Faith isn't really faith till it's believing in the dark. When the fog closes in, and almost pushes the air out of your lungs, and you still believe like Job. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
It's saying Hallelujah and Praise the Lord long before the answer comes. It's believing He is good, He is involved and He cares enough to even be working behind my back for something amazing yet to come.
It's celebrating Christmas when you feel like being a Grinch.
It's holding on to hope for a situation when you would rather let go and never become tethered to this whatever it is again.
It's saying Thank you for all the hard things because you believe that hardness can not last longer then Eternal joy and life. Thank you for the hard days as much as the good days.
I observed some illustrations from the candle holder nativity set I have. In front, I'd set a candle as a symbol of my own life and surrender to His story. It burned out long before any other candle. Just like that, the real Story of course Christmas has been around much longer than I have and will continue to draw people to God long after I am gone. My short lived life and all the hard things of it are but small moments in light of Eternity. Does any of the drama even matter in light of the eternal?The last of the 3 candles to burn out of the Nativity set was the central part of the story. Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It's hard to stay Grinchish when you realize that the Story this nativity set symbolizes happened in ordinary, unassuming ways, yet it was powerful enough to save the whole world when the time was right. All the ordinary things I might grumble about may just be the route that leads to something extraordinary. If this Central Story of the Bible is an example for the way God normally works, we are in good company.
So if life has handed you a set of circumstances that makes you feel like being a grumpy Grinch, choose faith anyway. Choose to praise anyway. Choose to cling to hope in spite of you name it. It seems God gets more glory from the bedraggled Grinch who chooses to believe then from the prosperous choir members who sing His praise regularly.
Go ahead... Believe Him anyway.
You see, the Story didn't end with Christmas. It continued to Easter, and still isn't finished. But let's take a look at that very bad day when Jesus died on the Cross. God called it Good Friday, but I doubt the people who were there would have thought anything was good about it. The light went out, and there was utter darkness that day. But it was Good, really Good. The story wasn't over. What happened in the dark, was what changed the world forever. If there never would have been a really dark day, there never would have been a transforming burst of Light. We would be stuck in perpetual hopelessness.
Back to Christmas. We celebrate it in the winter, the darkest and coldest time of the year. We turn on the lights to remember that in the darkest hour, after 400 years of darkness, the Light came. Jesus didn't come in a time that was merry and bright. He came when times were hard to illuminate the darkness.
So celebrate anyway. The way to Merry and Bright started in the dark.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
Body Guards
When you need security agents in life, what do you run to? When you are weak and vulnerable and broken, how do you cope?
I’ve noticed there are some similarities between the honor/shame culture of other religious world views that have crept in and taken an unspoken presence among us in the pews. We believe we are totally changed when Jesus saves us at the beginning but somewhere we forget the sanctification process in our life formula. We are brow beat into looking right and acting above reproach on the outside cause we never fully wrestled with the whole “changing from glory to glory” process that continues till we die. We acknowledge we are human, yet we have no room for human error.
The masks, coping mechanisms and self protection stuff we turn to probably have as many variables as there are humans. Some cut others down while others play the really nice personality.
Mine has been “busy doing good things” till I could vomit. Sometimes I wish someone would just tell me I’ve done enough. I don’t need to do anything anymore to prove my worth. Truth is, I don’t. But in a world of masks where everyone is rushing around trying to prove something, lies run more rampant then truth does. Not that it changes the truth, but in a world where people believe more lies then truth, it’s infinitely harder to believe truth.
But the spaces to process and be real are so few for those of us who have done so much good that we are put on a pedestal and not allowed to admit our humanity. The people pleaser inside knows what others expect, and so I die inside trying to please them all, and keep the masks in place. The vibes I pick up tell me that I am not alone in this. My style of it might be very different then yours, but every single of our relationships is affected in some way by our “isms.”
Even if I included a lot of questions for discussion on this blog, and honestly do welcome insights and conversation, I am afraid that there will be an odd silence, cause this is one of the “Annah” or “GringI” things in our culture that they have a word for in Asia, but English somehow has no term for. The term contains a bit of fear, shame, people pleasing, won’t talk about it to your face, or let you see how upset it makes me type of situation. We have these kinds of circumstances, but we don’t have a term for it that I know of.
So while the problem happens in relationships and we learn how to deal with it by being in relationships, let’s just talk about this a little.
Did you notice our prayer meetings center around sick people and safe topics? How do you break the ice? I’m not suggesting we tell all to everyone, but let’s keep it real with a group. I read recently that you should have at least 5 friends who will be there no matter what.
