Called to Love: Men

 I can see the stats on what posts are being read on this blog. While I have left some stuff published and have chosen to not permanently delete this blog, I have also started another blog that you can private message me for and get details.

I'm writing this because I noticed that a post from 2011 is still getting hits, and being read. I no longer totally agree with it, and see the need to address it. I hammered respect back then. I still believe respect is necessary and vital. 

However, it leaves out another important piece. Men are called to love. Like Jesus. Not when it's easy or convenient or fun or thrilling. Loving like Jesus meant death for Him. 

I don't think men need to literally die, but we need to meet in the middle of the road on this love and respect issue. Too often, men have had the freedom to do whatever, including playing with women's hearts and being abusive because women just need to be respectful. 

Yes, respect is important. It needs to be done because everyone deserves respect as a person made by God. 

But when has love been strongly hammered for the men? As I watch culture, I do notice the swing to the other side, and I have been hesitant to jump on the bandwagon for those reasons. 

Can we find a middle road? I hope so.

For you who keep reading old posts... Blessings. Just remember that people grow and change. Read your Bible more than anything else.

A Psalm for Afghanistan

 Psalm 120 came alive with some research.

The author is distressed as he lives in Meshach in the tents of Kedar. Where and what do these mean?

The grandson of Noah, Meshech is described as a human trafficker in Ezekiel 27:13. Cities and regions were named after people, so I assume that the Psalmist had landed in a place with purveyors of humans around him.

Kedar is not better. The name means blackness and sorrow. The tribe of Kedar was known as warriors who were never at peace. They won some, they lost some, but they were always at war. This link has some fascinating data to think about. I haven't verified that they know everything they are talking about, but it provides some historical speculation. https://nabataea.net/explore/history/12tribes/

These places sound like modern times, don't they? Human trafficking, war, blackness and sorrow.

So back to the beginning of the chapter. When we cry in our distress in the tents of sorrow, trafficking and war, God hears. He might not answer as we think, but He hears.

So consider the story of Ruth and Naomi with me. Everything that could have gone wrong, did. But it wasn't the end of the story. No, in the end it was redeemed by even giving Ruth as an outsider a place in the family tree of the Messiah, Jesus. Ruth and Naomi came in a sense of the word, from Kedar (blackness, sorrow) to enter into a story of hope and redemption in Israel.

Whether we get to see the end of the story that is currently happening in Afghanistan where the Taliban seem to have a huge lot in common with the warriors of Kedar is not the point. The thing we need is to believe that God is still good, that He is still working on drawing people to Himself, and He is still redeeming stories like Ruth and Naomi. He is offering unlikely opportunity and position to people who trust Him. The people, like Ruth, may never know what that important role was, but God does. 

In this moment, we know God hears. God is doing something. We may not see it, but we can rest assured that He is working just as He always has. We just need to trust Him. 

And yes, it doesn't feel fair or right that we are safe and blessed while places like Afghanistan or Myanmar are in the middle of fire. We can pray. We can ask God how He wants us involved in the world. We can trust that God, not evil, will win in the end. And instead of worrying about what all might happen before the end of the world, let's make sure our hearts are ready for the End of our lives.

The Voice of a Woman

 This article started my thinking:

https://velvetashes.com/lessons-from-when-i-belonged-at-the-zoo/

And a quick Google search found this article:

https://lausanneworldpulse.com/lausannereports/740/06-2007

All my life, I have been told to tone it down. Be quiet. Don't say anything. And I understand why. 

I don't want to challenge authority, and I'm not here to throw out the status quo. I'm not here to say we need women preachers, etc... God forbid that anyone think so.

But these articles bring me to tears. Not just for my personal experience, but because I know the stories of other women. 

And I remember how closely I broke down and cried on the spot when a preacher told me that single women are an essential and needed part of the church. I didn't know him well enough to cry in front of him, but I did on the way home. I didn't realize how much it meant to be seen as fully human for once. To be seen by a Mennonite man as having something to offer to the church.

It's okay for women to go to foreign places, but then their voice doesn't matter. Especially if they are single. I'm speaking for silent ones. I know. May I ask why we can go and are encouraged to do as well as "not waste our lives waiting on the man," but then be treated as 2nd rate citizens whose opinions don't matter when we show up?

If women's Sunday school classes can be taught by women, what would a sending organization for women be like if at least a few ladies were on the executive panel? At least a women's auxiliary of member care?

I'm not here to shake everything loose, and for the most part, the male led businesses that I have worked for are far more functional than the female led enterprises. I personally tend to feel more secure when there's good solid men in leadership. 

