destiny. Then we are in a position to think with renewed minds and act with a transformed nature. The withholding of any part of ourselves is the same as saying, "Thy will be done up to a point, mine from there on."
Paul gives four important steps to discerning the will of God:
1. "Offer your very selves to Him,"
2. "Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world."
3. "Let your minds be remade."
4. "Your whole nature transformed."
"Then you will be able to discern the will of God" (Rom 12:1,2 NEB).
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Happy Birthday Walkman!
An interesting article on a 13 year olds first encounter with an iPod. Clicky Link! (really, you should click the link and check out the article)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
More Jilli fun!
Click here, come on...you know you want to!
(I love her jacket! I'd love one like it. Maybe in purple and black, black and white, red and black, royal and black or pink and black.)
(I love her jacket! I'd love one like it. Maybe in purple and black, black and white, red and black, royal and black or pink and black.)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Proverbs 27:1???
I got a message that on this day, God wants me to know...
... that I cannot wait anymore.
The moment has finally come. I have no choice. I have to take that step now. Now. Not tomorrow, not in an hour, - Now! If anyone else is reading this, they would be confused. But not me. I know exactly what we mean. Do it. Now.
... that I cannot wait anymore.
The moment has finally come. I have no choice. I have to take that step now. Now. Not tomorrow, not in an hour, - Now! If anyone else is reading this, they would be confused. But not me. I know exactly what we mean. Do it. Now.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Something to remember...
Humans learn only by trial and error, and that includes me.
I've got to live life, not think about it. Step into the midst of things, try and fail and learn and stand up again. The question is not whether I will or will not make mistakes - I will. The question is do I want to learn and grow, or do I want to shrink back and be stuck? Take that step I've been avoiding. I can succeed, or I can get feedback that it didn't work, but in either case I am sure to feel alive.
I've got to live life, not think about it. Step into the midst of things, try and fail and learn and stand up again. The question is not whether I will or will not make mistakes - I will. The question is do I want to learn and grow, or do I want to shrink back and be stuck? Take that step I've been avoiding. I can succeed, or I can get feedback that it didn't work, but in either case I am sure to feel alive.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Gothic Charm School
Congratulations, Jilli!
Here is the latest interview from Evening Magazine. Today is also the release for Jilli's book! I wish I could have been at the book release in Seattle today.
(edited to add: UPS delivered my copy at 1:38 pm on June 24)
Here is the latest interview from Evening Magazine. Today is also the release for Jilli's book! I wish I could have been at the book release in Seattle today.
(edited to add: UPS delivered my copy at 1:38 pm on June 24)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Answer to prayer???
I got a message that on this day, God wants me to know...
... that God has an important purpose for me, and made everything possible for me to succeed.
That's not to say it's an easy purpose, or a convenient one. It might very well seem hard or even impossible, but it only looks that way. The truth is that one day I will look back and see how all the pieces fit together. And how my life has been a complete and utter success.
(from Facebook)
This is something I'm struggling with right now.
... that God has an important purpose for me, and made everything possible for me to succeed.
That's not to say it's an easy purpose, or a convenient one. It might very well seem hard or even impossible, but it only looks that way. The truth is that one day I will look back and see how all the pieces fit together. And how my life has been a complete and utter success.
(from Facebook)
This is something I'm struggling with right now.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Something to ponder...
I got a message that on this day, God wants me to know...
that decision is only wishful thinking until you take that first irreversible step.
I can tell myself that I have already decided, that nothing now can stop me, but if that step backwards is so much safer than step forwards, what will hold me true to my path when the going gets tough? Sometimes, the right thing to do is to take that first irreversible step, the one after which my cannot go back. And right now, for me, is one of those times.
(from facebook)
that decision is only wishful thinking until you take that first irreversible step.
I can tell myself that I have already decided, that nothing now can stop me, but if that step backwards is so much safer than step forwards, what will hold me true to my path when the going gets tough? Sometimes, the right thing to do is to take that first irreversible step, the one after which my cannot go back. And right now, for me, is one of those times.
(from facebook)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thoughts from a blog...