Have you noticed that it seems just a bit easier to say things as they are if conversation contributors are all male? Men just say it how it is. And they tend to not have connection drama. I don’t know for sure why this is, but I am willing to speculate. Men gossip for free, women don’t. When I have worked in a mostly male environment, I tend to be more knowledgeable about the community then when I don’t. Maybe that’s just happenstance, but I reflect back over 3 entirely different work experiences where most co-workers were men, there was less drama and better relationships in general. (and free information) Why is this? I think this thing of women being quiet has turned us ladies into sneaking cats who hunt mice so we can tease other cats with our catch. If you know anything about cat and dog theology, you know anything feline isn’t a good thing. I got bit by gossip a long time ago, and ever since have avoided anyone who has a hint of the smell of gossip. I will be honest, I didn’t connect with a whole bunch of my regular contacts anymore because too many of my own relationships used to center around this. So is gossip the main reason I struggle to connect and be real with people? No, but I think something in whatever the motive(s) is that women do this “mice hunting” thing, there is a root for this thing of not being open, vulnerable and authentic. Gender differences aside in relationships, it’s an interesting thing to observe how we complement and antagonize each other as men and women. I think the real root is found in the first few chapters of Genesis. We aren't who we were created to be.
A teacher once said that we learn more through suffering than through happiness. I pushed back at that, but the longer time goes on, the more I have to agree. Take an honest look at your life. When did you grow the most, and what were the circumstances surrounding it?
So if we all exponentially grow more through pain, why don't we support each other better through it, and acknowledge that we all need to tried by fire and floods to become real saints?
So what would it look like to have a right perspective on continuing sanctification?
What if we took all our suffering and affliction as a light weight lifting exercise so we could become even more gloriously handsome?
What if we just embraced the process of our beautification?
What if we found a deep enough security in Christ that we weren’t flustered by the messiness of our own redemption in remodeling mode?
How we answer those questions will direct us in how real we are when we are burned out, struggling or in over our heads in a trial. I believe the God who loves us while we are still in our sins, loves us through the whole process. When I believe His love, the rest of my life falls into proper perspective.
Regardless of what all the potential causes are that keep us from connection and being soul authentic with each other, let's not forget that we are in a battle. Together we are stronger, and the enemy knows that. Don't let him use anything to destroy you.
We could continue this conversation and add all our fears and failures, but the moral of the story is to get offline, off whatever life stage you act on, and be real with your people around you. It's a messy but worthwhile learning curve to live without body guards.
My current reading list:
Undefended by Daniel Bush
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Some thoughts in this blog should be credited to these authors.
Other credit goes to the friends who are brave enough to discuss these topics.
The journey is not over...
I’ve noticed there are some similarities between the honor/shame culture of other religious world views that have crept in and taken an unspoken presence among us in the pews. We believe we are totally changed when Jesus saves us at the beginning but somewhere we forget the sanctification process in our life formula. We are brow beat into looking right and acting above reproach on the outside cause we never fully wrestled with the whole “changing from glory to glory” process that continues till we die. We acknowledge we are human, yet we have no room for human error.
The masks, coping mechanisms and self protection stuff we turn to probably have as many variables as there are humans. Some cut others down while others play the really nice personality.
Mine has been “busy doing good things” till I could vomit. Sometimes I wish someone would just tell me I’ve done enough. I don’t need to do anything anymore to prove my worth. Truth is, I don’t. But in a world of masks where everyone is rushing around trying to prove something, lies run more rampant then truth does. Not that it changes the truth, but in a world where people believe more lies then truth, it’s infinitely harder to believe truth.
But the spaces to process and be real are so few for those of us who have done so much good that we are put on a pedestal and not allowed to admit our humanity. The people pleaser inside knows what others expect, and so I die inside trying to please them all, and keep the masks in place. The vibes I pick up tell me that I am not alone in this. My style of it might be very different then yours, but every single of our relationships is affected in some way by our “isms.”
Even if I included a lot of questions for discussion on this blog, and honestly do welcome insights and conversation, I am afraid that there will be an odd silence, cause this is one of the “Annah” or “GringI” things in our culture that they have a word for in Asia, but English somehow has no term for. The term contains a bit of fear, shame, people pleasing, won’t talk about it to your face, or let you see how upset it makes me type of situation. We have these kinds of circumstances, but we don’t have a term for it that I know of.
So while the problem happens in relationships and we learn how to deal with it by being in relationships, let’s just talk about this a little.