But my personal plea is this: only a female cheerleader gets what it feels like to be a woman running a race. What about putting a single woman or two on a plane to visit the women serving around the world instead of the board and their wives? What about a class taught by a woman to women who want to go to the field? Or other prepping that is not all male led?

I know. It falls flat coming from one of us. But it's my appeal. You don't need to shift the world several tectonic plates and cause an earthquake. Just acknowledge there's a few things about women that it takes a woman to understand, and leave us to our tea party devices.

There's places where women might have stayed, and would still be making a major impact if they would have had the moral support they needed. There's losses that should be mourned by men and women who passively watched women burn out. We needed you. We forgive you for it, but I for one won't watch other women go down. So I use my small voice to say this... 

Women need women in places where their voice is heard and understood. 

Springs In Baca

 "As they go through the valley of Baca, they will make it a place of springs..." Psalm 84:6

Google Baca, and get inspiration. Baca is the place of weeping. A place where the trees are known to "weep" resin and sap. Possibly the verse is just talking about a difficult season vs. an actual place. Make sure to notice that Baca isn't a destination in the verse, but a place to travel through. We aren't stuck in it. 

Don't forget the verse says that it will be a place that springs life. The place of weeping will become a well.

Other valleys come to mind like this: "...make the Valley of Anchor a door of hope." Hosea 2:15

All throughout the Bible, there's a theme of horrible turned into amazing. Sorrow upgraded to Joy. I'll let you think through the Stories, and latch on your own favorite one where God brought joy to someone struggling.

Let's zoom in on the verses that touch on the topic of joy:

"Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

"In your presence there is fullness of joy." Psalms 16:11

"Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5

"...to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;" Isaiah 61:3

"Joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over 99 just who need no repentance." Luke 15:7

"These things have I spoken into you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:11

I could stop here and just have all of us meditate on these verses, but I'm seeing a few truths.

Nick Ripken quoted the "But joy comes in the morning" verse, and talked about how it didn't come in Somalia. My personal experience is that it certainly doesn't come in 12 hours like a literal morning does. This doesn't nullify the truth of the verse, but reality is that we don't necessarily find joy in circumstances.

What I often miss is that joy is found in His presence. Jesus shared the secret to joy in John 15: abiding in Him. Our circumstances may never change, and we may always have drama, but we don't need to define life by it. We need to fix our eyes on the Only One who can bring deep joy, and not get distracted by the trials, craziness and whatever curve ball comes.

His joy is our strength. We might go through the Valley of Baca, but He needs to be our destination. Finding Him is enough to carry us through.

We can trade our sorrows for the joy of the Lord as the song goes. So how does that happen? Focus on Him. Meditation on verses. Surrender to letting Him do it on His time. He keeps His promises.

Transfixed by Transfiguration

Mesmerized is something I don't get very often in this day and age. Jaded by life, I kinda don't get surprised by much. But there's something worth getting mesmerized by. Come check it out!

What is transfiguration? 

Can we join Moses and Elijah in being transfigured?

First of all, I searched for definitions.

Transfiguration: a change in form. Metamorphosis of a butterfly.

Transformation: a remaking of something. A remodel. House flipping.

Thanks to a bunch of different sources recently, the Negeb desert has come up a lot in my personal studies. Ironically, Elijah and Moses both had God Encounters in the general area of this desert. 

Moses met God on a mountain at the far end of the desert. I liked how Danielle Wheeler pointed out that God promised him that he would be back, with the whole nation of Israel. Their wandering around the wilderness was fulfilling this promise.

I get excited about the fact that entire chapters of Exodus are conversation between God and Moses. There's the tent of meeting where Moses went to talk to his best friend, God. And his student/helper, Joshua, stayed by the tent of meeting all the time. Details I never noticed.

Moses eventually took on a glow that scared the people because he had spent enough time worshipping God. I paraphrase Evelyn Underhill who says that "worship is the way to allow the influence of God on us." Imagine what that influence could be!?!? Wouldn't a glow be great?

Elijah dropped off his servant in Beersheba, and then went on into the desert. First, an angel fed him. And God spoke to him there.  I don't think that Elijah had plans to meet God. In fact, God woke him up for their conversation.

Later, Elijah was having his last moment with Elisha, and Elisha asked for Elijah's spirit to stay with him. There's some miracles that happened as well, but for transfiguration sake, I want to zoom in on this: other people recognized the spirit of Elijah on Elisha. Somehow they knew.