The real point of Peter Parker's journey, the real crux of the whole great power = great responsibility equation is that we don't always choose great power - or moderate power or a modicum of internet fame or anything like that. Sometimes, our lives happen and we don't really know how we got where we wound up because we weren't consciously working to that point but that is where we are now and, hey, it's time to deal with it, Marianne.
Thanks onceupon!
Thanks onceupon!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
thoughts
I got a message that on this day, He wants me to know...that faith is exactly what it takes to get through uncertainty.
Faith is not necessary when I know how things are going to work out, - that's knowledge. It's in the time of unknowing that having faith is what sees me through to the other side. Faith is what gives me strength. Faith is that light in my heart that keeps on shining even when it's all darkness outside. Now is the time to keep that faith alive!
(from Facebook)
Faith is not necessary when I know how things are going to work out, - that's knowledge. It's in the time of unknowing that having faith is what sees me through to the other side. Faith is what gives me strength. Faith is that light in my heart that keeps on shining even when it's all darkness outside. Now is the time to keep that faith alive!
(from Facebook)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
thoughts
I got a message that on this day, God wants me to know...
... that it is time to finally forgive myself.
I've carried the guilt, the shame for long enough. I've kept your wounds open for long enough. The time has to come to let go, to heal. Keep the lessons and let the pain heal.
... that it is time to finally forgive myself.
I've carried the guilt, the shame for long enough. I've kept your wounds open for long enough. The time has to come to let go, to heal. Keep the lessons and let the pain heal.
From today's devotions
WAITING FOR JESUS
Scripture Reading: Mark 5:21-43
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Mark 5:36
In an emergency room, if a doctor treats a patient with a nosebleed while another patient with a heart attack goes unattended and dies, that doctor is in trouble. If a police officer chases someone for speeding but ignores a bank robbery, that officer could face discipline.
Some situations call for immediate attention, while others can wait. Yet in our story today Jesus seems to delay an urgent case to deal with a less-important one.
Jesus was approached by a man named Jairus, whose daughter was at the point of death. He pleaded with Jesus to come immediately to his house and heal her. Along the way, a serious—but less urgent—situation arose. A woman who had been sick for 12 years touched Jesus and was healed. He stopped and asked, “Who touched me?” At first no one responded. But then the woman, trembling with fear, told what had happened.
Then, while Jesus was still speaking to the woman, word came that Jairus’s daughter had died. Jairus must have had feelings of anguish, confusion, and perhaps anger. Why had Jesus let that woman delay him?
Can you relate to this? Maybe you have waited for Jesus to help you, but it seemed never to happen. Remember: Jesus is never late. He is always on time— but it’s always in his time, and his timing is best. Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter to life—to the glory of God.
Prayer:
Lord, give me faith and patience when I am tested to tears and perhaps even anguish. Help me to know that your timing is best- and God will be glorified. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Mark 5:21-43
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Mark 5:36
In an emergency room, if a doctor treats a patient with a nosebleed while another patient with a heart attack goes unattended and dies, that doctor is in trouble. If a police officer chases someone for speeding but ignores a bank robbery, that officer could face discipline.
Some situations call for immediate attention, while others can wait. Yet in our story today Jesus seems to delay an urgent case to deal with a less-important one.
Jesus was approached by a man named Jairus, whose daughter was at the point of death. He pleaded with Jesus to come immediately to his house and heal her. Along the way, a serious—but less urgent—situation arose. A woman who had been sick for 12 years touched Jesus and was healed. He stopped and asked, “Who touched me?” At first no one responded. But then the woman, trembling with fear, told what had happened.
Then, while Jesus was still speaking to the woman, word came that Jairus’s daughter had died. Jairus must have had feelings of anguish, confusion, and perhaps anger. Why had Jesus let that woman delay him?
Can you relate to this? Maybe you have waited for Jesus to help you, but it seemed never to happen. Remember: Jesus is never late. He is always on time— but it’s always in his time, and his timing is best. Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter to life—to the glory of God.
Prayer:
Lord, give me faith and patience when I am tested to tears and perhaps even anguish. Help me to know that your timing is best- and God will be glorified. Amen.
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