Did you notice our prayer meetings center around sick people and safe topics? How do you break the ice? I’m not suggesting we tell all to everyone, but let’s keep it real with a group. I read recently that you should have at least 5 friends who will be there no matter what.
Have you noticed that it seems just a bit easier to say things as they are if conversation contributors are all male? Men just say it how it is. And they tend to not have connection drama. I don’t know for sure why this is, but I am willing to speculate. Men gossip for free, women don’t. When I have worked in a mostly male environment, I tend to be more knowledgeable about the community then when I don’t. Maybe that’s just happenstance, but I reflect back over 3 entirely different work experiences where most co-workers were men, there was less drama and better relationships in general. (and free information) Why is this? I think this thing of women being quiet has turned us ladies into sneaking cats who hunt mice so we can tease other cats with our catch. If you know anything about cat and dog theology, you know anything feline isn’t a good thing. I got bit by gossip a long time ago, and ever since have avoided anyone who has a hint of the smell of gossip. I will be honest, I didn’t connect with a whole bunch of my regular contacts anymore because too many of my own relationships used to center around this. So is gossip the main reason I struggle to connect and be real with people? No, but I think something in whatever the motive(s) is that women do this “mice hunting” thing, there is a root for this thing of not being open, vulnerable and authentic. Gender differences aside in relationships, it’s an interesting thing to observe how we complement and antagonize each other as men and women. I think the real root is found in the first few chapters of Genesis. We aren't who we were created to be.
A teacher once said that we learn more through suffering than through happiness. I pushed back at that, but the longer time goes on, the more I have to agree. Take an honest look at your life. When did you grow the most, and what were the circumstances surrounding it?
So if we all exponentially grow more through pain, why don't we support each other better through it, and acknowledge that we all need to tried by fire and floods to become real saints?
So what would it look like to have a right perspective on continuing sanctification?
What if we took all our suffering and affliction as a light weight lifting exercise so we could become even more gloriously handsome?
What if we just embraced the process of our beautification?
What if we found a deep enough security in Christ that we weren’t flustered by the messiness of our own redemption in remodeling mode?
How we answer those questions will direct us in how real we are when we are burned out, struggling or in over our heads in a trial. I believe the God who loves us while we are still in our sins, loves us through the whole process. When I believe His love, the rest of my life falls into proper perspective.
Regardless of what all the potential causes are that keep us from connection and being soul authentic with each other, let's not forget that we are in a battle. Together we are stronger, and the enemy knows that. Don't let him use anything to destroy you.
We could continue this conversation and add all our fears and failures, but the moral of the story is to get offline, off whatever life stage you act on, and be real with your people around you. It's a messy but worthwhile learning curve to live without body guards.
My current reading list:
Undefended by Daniel Bush
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Some thoughts in this blog should be credited to these authors.
Other credit goes to the friends who are brave enough to discuss these topics.
The journey is not over...
Saturday, November 9, 2019
God in Ordinary Places
I wondered if I was crazy for going to the local grocery store in the last hour before closing. After all, this is the place where I get bad vibes over and over in broad daylight. It's the one place where multiple stories could be told about, in the almost weekly trips there with my friend E and her son. The 3 of us are a motley Crew of a story all our own. We keep going cause she likes their kind of bottled water. Can you tell we have plenty of our own quirks?:) Anyway, skipping a lot of colorful stories about how the cashier or some other people from the hood have treated us, here I was, heading into the place where I am most aware of the spiritual battle going on at a later hour then normal, and I see a few shady characters lurking around in the parking lot. I grab a close spot, and make a beeline for the door, avoiding the crazy guy standing close to the front. I do my shopping and walk out, and do a double take when I see another woman praying for the crazy man. The street smart girl in me is reminded that it's better to be spirit smart. And my heart is warmed that good things do happen in this place that I personally would like to avoid. Except I have this friend that likes their bottled water, and occasionally they have a really, really good sale...
Sometimes He shows up by playing a song in a place that would strike a raw chord in itself, but on top of that, He arranges circumstances so the people and situations I am surrounded by in the moment also speak to me in a very deep way. I couldn't cry in the moment, but the tears of healing flowed later.
Another time, it was supposed to be just me doing this thing. But it ended up being an introduction to someone who would blow my mind with his connections to a government official in a country on the other side of the world. Pretty sure God smiled.
How have you seen God show up in your ordinary places? Tell me about it...
How do you remember the moments that make you feel secure cause you know He is in control? The last 2 examples I mentioned were so profound that I will not be able to forget. But what about the grocery store? I can create a memorial by writing about it, or drawing something.