There's hope for us in the wilderness. The prophets who were in the transfiguration with Jesus both met God there. I'd say we're in good company if we find ourselves in the wilderness, as unpleasant as it might be.

So can we be changed like they were? I think so. Even if we don't get to the glow of Moses, we can at least get close enough to see what the disciples saw. Recently I came across the words of 2 Peter 1 where he writes about the experience. They weren't transfigured, but I think the disciples were transformed. Either way, seeking God enough to experience Him is worthwhile.

One thing that I noticed in both the Old Testament prophets' lives is that the change was seen by other people. Both of them had a follower who would rise up to take their place as a leader. I don't think we can experience transfiguration or transformation without rubbing off on other people. Change doesn't stick with one, but continues it's contagious journey onto others.

So wilderness journeys are the hot, arid, melting points that shatter us, not just to break us. They shatter us so we can experience more of God in our life. Shattered in order to get transformation and transfiguration. Shattered so we become part of powerful beacons of light in a dark place that Peter talked about.

Dive into your study, and then tell me what you got mesmerized by. 

Tamarisk and Fig: Inspirational Partners

 Ever wonder what plant Hagar threw her son under?

Ever wonder what Abraham planted by the well?

What about the tree Nathaniel was sitting under?

The list could go on and on, but there's 3 scenes that I have been reflecting on.

Hagar had run from a harsh woman, and felt like the end was there for her and her child. She throws her son under a tamarisk tree. God came and met her, and she was thankful for the "God who sees me." We all have moments when we need an intimate encounter with God. If He sees, we know it's going to be okay.

Abraham had a bunch of problems with well squatters. They kept taking over his hand hewn wells, and finally they had a "come to Jesus" moment. After the promise was made that there's no more snitching, Abraham plants a tamarisk tree. And he stays for many days in the land of the Philistines.

So what is significant about the tamerisk? They can survive in drought and salty conditions. They have a honey like substance called manna dripping off.

In the context of working overseas, this stands out. Tamarisk inspire us to survive the droughts of life. We can give off a sweet substance. We can be a shelter for someone in trouble. After Abraham planted the tree, he stayed in the foreign place for a long time.

Nathaniel sat under the fig tree. If you watch the Chosen season 2, episode 2, you'll understand this better what is mentioned in John when Jesus called him. Jesus was not visible to him when Nathaniel was under the tree, but at the time of his calling, Jesus tells him that He saw him under the tree. Before you get your calling, you are seen.

The significance of the fig tree itself is found in it's fruit. The fruit is a super good for anything that ails you. Google it. Jesus cursed one that had no fruit. This was a good food to eat when you were on a journey and needed a little energy. 

So God sees the things going on under the trees. He made the tamerisk to survive the desert, and the fig to help us survive.

When life is dry, be like that tamerisk and thrive in spite of the conditions. And if you need to, reach for a fig to tide you over.

Tamerisk and Fig. Your inspirational partners found in nature.

P.S. Their relative, the flamboyant tree in Asia and tropical areas of the world is known to bloom at the end of the dry season before the rains come. When most things are brown, it blooms. When life looks brownish, bloom!

Another in the Fire

 T shirt ads pop up all over social media. I normally skip over them without much of a second glance. But then one with, "There was Another in the fire." 

Daniel is the familiar character we associate with being in the fire. Jesus was seen even by the king who ordered him and his friends thrown in. 

God held back the flood of water so the Isrealites could walk through on dry ground. Fire, water, earthquake... God is there.

Moses had multiple crisis scenarios with Pharoah before the people were finally allowed to leave. God was there, creating plagues in the middle of it all.

In the 2021 Velvet Ashes retreat, (a great resource group for women working overseas/inner cities) Danielle Wheeler talked about the burning bush scenario where God promised they would be back at this mountain. The wilderness years of the Israelites weren't just because they sinned. It was because God had preplanned this wilderness journey, and wanted to be their only God. Wilderness is designed to strip us from our idols. In the middle of the fire, we want to make demands of why. But we need to surrender instead and let God do the interior work that He wants. The very reason He led us here is to bring us closer to Him.

Joseph was in prison before he got his breakthrough. God was with him in prison as much as He was when Joseph was a ruler in Egypt. In fact, God made sure it was written down that God was with Him.

Job had done nothing wrong, but lost everything and got judged by his so called friends. Eventually, the truth came out, and God restored his life. Initially, it seems like God wasn't there, but I imagine He was actively watching Job like the Father in the Prodigal son story.

More people of the Old Testament could be mentioned. But even after all those difficult dramas, the Isrealites still had to wait through 400 silent years for the Messiah. Even in the silence, God was there sustaining their lives.