Why have I been blessed with these amazing opportunities to see Him at work? Sometimes I want to think it's because of something I did, or the fact that I am part of a prayer class. But like a thought I recently read on a blog, (Velvet Ashes) it's not our prayers that make God move. God moves out of His own good will, in spite of my prayers. The audacity to think I can manipulate God is utterly absurd.
So why should we keep praying? I'm planning to stay in it for the relationship. I think that's why He sticks with us through our selfish requesting as well.
It's a continuous walk with Him. I deal with distraction and busyness. Throwing a blanket over my head helps me to stay focused in prayer. What do you do to stay on task?
For the busyness part, praying can happen anywhere. My Cleaning job, washing dishes, walking the halls at school from one class to another or to the office can all be turned into a moment of talking with God, even if I am not literally kneeling. I can also think of other aspects of my life where it would be impossible to pray at the same time. What works for you?
Whether God shows Himself in my life or not is His choice. But it is my choice whether I pursue His Face enough to know Him and His heart.
Sometimes He shows up by playing a song in a place that would strike a raw chord in itself, but on top of that, He arranges circumstances so the people and situations I am surrounded by in the moment also speak to me in a very deep way. I couldn't cry in the moment, but the tears of healing flowed later.
Another time, it was supposed to be just me doing this thing. But it ended up being an introduction to someone who would blow my mind with his connections to a government official in a country on the other side of the world. Pretty sure God smiled.
How have you seen God show up in your ordinary places? Tell me about it...
How do you remember the moments that make you feel secure cause you know He is in control? The last 2 examples I mentioned were so profound that I will not be able to forget. But what about the grocery store? I can create a memorial by writing about it, or drawing something.
Why have I been blessed with these amazing opportunities to see Him at work? Sometimes I want to think it's because of something I did, or the fact that I am part of a prayer class. But like a thought I recently read on a blog, (Velvet Ashes) it's not our prayers that make God move. God moves out of His own good will, in spite of my prayers. The audacity to think I can manipulate God is utterly absurd.
So why should we keep praying? I'm planning to stay in it for the relationship. I think that's why He sticks with us through our selfish requesting as well.
It's a continuous walk with Him. I deal with distraction and busyness. Throwing a blanket over my head helps me to stay focused in prayer. What do you do to stay on task?
For the busyness part, praying can happen anywhere. My Cleaning job, washing dishes, walking the halls at school from one class to another or to the office can all be turned into a moment of talking with God, even if I am not literally kneeling. I can also think of other aspects of my life where it would be impossible to pray at the same time. What works for you?
Whether God shows Himself in my life or not is His choice. But it is my choice whether I pursue His Face enough to know Him and His heart.
I've decided it's worthwhile to lean in. And I'm finding He is right there beside me, ready to talk at the drop of a hat.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Metanoia: Transformation
Bags you weren't even aware of have been weighing you down right along with the gaping tangled mess of a very heavy suitcase that you keep dragging for one reason...you don't have the stamina for processing it's content. The long black train describes your journey into nowhere, and you have lost your bearings to the point of having no idea who you are or what you are about.
You understand what the lady in the line for best ice cream in the world means when she talked about the way people spit at her dad when he came home from Vietnam. In a certain sense, the country that spends more on dog food for 1 dog than what the average refugees have in their food budget for a month, and on top of that, have such overwhelming variety in the cereal aisle that the chefs at General Mills, Kellogg's, and all the other fruit loops out there constantly need to continue creating new kinds simply to satisfy first world hunger problems. This country, basically doesn't care what you have seen elsewhere. This culture doesn’t care what you saw, or how it affected you. So sorting the bags can become something you don’t touch, cause you are simply surviving.
One of the rules in the first world is "You must be happy, and if you are not, please don't overwhelm us with it." That means anyone grieving anything has to be careful how they process. So whatever hard things life throws at you, you can apply metanoia. But go ahead and get deep into the pain of whatever it is, before I continue.
All that sad, hard, messy tangle can be turned in for the joy of the Lord. There's nothing He won't accept as a trade. He gives grace, peace, joy, and sets the vibes you give off back to loving ones.
It's the breakthroughs at the climax of the journey that keep us going. It’s sunrise after darkness. And it’s coming if it hasn’t already! No matter the challenges you are facing or have faced, there is joy, hope and rest. But good chance is, it doesn’t come without a struggle.