God has been there for me over and over. He never left. Sometimes He was silent. But I can see Him as I look back, especially over the past 5 years that have held difficult times. He has brought me through to the other side where I can see it more clearly. He's telling me that He saw all the stretches that felt dark, cold, "unseen" and "misunderstood." He knows the days when I couldn't sing "Jesus loves me," without wondering if it was really true. He knows that the verse in Hebrews about "rewarding those who diligently seek Him" was a hard one that tripped me up when no answer was in sight. But God was there, and He didn't stop there. Goodness no! I KNOW that Jesus loves even me, and He does reward those who seek Him now more then ever.

Fire softens us. Just like most things under heat, we become more pliable if we let God do His thing. We get to choose: better or bitter. It's a testimony to the long rough road, but it was a high compliment on the day that an older lady who I admire from a distance told me that she has seen me soften from when she first remembers meeting me. Sometimes we want the outcome without the pain, but you can't have one without the other. On the day when you don't know which way is up or down, determine to hang on for the ride, and become better. You'll thank Him for it later.

Fire removes dross, the rubbish floating around in our souls. It purifies and cleanses. It changes what we turn to, as it reveals the empty promises of our idols.

Fires are an invitation. Let God into the motherboard of your heart and transform you. Stop trying to control the flames. Just accept the journey, and let God do His thing.

If God calls you to enter into the fire in someone else's life, then offer them an invitation to stop striving and struggling. Say something powerful like, "If you would let yourself cry over all the things, I think you might be crying for a long time." Or "I am surprised that you made it this far." Or "It sounds like you have had a lot of losses." Or "How's your soul?" Start with an invitation of grace. Speak truth later. After they know you care. Sandwich the hard with kindness.

If you are in the middle of the fire, stick it out. It's completely worth it. The changes, the healing, the growth, learning curves, the new compassion, more of Jesus, and just knowing that it is enough to have Him with me in it. I bought the shirt cause it rings true with a deep internal heart string I have. I know fire, and I know there was Another in it with me. You will make it through, and you'll see Him in your fire if you look.

The shirt took longer than necessary to ship. I finally googled reviews on the company which were terrible. Fraud and more. Okay God, is this company is bad deal, or are You wanting to teach me something? Several days later, I was reflecting on episode 2 of the Chosen season 2, and the lost dreams of my own when I got a message saying that the shirt had shipped. In the middle of my burnt up dreams, God was there. There was Another in the fire. Watch the episode, and let it speak to you if you are frustrated with life turning out different than you thought. Sometimes, our dreams are so much smaller than what God has in mind.

A song with these words was part of the Velvet Ashes retreat a year ago. I've added the lyrics to the end of this post for you. The sound track became a regular on my playlist for a while.

There's a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone

There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I've been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me
There is another in the fire

All my debt left for dead beneath the waters
I'm no longer a slave to my sin anymore
And should I fall in the space between
What remains of me and this reckoning
Either way I won't bow
To the things of this world
And I know I will never be alone

There is another in the fire
Standing next to me
There is another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
What power set me free
There is a grave that holds no body
And now that power lives in me

There is another in the fire
Oh-oh
There is another in the fire
Oh-oh
There is another in the fire
Woah-oh
There is another in the fire
Oh-oh (I can see)

I can see the light in the darkness
As the darkness bows to Him
I can hear the roar in the heavens
As the space between wears thin
I can feel the ground shake beneath us
As the prison walls cave in
Nothing stands between us
Nothing stands between us

There is no other name
But the name that is Jesus
He who was and still is
And will be through it all

So come what may in the space between
All the things unseen
And this reckoning
And I know I will never be alone (I know, come on)
And I know I will never be alone

There'll be another in the fire
Standing next to me
There'll be another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
How good You've been to me
I'll count the joy come every battle
'Cause I know that's where You'll be

And I can see the light in the darkness
As the darkness bows to Him
I can hear the roar in the heavens
As the space between wears thin
I can feel the ground shake beneath us
As the prison walls cave in
Nothing stands between us
Nothing stands between us

There'll be another in the fire
Standing next to me
There'll be another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
How good You've been to me
I'll count the joy come every battle
'Cause I know that's where You'll be

I'll count the joy come every battle
'Cause I know that's where You'll be
I'll count the joy come every battle
'Cause I know that's where You'll be

I'll count the joy come every battle
'Cause I know that's where You'll be
I'll count the joy come every battle
'Cause I know that's where You'll be

Source: Musixmatch