It’s metanoia. That’s Greek for a journey that changes your heart, soul, mind or way of life. A spiritual conversion. If it weren’t for the bags, or the uprooting of moving overseas, or to a new community, would metanoia even happen? It takes dry, harsh, arid environments for some of us to find breakthroughs. While we may never call some events good in our lives, we can become grateful for the things we learned through it. Metanoia.
Crisis has a way of opening the door to transformation. We can't choose what happens, but we can choose our response. When I want to grow from it, instead of being bitter, redemption can come.
The Japanese repair broken porcelain with gold. They believe it just adds beauty and value to the piece. Look at this process of metanoia as adding beauty to your life. It's God redeeming your broken story with gold.
No matter if you want it or not, God isn't stopped by anything in His pursuit of us.
https://youtu.be/ygcyxpvo0zI
The only thing holding us back from metanoia is ourselves. Let down your guard with God. He's up to a lot of good!
You understand what the lady in the line for best ice cream in the world means when she talked about the way people spit at her dad when he came home from Vietnam. In a certain sense, the country that spends more on dog food for 1 dog than what the average refugees have in their food budget for a month, and on top of that, have such overwhelming variety in the cereal aisle that the chefs at General Mills, Kellogg's, and all the other fruit loops out there constantly need to continue creating new kinds simply to satisfy first world hunger problems. This country, basically doesn't care what you have seen elsewhere. This culture doesn’t care what you saw, or how it affected you. So sorting the bags can become something you don’t touch, cause you are simply surviving.
One of the rules in the first world is "You must be happy, and if you are not, please don't overwhelm us with it." That means anyone grieving anything has to be careful how they process. So whatever hard things life throws at you, you can apply metanoia. But go ahead and get deep into the pain of whatever it is, before I continue.
All that sad, hard, messy tangle can be turned in for the joy of the Lord. There's nothing He won't accept as a trade. He gives grace, peace, joy, and sets the vibes you give off back to loving ones.
It's the breakthroughs at the climax of the journey that keep us going. It’s sunrise after darkness. And it’s coming if it hasn’t already! No matter the challenges you are facing or have faced, there is joy, hope and rest. But good chance is, it doesn’t come without a struggle.
It’s metanoia. That’s Greek for a journey that changes your heart, soul, mind or way of life. A spiritual conversion. If it weren’t for the bags, or the uprooting of moving overseas, or to a new community, would metanoia even happen? It takes dry, harsh, arid environments for some of us to find breakthroughs. While we may never call some events good in our lives, we can become grateful for the things we learned through it. Metanoia.
Crisis has a way of opening the door to transformation. We can't choose what happens, but we can choose our response. When I want to grow from it, instead of being bitter, redemption can come.
The Japanese repair broken porcelain with gold. They believe it just adds beauty and value to the piece. Look at this process of metanoia as adding beauty to your life. It's God redeeming your broken story with gold.
No matter if you want it or not, God isn't stopped by anything in His pursuit of us.
https://youtu.be/ygcyxpvo0zI
The only thing holding us back from metanoia is ourselves. Let down your guard with God. He's up to a lot of good!
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Visioneering
Where there is no vision, the people perish. All of us at some point have something we dream about, and wonder.
How do you know you are on the right path?
-The age old "green light" procedure is do the Bible, your Spirit and your Authorities all give you a green light?
-Laying out a fleece, or praying for a confirmation.
-"Follow the peace of God."
I think we all have our things we turn to in the midst of contingency plans.
Believe the heart of the Father is good. This a great place to start for a foundation. His ways are higher than ours. He has plans to give us a hope and a future. He wants to do new things, and make a way in the desert.
Don't run ahead of Him. This is a tough one for some of us. No matter what though, He always reigns me in. I can't storm ahead, till the gate opens in His time.
I think that God enjoys this stage cause we are constantly running to Him in prayer. I have to remember to pray as much in the settled times as when life is up in the air, and could take 10 directions. I don’t think He wants us to stay here, but any relational being is going to love constant conversation.
Dream. Enjoy the brainstorming, researching and enjoy the ride. Sometimes we hem ourselves in, and need to become like little children again who haven't seen one broken wish. Imagine 6 impossible things before breakfast. God is the only limit, and He's basically limitless.
Waiting time. Great for development of all kinds of skills and character. If you are on board with God and connecting daily, this won't be wasted. ever.
Read and Research. The internet is out there, like you needed me to point that out. :)
Some books to read include:
Visioneering by Andy Stanley
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
The Calling Journey by Tony Stoltzfus
Network. Professionally, Socially, and bond with your church.
Personal Development: Life Ministries Core 1 and 2 (including all the reading) :)
Hone skills in your field of interest like microfinance, English teaching, wool roving, or psychology.
Find a mentor or two and talk through things. At least one other person should know what is rattling around in your mind. We can’t think of everything on our own, even though a dreamer tends to have thoughts on steroids when the brainstorming process is in session. Some of those aren’t good ideas, and we need people who will help sort it all out.
Get advice and consider it, but remember you have your own calling, your own thing God wants to accomplish. Some will try to derail you on other great projects. Don't do it, if it's not yours to do. Stop being a people pleaser.
The most encouraging thing though is to remember the breakthroughs of the past, and how faithful God is. Sometimes, we forget the blessings, the extraordinary doors that opened and the privileges of the past or even the present. We do well to build memorials so we remember. We also could keep a gratitude journal for these special moments.
Connect with people on a similar journey so you know that you aren't alone. If you know there is a human out there that understands, it's amazing what you are able to endure.
Keep praying confidently even in the midst of contingent plans.
Enjoy the journey.
How do you know you are on the right path?
-The age old "green light" procedure is do the Bible, your Spirit and your Authorities all give you a green light?
-Laying out a fleece, or praying for a confirmation.
-"Follow the peace of God."
I think we all have our things we turn to in the midst of contingency plans.
Believe the heart of the Father is good. This a great place to start for a foundation. His ways are higher than ours. He has plans to give us a hope and a future. He wants to do new things, and make a way in the desert.
Don't run ahead of Him. This is a tough one for some of us. No matter what though, He always reigns me in. I can't storm ahead, till the gate opens in His time.
I think that God enjoys this stage cause we are constantly running to Him in prayer. I have to remember to pray as much in the settled times as when life is up in the air, and could take 10 directions. I don’t think He wants us to stay here, but any relational being is going to love constant conversation.
Dream. Enjoy the brainstorming, researching and enjoy the ride. Sometimes we hem ourselves in, and need to become like little children again who haven't seen one broken wish. Imagine 6 impossible things before breakfast. God is the only limit, and He's basically limitless.
Waiting time. Great for development of all kinds of skills and character. If you are on board with God and connecting daily, this won't be wasted. ever.
Read and Research. The internet is out there, like you needed me to point that out. :)
Some books to read include:
Visioneering by Andy Stanley
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
The Calling Journey by Tony Stoltzfus
Network. Professionally, Socially, and bond with your church.
Personal Development: Life Ministries Core 1 and 2 (including all the reading) :)
Hone skills in your field of interest like microfinance, English teaching, wool roving, or psychology.
Find a mentor or two and talk through things. At least one other person should know what is rattling around in your mind. We can’t think of everything on our own, even though a dreamer tends to have thoughts on steroids when the brainstorming process is in session. Some of those aren’t good ideas, and we need people who will help sort it all out.
Get advice and consider it, but remember you have your own calling, your own thing God wants to accomplish. Some will try to derail you on other great projects. Don't do it, if it's not yours to do. Stop being a people pleaser.
The most encouraging thing though is to remember the breakthroughs of the past, and how faithful God is. Sometimes, we forget the blessings, the extraordinary doors that opened and the privileges of the past or even the present. We do well to build memorials so we remember. We also could keep a gratitude journal for these special moments.
Connect with people on a similar journey so you know that you aren't alone. If you know there is a human out there that understands, it's amazing what you are able to endure.
Keep praying confidently even in the midst of contingent plans.
Enjoy the journey.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Radical Questions
Are you willing to pray for whatever it takes to get you on fire for God?
Are you willing to create a desert or wilderness so you know God better?
Are you willing to see aloneness as a gift, instead of loneliness as a wound?
Are you going to ask for a deeper encounter with God that transforms everything?
Are you willing to go anywhere you might be asked to go?
Are you going to chose to be thankful for the hard pieces?
Whatever your questions are, are you willing to wrestle well with them?
Are you going to allow the soul searching, tectonic plate shifting that may cause earth shaking things to happen in your life?
There is a deep sigh, a breath of anxiety, that comes when we think about asking hard questions. But we are told over and over to not be afraid in Scripture. We are more than conquerors. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. When God takes something, or empties us, He always eventually replaces it with a far better gift. Don’t be afraid!
If we dare listen to God, there is often a fear we have to bridge. Or trusting Him might feel like completely setting up for failure, and it would be an impending reality if He didn’t show up. What would Elijah have done if God didn’t act when he was building altars and discussing truth with false prophets? What would Daniel and his friends have done if they would have burned in the fire? What would Noah have done if he died before a flood came? Think about almost any Biblical story, and they had faith required of them that was beyond what they seemed to have. It was beyond them, but they judged God to be faithful who had given them a promise. Perhaps the hardest question is asking if I am going to judge God as faithful?
It seems that if we want radical answers, we first must ask, seek and knock. We are called out onto precarious limbs, dangling in very uncomfortable spaces, and then when faith feels almost hopeless, the Divine answers.
Maybe we think we should have all the answers by now. We had more solutions back in our young and foolish days than we currently possess. But is it about having answers or knowing the One who has all the answers? Even as we ask the questions, we can rest in this. God has this. In Psalms 33, He says His plan is going to happen, and He will frustrate human plans.
3 Goals for the journey:
In our wrestling, striving for surrender.
Letting it rest in His hands.
Be committed to whatever the outcome.
Even when the waiting feels like forever, it's just a sign that something amazing is going to happen. God likes climaxing it as much as possible. I get weak knees at the adrenaline rush it requires to glorify Him, and yet my heart jumps up and down, begging Him to do it again.
If you end up in Africa, or Antarctica because that is His will, it's going to be an amazing adventure. God is the only limit, and those who have seen any part of Him, say that He is unlike anything seen before.
Wild rides aren't wasted on God's time. He teaches us more about Himself and our own hearts in the process of arriving at a destination than anywhere else.
In the quietness of waiting, signs are there that God is there. That Providence was working all along. A book confirms others have experiences just like yours. The lights are all green one morning to show God’s smile that someday, there will be no stopping. It may be a verse or a song that pops in your head. A sermon ironically becomes a confirmation to the wrestling of a Saturday, time and again. Sometimes, it's a desired answer, and sometimes it's a convicting lightbulb, but if you watch for it you'll find it.
Regardless of what your questions are, if you seek Him with all of your heart, He will answer. Maybe not the way you thought, but He will answer. “He is not safe, but He is good.” C.S. Lewis
Are you willing to create a desert or wilderness so you know God better?
Are you willing to see aloneness as a gift, instead of loneliness as a wound?
Are you going to ask for a deeper encounter with God that transforms everything?
Are you willing to go anywhere you might be asked to go?
Are you going to chose to be thankful for the hard pieces?
Whatever your questions are, are you willing to wrestle well with them?
Are you going to allow the soul searching, tectonic plate shifting that may cause earth shaking things to happen in your life?
There is a deep sigh, a breath of anxiety, that comes when we think about asking hard questions. But we are told over and over to not be afraid in Scripture. We are more than conquerors. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. When God takes something, or empties us, He always eventually replaces it with a far better gift. Don’t be afraid!
If we dare listen to God, there is often a fear we have to bridge. Or trusting Him might feel like completely setting up for failure, and it would be an impending reality if He didn’t show up. What would Elijah have done if God didn’t act when he was building altars and discussing truth with false prophets? What would Daniel and his friends have done if they would have burned in the fire? What would Noah have done if he died before a flood came? Think about almost any Biblical story, and they had faith required of them that was beyond what they seemed to have. It was beyond them, but they judged God to be faithful who had given them a promise. Perhaps the hardest question is asking if I am going to judge God as faithful?
It seems that if we want radical answers, we first must ask, seek and knock. We are called out onto precarious limbs, dangling in very uncomfortable spaces, and then when faith feels almost hopeless, the Divine answers.
Maybe we think we should have all the answers by now. We had more solutions back in our young and foolish days than we currently possess. But is it about having answers or knowing the One who has all the answers? Even as we ask the questions, we can rest in this. God has this. In Psalms 33, He says His plan is going to happen, and He will frustrate human plans.
3 Goals for the journey:
In our wrestling, striving for surrender.
Letting it rest in His hands.
Be committed to whatever the outcome.
Even when the waiting feels like forever, it's just a sign that something amazing is going to happen. God likes climaxing it as much as possible. I get weak knees at the adrenaline rush it requires to glorify Him, and yet my heart jumps up and down, begging Him to do it again.
If you end up in Africa, or Antarctica because that is His will, it's going to be an amazing adventure. God is the only limit, and those who have seen any part of Him, say that He is unlike anything seen before.
Wild rides aren't wasted on God's time. He teaches us more about Himself and our own hearts in the process of arriving at a destination than anywhere else.
In the quietness of waiting, signs are there that God is there. That Providence was working all along. A book confirms others have experiences just like yours. The lights are all green one morning to show God’s smile that someday, there will be no stopping. It may be a verse or a song that pops in your head. A sermon ironically becomes a confirmation to the wrestling of a Saturday, time and again. Sometimes, it's a desired answer, and sometimes it's a convicting lightbulb, but if you watch for it you'll find it.
Regardless of what your questions are, if you seek Him with all of your heart, He will answer. Maybe not the way you thought, but He will answer. “He is not safe, but He is good.” C.S. Lewis
Saturday, September 21, 2019
God Sees
I’m so thankful that God sees. Recently as I contemplated this, a lot of scenes flashed in front of my mind, and I realized God saw all those with me, as well as all the rest of each of those lives, and all the moments of billions of people’s lives simultaneously.
He saw the day I was followed by secret police before I knew about it. He also sees everything else that spies all across the world see.
He saw the old couple from somewhere deep in the forest who were on my flight, and had rarely seen civilization.
He saw and heard the groans of a wounded man who was picked up in a remote town and then transported on my flight to the big city.
He saw the lepers in India. He also saw the day Christians jokingly sang a song about a leprosy colony.
He sees stone quarries, and the brick making yards where people are enslaved in India.
He not only saw the road to the Taliban camp, He saw their souls.
He sees my Hindu train friends, and the day we ate lunch together.
He saw the crazy lady who rode the train with a stick in her mouth like a dog. And sees all the other mentally challenged people at the same time.
He sees the beggars, the bird lady and her children.
He sees the kids who run the tea shops... the mohingya shops, and wherever else they are working, when they should be getting an education.
He sees the refugee camps scattered across the world and the 60 plus millions who are displaced around the world.
He sees all the buses that go flying around corners with people crammed in every possible way, barely having enough air to breathe. He knows where the drunk man who tried to pay for his ride with a fish is even right now.
He sees the red light districts, and all the sickening stuff that goes on.
He sees genocides all over the world. Brutal raping, killing, burning babies alive...
He sees those who have seen these things come back home where people are callous, and even call foreigners names.
He sees kids and cultures that try to hockey for a place in this world by put downs, and cursing.
God sees each minute of our lives, and the lives of the billions. He knows the end of the story before the beginning happens.
He is a God of Love. He is capable of feeling all of the pain in the world. He can't build a protective wall, or shut down because He had too much. He is pure Love. Love that overcomes all barriers.
When Jesus died on the Cross for all of this, is it any wonder the sky turned dark? The auguish of it all was simply too much. But even all the sin of the world couldn't keep Him buried. He rose again.
In the end, it's Love, not hate or the fear behind hatred that is stronger. Love will win. At the end of time, every knee will bow and agree. Until then, let's be compassionate, transforming Love to the world.
He saw the day I was followed by secret police before I knew about it. He also sees everything else that spies all across the world see.
He saw the old couple from somewhere deep in the forest who were on my flight, and had rarely seen civilization.
He saw and heard the groans of a wounded man who was picked up in a remote town and then transported on my flight to the big city.
He saw the lepers in India. He also saw the day Christians jokingly sang a song about a leprosy colony.
He sees stone quarries, and the brick making yards where people are enslaved in India.
He not only saw the road to the Taliban camp, He saw their souls.
He sees my Hindu train friends, and the day we ate lunch together.
He saw the crazy lady who rode the train with a stick in her mouth like a dog. And sees all the other mentally challenged people at the same time.
He sees the beggars, the bird lady and her children.
He sees the kids who run the tea shops... the mohingya shops, and wherever else they are working, when they should be getting an education.
He sees the refugee camps scattered across the world and the 60 plus millions who are displaced around the world.
He sees all the buses that go flying around corners with people crammed in every possible way, barely having enough air to breathe. He knows where the drunk man who tried to pay for his ride with a fish is even right now.
He sees the red light districts, and all the sickening stuff that goes on.
He sees genocides all over the world. Brutal raping, killing, burning babies alive...
He sees those who have seen these things come back home where people are callous, and even call foreigners names.
He sees kids and cultures that try to hockey for a place in this world by put downs, and cursing.
God sees each minute of our lives, and the lives of the billions. He knows the end of the story before the beginning happens.
He is a God of Love. He is capable of feeling all of the pain in the world. He can't build a protective wall, or shut down because He had too much. He is pure Love. Love that overcomes all barriers.
When Jesus died on the Cross for all of this, is it any wonder the sky turned dark? The auguish of it all was simply too much. But even all the sin of the world couldn't keep Him buried. He rose again.
In the end, it's Love, not hate or the fear behind hatred that is stronger. Love will win. At the end of time, every knee will bow and agree. Until then, let's be compassionate, transforming Love to the world.
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